Adobe Photoshop is a proprietary raster graphics editor developed and published by Adobe for Windows and macOS. It can edit and compose raster images in multiple layers and supports masks, alpha compositing and several color models. Photoshop uses its own PSD and PSB file formats to support these features. In addition to raster graphics, Photoshop has limited abilities to edit or render text and vector graphics, as well as 3D graphics and video. The software’s naming scheme evolved from version numbers to Creative Suite, and later to the Creative Cloud subscription model.
Photoshop was created in 1987 by Thomas and John Knoll, who sold the distribution license to Adobe Systems Incorporated in 1988. Thomas Knoll began writing a program on his Macintosh Plus to display grayscale images, which his brother John encouraged to develop into a full-fledged image editing program. After demonstrations in Silicon Valley and to engineers at Apple, Adobe decided to purchase the license to distribute in September 1988. Photoshop 1.0 was released on February 19, 1990, for Macintosh exclusively, marking the beginning of Photoshop’s rise as the industry standard in digital color editing.
Photoshop files have default file extensions .PSD, which stands for "Photoshop Document." A PSD stores an image with support for layers, masks, transparency, text, alpha channels, clipping paths, and duotone settings. From the start, Photoshop could save in other formats like TIF, JPEG, and GIF, which are smaller but lack editable features. Photoshop can also create and use files with the extension .PSB, standing for "Photoshop Big," extending the PSD format to very large dimensions and file sizes. A PSB file increases the maximum height and width to 300,000 pixels and a size limit to around 4 exabytes.
Plugins extend Photoshop’s functionality, with many developed by third parties. Photoshop plugins include filter, export, import, selection, color correction, and automation types; the popular filter plugins (8bf) are accessible under the Filter menu. Photoshop and its derivatives have become verbs in English and other languages, reflecting its cultural impact in image editing.
The early Photoshop versions progressed through CS and CS2, CS3 to CS6, with two editions for CS3-CS6: Standard and Extended. CS3 introduced a streamlined interface and improved Camera RAW support; CS4 added a new 3D engine and smoother panning/zooming; CS5 introduced Content-Aware Fill and Puppet Warp. CS5 Extended added 3D and video tools, while CS6 focused on performance improvements and a redesigned interface. Photoshop CC, launched in 2013, moved to a Creative Cloud subscription model with regular feature updates.
Major features across versions include intelligent upsampling, improved content-aware tools, enhanced selection capabilities, smarter object removal, and more efficient non-destructive editing workflows. The tools menu expanded to include modern content-aware capabilities, new blur tools, and advanced material libraries. The introduction of features like Design Space, Artboards, and Device Preview helped designers work across devices and workflows more seamlessly.
Photoshop’s ecosystem also includes complementary Adobe products like Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, Express, and Fix, alongside Illustrator and other Creative Cloud applications. Adobe Stock provides a vast library of curated images integrated with Creative Cloud, enabling streamlined licensing and editing of stock assets. CreativeSync stores files, fonts, colors, settings, and stock images for cohesive workflows across devices and applications.
In recent years, Photoshop has incorporated artificial intelligence-assisted features for upscaling, selection, and other edits, while maintaining non-destructive editing principles through layers, masks, and adjustment layers. The iPad version, released alongside desktop Photoshop 2020, brings core features like layers, masking, and retouching to a mobile form factor, with ongoing plans to add further desktop parity over time.
Key foundational concepts you should know include the layer-based workflow, masks for non-destructive edits, and adjustment layers for color and tone changes. Smart Objects preserve original image quality during resizing and effects, enabling flexible editing without degradation. Together with selection tools (Marquee, Lasso, and the Magic Wand), these capabilities form the backbone of professional image editing in Photoshop.
- Adobe Photoshop File Formats - PSD/PSB advantages, limitations of JPEG/TIF/GIF for web and publications, and large-document support with PSB.
- Core Editing Tools - Layers, masks, adjustment layers, smart objects, and non-destructive workflows.
- Selection and Masking - Marquee, lasso, and wand tools for isolating parts of an image, with refined edge capabilities and content-aware options.
- Color and Tone Management - Color models, duotone settings, and Black & White controls with fine-grained adjustments.
- Advanced Features Across Generations - Content-Aware Fill, Puppet Warp, vanishing point, 3D tools, and video editing capabilities in various CS/CC versions.
- Creative Cloud and Ecosystem - Integration with Creative Cloud, Adobe Stock, CreativeSync, and cross-device workflows including iPad support.
Photoshop remains a cornerstone for graphic designers and photographers worldwide, continually expanding through cloud-based updates and a broad plugin ecosystem. Its evolution-from early Macintosh-only releases to a comprehensive, cross-platform, cloud-connected toolset-reflects shifting industry needs for non-destructive editing, color accuracy, and seamless collaboration across devices and applications.
