Last week I put out an invitation to all Tipsquirrel.com readers to celebrate Photoshop at 20 by submitting a paragraph saying what Photoshop means to them.
The responce was somewhat less than i was hoping but, those that did respond did so with great insight and honesty. It’s true what they say, it isn’t the quantity its the quality that counts!
TipSquirrel
It’s amazing to think of the impact of a computer program. Could you imagine visiting ‘PaintWorld’? or picking up your monthly copy of ’ExcelCreative’ magazine?
Photoshop has become synonymous with image manipulation and creation and is used in everyday conversation. On the rare occasion I get to look through a camera lens I can’t help but see what is possible, I think Photoshop. Purists might be shaking their fists at the screen right now, but I make no apology, Photoshop to me is…. an extension to the creative process, like a palette to a painter or an E-String to a guitarist.
Photoshop opened up a world to me that I could never have imagined, creatively, professionally and socially.
AJ Wood
Is it hard to think that one piece of software could affect the lives of so many? I can’t recall another program that has made such an impact to the creative community, and that’s what Photoshop means to me. As an enthusiast for all things Photoshop, I’ve had the pleasure to cross paths with, and meet personally some of the most creative individuals on this planet. They’ve provided inspiration, laughter, a wealth of knowledge, and most importantly community.
I look forward to another 20 years of creative innovation from Adobe and the product I enjoy, Photoshop.
Janine Smith
Photoshop, what it means to me is… Over the past 12 years, Photoshop has been many things to me: a reconnection to my creative side, a way to have fun, to experiment, to learn and to grow in my art, a release of frustration, depression and fear, a confidence builder and an income generator. Although that all may seem quiet a lot to put on a software application, it has been all that to me, and more. I went from a kid who gave up her dream of being the best portrait artist since di Vinci, to award winning digital photo restoration artist. Never could I have dreamed of being asked to teach, to write, to lecture about my work, never would I have given a second thought to being able to combine my love of history, old photographs and art into a business! None of this would have been at all possible for me without the magic of Photoshop! All that aside, however, the most important thing Photoshop has taught me is that you can never, will never, should never, know it all! Photoshop is so full of features, tools and adjustments, there’s such an infinite array of ways to do any one thing that the possibilities are endless and the learning opportunities occur everyday – sort of like…life! Happy Birthday Photoshop! Here’s to 20 more years of learning, growth and prosperity, together!
Gavin Hoey
Photoshop to me is.. a lot more then simply a piece of software that can be used to make photos look good. No, to me it’s a tool that has reshaped my life. Wind the clock back 20 years and you’d have found me locked away for hours at a time in a small, hot, smelly darkroom. Compare that to today when I can enhance and retouch my photos whenever and wherever I please. So to me Photoshop has made photography accessable and to be honest, a whole lot more enjoyable. Frankly I don’t know what I’d do without it.
Simon Rudd
Photoshop to me is…a fantastic jumping on point for anyone looking to get into digital art. If you are a newbie or an old dog to the world of art Photoshop is a great way of expanding your horizons. From original pieces of art made with custom brushes or cartoon vectors to photomanipulations ranging from simple head swaps to full seamless montages Photoshop is the ultimate design tool.
Rebecca Fryer
Photoshop is to me an expression of my creativity.
Pen, Path, Layer and Style, opening Liquify… may take a while.
Curves, Levels, Increase Hue and Saturation, not too much though shows signs of degradation.
Animations that run and jump, Save to Web with frames to dump.
Creation of some beautiful thing with vibrant colours that dance and sing.
Photoshop is all this and more, so pop along to the Adobe Store.
Laura Bergerol
What Photoshop means to me? It means the ability to take the best images and enhance them so that they are wonderful. I cannot imagine being a photographer without this valuable tool. Photoshop, I love you and I wish you the happiest of birthdays! Many happy returns and many more years of transforming images around the world.
Main website Photoblog Twitter New project and more info
Giesla Hoelscher
I started using Photoshop 3.0 when my dad brought it home on a diskette from the print shop he worked at. The printing industry was going digital and it was something new he had to learn. I played around with it and was instantly mesmerized. I’ve always loved art but this was an art I really identified with! In 2002, I began a business based on my love of Photoshop and photography. Photoshop to me is like a digital home on my computer where I can go and get completely lost
in “work” (which can sometimes be confused with fun).
Website/Blog Custom work Flickr Twitter
Some other posts by TipSquirrel
- Vision and Voice - A Review
- Lightroom 3 Series
- Photoshop Nuts, Lightroom and Thanks
- Photoshop CS5 One-on-One : A Review
- The Navigation Panel
- Photoshop Short Cut Keys
- Photoshop CS5 The Missing Manual : A Review
- July on TipSquirrel.com
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I’m studying Architecture(2nd year) in a wasted college so I decided to join a prestigious Law college for another 5 years. But after reading this, there is no turning back. Photoshop all the way. I’m a newbie and I’m learning Photoshop through lynda. Hopefully one day I would hone this vast Ocean of a software and drive me to the ULTIMATE DESTINY IN LIFE WHICH IS “FAME.”
