First we’ll show you how to get these applications set up with Photoshop.

First, open Photoshop and navigate to Edit > Remote Connections. From this dialog, check the box labeled “Enable Remote Connections,” and type in a unique Service Name and Password. Note that the password must be at least six characters. When completed, click OK.

Next, open each of your Photoshop companion apps on your iPad and tap on the Photoshop icon in the lower, right-hand corner of the app. If you are connected to the same network, your Service Name should appear under the “Discovered” section. Tap it.

You will then be prompted for your Remote Connection password. This is the password that you just set in Photoshop on your Mac. Type in the password, then tap on the Connect button. After a few seconds, your iPad companion app will be connected to Photoshop on your Mac.

The Nav application is available from the iTunes App Store for $1.99.

The Nav app lets you use Photoshop full screen by placing your tools palette on your iPad. After connecting to PS, just tap on the tool you desire and you're ready to crop, move, or select.

To add more tools, or switch out tools, in the palette, tap on the Edit button. This will bring up a listing of all the possible tools on the right-hand side of the application. You can drag up to 16 tools to the left-hand section. When you are finished customizing the tools, tap on the Done button.

Tap on the tiles in the bottom center of the application to view all of the opened projects in Photoshop CS5. You can tap on the project you wish to directly manipulate with the tool selection to bring it to the front on your Mac, or create a new PS file by tapping on the + button.

The Color Lava application is available from the iTunes App Store for $2.99. This application allows you to mix colors just as an artist would on a paint palette.

After launching the application and connecting to PS on your Mac, you can select one of the 5 open color swatches on the right side of the application. Then, with a finger, you can select a color from the color wheel. On the large, white area, drag your finger across. Repeat this process to overlap and mix colors to create new ones.

After mixing your color, tap anywhere on the paint blob you mixed to select a color from the area you tapped. The color will appear in the selected swatch on the right-hand side of the app. Tapping on the color square will select that color as the foreground color in Photoshop.

You can also select a color from a photo on your iPad by clicking on the camera button and selecting a saved photo. You can then tap on an area in the photo to match that color and place it in one of the swatches on the right-hand side.

The Adobe Eazel application is available in the iTunes App Store for $4.99. This application allows you to finger paint on your iPad to start a new Photoshop project, then transfer it over the network to the Photoshop application.

With Eazel, you are able to start your Photoshop projects while on the go by using the very limited functionality provided by this application. However, on an original iPad, we experienced a lot of lag with the application trying to keep up with even our simplistic drawings.

By placing 4 fingers down on the screen at once, you are able to access the color, size, opacity, and settings for the application.

To transfer your project to Photoshop, place 4 fingers on the screen, then tap on Settings. From there, select “Transmit to Photoshop.” After a few seconds, your project will show up as a new file in Photoshop on your Mac. Be aware that there is no transfer notification on the iPad.