[8] Photoshop can edit and compose raster images in multiple layers and supports masks, alpha compositing and several color models.

Photoshop was developed in 1987 by two brothers, Thomas and John Knoll, who sold the distribution license to Adobe Systems Incorporated in 1988.

[11][12] During this time, John traveled to Silicon Valley and gave a demonstration of the program to engineers at Apple Computer and Russell Brown, art director at Adobe.

[21] A PSD file stores an image with support for all features of Photoshop; these include layers with masks, transparency, text, alpha channels and spot colors, clipping paths, and duotone settings.

[23] Because of Photoshop's popularity, PSD files are widely used and supported to some extent by most competing software, including GIMP, Affinity Photo, and Clip Studio Paint.

[citation needed] Notable milestone features would be: Filters, Colour Separation, Virtual Memory (1.0), Paths, CMYK color (2.0), 16-bits-per-channel support, availability on Microsoft Windows (2.5), Layers, tabbed Palettes (3.0), Adjustments, Actions, Freeform Transform, PNG support (4.0), Editable Type, Magnetic Lasso and Pen, Freeform Pen, Multiple Undo, Layer Effects (5.0), Save For Web (5.5), Vector Shapes, revised User Interface (6.0), Vector Text, Healing Brush, Spell Check (7.0), Camera RAW (7.0.1).

Photoshop CS increased user control with a reworked file browser augmenting search versatility, sorting and sharing capabilities and the Histogram Palette which monitors changes in the image as they are made to the document.

It included an upgraded Spot Healing Brush, which is mainly used for handling common photographic problems such as blemishes, red-eye, noise, blurring and lens distortion.

[41] Adobe responded to feedback from the professional media industry by implementing non-destructive editing as well as the producing and modifying of 32-Bit High Dynamic Range (HDR) images, which are optimal for 3D rendering and advanced compositing.

[41] Vanishing Point makes tedious graphic and photo retouching endeavors much simpler by letting users clone, paint and transform image objects while maintaining visual perspective.

In addition, processing multiple raw files to other formats including JPEG, TIFF, DNG or PSD, could be done in the background without executing Photoshop itself.

[41] In January 2013, Photoshop CS2 was released with a published serial number due to a technical glitch in Adobe's CS2 activation servers (see Creative Suite 1 and 2).

There is also improved support for Camera RAW files which allow users to process images with higher speed and conversion quality.

[42] Enhancements were made to the Black and White Conversion, Brightness and Contrast Adjustment and Vanishing Point Module tools.

The Black and White adjustment option improves control over manual grayscale conversions with a dialog box similar to that of Channel Mixer.

Other features include the nondestructive Smart Filters, optimizing graphics for mobile devices,[43] Fill Light and Dust Busting tools.

[42] Compositing is assisted with Photoshop's new Quick Selection and Refine Edge tools and improved image stitching technology.

It supports common 3D formats; the new Adjustment and Mask panels; content-aware scaling (seam carving);[47] fluid canvas rotation and File display options.

The faster 3D engine allows users to paint directly on 3D models, wrap 2D images around 3D shapes and animate 3D objects.

[52] CS5 introduces new tools such as the Content-Aware Fill, Refine Edge, Mixer Brush, Bristle Tips and Puppet Warp.

Photoshop CS6, released in May 2012, added new creative design tools and provided a redesigned interface[55] with a focus on enhanced performance.

Adobe also announced that CS6 will be the last suite sold with perpetual licenses in favor of the new Creative Cloud subscriptions, though they will continue to provide OS compatibility support as well as bug fixes and security updates as necessary.

The updated UI as of November 30, 2015, delivers a cleaner and more consistent look throughout Photoshop, and the user can quickly perform common tasks using a new set of gestures on touch-enabled devices like Microsoft Surface Pro.

It introduced a new template selector when creating new documents, the ability to search for tools, panels and help articles for Photoshop, support for SVG OpenType fonts and other small improvements.

A Curvature Pen tool, similar to the one in Illustrator, was added, allowing for faster creation of Bézier paths.

It also added multiple undo mode, auto-commitment, and prevented accidental panel moves with lock work-space.

Also added were animated GIF support, improved lens blur performance and one-click zoom to a layer's contents.

[9] Adobe promises to update Photoshop on the iPad at "a much more aggressive pace than it has with its current Creative Cloud apps for the desktop".

When enabled, the editing information is captured in a tamper-evident form and resides with the file through successive copy generations.

Final version with built-in support for basic Pantone colors - CMYK, Metallics and Solid (as Legacy Swatches).