PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.
Run a Free PC Scan →Free scan · Windows 10 & 11
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
Adobe MAX 2025 took place in Los Angeles from October 28–30. Adobe’s announcements centered on generative and conversational AI across Firefly and Creative Cloud, spanning image, audio, video, ideation, production, and creative assistants. Availability varied: some features were generally available at launch, while others were public beta, private beta, or previews.
This is a retrospective of what Adobe announced at the event, not a current availability audit or independent test. Treat Adobe’s descriptions of product capabilities and benefits as company claims, and check current product documentation before relying on a feature.
#1 Best Overall
- Wacom Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet: Enjoy industry leading tablet performance in superior control and precision with Wacom's EMR, battery free technology that feels like pen on paper
- Works With All Software: Wacom Intuos tablet can be used in any software program to explore new facets of digital creativity; draw, paint, edit photos/videos, create designs, and mark up documents
- What the Professionals Use: Wacom's industry leading pen technology and pen to paper feeling makes it the preferred drawing tablet of professional graphic designers
- Software and Training Included: Only Wacom gives you software with every purchase. Register your Intuos tablet and gain access to some of the best creative software and Wacom's online training
- Wacom is the Global Leader in Drawing Tablet and Displays: For over 40 years in pen display and tablet market, you can trust that Wacom to help you bring your vision, ideas and creativity to life
The short version
- Biggest strategic move: Adobe presented Firefly as a broader creative AI studio for ideation, creation, and production.
- Across Creative Cloud: Announcements included Photoshop model options, Premiere AI Object Mask, and Lightroom Assisted Culling.
- Availability varied: Some features were generally available at launch; others were public beta, private beta, or preview in October 2025.
- Partner direction: Adobe announced integrations with external AI models and an expanded Google Cloud partnership that included enterprise customization plans.
Adobe’s MAX 2025 announcement framed the event around AI integrated into creative workflows. That is Adobe’s positioning, not independent evidence that every feature is equally capable, suitable, or commercially appropriate.
Firefly became a broader creative AI studio
Adobe described Firefly as an all-in-one creative AI studio for ideation, creation, and production. Its MAX announcements covered image generation and editing, audio, speech, video, partner models, customized models, collaboration, and bulk image production.
Firefly Image Model 5
Adobe announced Firefly Image Model 5, describing it as capable of photorealistic image generation at native 4-megapixel resolution and prompt-based editing. These are Adobe’s product claims, not independent quality measurements.
Prompt-based editing was presented as a way to revise existing images as well as generate new ones. For visual creators, such tools may support exploration and iteration, but the resulting work still needs review and editing for the intended purpose.
Rank #2
- Large Active Drawing Space: UGEE M708 V3 graphic drawing tablet features 10 x 6 inch large active drawing space with papery texture surface, provides enormous and smooth drawing for your digital artwork creation, offers no-lag sketch and painting experience
- 16384 Passive Stylus Technology: A more affordable passive stylus technology offers 16384 levels of pressure sensitivity allows you to draw accurate lines of any weight and opacity according to the pressure you apply to the pen, sharper line with light pressure and thick line with hard pressure for artistry design or unique brush effect for photo retouching
- Compatible with Multiple System and Softwares: Powerful compatibility, tablet for drawing computer, perform well with Windows 11/10/8/7, Mac OS X 10.10 or later, Android 10.0 or later, mac OS 10.12 or later, Chrome OS 88 or later and Linux; Driver program works with creative software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Macromedia Flash, Comic Studio, SAI, Infinite Stratos, 3D MAX, Autodesk MAYA, Pixologic ZBrush and more
- Ergonomically Designed Shortcuts: 8 customizable express keys on the side for short cuts like eraser, zoom in and out, scrolling and undo, provide a lot more for convenience and helps to improve the productivity and efficiency when creating with the drawing tablet
- Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The UGEE M708 V3 offers USB to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C, ensuring easy connection to various devices and allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns; Whether using a laptop, desktop, chromebook, or tablet, the UGEE M708 V3 provides a seamless experience for those just starting their digital art journey
Firefly Boards and Creative Production
Adobe announced updates to Firefly Boards for ideation and collaboration, including image upscaling, prompt generation, object rotation, and PDF export. It also positioned Firefly Creative Production for bulk image editing, including background replacement, color grading, and cropping across large sets. Adobe described capacity for as many as thousands of images at once; Creative Production was private beta at launch.
Partner models and Firefly Custom Models
Adobe emphasized access to partner AI models alongside its own models. Its announcements included models from Google and other companies, integrated into Adobe’s creative ecosystem. Model availability and behavior may differ by product and release status; the event materials do not establish that models have equivalent quality, licensing, or suitability.
Adobe also announced Firefly Custom Models for more personalized generation and described enterprise customization plans through Firefly Foundry. These announcements do not imply unrestricted permission to use another artist’s work or other material for model customization. Teams should establish appropriate rights and consent before using source material.
Audio, speech, and video
Adobe announced Generate Soundtrack and Generate Speech in public beta. It described these as tools for generating music tailored to video and creating speech. The event announcement is not a blanket assurance that generated audio is cleared for every use; review applicable product terms and get appropriate consent when a real person’s voice or identity is involved.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Word-first 16K Pressure Levels: The upgraded stylus features 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity and supports up to 60 degrees of tilt, delivering smoother lines and shading for a natural drawing experience. With no battery or charging needed, it operates like a real pen, making it easy for beginners to create effortlessly. This functionality helps novice artists develop their skills and explore their creativity without the intimidation of complex tools
- Designed for Beginners: This drawing pad desinged with 8 customizable shortcuts for both right and left-hand users, express keys create a highly ergonomic and convenient work platform
- Perfectly Adapted for Android: The XPPen Deco 01 V3 art tablet supports connections with Android devices running version 10.0 and above. It is recommended to download the XPPen Tools Android application, which adapts to your smartphone's screen aspect ratio, ensuring accurate mapping. It also supports mapping on Android screens with different aspect ratios in portrait mode
- Large Drawing Space, Bigger Bold Inspiration: This expansive drawing pad has10 x 6.25-inch helps you break through the limit between shortcut keys and drawing area
- Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The Deco 01 V3 offers USB-C to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C. This ensures easy connection to various devices, allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns. Whether using a laptop, tablet, or desktop, the Deco 01 V3 provides a seamless experience, making it an ideal choice for those just starting their digital art journey
Adobe’s timeline-based Firefly video editor was in private beta at launch. It signaled a move toward assembling and editing video in Firefly, but should not be treated as a generally available replacement for desktop editing software based on the 2025 announcement alone.
Creative Cloud application announcements
Adobe’s Creative Cloud announcements included features at different launch stages. The table summarizes the event-era status reported in Adobe’s roundup; it does not indicate present-day availability.
| Application or area | Announcement | Status at launch in October 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Photoshop | Generative Fill with partner-model choices; Generative Upscale using Topaz Labs technology; Harmonize | Generally available |
| Premiere | AI Object Mask | Public beta |
| Lightroom | Assisted Culling | Public beta |
| Firefly | Image Model 5, Generate Soundtrack, Generate Speech | Public beta |
| Firefly | Video editor, Custom Models, Creative Production | Private beta |
| Photoshop, Express, and Firefly | Conversational or agentic assistants | Assistants and previews were announced; access varied |
Photoshop: partner models, Generative Upscale, and Harmonize
Adobe announced partner-model choices in Photoshop Generative Fill, along with Generative Upscale using Topaz Labs technology and Harmonize for assisted compositing. These additions offered more options within Photoshop workflows, but the event announcement does not establish that all models produce equivalent results or that every option is available in every plan, region, or release channel.
Before relying on a feature for a client project, check current access and terms, and inspect whether the result supports the editing and revision process the project requires.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #4
- Working Area Configuration - HUION art tablet equips with a 10 x 6.25 inches working area, providing the user with the most comfortable size to work; the 10mm slim structure and minimalist design of appearance make the drawing tablet more attractive.
- Tilt Function Battery-free Stylus: This computer graphics tablet come with a battery-free stylus PW100, no need to charge, allowing for constant uninterrupted drawing. ±60° tilt support enables imitation of lines input with diverse drawing gestures, with accuracy ensured.
- Press Keys:12 programmable press keys plus 16 programmable soft keys, you can set shortcut keys on drawing tablet's driver based on your preferences, such as erase, zoom in/out, scroll up and down, and so on.
- Compatibility: HUION graphics tablet supports Windows 7 or later/ macOS 10.12 or later/ Android 6.0 or later/ Linux (Ubuntu). A USB adapter is required to connect to a Mac computer. H1060P supports various mainstream design and drawing software, including PS, SAI, AI, CDR, etc. (Please note: The H1060P is compatible with Ubuntu, but it requires the use of the Xorg display server. Wayland is not supported.)
- NOTE: You can easily connect your phone to the art tablet via the OTG connector; while iPhone and iPad are NOT at the moment. The cursor will not show up in the SAMSUNG Galaxy S series at present. If you are not sure whether the product is compatible with your Phone or any help, please contact us.
Assistants and Project Moonlight
Adobe presented conversational or agentic assistants in Photoshop, Express, and Firefly. It also previewed Project Moonlight, described as an assistant spanning Adobe apps and creators’ social channels. These were announcements and previews, not proof that every assistant workflow was generally available at the event or is available today.
Premiere: AI Object Mask
Adobe announced AI Object Mask for Premiere as a public-beta feature. It was presented as a way to isolate objects in video. The announcement does not establish how much correction a particular shot or sequence may need; test it with representative footage before depending on it for deadline-critical work.
Lightroom: Assisted Culling
Adobe announced Assisted Culling for Lightroom as a public-beta feature to help photographers select images. Lightroom’s product lineup includes different versions, so check current documentation for the specific application and release channel before changing a production workflow.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Partnerships and conference demonstrations
Adobe announced an expanded strategic partnership with Google Cloud, describing access to Google models in Adobe products and an enterprise path for customizing models with proprietary data through Firefly Foundry. These are partnership plans and product announcements, not independent evaluations of model performance or a general permission to use any data for customization.
Recommended Free Tools
Best Value
- Customize Your Workflow: The 6 customizable press keys on Huion H640P drawing tablet for pc let you assign your most-used commands—like undo, zoom, brush switch, or save—so you can keep your hands on the tablet and your mind on the art. Whether you're a digital painter switching brushes, or a comic artist zooming in and out, these keys keep your workflow smooth and uninterrupted. Plus, the Huion driver lets you save different shortcut profiles for different apps, so you never have to reconfigure when switching software.
- Professional Pen Performance: Huion H640P drawing pad for computer comes with the battery-free PW100 stylus that's always ready when inspiration strikes. With 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, every light sketch, or bold stroke responds naturally to your hand—just like a real pen. The 5080 LPI resolution and 233 PPS report rate deliver lag-free, precise strokes, so you can draw confidently without second-guessing your cursor. The pen side buttons help you switch between pen and eraser instantly.
- Compact and Portable: Huion H640P computer graphics tablet features a compact, ultra-portable design at just 0.3 inches thin and 0.61 lbs light, so it slides easily into your backpack—perfect for sketching in coffee shops, taking notes in class, or editing on the go between home and studio. The 6x4 inch active area offers enough room for natural pen movements while fitting comfortably on crowded desks, or lecture hall seats.
- Stable Compatibility: Huion H640P graphic drawing tablet works seamlessly with Mac, Windows, Linux PCs, and Android smartphones/tablets (OS version 6.0 or later). Left-handed friendly, and you just need to flip the tablet and adjust the settings in the driver. Please note: H640P does NOT support iPhone/iPad.
- Move Beyond the Mouse: Huion Inspiroy H640P is a pen tablet that replaces your mouse for more natural, precise control. Freehand draw, take notes, or even play OSU—everything you do with a mouse, you can do better with a pen. The precise tip makes it ideal for detailed photo editing, graphic design, or signing PDF. Meanwhile, the ergonomic pen grip helps you avoid the strain that comes from hours of using a mouse.
The opening keynote also highlighted AI tools, Firefly and Premiere on iPhone, Adobe AI Foundry, and Adobe’s vision for control, collaboration, and creative freedom. A conference session described turning a Photoshop collage into a moving narrative using Premiere and After Effects. These demonstrations show the range of event programming, but should not be confused with availability guarantees.
How to evaluate an announced feature
- Check its event-era status: distinguish generally available, public beta, private beta, and preview.
- Verify current availability: the October 2025 status is historical, not a current product audit.
- Test a representative project: use an ordinary file, image set, or footage workflow rather than relying only on a stage demonstration.
- Review the result: check whether the output is suitable for the intended use and can be revised as needed.
- Confirm rights and terms: take particular care with generated audio, voice or identity, and material used for model customization.
- Keep a fallback: avoid making a deadline-critical project depend on a feature whose access or behavior you have not verified.
FAQ
What did Adobe announce at MAX 2025?
Adobe announced AI features and initiatives across Firefly and Creative Cloud, including image, audio, speech, and video tools; Photoshop, Premiere, and Lightroom features; assistants; partner-model integrations; and an expanded Google Cloud partnership.
Which Adobe MAX 2025 features were available at launch?
Adobe’s event-era roundup listed Photoshop Generative Fill with partner models, Generative Upscale, and Harmonize as generally available. It listed Premiere AI Object Mask, Lightroom Assisted Culling, and several Firefly features as public beta, while the Firefly video editor, Custom Models, and Creative Production were private beta. These are October 2025 statuses, not a current availability check.
Was Firefly Image Model 5 independently tested at the event?
The research for this retrospective established no independent benchmark or user test. Adobe described the model as producing photorealistic images at native 4-megapixel resolution; those specifications and quality descriptions should be attributed to Adobe.
Did Adobe MAX 2025 include a subscription price change?
The event materials establish announcements about Creative Cloud and Firefly features, but do not provide verified current subscription prices. Check Adobe’s current regional plan details before making a buying decision.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
