Thomas Knoll
Thomas Knoll | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Occupation | Software engineer |
| Family | John Knoll |
Thomas Knoll is an American software engineer who created Adobe Photoshop. He initiated the development of image processing routines in 1988.[1][2] After Knoll created the first core routines, he showed them to his brother, John Knoll, who worked at Industrial Light and Magic.[1] John liked what he saw, suggested new features, and encouraged Tom to bundle them into a package with a graphical user interface. In 1988, John sold the distribution license for Photoshop to Adobe Systems and later on March 31, 1995, he sold the rights to the program to Adobe for $34.5 million.[3][4]
Thomas Knoll was the lead developer until version CS4,[5] and currently contributes to work on the Camera Raw plug-in to process raw images from cameras.[5]
Knoll was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and graduated from the University of Michigan.[6]
For 30 years, his last name titled that of an elementary school also located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school, Summers-Knoll (SK), was founded by his wife, Ruth Knoll, in 1995. SK held recognition as Ann Arbor’s only independent progressive Preschool – 8th Grade program. As a learning environment, SK’s combination of project and place-based interdisciplinary curriculum set their focus on developing key academic and 21st century skills.[7]
The name remained until it's retirement at the end of the 2025-2026 school year when the school and it's campus was officially acquired by Greenhills School. SK's ongoing enrollment and financial challenges made long-term sustainability impossible and after thoughtful discussions, SK's Board of Trustees and senior leadership explored multiple options and, reached out to Greenhills. Together, they found this acquisition the best suited and it ensured maintaining a creative, engaging, and personalized learning environment for students. The long-standing goal and respectful legacy that SK held and leaves behind as the school transitions. [8]
The Summers-Knoll School campus will officially become "Greenhills’ Lower School" beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Greenhills assuming leadership and operational oversight at Summers-Knoll for the 2025-2026 school year to ensure a smooth transition.[9]
In 2016 Thomas and his brother John were inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum.[10]
At the 2019 Oscars, Thomas and his brother John were awarded a Scientific and Engineering Award for the original architecture, design and development of Photoshop.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "From Darkroom to Desktop—How Photoshop Came to Light". 2000-02-18. Archived from the original on 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
- ^ "Thomas Knoll: Complete Biography, History, and Inventions". History Computer. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ "Adobe Photoshop | software". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
- ^ "FORM 10-K". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. February 22, 1996. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "20 Years of Adobe Photoshop". webdesignerdepot.com. 2010-02-01. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
- ^ "THOMAS KNOLL, 1982, MSE'84". Retrieved 2017-01-17.
- ^ https://www.summers-knoll.org/
- ^ Summers-Knoll School transitions to Greenhills Lower School. "Growing Together". Greenhills School.
- ^ Shaw, Michael (19 March 2025). "Greenhills School Expanding, Adding Elementary Campus". Greenhills School. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ "Thomas Knoll". International Photography Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
- ^ "Scientific & Technical Awards | 2019". Oscars. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. February 9, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
 | This biographical article relating to a computer specialist in the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |