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Did John Knoll Invent Photoshop?

Last updated on September 24, 2022 @ 3:20 pm

John Knoll is a computer scientist who co-founded the visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and is best known for his work on the Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean films. He also worked on the development of Photoshop, and is credited with its invention.

Knoll was born in 1954 in Massillon, Ohio, and raised in Pasadena, California. He graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science in physics, and went on to receive a Master of Science in computer science from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1981.

After working as a programmer for a few years, Knoll began working at ILM in 1984, where he worked on the special effects for films such as Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), and Ghostbusters (1984). He also worked on the development of Photoshop, which was released in 1988.

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While Photoshop was originally developed for use in ILM’s own film productions, it quickly became popular with professional photographers and graphic designers, and is now widely used by amateurs as well. Knoll continues to work at ILM, where he is currently chief technical officer.

Did John Knoll Invent Photoshop?

Yes, John Knoll is credited with the invention of Photoshop. He developed the software while working at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and it was released to the public in 1988. Since then, it has become one of the most widely used image editing programs available.

Morgan Bash

Morgan Bash

Technology enthusiast and Co-Founder of Women Coders SF.