1990 founded Standing
design · adobe.com
Photoshop
the moat is real
36 years 182 days and counting
Thomas and John Knoll, 19 Feb 1990. Still the adult in photo editing, subscription grudges included.
Why it lasted
- The file format and the verb. 'To photoshop' is the product.
- Print shops, studios, and schools standardised on it. That is a 30-year install base.
- Generative fill made the subscription feel less like a hostage note and more like a lab.
Times it almost ended
- The Creative Cloud switch in 2013 was a near-death of goodwill. Pirates and Affinity and Pixelmator took a bite. The verb held.
- GIMP was always free. It was never Photoshop.
What would finish it
- A default image model in the OS that makes layers feel like accounting. Not yet. Designers still need control.
Questions
Is Photoshop still up?
Yes, with a Standing verdict: the moat is real. Founded 1990.
How long has Photoshop been around?
Photoshop has been up since 1990-02-19.
Why did Photoshop survive?
The file format and the verb. 'To photoshop' is the product.
Could Photoshop still die?
A default image model in the OS that makes layers feel like accounting. Not yet. Designers still need control.