The 31st of August in 1994 marks an important date in software history: Aldus Corp. and Adobe Systems Inc. finalised the merger of the two companies on this day. The two firms envisaged that, by combining their forces, they would be able to develop desktop publishing software that would take the lead in the market with time.

Aldus founder Paul Brainerd was considered to be a pioneer in the field. In 1985, Brainerd had created PageMaker, a programme and one of the three components to revolutionise desktop publishing. The other two components included Postscript, the page description language invented by Adobe and Apple’s LaserWriter laser printer. All three were indispensable to creating a desktop publishing environment.

Adobe was established by John Warnock and Charles Geschke in 1982. The firm was named after the Adobe Creek running behind the house of one of the founders. (The word adobe means clay brick and has its origin in the Coptic language.)

With the acquisition of Macromedia in 2005, Adobe further diversified their product range, which had already grown impressive before the purchase.