Photoshop

What is Photoshop?

Photoshop is the image editor that defined digital imaging. Created by brothers Thomas and John Knoll and first shipped by Adobe in 1990, it became the industry standard for photo editing, digital art and design, to the point where photoshopping is now a verb.

In the AI era Photoshop has reinvented itself again. Starting in 2023, Adobe integrated its Firefly generative models directly into the app: Generative Fill can add, remove or extend content in a photo with a text prompt, and the Remove tool deletes distractions in one click. These features are now part of the everyday Photoshop workflow.

Photoshop runs on Windows and macOS with a companion app on iPad. It remains a deep, professional tool, but Adobe has steadily simplified onboarding with auto-generated selections, contextual task bars and a built-in Learn panel.

Key Features

• Generative Fill and Generative Expand powered by Firefly AI
• Remove tool for one-click object and person removal
• Neural Filters for quick retouching like skin smoothing and colorization
• Layers, masks and adjustment layers for non-destructive editing
• Advanced selection tools with AI-assisted subject selection
• Camera Raw for professional photo development
• Brush engines and color management for digital painting
• Cloud documents with sync between desktop and iPad

How to get started

Photoshop is a subscription product, so the first step is a Creative Cloud plan. Adobe offers a 7-day free trial of the full app, and the Photography plan bundles Photoshop with Lightroom at a lower price than the single-app plan.

Once installed, the Learn panel inside the app walks beginners through the basics, and Adobe's help site is packed with step-by-step tutorials. Start with a simple task like removing a background or using Generative Fill to extend a photo, and the interface gradually stops being intimidating.

• Start a Creative Cloud free trial at adobe.com
• Install Photoshop from the Creative Cloud app
• Open a photo and try the Remove tool
• Use Generative Fill to extend a background or add an object
• Follow the Learn panel and Adobe tutorials for structured lessons

Use cases

• Professional photo retouching and portrait editing
• Digital painting and concept art with custom brushes
• Game textures, UI mockups and asset cleanup
• Marketing and social media graphics
• AI-assisted edits: removing tourists, extending skies, recoloring scenes
• Web and app design comps before development

Pricing and licensing

Photoshop moved to subscription-only pricing in 2013, and that remains the model today. The single-app plan covers Photoshop alone, while the Photography plan bundles Photoshop and Lightroom, and Creative Cloud All Apps includes the entire Adobe suite. Prices vary by region and promotions, so check adobe.com for the current numbers.

There is no perpetual license anymore. The subscription model funds the continuous updates, and the Firefly generative features run on credits that are included with most plans, with additional credit packs available for heavy use.

Pros and cons

Photoshop remains the most capable and best-supported image editor on the market, and the Firefly AI features put it ahead of most competitors for practical generative work inside a real editing workflow. Any tutorial, plugin or job listing in the industry assumes Photoshop.

The cons are cost and complexity. The subscription price adds up over time, the interface is dense for newcomers, and competitors offer free or cheaper options for lighter needs. The generative features also require a connection and consume credits.

Alternatives

• Affinity Photo: powerful one-time-purchase editor, no subscription
• GIMP: free and open source with most core editing tools
• Krita: free painting-focused app with AI plugin support
• Photopea: free browser-based editor that opens PSD files
• Pixelmator Pro: Mac-only, affordable and Apple-native