First Look: Adobe Nav, Eazel & Color Lava - Inject Some Life Into Photoshop CS5!

Today, Adobe released three applications for the iPad: Adobe Nav for Photoshop ($1.99), Adobe Eazel for Photoshop ($4.99) and Adobe Color Lava for Photoshop ($2.99). The applications all integrate with Adobe Photoshop CS5, improving the software in various different ways.

Adobe Nav

The $1.99 Adobe Nav app allows users to control Photoshop CS5 from their iPad. In order to use the app, you must have downloaded the most recent update to Photoshop (12.0.4) and connect your iPad to the same Wi-Fi network your desktop computer is connected to. Once connected, the app literally serves as a touch screen means of controlling Photoshop CS5. As outlined in the app's release notes, features include:

Use your fingertips to select Photoshop CS5 tools from your iPad screen.

Customize the way the Photoshop CS5 toolbar appears on your iPad screen to make your most-used tools easily accessible. You can save one Adobe Nav toolbar configuration with up to 16 tools.

Browse, reorder, view, and zoom in on up to 200 open Photoshop documents on your iPad screen.

Tap any open document in Photoshop on your iPad to make it the active document in Photoshop CS5.

And for $1.99, Adobe Nav is quite reasonably priced. Potential customers should be aware that the app is only compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS5 - earlier versions, such as CS4, are not supported by the app. If you're a Photoshop users who owns an iPad, this app is definitely a much improved way of interacting with the software. As Adobe explains, with Adobe Nav it is possible to "browse, reorder, view, and zoom in on up to 200 open Photoshop documents on your iPad," which is incredibly handy. As mentioned, Adobe Nav for Photoshop is available to download for $1.99.

Eazel

Out of all three apps, Eazel is my personal favorite. The application allows users to turn your iPad into a canvas, and create beautiful artwork using just your fingertips. Currently, Eazel is available for $4.99 - making it the most expensive of the bunch. It's also possible to share your creations with Adobe Photoshop CS5 (again, version 12.0.4 is required). As outlined in the app's release notes, features of Eazel include:

Paint beautiful works of art using just your fingertips.

Mix “wet” and “dry” paint to create rich, realistic color blends. Breakthrough technology allows digital paint to “dry” over time.

Paint more freely using the entire iPad screen. Controls for changing color, opacity, brush size, and other settings appear only when you place all five fingers on the screen.

Send your paintings directly to Photoshop CS5, where they’ll be re-rendered at a higher resolution and can be saved in any file format you choose. (Photoshop CS5 must be open, and a network connection between your iPad and computer is required.)

Save paintings to your iPad Photos app, and then email them as JPEG files.

In Eazel, it's incredibly easy to adjust the size, opacity and color of your drawing tool: Simply touch the iPad's screen with five fingers, and an interface will appear on the screen, allowing users make the appropriate adjustments. You can also undo, redo and clear the screen via this method. Currently, Adobe Eazel for Photoshop is available to download for $4.99. Take a look at the app, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Color Lava

With Color Lava, users can easily "create custom colors and color themes" and import their creations to Adobe Photoshop CS5 (again, a minimum of version 12.0.4 is required). The app features a realistic mixing palette and a variety of settings which users can adjust. Currently, Color Lava is available to download for $2.99. Color Lava is definitely a fun and helpful app, and something Adobe Photoshop CS5 users will undoubtedly appreciate. As outlined in the app's release notes, features include:

Dab, smudge, and swirl your way to creating unique individual color swatches and five-swatch color themes.

Interact with Photoshop CS5 in real time. Simply tap a swatch on your iPad to make it the foreground color in your Photoshop CS5 Color panel—or create a color theme and see your colors instantly in the Color panel.

Make fine adjustments to your color creations using Hue/Saturation sliders, and view HSB and RGB values.

Mix colors even when you’re away from your computer. You can save them on your iPad to bring into Photoshop CS5 when you’re connected.

Easily share your swatches and color themes by emailing them directly from Adobe Color Lava.

Personally, I think the water feature in this app is amazing: After dabbing some paint on the palette (to mix with another color), you can clean the brush in a collection of water before using another color. If you don't clean the brush, the colors will mix, creating a bit of an artistic mess. As mentioned, all three applications are currently available to download in the App Store. Check them out (we've included some links below), and let us know your thoughts in the comments. Adobe Nav for Photoshop ($1.99). Adobe Eazel for Photoshop ($4.99). Adobe Color Lava for Photoshop ($2.99).