What is Photoshop Beta? What can Photoshop Beta do?

Adobe Creative Cloud offers more than 20 apps for creative exploration. Not included among them are some beta apps that you may not have known about. These apps include Photoshop Beta as part of the downloadable beta software.

Beta apps are not listed in the list of available apps under any of the Creative Cloud plans that you may subscribe to. So what is Photoshop Beta, how can you access it, and what does it offer?

What is Photoshop Beta?

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Photoshop Beta is a separate app from Adobe Photoshop - one of many Creative Cloud apps - that allows users to test new beta features directly in Photoshop.

While Adobe is, at the time of writing, running beta features using the web-based Adobe Firefly, the beta app for Photoshop allows users to test new features almost directly in the Photoshop app.

Photoshop Beta works like the Photoshop app found in Creative Cloud. It simply has a different logo, presents wireframes on a white background, and allows users to test - as well as give feedback on - upcoming features.

What's in Photoshop Beta?

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You will find all the same Photoshop tools in the Beta version but with some extra features.

Adobe regularly tests new features. They are not tested the same way. Some features are installed into the software as beta features, such as Neural Filters included in Photoshop - you can see how to add a smile using Neural Filters to add a smile in Photoshop. Therefore, those features are available as beta features in the full version of Photoshop as well as the Beta version.

You can use Photoshop Beta instead of Photoshop - it offers no fewer tools, features or capabilities than the full program - or run both on your system simultaneously.

Because it's beta software, new features change frequently. In May 2023, Photoshop Beta added Adobe's AI Generative Fill tool to the toolbox. The tool is also available in Adobe Firefly during beta testing on the web. There is also a Content Credentials Beta feature available for credit options and adding watermarks in the future.

Since Generative Fill is the latest beta tool to appear in the Photoshop Beta at the time of writing, it's the most prominent tool you'll see when you open the Beta software. All other tools are placed in their toolbox, and the Generative Fill is a floating toolbar that appears when using any of the selection tools and it also comes with a help guide on first use.

When using any beta tool, you can leave Adobe feedback on your results using the like and dislike icons and flag icons to report any inappropriate results. You can also share your results directly with the Adobe community.

How to download Photoshop Beta?

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Photoshop Beta sounds great, doesn't it? So how can you access it?

If you're a Creative Cloud subscriber, you probably already have access to the Beta software. You just have to dig a little to find it. The beta apps aren't listed in the Apps section of Creative Cloud, but they're there, and they're free to subscribers.

Beta software is only for Adobe users, just like Adobe Firefly. Open Creative Cloud on your system and on the left, under Categories , you'll find Beta Apps. You'll find that there are beta apps for most Creative Cloud software. Choose Photoshop (Beta) > Install and it will download to your system.

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Photoshop Beta can run concurrently with Photoshop on one system; however, the Beta program logo may be prominent when you want to open Photoshop. However, if you open the file directly in Photoshop, the native app and the Beta app will appear as options to use.

Micah Soto

Update 24 July 2023