Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop
Name	Adobe Photoshop
Caption	A screenshot of Photoshop CC 2024 on macOS
Developer	Adobe Inc.
Released	19 February 1990
Latest release version	25.7.0
Latest release date	9 April 2024
Operating system	Windows 10 and later, macOS 11 and later, iPadOS 14 and later
Genre	Raster graphics editor
License	Proprietary software
Website	https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html

Contents

History
Features
File formats
Versions
Industry usage
See also

Adobe Photoshop. It is a raster graphics editor developed and published by Adobe Inc. for Windows and macOS operating systems. First created in 1988 by Thomas Knoll and John Knoll, it has become the industry standard for digital image manipulation and creation, used by millions of professionals and hobbyists worldwide. Its extensive toolset allows for photo editing, graphic design, digital painting, and complex compositing work.

History

The application originated from a program called Display, created by Thomas Knoll in 1987 while he was a PhD student at the University of Michigan. His brother, John Knoll, an employee at Industrial Light & Magic, recognized its potential as a commercial image editing tool. The brothers collaborated to expand the software, initially named ImagePro, before licensing it to Adobe Systems in 1988. The first version, released in 1990, was exclusively for the Apple Macintosh. Key early milestones included the introduction of paths in version 2.0 and layers in version 3.0, which fundamentally changed creative workflows. The software's evolution has been closely tied to advancements in personal computing, from the rise of CD-ROM distribution to its current status as a cornerstone of the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription service.

Features

The software provides a vast array of tools for manipulating pixel-based images. Core features include non-destructive editing through adjustment layers and Smart Objects, advanced selection tools like the Quick Selection Tool and Pen tool, and comprehensive color correction with Curves and Levels. It supports sophisticated retouching with the Clone Stamp tool, Healing Brush, and Content-Aware Fill. For artists, it offers extensive brush engines and support for graphics tablets with pressure sensitivity. More recent innovations powered by Adobe Sensei include Neural Filters for AI-driven edits and Sky Replacement for automatically altering backgrounds. The interface is highly customizable, with configurable workspaces, panels, and keyboard shortcuts to suit different disciplines like photography, web design, or 3D work.

File formats

Its native format, PSD (Photoshop Document), preserves layers, masks, and other editing features. For broad compatibility, it supports major raster formats including JPEG, TIFF, PNG, and GIF. It can also open and export RAW files from digital cameras, utilizing the Adobe Camera Raw plugin for processing. For print and publishing workflows, support for PDF and EPS is integral. Interoperability with other applications in the Adobe Creative Suite is facilitated through formats like AI and INDD. It also offers export options for SVG and video formats like MP4 for use in motion graphics and user interface design.

Versions

Major version releases have historically introduced transformative features. Version 3.0 (1994) added layers, version 5.0 (1998) introduced the History palette, and version 7.0 (2002) brought the Healing Brush. The landmark CS era began in 2003, with Photoshop CS integrating the Adobe Creative Suite. Photoshop CS6 (2012) was the final perpetual license version before the shift to a subscription model. The current era is defined by CC and, later, simply "Photoshop" (e.g., version 25.0), with updates delivered continuously. Significant modern releases have focused on cloud integration, 3D capabilities, and AI-powered tools. A dedicated version for Apple Silicon and a streamlined app for iPadOS have also been developed.

Industry usage

It is ubiquitous across creative professions. In photography, it is essential for post-processing, retouching, and creating photomanipulation for editorial and commercial work. The graphic design industry relies on it for creating website layouts, advertising materials, and packaging design. It is a critical tool in film and video game production for creating textures, matte paintings, and concept art. Its use extends to architecture for rendering presentations, forensic science for image analysis, and scientific imaging for data visualization. The software's influence is so profound that the term "photoshopped" has entered common lexicon to describe any digitally altered image.

History

Features

File formats

Versions

Industry usage

See also