
Adobe Photoshop is one of the most widely used and influential software applications in the world of digital imaging and graphic design. It was created by Thomas Knoll and John Knoll, two brothers who played pivotal roles in its development.
The idea for Photoshop emerged from Thomas Knoll’s personal interest in image processing. While working on his PhD, he wrote a program to display grayscale images on his Macintosh Plus computer. When John saw the program, he suggested turning it into a full-fledged image editing tool. Together, they added features like color correction, image adjustments, and filters, transforming it into a powerful tool for digital image manipulation.
Initially, the software was called ImagePro. Later, they renamed it Photoshop and began looking for a company to distribute it. They approached Adobe Systems, and after a demonstration, Adobe decided to license the software in 1988. Photoshop 1.0 was officially released in February 1990 for Macintosh computers.
Photoshop revolutionized the fields of photography, graphic design, and digital art. It introduced tools and features that allowed professionals and amateurs alike to manipulate images in ways that were previously impossible. Over the years, Adobe has continued to innovate, adding advanced features like layers, filters, and AI-powered tools (e.g., Adobe Sensei).
Today, Photoshop is an industry standard and a cornerstone of Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite. The Knoll brothers’ collaboration not only changed the way we edit images but also paved the way for the digital creative industry as we know it.
Thomas and John Knoll’s story is a testament to how personal curiosity, collaboration, and innovation can lead to groundbreaking technological advancements.






