Adobe Photoshop is the world’s most widely used raster-based professional image editing software, serving industries such as graphic design, photography, publishing, advertising, engineering documentation, and digital content creation. This knowledge base article provides a technical, historical, and practical overview of Photoshop—covering its origins, underlying technologies, color support, licensing models, successors, competitors, modern alternatives, and best practices from an IT and professional usage perspective.
Adobe Photoshop is a bitmap (raster) graphics editor used for image manipulation, photo retouching, digital painting, compositing, and pre-press production. It is developed and maintained by Adobe and is available on Windows and macOS platforms.
Created by Thomas and John Knoll
Initially developed as “Display”
Licensed to Adobe Systems
Photoshop 1.0 released for Macintosh in 1990
Became the standard tool for:
Desktop publishing
Photo retouching
Print production
Introduced layers, actions, and color management
Expanded to Windows platform
Bundled under Adobe Creative Suite (CS)
Improved non-destructive editing
Advanced RAW image processing
Transitioned to subscription-based licensing
Continuous updates
AI-powered features (Adobe Sensei)
Cloud collaboration and asset sync
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Manufacturer | Adobe |
| Previous Company | None (internally developed, licensed from creators) |
| Original Creators | Thomas Knoll, John Knoll |
| Platform Support | Windows, macOS |
| Distribution | Digital (Creative Cloud) |
Pixel-based image processing
Resolution-dependent editing
Adjustment layers
Smart Objects (non-destructive)
Blend modes and masks
Content-aware fill
Generative Fill
Object selection
Neural filters
ICC color profiles
Device-independent color accuracy
OpenGL / Metal / DirectX
Faster rendering and previews
| Color Mode | Use Case |
|---|---|
| RGB | Digital screens |
| CMYK | Print production |
| Grayscale | Monochrome images |
| Lab Color | Color correction |
| Indexed Color | Web/legacy graphics |
| Bitmap | Line art |
Color Depth Support
8-bit
16-bit
32-bit (HDR imaging)
PSD / PSB (native)
JPEG / PNG / GIF
TIFF
BMP
RAW camera formats (via Adobe Camera RAW)
HEIF / WebP (newer versions)
Photo retouching and restoration
Graphic and UI design
Print and prepress work
Digital marketing creatives
Engineering & architectural documentation
Scientific imaging
Content creation for web and social media
Launch Photoshop
Open image or create new canvas
Import assets as layers
Apply adjustments (levels, curves)
Use selection and masking tools
Retouch or composite
Export in required format
Image → Convert to Smart Object → Apply Filters → Adjust Masks → Export
| Issue | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Slow performance | Low RAM/GPU | Enable GPU, increase scratch disk |
| Large file size | Multiple layers | Flatten before export |
| Color mismatch | Wrong profile | Use correct ICC profile |
| Crashes | Plugin conflict | Update plugins |
| Blurry exports | Incorrect DPI | Set proper resolution |
PSD files may contain hidden metadata
Cloud sync risks for sensitive designs
Third-party plugins risk
Mitigation Measures
Disable cloud sync for confidential work
Remove metadata before sharing
Use trusted plugins only
Keep Creative Cloud updated
| Product | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Adobe Lightroom | Photo management & RAW editing |
| Adobe Illustrator | Vector graphics |
| Adobe InDesign | Publishing & layout |
| Adobe Photoshop Express | Lightweight editing |
| Adobe Firefly | Generative AI content |
Corel PaintShop Pro
Affinity Photo (Perpetual license)
GIMP
Krita
Darktable
Photopea
Canva
Pixlr
Adobe Creative Cloud
Monthly or annual billing
Continuous updates
Cloud services included
Photoshop CS6 (last perpetual version)
No updates or security patches
| License Type | Availability |
|---|---|
| Subscription | ✅ Active |
| Perpetual | ❌ Discontinued |
Industry-standard compatibility
Advanced color accuracy
Powerful non-destructive editing
Extensive plugin ecosystem
AI-driven productivity
Subscription-only pricing
High system requirements
Steep learning curve
Overkill for basic editing
Use Smart Objects for non-destructive workflows
Standardize color profiles across projects
Optimize scratch disks
Archive layered PSDs separately
Export flattened copies for delivery
Regularly update plugins and software
Adobe Photoshop remains the de facto standard for professional raster image editing, combining decades of maturity with modern AI-driven enhancements. While its subscription-based model and complexity may not suit every user, Photoshop excels in precision, flexibility, and industry compatibility. Understanding its technologies, licensing, and alternatives enables organizations and professionals to choose the most appropriate solution for their imaging workflows.
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