Adobe has launched the public beta of a Flash 9 based online version of their popular image-editing and graphics software called Photoshop Express Beta. It allows users to store up to 2 gigabytes of images online for free, make edits to their photos, and share them online in creative ways, including downloading and uploading photos from popular social networking sites like Facebook, Picasa and Photobucket. It should work on any web browser that supports Flash 9 on Windows, Mac OSX or Linux.

Key features of Adobe Photoshop Express Beta include:

+ Upload and sort digital photos and edit them non-destructively to always preserve the original image

+ In a few clicks, make standard edits, such as removing blemishes and red-eye, converting to black and white, cropping and resizing, exposure, digital and color effects and much more

+ Use Pop Color to select an object in an image, mute the background color of the photo and swap the object’s color, so it jumps off the page.

+ Make photos look like drawings with Sketch effects.

+ Use Distort feature to distort facial features or objects within the images for a comical or artistic effect.

+ Upload and show off photos and slideshows in an online “Gallery” hosted by Adobe with options to conveniently embed or link photos to social networking sites and personal blogs without having to leave the application.

+ Make slideshows look better with animation that makes photos float and fly across the screen, allowing for viewer interactivity and unique presentation styles. You can choose to display your images in 3D or as a grid.