A Visual History of Adobe Photoshop

Summary

Photoshop, a household name for image editing, originated from Thomas and John Knoll in 1987. Initially called Display, it was renamed Photoshop in 1988 and was acquired by Adobe, leading to the release of version 1.0. Over the years, it has introduced iconic tools like the Eyedropper and Eraser, and even hidden features, evolving with the Creative Suite and Creative Cloud. Today, it's a global standard in multiple industries, with over 8 million Creative Cloud subscribers, and its name is so widely used that Adobe risks losing its copyright.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Photoshop is one of the most recognizable pieces of software, with its name becoming synonymous with image editing.
• 🖥️ The software was created in 1987 by Thomas Knoll, a computer science student, and his brother John Knoll, who worked in the film industry.
• 🔧 The initial version of the software was named 'Display' and was later renamed to Photoshop in 1988.
• 📸 Photoshop was first designed to enhance photos, but has become a tool for creating idealized and distorted versions of reality.
• 🛠️ The first version of Photoshop (1.0) included iconic tools like the Eyedropper, Pencil, and Eraser, which are still in use today.
• ✂️ Over time, additional tools like the Clone Stamp, Layer Styles, Lasso Tool, and the Undo command became essential features.
• 💵 Photoshop introduced hidden features, such as the ability to detect and ignore images of banknotes in version 7.0.
• 🎨 Photoshop became part of Adobe's Creative Suite (CS), which was later renamed Creative Cloud in 2013, offering continuous updates and new features.
• 🌍 Photoshop is widely used in various industries around the world and has over 8 million subscribers through Adobe's Creative Cloud.
• 📽️ Although Photoshop didn’t become a special effects powerhouse, John Knoll went on to work on famous films like Mission Impossible, Harry Potter, and Star Wars.

Q & A

What does the term 'Photoshop' commonly refer to in everyday language?

The term 'Photoshop' has become synonymous with photo retouching and image editing, to the extent that it is often used as a verb to describe the act of digitally altering images.

Who were the original creators of Photoshop?

Photoshop was created by Thomas and John Knoll, with Thomas writing the initial code in 1987 and John, who worked at Industrial Light and Magic, helping to develop it further.

What was the original name of Photoshop?

The original name of Photoshop was 'Display', a name it held before being renamed to 'Photoshop' in 1988.

What was the primary motivation behind creating Photoshop?

The primary motivation was to make photo retouching easier by utilizing personal computers, with the hope of using it to create special effects for movies.

When did Adobe get involved with Photoshop?

Adobe got involved towards the end of 1988 when John Knoll presented his product to them, leading to the release of Adobe Photoshop 1.0.

What are some of the most iconic tools introduced in the first version of Photoshop?

The first version of Photoshop introduced iconic tools such as the Eyedropper, Pencil, Eraser, Clone Stamp, and the Undo command.

What significant feature was introduced in Photoshop version 7.0?

Photoshop version 7.0 introduced the ability to detect and ignore images of banknotes, and it was also the first version to carry the 'CS' designation, standing for Creative Suite.

What does 'CS' stand for in the context of Photoshop versions?

'CS' stands for Creative Suite, which was an umbrella term coined by Adobe to incorporate its family of creative applications.

When was the Creative Suite renamed Creative Cloud?

The Creative Suite was renamed Creative Cloud in 2013.

How has Photoshop evolved to become a standard in multiple industries?

Photoshop has evolved by continuously adding new features and improving its capabilities, making it the standard for image editing software used across various industries worldwide.

What is one of the most entertaining subcultures that has emerged around Photoshop?

One of the most entertaining subcultures that has emerged around Photoshop is the 'bad Photoshop' series, where people share and ridicule poorly edited images.

How many subscribers does Adobe's Creative Cloud have worldwide?

As of the information provided, Adobe's Creative Cloud has over 8 million subscribers worldwide.