How a student project on a Macintosh Plus became the world's standard image editor.
In short: In 1987, Thomas Knoll began writing code to display grayscale images on a monochrome screen. What started as a simple experiment, later named Photoshop, evolved into the industry standard for digital art. Today, its influence is so profound that its name has become a verb, despite Adobe's efforts to protect it.
The origins of Photoshop lie in the collaboration between brothers Thomas and John Knoll. While Thomas, a Ph.D. student at the University of Michigan, developed the core code on his Macintosh Plus, his brother John, an employee at Industrial Light & Magic, recognized its potential as a professional tool. After a brief attempt to distribute the software with a slide scanner via Barneyscan in 1988, Adobe Systems Incorporated purchased the distribution license in September of that same year. By February 19, 1990, the first version was released exclusively for Macintosh.
The software's evolution was marked by rapid innovation and strategic expansion. In 1993, architect Seetharaman Narayanan ported the program to Windows, significantly broadening its user base. By 1995, Adobe secured full ownership by purchasing the rights from the Knoll brothers for $34.5 million. Over the following decades, the platform introduced transformative features such as layers in version 3.0, smart objects in CS2, and non-destructive editing, which allowed professionals to manipulate images without permanent data loss.
Photoshop's technical architecture is defined by its proprietary PSD and PSB file formats, which support complex features like layers, masks, and alpha channels. While these formats are restricted to Adobe's ecosystem, the software's utility is bolstered by an extensive plugin architecture. From color correction to 3D effects, third-party developers have expanded the tool's capabilities far beyond its original scope. Today, the software remains a cornerstone of digital creativity, integrated into workflows ranging from fine art to tactical urbanism design.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Adobe Photoshop
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