8 Interesting Ways Designers Are Using Photoshop in 2022

Introduction

Adobe Photoshop is a photo editing and manipulation software used by everyone from amateur photographers to graphic design professionals. It’s one of the most beloved programs in the Adobe design suite and can be harnessed for basic image retouching, all the way through to compositing digital art, creating mockups, adding effects to images, and even animation.

Keeping on top of software updates and new Photoshop features is essential for designers, as is looking at how other makers and creators are using the software. To set you up for success this year, we’ll explore the biggest Photoshop 2022 updates, including 8 of the most notable new Photoshop features 2022 and how designers are embracing and using the tool right now.

If you’re brand new to Photoshop, start with a Photoshop tutorial for beginners to discover Photoshop editing tips from the ground up. Or try an advanced Photoshop tutorial if you’re looking for Adobe photoshop tricks for experienced designers that extend beyond the basics.

What’s new in Photoshop?

As with most of Photoshop’s new releases, the most recent updates help to improve and evolve the program rather than giving it a complete overhaul. Once released, it doesn’t take too long for designers to identify the new Photoshop tips and tricks, honing in on creative Photoshop ideas and refining their techniques as they explore what’s possible and set new Photoshop trends.

So, what’s new in Photoshop in 2022? From brand new Neural Filters to improved communication with Illustrator, the focus in this update is around enhanced collaboration and more sophisticated finishes on existing tools. For those of us working in the creative industry, this is all very good news as the world forges ahead with increased flexibility and remote working.

How designers are using Photoshop: tricks, tips, and new features

So let’s get into it. We’ll briefly look at the key changes, the best Photoshop tricks, and more importantly, how designers are actually using them. So, what’s possible with Adobe Photoshop in 2022, and what new Photoshop techniques and editing tools should you be using this year?

1. Nailing compositing with Harmonization

First up is the new Harmonization Neural Filter. Essentially, this tool will match the colors and tones between the foreground and background. So when you go into your desired image, select your subject (in the foreground), then select the harmonization tool, you can use it to make your background match flawlessly. This works by allowing you to adjust the saturation, brightness, and overall color balance to find the best match with the background. Why is it so handy? It cuts down hugely on compositing time, which for many designers can be the most time-intensive part of image editing. To try out this tool straightaway, have a play-around using Photoshop add-ons. 

2. Replicating color & tone with Color Transfer

On the subject of Photoshop’s Neural Filters, another one worth taking notice of in this update is the Color Transfer Neural Filter. Photographers can rejoice with this tool. Imagine, you’ve spent the day at a photo shoot, and have hundreds of images ready to use. But what if you have one location where the lighting is perfect, and some of the images you want to use aren’t taken in that same position? Enter: the Color Transfer tool. You can use it to bring all your photos in line with the same color and tone, creating a seamless set of photos for your designs.

3. Playing with gradients thanks to improved Interpolation options

Gradients are having a moment in design - just look at these key graphic design trends for 2022 - and now, happily, Photoshop has upgraded its gradient tool with two new Interpolation options to make creating and adjusting your gradients that much easier. In addition to the Classic Interpolation tool, you now have the Perceptual Interpolation and Linear Interpolation tools. Both tools are designed to create more natural-looking gradients, which are closer to the way the human eye perceives real-world gradients. You’ve got a hint from the names of these tools, but one is for the OKLab color space and one is for use in the linear color space.

4. Creating NFTs using Photoshop

A real buzzword of the last few years, NFTs, or non-fungible tokens are digital assets that are bought and sold online via the blockchain. To become an NFT a piece of artwork is ‘minted’, then as it’s bought and sold the transaction history is stored in the blockchain. Photoshop is supporting the growth of NFTs and helping to combat art theft, an increasing problem in the industry, with Content Credentials–currently in BETA. For a more detailed overview of preparing an NFT Adobe has a breakdown here, but essentially it means more insight for audiences and buyers on whether the person selling the art is the Photoshop user who exported it. To take advantage of this new development, you’ll need to enable Content Credentials.

5. Verifying content authenticity with Content Credentials

When you export your file, you now have the option to select to include Content Credentials. This means your jpeg (or chosen file format) will include details like your name, your adjustments, the assets used and their file names (backgrounds, subject, icons, etc.), and which version of Photoshop you created the image in. This functionality is super important for verification when submitting your work, where your client or editor can immediately check the authenticity. Bear in mind, though, that if someone makes adjustments and re-saves the image, your credentials won’t carry through.

6. Working more collaboratively with sharing & commenting

Another anticipated update is the addition of sharing and commenting capabilities. It works similarly to Google Workspace, where your Photoshop work will also appear as a Cloud file. You can then share your file with individuals via their email addresses, or get a shareable link so the file can be accessed by all those who receive it. You have the option to allow commenting, saving a copy, or both, meaning collaboration and feedback just got a whole lot quicker and easier - with no need for file downloading and minimized risk in version control. 

7. Switching more effectively between Photoshop & Illustrator

Designers will rejoice at this next update: a better experience switching between Photoshop and Illustrator due to improved interoperability between the software. In practical terms, it’s now possible to paste vectors from Illustrator directly into Photoshop. You have the option to import with layers - meaning you can keep your Illustrator graphics stroke, fill, opacity, and other attributes. You can edit your Illustrator graphic directly in Photoshop, rather than going back into Illustrator, making your adjustments, and re-pasting into Photoshop. Hoorah!

8. Identifying subjects of an image with advanced machine learning

Last but certainly not least is an improvement to Photoshop’s use of artificial intelligence, via the new object finder tool, and an upgrade to the object selection tool. This tool analyses your image to find the main subjects (and even minor subjects), which you can then select automatically and with enhanced precision thanks to more powerful AI machine learning. You’ll save loads of time adjusting subjects quickly and easily, separate from your overall image. You can even prompt Photoshop to hone in on one part of the subject. For example, you might have a person identified as a subject, but you can highlight a particular detail (like a hat) by drawing a smaller box around it. The object finder tool also comes with its own new settings, for adjusting color, outline, and capacity. 

Conclusion

So, as well as handy improvements to tools, Adobe Photoshop 2022 is looking to the future with practical means to address issues like content authenticity. It’s also taking advantage of AI, and keeping up with our everyday need for more seamless collaboration. For designers, it’s a solid update with truly useful enhancements as well as a few exciting new features to play with.  

Featured Image by Edho Pratama on Unsplash