uxp plugins

Unified eXtensibility Platform (UXP)

What is UXP?

UXP provides modern JavaScript, a curated selection of UI components, and a more streamlined workflow for plugin developers to create plugins. It is currently available for Photoshop, InDesign and XD (Although XD is due to disappear).

With UXP, we can develop and create plugins that have:

  • Direct Actions – headless plugins that interface with Photoshop, the host OS, and the network, free of any UI.
  • Modal Dialogs – plugins that implement one or more modal dialogs. Good for simple user interfaces that don’t need to persist.
  • Panels – full-featured panels that look like any other panel in Photoshop. UXP panels can contain as complex a UI as you wish to develop. They can be resized, docked, opened and closed just like native Photoshop panels. And with appropriate CSS constructs, your panels can be theme-aware and change as the user switches UI themes in Photoshop.

Introduction to Adobe UXP: Revolutionizing Adobe Product Development

 

Leveraging Web Technologies for Creative Development

Adobe UXP represents a cutting-edge framework and set of APIs designed for developers. Its purpose? To craft custom user interfaces and experiences within Adobe products. With Adobe UXP, developers can introduce new panels, dialogs, and menu commands, utilizing familiar web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Enriching Development with Specialized Libraries and Tools

 

Libraries and tools specifically designed for seamless interaction with the underlying Adobe application greatly enrich Adobe UXP. Moreover, they provide capabilities for accessing and manipulating document data, further enabling the execution of common tasks such as image processing and data export.

Streamlining Plugin Distribution via Creative Cloud Marketplace

 

A key advantage of Adobe UXP is its facilitation for developers to share their custom functionalities. This is achieved through the Creative Cloud marketplace, streamlining the process for users to discover and install new plugins and scripts. 

Cross-Platform Plugin Compatibility

 

Adobe UXP stands out for its versatility, enabling the creation of cross-platform plugins. These plugins are compatible with multiple Adobe applications, including Photoshop and InDesign on Windows and Mac platforms.

Conclusion: Empowering Developers and Designers with Adobe UXP

In essence, Adobe UXP equips developers and designers with a robust toolkit. This toolkit not only simplifies the customization and enhancement of Adobe products but also paves the way for crafting distinctive user experiences.