Overview
This guide walks you through your options for accessing Adobe Creative Cloud applications at USC, and takes a broad look at the three main categories of applications and services by Adobe Inc:
- Computer applications
- Web/cloud services
- Mobile and tablet apps
Accessing Adobe applications at USC
Purchasing a subscription through DTS
If you need an Adobe subscription for your work, your department can obtain a "named user license" for you through DTS: you will be able to install Adobe applications on multiple computers and log in using your Adobe ID, but you cannot share your access with others.
To purchase an Adobe Creative Cloud "All Apps" subscription through DTS (lower pricing than Adobe's education discount):
- Submit your request via the DTS service catalog.
- Allow one or two days for processing. DTS will create your Adobe ID and assign the subscription to your Adobe ID.
- Once your subscription is processed, Adobe will email you a link. Follow our instructions to register your Adobe ID via this link and begin installing Adobe applications to your computer.
Using University computing center computers
ITS computing center computers are equipped with machine licenses: the full suite of Adobe applications is already installed and you do not need an Adobe subscription to use them. This option does require you to create a free Adobe ID.
Using ITS lab computers on-campus
- Create a free Adobe ID at https://accounts.adobe.com.
- Go to one of the following ITS labs:
- Ahmanson Information Commons (Leavey Library, lower level)
- King Hall 206
- Waite Phillips Hall B34
- Log into a USC computer using your USC credentials.
- Search for and open the Adobe application (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc). Log in using your free Adobe ID to begin using Adobe.
Using ITS lab computers from off-campus
- Create a free Adobe ID at https://accounts.adobe.com.
- Download and install ITS's remote access tool by following the instructions at https://itservices.usc.edu/vdi.
- Using ITS's remote access tool, log into the computer with your USC credentials.
- Search for and open the Adobe application (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc). Log in using your free Adobe ID to begin using Adobe.
Adobe computer applications
The Adobe Creative Cloud "All Apps" subscription through DTS grants you access to 20+ applications, including:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
All of these apps can be installed onto your computer via the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app once you have an Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps subscription.
If you do not have a subscription, you can still access these apps by creating a free Adobe ID and using the ITS lab computers.
Adobe web/cloud services
The following services are available to you when you sign into their respective websites using your Adobe ID. Note that these services are not available on the ITS lab computers.
Adobe Express (previously Adobe Spark)
- https://adobe.com/express
- Faster than loading up Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign
- User-friendly for non-graphic designers
- Large library of premade assets: templates, images, backgrounds, icons, color schemes, layouts, etc
- Use for: promoting a small departmental event, making a quick e-vite for a Zoom commencement link, making graphics to post to social media
- Requires Adobe license to access premium features (basic features can be used for free)
Adobe Fonts
- https://fonts.adobe.com
- Typefaces available through Adobe Fonts can be used in any Adobe application including Adobe Express, Photoshop, InDesign, etc
- And can be used on websites (so long as you have the ability to edit the website’s HTML/CSS)
- Requires Adobe license (no free version)
Adobe mobile and tablet apps
Adobe has 30+ free apps available for installation on your mobile or tablet device. While a few of them, such as Photoshop for iPad, do require an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, most of the apps are stand-alone apps and do not require a subscription. They do however require that you log in using your Adobe ID.
Some particularly useful apps:
-
Adobe Capture: For graphic design assets (type matching, pattern generation, brush creation)
-
Adobe Fresco: Freehand sketching and painting; best when used in combination with a stylus pen
To download and install Adobe apps on a Dornsife-managed iPad/iPhone, open the App Store on your device and search for "Adobe."
Additional resources
USC resources
Non-USC resources