Adobe, ON1 and Affinity converge on faster, more accessible image editing

Adobe expands AI-assisted Photoshop and Lightroom workflows

Adobe announced several updates to Photoshop and Lightroom at its annual Max conference. The evidence does not name each feature or specify a release date, but the announcement centers on changes to the company’s established photo-editing applications.

For practitioners, the immediate issue is what these additions mean inside existing editing routines. Photoshop remains a central tool for compositing, retouching and other image manipulation, while Lightroom covers photographic workflows. New capabilities in either application could alter how files are prepared, masked and refined.

Adobe’s broader movement toward AI-assisted editing is also visible in the wider product picture. Its work has included bringing a Photoshop AI assistant to beginners while research advances controllable image generation. The practical direction is toward editing environments in which assisted operations become part of the standard workspace rather than a separate task. Image Compressor and Image Flipper can remain useful for quick asset preparation, but the announced application updates concern more advanced creative control.

ON1 rebuilds RAW processing and simplifies masking

ON1 Photo RAW 2027 introduces a new RAW engine, built-in NoNoise AI 2027 and simpler masking. The product is presented alongside a test program involving seven photographers and offers a free trial for 30 days.

The RAW engine is the central change because it affects the point at which camera files are developed and interpreted. Creators accustomed to one vendor’s rendering, color response or masking controls may need to reassess familiar steps before adopting the new release.

NoNoise AI 2027 is integrated directly into the application, while the masking changes target a recurring editing action. Together, these updates narrow the distance between file processing and selective correction. The evidence does not state whether these features replace or coexist with third-party plug-ins, so users should test their own RAW files and masks rather than assume compatibility. A Photo Collage Maker may assist with downstream layout work, but it does not reproduce the application’s RAW-development controls.

Affinity brings editing and vector work to iPad

Canva announced that Affinity is coming to iPad as a free photo editing, illustration and vector app. This is the clearest device-specific development in the available announcements.

The iPad release combines three kinds of visual work in one application: photo editing, illustration and vector design. For creators who work across those disciplines, the practical benefit is a portable environment that can support more than image cleanup alone.

That reach has an important boundary. The announcement does not provide a release date, supported iPad models, system requirements or details about desktop synchronization. It therefore supports planning for mobile access, but not an assumption that every existing Affinity workflow will migrate intact to the tablet.

The move fits a wider expansion of image editing into mobile and browser-based tools. It also raises the importance of checking export dimensions, color handling and file compatibility before starting client work on an iPad. The Average Color From an Image: What Beginners Need to Know guide can help creators verify sampled colors when preparing or checking assets across devices.

What creators should check before changing workflows

Start with a small production file rather than an entire archive. Adobe users should identify which new Photoshop or Lightroom features replace manual steps in their established process. ON1 users should compare the new RAW engine against familiar camera files, then verify that the simpler masking workflow still produces the required selections.

For Affinity on iPad, confirm the application’s availability, device requirements and export behavior before committing it to a live assignment. The evidence announces the app but does not state when it will arrive. Test color output, layer compatibility, file size and export format on the actual device.

If files must be compressed, converted or checked before delivery, the available Image Compressor and Base64 Encode / Decode tools cover those specific tasks. They do not replace RAW processing or application-specific export testing.