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Adobe Photoshop CC 2024 is still a superb professional image editor, but its improved AI does not make it a universal recommendation. Version 26.0 made distraction removal, background changes, image expansion, and generative experimentation faster and more convincing. It remains the right tool when you need precision, compositing, layers, masks, retouching, design, and painting in one application.
The catch is value. Photoshop requires a Creative Cloud subscription, has a substantial learning curve, and can produce AI results that look plausible until you inspect the edges, textures, reflections, or lighting. This review separates the 2024 release from Adobe’s newer 2026-era software and explains who will benefit from it.
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Adobe Photoshop CC 2024 remains the best choice for serious image manipulation, but it is not the best value for everyone. The October 2024 release, identified as Photoshop version 26.0, made difficult cleanup and image-generation tasks faster and often more convincing. Distraction Removal reduced the effort needed to eliminate people, wires, and cables, while Firefly-powered Generative Fill, Generative Expand, Generate Similar, and Generate Background became more useful for retouching, compositing, and exploration.
#1 Best Overall
- Universal Compatibility: It's compatible with Windows 7/8/10/11, Mac 10.10 or later, Linux. Compatible with Photoshop, Illustrator, SAI, Painter, MediBang, Clip Studio, and more. It's ideal for digital drawing, animation, sketching, photo editing, 3D sculpting, and more (XP-PEN Artist12 drawing tablet must be connected to a computer to work).
- 11.6 HD IPS display: Artist12 drawing tablet is the XP-PEN’s latest smallest 1920x1080 HD display paired with 72% NTSC(100%SRGB) Color Gamut, presenting vivid images, vibrant colors and extreme detail for a stunning display of your artwork. It's pre-installed anti-reflective screen protector already. The slim touch bar can be programmed to zoom in and out, scroll up and down. Its 6 shortcut keys are customizable, XP-PEN driver allows the shortcut keys to be attuned to other different software
- Battery-free stylus with a digital eraser at the end: XP-PEN advanced P06 passive pen was made for a traditional pencil-like feel! Featuring a unique hexagonal design, non-slip & tack-free flexible glue grip, partial transparent pen tip, and an eraser at the end! Delivering technical sense, high efficiency, with a fashionable and comfortable grip, and there are 8 replacement pen nibs included with the multi-function pen holder
- XP-PEN Artist12 drawing tablet with screen is ideal for online education and remote work. Set the Artist12 drawing screen as an extended display when working from home, visually present your handwritten notes on the screen directly. Teachers and students can write and edit complicated functional equations with ease. It's compatible with XSplit, Zoom, Twitch, Microsoft Teams, ezTalks Webinar, Idroo, Scribbiar, wiziQ, and more
- XP-PEN provides a one-year warranty and lifetime technical support for all our drawing pen tablets/displays. Register your XP-PEN Artist12 drawing tablet on xp-pen web to apply for an ArtRage 5, openCanvas, or Explain Everything. Your laptop/desktop needs to have HDMI and USB-A ports available for the connection, or you need an extra converter(such as Thunderbolt to HDMI, depends on what ports that your laptop/desktop has) for the connection
Those improvements did not change Photoshop’s central trade-off: you get an exceptionally broad, precise editor only through a Creative Cloud subscription. Its generative tools can still produce warped edges, smudged textures, strange shapes, and lighting or reflection errors. Photoshop CC 2024 is a strong recommendation for portrait retouchers, product photographers, designers, compositors, digital artists, and other serious creators. It is excessive for occasional cropping, basic exposure correction, or photo-library organization.
Scope note: this is a review of the 2024 release and the assessment published by TechRadar on December 8, 2024. It should not be read as a claim that Photoshop 26.0 is Adobe’s newest release in August 2026. Adobe’s later desktop release notes describe newer capabilities, including on-device Remove Tool processing, Reference Image controls, and partner models.
What Photoshop CC 2024 actually added
The 2024 update was less about reinventing Photoshop than about removing friction from jobs that traditionally demanded careful selections, cloning, masking, and repeated manual corrections. That matters because Photoshop’s conventional tools were already deep; the practical question was whether the new assistance could save time without creating more cleanup than it removed.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Distraction Removal | Automatically detects and removes common distractions such as people, wires, and cables in the Remove Tool. | Travel photos, environmental portraits, street scenes, landscapes, and product backgrounds. | Automatic detection is not the same as perfect reconstruction. Inspect nearby textures, edges, repeating patterns, and shadows. |
| Generative Fill | Adds, removes, or changes content within a selected area using a text prompt or an empty prompt for removal-style work. | Object cleanup, adding elements, compositing, and testing alternate creative directions. | Results can fail on detailed textures, reflections, mixed lighting, anatomy, and precise geometry. |
| Generative Expand | Extends the canvas and creates content beyond the original image boundaries. | Changing a crop, preparing social-media layouts, and creating more space around a subject. | Newly created areas may not match perspective, lighting, or repeating background detail. |
| Generate Similar | Creates variations based on an existing result or visual direction. | Concept development and quickly comparing alternate visual treatments. | Variations can drift from the source or repeat defects in a different form. |
| Generate Background | Creates or replaces a background around a subject. | Product imagery, portraits, composites, and concept work. | Hair, transparent objects, contact shadows, reflections, and edge transitions still need close review. |
Adobe made these generative capabilities generally available in the 26.0 release and integrated them into both the desktop application and Photoshop on the web. They were powered by Firefly Image Model 3, which Adobe positioned as an improvement in photorealism, prompt understanding, and variation quality.
How good is the generative AI?
The honest answer is that it became substantially more useful, not magically reliable. TechRadar’s hands-on review found that generated imagery was generally more believable than in the previous version, with fewer immediately uncanny results. The improvement was particularly noticeable when prompts involved living creatures.
That is enough to change the workflow. In 2024, Generative Fill and related tools could move from novelty features to practical first drafts, quick cleanup aids, and composition tools. A photographer can explore a wider crop, test a different background, or remove an unwanted passerby without beginning with a painstaking manual selection. A designer can generate options before committing to a fully constructed composite.
Rank #2
- PLEASE NOTE：XPPen Artist13.3 Pro drawing tablet Need to connect with computer,you need to use it with your computer or laptop, the 3 in 1 cable is included
- Drawing Tablet with Screen: Tilt Function- XPPen Artist 13.3 Pro supports up to 60 degrees of tilt function, so now you don't need to adjust the brush direction in the software again and again. Simply tilt to add shading to your creation and enjoy smoother and more natural transitions between lines and strokes
- Graphics Tablets: High Color Gamut- The 13.3 inch fully-laminated FHD Display pairs a superb color accuracy of 88% NTSC (Adobe RGB≧91%，sRGB≧123%) with a 178-degree viewing angle and delivers rich colors, vivid images, and dazzling details in a wider view. Your creative world is now as powerful as it is colorful
- Drawing Pad: One is enough- The sleek Red Dial on the display is expertly designed with creators in mind, its strategic placement allows for natural drawing postures. With just one wheel, you can effortlessly zoom in and out, adjust brush sizes, and flip the canvas—all tailored to suit the habits of everyday artists. The 8 customizable shortcut keys allow you to personalize your setup, streamlining your workflow and enhancing creative efficiency
- Universal Compatibility & Software Support：supports Windows 7 (or later), Mac OS X 10.10 (or later), Chrome OS 88 (or later), and Linux systems. Fully compatible with major creative software including Photoshop, Illustrator, SAI, and Blender 3D. Register your device to access additional programs like ArtRage 5 and openCanvas for expanded creative possibilities.
But the output still needs to be treated as an editable draft. The review encountered smudged textures, warped edges, strange shapes, and poor handling of reflections or scenes containing mixed lighting. An image may look convincing at normal zoom yet break down when examined at 100 percent, printed, or placed beside a product reference. AI-generated hands, cables, lettering, repeating architecture, jewelry, glass, and hard geometric edges deserve particular suspicion.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsA sensible Photoshop AI workflow
- Keep the original image and important edits recoverable. Generative assistance should not replace a clean source or a controlled editing structure.
- Use AI for the first pass. Let it remove a distraction, extend a crop, or propose a background rather than assuming the first result is final.
- Inspect edges and relationships. Check hair, object boundaries, contact shadows, reflections, perspective, and light direction—not just whether the main subject looks plausible.
- Regenerate or reduce the problem area when necessary. A smaller, more clearly defined area often gives you a better chance of correcting one defect without disturbing surrounding detail.
- Finish manually. Layers, masks, retouching tools, cloning, tonal adjustments, and selective corrections remain essential for professional delivery.
Photoshop’s advantage is that the conventional workflow remains in the same application. You are not forced to accept a generated result as the finished image; you can combine it with masks, adjustment layers, selections, typography, filters, and pixel-level retouching.
Why Photoshop is still so capable
The generative features attract attention, but Photoshop’s deeper strength is breadth. It brings together precise retouching, selections, masks, compositing, typography, color correction, adjustment layers, filters, painting tools, and image creation in one mature environment.
That breadth makes Photoshop useful when an image needs more than a global brightness or color adjustment. A portrait may require skin cleanup, hair masking, background replacement, and localized color work. A product photograph may need dust removal, perspective corrections, reflections, label cleanup, and a composite background. A designer may need to combine photography, type, painted elements, and multiple layouts in one document. Photoshop can handle all of those jobs without requiring a separate application for every stage.
The same scope is also the source of its complexity. Photoshop is not merely a larger version of a crop-and-correct app. Its power comes with layers, masks, selections, blending behavior, adjustment decisions, document management, and a large number of tools. New users can make progress quickly with a narrow task, but mastering a reliable, non-destructive workflow takes time.
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Photoshop versus Lightroom
Adobe’s own product distinction is useful: Photoshop emphasizes manipulation and creation, while Lightroom emphasizes organizing, processing, and editing photographs. The two are complementary rather than interchangeable.
Rank #3
- PLEASE NOTE: The XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro needs to connect with a computer to use. You need to use it with your Computer or Laptop. It is NOT a standalone drawing tablet
- Outstanding Visuals: The immersive 15.6 inch large screen with 1920x1080 p full HD resolution presents your creation in the depth of detail, provides you with clarity to see every detail of your work
- 8 customized express keys: The Artist 15.6 Pro monitor features 8 fully customizable shortcut keys and puts more customization options at your fingertips to suit you preferred work style, allowing you to capture and express your ideas easier and faster for optimized workflow
- Full-laminated Technology: XPPen Artist15.6 Pro art tablet is adopting full-laminated technology, seamlessly combines the glass and the screen, to create a distraction-free working environment that's also easy on the eyes
- Advanced Pen Performance: With up to 16384 levels of pressure sensitivity, the Battery-free Stylus provides you with increased accuracy and enhanced performance to create the finest sketches and lines
| Your main task | Better fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Organizing a large photo library, rating images, and applying broad exposure or color adjustments | Lightroom or another catalog-focused editor | The workflow is centered on managing and processing many photographs efficiently. |
| Detailed object removal, compositing, advanced selections, typography, and local retouching | Photoshop | The work depends on pixel-level control, layers, masks, and precise transformations. |
| Portrait retouching with detailed brush work | Photoshop, often alongside Lightroom | Lightroom can prepare and organize the image; Photoshop provides deeper retouching control. |
| Fast social-media graphics or occasional image changes | Photoshop only if you need its deeper tools | It can do the work, but a simpler editor may be easier and cheaper for light use. |
For photographers who already use Lightroom, the Photography plan can be more logical than subscribing to Photoshop alone if the included applications and storage match the workflow. For someone who only edits a handful of images each month, however, a bundle does not automatically make the subscription good value.
Subscription cost and buying cautions
Photoshop is subscription-only. There is no conventional perpetual license that lets you buy CC 2024 once and keep using that version indefinitely without a Creative Cloud subscription. This was TechRadar’s largest commercial criticism, and it remains the first question buyers should answer: will the depth of Photoshop save enough time or enable enough work to justify recurring payments?
Prices and plan contents change, vary by country, and may differ between monthly and annual commitments. At the time of this research, Adobe’s US page listed the Adobe Photography plan with Photoshop at US$19.99 per month when billed annually but paid monthly. That plan includes Photoshop, Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and 1TB of cloud storage. Adobe also documented a January 15, 2025 increase for the older Photography 20GB plan, from US$9.99 to US$14.99 per month when billed annually but paid monthly. The older-plan figure is historical pricing context, not a promise of current availability.
Check Adobe’s current plan page for your country before purchasing. Confirm the cancellation terms, included applications, cloud-storage amount, and generative-credit entitlement rather than relying on a price quoted in a 2024 review.
Generative credits, internet access, and offline work
Generative AI has an operational cost beyond the subscription. Adobe’s current documentation says that most standard generative features, including Firefly-powered Generative Fill, use one generative credit per generation. The Remove Tool currently does not consume generative credits. Allowances vary by plan and reset monthly, so heavy AI users should examine the terms of the specific plan they are considering.
These rules should not be projected backward as though they were necessarily identical to the rules in the original 2024 review. Adobe has changed models, features, and credit policies over time. A plan that looks adequate for occasional Generative Fill may be less comfortable for someone generating many variations every working day.
Rank #4
- 【Fully-Laminated Anti-Glare Screen & Zero Parallax】 Adopting cutting-edge fully-laminated technology, the 11.6-inch IPS display seamlessly combines glass and screen to eliminate visual gaps. With virtually zero parallax, your cursor lands precisely where you intend, offering an authentic, paper-like drawing experience. The built-in anti-glare protective film reduces harsh reflections, protecting your eyes during long creative sessions
- 【Innovative Red Dial & 8 Customizable Express Keys】 Streamline your workflow with the sleek, tactile Red Dial interface designed to fit comfortably in your hand. Easily zoom in/out on your canvas and adjust brush sizes with higher accuracy than traditional touch bars. Combined with 8 customizable shortcut keys, it lets you bypass the keyboard, capture ideas faster, and boost productivity for digital painting and editing
- 【8192 Levels Pressure Sensitivity & 60° Natural Tilt Support】 Powered by a battery-free stylus that requires no charging, this tablet delivers superior precision with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity—capturing every nuance down to individual hairs. Enjoy natural tilt support up to 60 degrees, allowing you to add smooth, organic shading without constantly adjusting brush angles in your software
- 【Must Connect to a Device & Broad System Compatibility】 Please note that this is a drawing monitor and cannot be used as a standalone tablet; it must be connected to a host device. It offers wide compatibility, supporting Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.10 or later, ChromeOS 88 or later, and Linux. Featuring a convenient 3-in-1 cable, it integrates seamlessly with major creative software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and SAI
- 【Versatile for E-Learning, Remote Teaching & Web Conferencing】 Beyond digital art, sketching, and animation, the Artist 12 Pro is a powerful productivity extension for your computer. When connected to your system, it enables smooth digital writing, document annotation, and real-time screen sharing on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, empowering interactive remote classes and online webinars
Cloud-based generative features require an internet connection when Adobe provides them as online services. That does not mean every Photoshop task stops when you are offline. Conventional local editing has different availability characteristics, and Adobe says cloud documents that are already cached on the device can be worked on offline, with synchronization occurring after reconnection. If you travel or work in unreliable connectivity, save important source files locally and understand which documents and features depend on the cloud.
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Performance and useful hardware
The review did not establish a universal performance benchmark, and Photoshop’s responsiveness depends heavily on document size, layer count, filters, generative operations, available memory, storage, and the computer itself. The practical point is that Photoshop rewards a deliberate workflow: avoid keeping unnecessary oversized layers, preserve organized documents, and expect cloud-assisted generation to behave differently from ordinary local brush or adjustment work.
For brush-based retouching and painting
A pressure-sensitive pen tablet is optional, but it is a genuine Photoshop workflow accessory rather than a generic computer upgrade. A Wacom Intuos graphics tablet provides a battery-free pressure-sensitive pen, customizable ExpressKeys, and Windows and Mac compatibility. Pressure sensitivity can make brush-based masking, portrait retouching, dodge and burn, and digital painting more controllable than using a mouse.
It is not required for ordinary Photoshop use. If your work is mostly selections, typography, cropping, layer organization, and global adjustments, a tablet may add little. It becomes more compelling when you make repeated brush strokes or need variable pressure and quick access to shortcuts.
For print and color-critical delivery
A color-accurate display and an understood color-management workflow matter when the final work must match across monitors, printers, cameras, or scanners. Adobe explains that a monitor profile describes how a display reproduces color and that accurate ICC profiles are important for reliable editing decisions and consistent output.
That makes a monitor calibration tool for Photoshop a sensible category to investigate for commercial photographers, print designers, and anyone delivering color-critical work. It is not a universal Photoshop purchase. For casual web images viewed on a range of consumer screens, calibration may be less urgent than learning Photoshop’s basic editing and export workflow.
Best Value
- Battery-Free Pen: StarG640 drawing tablet is the perfect replacement for a traditional mouse! The XPPen advanced Battery-free PN01 stylus does not require charging, allowing for constant uninterrupted Draw and Play, making lines flow quicker and smoother, enhancing overall performance
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- Compact and Portable: The G640 art tablet is only 2 mm thick, it's as slim as all primary level graphic tablets, allowing you to carry it with you on the go
- Chromebook Supported: XPPen G640 digital drawing tablet is ready to work seamlessly with Chromebook devices now, so you can create information-rich content and collaborate with teachers and classmates on Google Jamboard’s whiteboard; Take notes quickly and conveniently with Google Keep, and effortlessly sketch diagrams with the Google Canvas
- Multipurpose Use: Designed for playing OSU! Game, digital drawing, painting, sketch, sign documents digitally, this writing tablet also compatible with Microsoft Office programs like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote and more. Create mind-maps, draw diagrams or take notes as replacement for mouse
Who should buy Photoshop CC 2024?
Buy or subscribe if:
- You need detailed retouching, compositing, selections, masks, or pixel-level corrections.
- You work with portraits, products, advertising images, composites, digital paintings, or image-led design.
- You will use Generative Fill, Expand, Background, or Distraction Removal often enough to save meaningful time.
- You want one application that can move from photography to graphic layouts and image creation.
- You are willing to learn a complex tool and maintain a subscription.
Consider something simpler if:
- You mainly organize a photo library or apply global exposure and color adjustments.
- You edit only occasionally and cannot justify a recurring payment.
- You expect every AI result to be production-ready without manual inspection.
- You need only cropping, resizing, basic correction, or straightforward social-media output.
- You object in principle to subscription software and do not need Photoshop’s broader toolkit.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Extremely broad toolset for retouching, compositing, design, painting, and image creation.
- Distraction Removal makes common cleanup jobs less manual.
- Firefly Image Model 3 improved the realism and prompt response of generative features compared with the previous release.
- Generative Fill, Expand, Similar, and Background support both ideation and practical image work.
- Traditional layers-and-masks editing remains available for controlled, non-destructive work.
- Useful across professional photography, design, social assets, and digital art.
Cons
- Subscription-only access with no conventional perpetual license.
- Overkill for basic corrections and photo organization.
- AI output can contain subtle but serious artifacts.
- Generative features depend on internet access when delivered as cloud services.
- Generative-credit allowances vary by plan and reset monthly.
- The application’s breadth creates a real learning curve.
Final assessment
Photoshop CC 2024 earned its strong reputation because it improved the parts of image editing that often consume disproportionate time: removing distractions, extending a composition, replacing a background, adding objects, and exploring alternatives. Its AI was more believable than before, but it was still an assistant rather than an autonomous retoucher.
The release therefore strengthened Photoshop’s position without changing its audience. Professionals and serious creators who need compositing, precision retouching, advanced masking, painting, and design in one environment will find the subscription easier to justify. Casual editors, library-focused photographers, and buyers who dislike recurring software costs should look elsewhere or choose a simpler tool. The best answer is not that Photoshop is perfect; it is that no other part of this package of depth and flexibility is likely to matter more—or cost more—than your actual workload.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Photoshop CC 2024 still the current version?
No. Photoshop CC 2024 corresponds to the October 2024 Photoshop 26.0 release. As of August 2026, Adobe has released newer versions and changed some tools, models, and credit rules. This article evaluates the 2024 release as a historical product update, not as the newest Photoshop version.
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Can I buy Photoshop CC 2024 as a one-time purchase?
No. Photoshop is available through a Creative Cloud subscription rather than a conventional perpetual license. Adobe plan prices, included apps, storage, and generative-credit allowances vary by country and change over time.
How do Photoshop generative credits work?
Adobe’s current documentation says most standard generative features, including Firefly-powered Generative Fill, use one generative credit per generation. The Remove Tool currently does not use generative credits. Allowances vary by plan and reset monthly, so check the exact plan terms before buying.
Is Photoshop better than Lightroom for photographers?
Lightroom is generally better suited to organizing a photo library and making broad processing adjustments. Photoshop is the stronger choice for detailed retouching, compositing, selections, masks, typography, painting, and pixel-level manipulation. Many photographers use both.
Do I need a graphics tablet to use Photoshop?
No. A tablet is most useful for pressure-sensitive brush work such as masking, portrait retouching, dodge and burn, and digital painting. A mouse or trackpad is sufficient for many selection, layout, adjustment, and typography tasks.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Photoshop CC 2024 is an excellent historical release and still a powerful benchmark for serious photo editing. Its improved generative tools save time, but they do not remove the need for human judgment and cleanup. Subscribe if you need Photoshop’s full retouching, compositing, masking, design, and painting toolkit; otherwise, a simpler or catalog-focused editor is likely better value.
Quick Recap
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