Participant

Answered

Device Preview Removed?

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
October 25, 2017
11 replies
13290 views

Device Preview was an extremely useful tool that I used often. Why was it removed?

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer gener7

Here's an official response:

Stephen Nielson, Group Product Manager

Yes, Device Preview was removed from the latest version of Photoshop. We always try to avoid removing features unless absolutely necessary. In this case, it was necessary to improve the performance of Photoshop, as well as focus our development efforts on higher-priority needs.

If you are on macOS, I would recommend you try out the free Skala Preview app as an alternative. The client app is available for both iOS and Android: https://bjango.com/mac/skalapreview/

If you are on Windows, there are a number of alternatives available that you might try.

L

Linden16B8

Participant

I am asking related to Dreamweaver only. On 11/16/2021 a note was posted by Adobe saying that device preview was discontinued across all Dreamweaver platforms. Is that permanent for Dreamweaver? Hopefully not. It is a hugely helpful tool for monitoring (on my iPhone) what my page changes actually look like on my iPhone vs. an inadequate desktop display on my computer for "smaller displays" that does not scale down to an actual phone size screen. The feature has been ingenious on Adobe's part to include.

A

AndreaFryerUBI

Participant

I've just spent 2 hours trying to figure out why Adobe Preview is not connecting with Photoshop anymore and finally found this post. I have to say that I'm quite devastated that this has been removed. Many of us in our mobile games studio uses this feature a lot, especially the game artists. Whenever I've been designing UI's for our mobile games, I've usually kept my device connected at all times to make sure all the UI elements are visible enough on the phone as well.

A

AndreaFryerUBI

Participant

And PS: Tried installing PsMirror which seems to be a bit of a questionable app. I could not get it to work. It wanted me to log in, however didn't give me an option to register, then was expecting some QR code etc.

X

xiaoqiangz23063408

Participating Frequently

Hi

You can register an account on the website here

http://www.psmirror.net/en

If meet any problem, you can ask the creator for help on twitter.

and. I am the creator...

N

natereese

Participant

Damn I really miss this feature. please bring it back - super disappointing its gone.

eddiea17839515

Participant

So they got rid of this feature and the ability to preview the font increments on the fly. (Being able to see the font get bigger or smaller using the up and down arrow keys) What the hell Adobe?

kidizz

Participant

Mmmm...Looks like you try to force users to switch Abobe XD

JJMack

Community Expert

User here do not force other users to do anything. We just use Adobe products and try to help other users use Adobe Photoshop. I for one only use Photoshop. I do not develop for the web and have absolutely not reason to want Device Preview or Adobe XD. Like any Creative cloud user I can install older versions of Adobe Products like Photoshop and older version of Apple iOS on Apple devices and use Device Preview with Photoshop if I needed it. I could also install Adobe XD and use it. I guess I just don't feel the force. It not a strong force for sure.

User here have suggested using PS Mirror not Adobe XD Ps Mirror - Photoshop Design Preview

JJMack

J

Janduza

Known Participant

"I do not develop for the web and have absolutely not reason to want Device Preview or Adobe XD."

Jack, Please realize that Photoshop is a primary tool for multiple disciplines (e.g. game design, ui design, product development, concept art) that develop for mobile devices. Adobe cannot segment out core visualization tools without hampering these individuals' workflow by requiring switching to another application to view updates on device or being reliant on 3rd party applications.

Reverting to earlier versions of Photoshop is not an option, as mobile application artists and developers appreciate all of Adobe's feature improvements and versioning.

J

Janduza

Known Participant

This was an unfortunate omission from PS 2018 – even though there are 3rd party applications that mimic this feature. However, 3rd party applications are subject to tardy updates and the possibility of being discontinued. Since Photoshop is the requisite tool for mobile application and graphic design – then the facility to preview those designs, instantly, is mandatory to an efficient workflow (especially in a environment of tight deadlines and hovering design directors).

For those who are writing, in defense of discontinuing this feature, that Photoshop was never intended as a UI design tool, please realize that was only true around 1990. Since then Photoshop has been intentionally developed and refined into a essential tool for multiple design disciplines.

Please bring this feature back as it is central to workflows, including photographers who need to preview the appearance of images on devices during the editing phases.

JJMack

Community Expert

You should use Adobe Feedback site for your request. Post your append there Photoshop Family Customer Community

JJMack

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xiaoqiangz23063408

Participating Frequently

I search the internet to find some other to replace Device Preview, and finally got one name PsMirror.

It works like Device Preview.

Marek Janjic

Participant

Thank you, it's working for me perfectly

G

gi0rg

Participant

This was an extremely useful tool in photoshop and one of the few that was keeping me designing for screens with Photoshop. With InVision Studio coming out and apps like Sketch, Adobe is going to lose more users with time. To say I am disappointed in the removal of this feature is an understatement.

JJMack

Community Expert

You should then communicate that to Adobe if there is a high demand perhaps Adobe will develop a new Device preview feature they can support. Use Adobe Feedback site not this user forum you not dealing with Adobe here your communicating with Adobe users like yourself.. Use this link tell Adobe You want a Device Preview feature: Photoshop Family Customer Community

JJMack

yervandmazlumyan

Participant

I agree with JJMack. Even though, the feature was very useful, in order to keep a feature like that it has to be used heavily, otherwise it does not make sense. Myself, I used it a lot, since it was very easy to give presentations live and get feedback from the clients. The only alternative I could probably suggest is Exporting Artboards as PDF and syncing with Creative Cloud. The only downside is, that if you need to make any changes, you will have to re-export it again.

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Nzinga

Participant

It was very useful. I can name a few other things that could have been removed, other than the Preview App. Hopefully Adobe, will come up with a plug in, for those of us that want it.

JJMack

Community Expert

A Photoshop Plug-in can not provide you a device preview. This Photoshop feature communicated with your mobile device's device preview apps. These apps are no longer available. They also do not work on Mobile devices with new mobile Operating systems like IOS 11 which supports 64bit apps old 32 bit apps like device preview are incompatible with IOS11. You can continue to use your old Photoshop version and you old IOS system with the old device preview apps you have.

JJMack

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