Photoshop is the industry standard program for editing, improving, and manipulating images and photography. It also allows you to redesign graphics, paint digital art, and even make animations, and is being used by people in a growing number of industries. What’s more, a growing number of people are learning to use it for their own personal photos.
But as powerful and widely-used as this program is, it isn’t really the easiest to teach yourself. (If you’ve ever tried, you probably know what we mean.) That’s why online courses are so useful: they’ll walk you step-by-step through everything the software can do so that you feel confident using it at home or at work.
What to look for in a Photoshop course
When choosing a course, there are a few factors to consider:
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Is this class for beginners, pros or both?
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How comprehensive is it?
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Does it have a good instructor?
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Does it provide practice files?
Generally, the longer the course is, the more comprehensive it will be. Many of the longer courses will also cover the basics, such as how to open and save files, whereas some other course offerings may assume a baseline of familiarity. If you’re a true novice, it is very important that you pick a course that is geared for your learning needs.
It goes without saying that a good course will have a good instructor, one who can break down complicated features and make them easy to understand. They also won’t rush through the material. It’s also helpful if the instructor provides sample materials or exercises so that you can try the features out yourself.
Price is also, of course, a factor, but the good news is that lots of courses are available for free or low-cost, especially if you’re willing to guide yourself through tutorials.
BEST FREE OPTION
Adobe Photoshop Tutorials
You don’t have to spend a dime to learn Photoshop from its creators with these self-guided tutorials aimed at beginners and experienced users alike.
MOST COMPREHENSIVE BEGINNER COURSE
Udemy Ultimate Photoshop Training: From Beginner to Pro
A comprehensive instructor-led beginner course to give students a solid foundation.
BEST ADVANCED COURSE
Skillshare Adobe Photoshop CC — Advanced Training Course
If you already understand Photoshop but want to hone your efficiency and gain more advanced skills, this course is for you.
BEST FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Welcome to 30 Days of Photoshop
Designed for editorial or fashion photographers, this course does a deep dive into photo editing, color enhancing, and retouching.
BEST BASIC COURSE
Photoshop 2020 Essential Training: The Basics
Learn all the basics on LinkedIn’s learning platform.
BEST CRASH COURSE
Udemy Photoshop Beginners Mastery: Zero to Hero in Photoshop
Short on time? This course can get you up to speed in a matter of a few hours.
BEST FOR ALL LEVELS
Creative Live Adobe Photoshop CC: The Complete Guide
This comprehensive course includes lifetime access to its materials and is great for beginners and pros alike.
