For more than forty years, Adobe Inc. Has been a leader in solution-focused software development. Their first application, PostScript, debuted in 1982 as a revolutionary product that allowed users to print images and text as they appeared on the computer screen. In 1993, they introduced Acrobat, which remains the leading PDF creator and editor across the globe. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Adobe created and improved a wide variety of innovative creative applications, including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Audition, and many others that eventually came to be known as Adobe Creative Cloud when bundled together in 2003. Creative Suite went through six releases, with the final release appearing in 2012. While the standard version featured Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, Bridge, and Media Encoder, the Design and Web Premium, Production Premium, and Master Collection featured many additional applications still known and loved by professional and hobbyist creatives today.
Adobe first announced Creative Cloud in 2011, but it wasn’t until 2013 that Adobe officially discontinued its releases of Creative Suite in favor of exclusively growing Creative Cloud. Today, Adobe Creative Cloud is a must-have for creatives working in virtually any field of communication, including photography, graphic design, video, motion graphics, audio, and publishing. Hosted on Microsoft Azure, Creative Cloud is a collection of more than 20 applications and other tools that support digital creation. Individuals, schools, businesses, and other organizations pay a monthly fee for access to this robust and well-supported software suite, which includes household names such as Photoshop and Acrobat, as well as newer and more specialized applications like XD and Animate. While Adobe offers software solutions outside of creativity, its primary focus is on the well-known and beloved industry-standard applications, which are known for their seamless integration and efficient support of creative work in the digital age.
What Can You Do with Adobe Training?
For many, training in Adobe’s extensive menu of Creative Cloud applications is an obvious first or next step in their professional development. Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are essential tools for a career in graphic design, while Premiere Pro and After Effects are must-haves for video editing and motion graphics professionals. However, many also choose to learn one or more Adobe applications to support their efforts as entrepreneurs or solopreneurs, enabling themselves to manage their own social media and other visual communication needs. Meanwhile, others take an Adobe class to gain the knowledge required to earn official Adobe certification in one or more applications, adding to their qualifications and expanding their career horizons.
However, Adobe Creative Cloud is far from an exclusively professional software suite. Numerous Adobe learners take classes in the applications to support their creative hobbies, ranging from photography and collage to beat-making and beyond. Photoshop and Illustrator are must-haves for digital artists and image makers of all kinds, while others enjoy creating videos and animations using After Effects and Premiere Pro. Beatmakers, musicians, singers, amateur voice actors, and other sound artists can all use Adobe Audition to meet all their audio editing needs. Meanwhile, InDesign and Acrobat are potent tools for writers and zine publishers, enabling them to format their own work for publication.
The number of projects that can be created using Adobe applications is virtually limitless, with possibilities extending as far as any digital creative can imagine. Photoshop can turn photos into digital paintings and collages, while Illustrator and After Effects can be paired to create original moving illustrations and animations. Original music can be recorded and mixed in Audition, then layered with dialogue and sound effects to create a radio drama, a soundtrack for a social media reel, a video essay, or even a feature film. You can format books, magazines, catalogs, and other print materials for web or print within InDesign, using layouts that feature photos edited in Photoshop, illustrations drawn in Illustrator, images from Adobe Stock, or even AI images generated with Adobe Firefly.
What Will I Learn in an Adobe Class?
Adobe classes can teach a wide variety of topics and scopes. Some are a simple introduction to a single Creative Cloud application designed to introduce students to the interface and a few tools. In contrast, others will guide participants to proficiency in one or several applications over several months of full-time classes. Graphic design, motion graphics, and video editing certificate programs will also feature instruction in vital concepts, principles, and best practices related to each of those fields. Some of the most common Adobe applications covered in online and in-person classes include Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and After Effects. While not mentioned below, Audition, InDesign, and Animate are just a few of the others you may encounter in your Adobe educational journey. Certificate programs and bootcamps focused on visually creative fields like graphic design or video editing will also teach the principles of visual communication to support those taking the course as their primary preparation to launch a career depending upon expertise in this area.
Photoshop
One of the most ubiquitous Adobe Creative Cloud applications, Adobe Photoshop, is so beloved by photographers and designers who the name has become a verb synonymous with photo editing. While Photoshop works in the pixel-based raster format, which lacks the scalability of Illustrator, its long list of capabilities more than makes up for the size limits of the files it creates. Designed to arm photographers and photo editors with any tool they may desire to enhance, retouch, and otherwise manipulate a photo, Photoshop provides healing brushes, layer masks, filters, and other features that enable users to have complete control over their images. Photoshop is a favorite among creative and communications professionals, hobbyists, and other artists who enjoy creating collages and other original artwork with the versatile application.
Illustrator
Illustrator is a powerful Adobe application that offers a wide range of benefits for graphic designers and other creatives whose work features visual illustrations. One of the primary perks of Illustrator is its vector-based drawing tools, which allow users to create high-quality, infinitely scalable artwork. Illustrator is also known for its extensive menu of brushes, patterns, effects, and typography tools that enable creatives to customize and manipulate text in myriad ways. Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign make up the core trio of essential applications for graphic designers, and Adobe supports seamless integration of these three pieces of software with other applications and tools within Creative Cloud. Motion Graphics Designers, Web Designers, Video Editors, and others working within the field of visual communication will all appreciate having Illustrator proficiency in their professional toolkit.
After Effects
Aspiring Motion Graphics Designers will already be aware of Adobe After Effects, the industry-standard application for creating and manipulating motion graphics. After Effects can bring still images and illustrations you create to life with the illusion of movement. However, the motion graphics capabilities unlocked with After Effects knowledge will benefit more than just animators and motion graphics professionals. Web Designers and Graphic Designers can use After Effects to add engaging movement to their work while expanding their career horizons with the desirable qualification of motion graphics design proficiency. Meanwhile, they can also benefit along with Video Editors and other professionals from After Effects’ ability to create eye-grabbing animated typography.
Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is the go-to video editing software across industries, including media and entertainment. Video professionals often partner Premiere Pro with Photoshop to edit still images, After Effects for motion graphics, including moving typography for titles and other purposes, and Audition for dynamic and precise soundtrack creation. With these applications and other Adobe features, Premiere Pro mastery will enable you to cut together raw footage, add transitions and text overlays, remove greenscreens, create special effects, and otherwise manipulate a project until it is the polished video you envision.
Visual Communication
Adobe classes frequently teach visual communication skills when their curricula focus on graphic design, motion graphics, and video editing. Visual communication includes the concepts of both graphic design and communication design. Graphic design is the composing and manipulating images and text into a cohesive and communicative whole and features principles and best practices related to color theory, balance, and typography, among others. Meanwhile, communication design is the art of assembling an engaging, educational, and motivational message and involves decision-making regarding the context, content, and strategy of that communication. Visual communication literacy and problem-solving skills are necessary to support a Designer or video professional as they create with Adobe applications such as Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro, or Photoshop.
How Hard is It to Learn Adobe?
The difficulty of learning Adobe will partly depend on how many Adobe Creative Cloud applications you wish to know and how extensively you desire to master the software. For example, if your goal is to become a casual user of Photoshop, you are likely to achieve this with considerably more ease than a person seeking to thoroughly master Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to launch a Graphic Design career. Many can become familiar with any Adobe application enough to tinker and explore relatively quickly. However, most find that becoming an expert in Creative Cloud products requires navigating a steep learning curve and that they may discover many new features through months or even years of using the software.
What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Adobe?
Adobe application students enter their learning journeys with differing strengths and backgrounds, so they will inevitably find various aspects of the software more or less challenging depending on personal factors. However, most will agree that the same quality that makes Adobe Creative Cloud applications so popular and powerful also becomes the most difficult to master. This feature is the sheer number of tools and features available within each application, which can make it challenging to learn, remember, and even find each tool within the software's interfaces. However, with enough time and practice, you can master this aspect of Adobe’s applications and harness it to create whatever you desire.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Adobe?
Your personal goals and definition of learning Adobe will be the most pivotal factor in determining the length of time it will take you to achieve those goals. According to Adobe, those wishing to pass an Adobe Certified Professional exam in any application should anticipate needing at least 150 hours of instruction and practice before earning the certification. Most are comfortable experimenting, starting, and completing projects in a single application after a short but intense bootcamp. However, complete mastery of multiple Adobe Creative Cloud applications can take several months of full-time or part-time classes.
Should I Learn Adobe in Person or Online?
Living in Chicago, you have a plethora of in-person and online options for learning your Adobe Creative Cloud applications of choice. Narrowing your choices can be challenging, especially when you aren’t sure of the pros and cons of the two options of venues. In-person classes are the most traditional method of learning and how most people attended school throughout their childhood. A live teacher and fellow students will be present with you in a brick-and-mortar classroom, and you will meet on a set schedule either in a computer lab or in a standard classroom, working on your personal device.
Some may feel the assistance of a live expert instructor is their ideal way of learning and enjoy the accountability provided by the set schedule of an in-person class. However, both of these perks are also available in a live online class, where you will meet with an instructor and other students in a virtual classroom and can ask questions that arise in real-time. One of the most significant benefits of a live online class is that the format allows a student to enjoy these perks from the comfort of their own home. Attending live online courses also enables you to expand your schedule, instructor, school, and class options beyond what may be available in your area. You may, however, find an ideal in-person class that fits your schedule and needs and find the commute well worth the experience.
Asynchronous online classes are an alternative available for those on the tightest schedules. Also known as on-demand or self-paced classes, asynchronous courses can be started anytime and completed at your own pace as they do not include live instruction. While these classes may feature high-quality curricula and include prerecorded lectures, many find the lack of a live instructor detrimental to their learning experience. Additionally, some students find the absence of a set schedule and deadlines removes a key source of accountability they may prefer to keep themselves motivated and on task.
Can I Learn Adobe Free Online?
Many free online resources are available to support your Adobe learning journey. Adobe and other websites, including Noble Desktop, provide online tutorials, while several YouTube channels feature educational Adobe video content. These resources can be great for helping intermediate Adobe Creative Cloud learners fill gaps in their knowledge or supporting beginners in deciding if learning these applications is right for them. However, it’s essential to be aware that professional skill development cannot be acquired for free. Learning Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, or After Effects as a key qualification for your career requires the support of a professionally designed curriculum and a live instructor and is well worth the investment.
What Should I Learn Alongside Adobe?
Most people setting out to learn Adobe Creative Cloud plan to focus on learning a single application or a core handful associated with an industry. Premiere Pro and After Effects are vital to master in preparing for a career in video editing, while knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential for aspiring Graphic Designers. However, depending on a person’s specific goals in learning these applications, they may wish to consider learning other Creative Cloud applications, libraries, and supportive tools. Taking the time to master audio editing with Audition can expand the horizons of a motion graphics career, enabling a person to layer a dynamic soundtrack with their visual work. Meanwhile, After Effects knowledge can open up opportunities for Graphic Designers to add movement to their images to tell engaging stories and reach more people with a message.
When you learn Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign, you will also want to learn graphic design concepts, principles, and best practices. While practical knowledge of these Adobe applications is essential for visual design work, a core knowledge of graphic design is vital for creating aesthetically pleasing, clear, and compelling visual communication materials. Graphic design knowledge is also crucial for those creating motion graphics with After Effects and videos with Premiere Pro, as color theory, balance, and other design concepts are vital to the creation of high-quality visual art, whether fixed in nature or moving. Additionally, those learning Adobe applications to launch a new career will also want to ensure they learn soft skills such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving so they can always be confident and desirable team players in the workplace.
Industries That Use Adobe
Adobe’s rich array of applications is a favorite across numerous industries. However, due to the many go-to video, image, and design applications in Adobe Creative Cloud suite, they most prominently feature in industries with extensive creative and communicative needs. Media, entertainment, creative services, and design are just a few industries in which Adobe products are a must-have in the office. The advertising and marketing industry also relies heavily on Adobe products to create marketing materials ranging from traditional print ads to television commercials and social media content. Finally, nonprofits and the education world would be lost without Adobe Creative Cloud apps to assist them in storytelling, training, and otherwise communicating essential messages to board members, students, and others they serve.
Media & Entertainment
Chicago’s flourishing media and entertainment industry encompasses content spanning film, television, radio, and print. Illinois is home to the U.S.’s third-largest movie and recording workforce and a film industry paying out $350 million yearly in wages. Media forms as varied as streaming animated series, sports broadcasting, and feature films rely on Adobe After Effects for their motion graphics needs, Premiere Pro to edit their footage together, and other Creative Cloud applications to create polished audio and seamless visuals. Adobe Audition is a go-to for audio recording and editing for radio and other media, while Photoshop and Illustrator play a role behind the scenes in creating images brought to life in film and television.
An education in Adobe applications is also beneficial for those with ambitions to work in Chicago’s publishing industry. Adobe InDesign is an industry favorite for creating print layouts for books, magazines, and other publications. Illustrator and Photoshop are essential for creating and editing illustrations, while Acrobat plays a vital role in working with PDFs in the industry. Whether you aspire to work in book publishing at Chicago Review Press or magazine publishing at Food and Drink International, you can count on using at least one—and probably several—Adobe applications throughout your workday.
Creative Services & Design
The creative services and design industry is growing throughout the U.S., and Chicago is no exception. According to a National Opinion Research Center report, Chicago’s working artists make up 2.2% of the city’s labor force, higher than the national average of 1.35%. With over a third of these classifying themselves as designers, it is clear that Chicago’s thriving business world’s need for illustrations, branding, and other visual communication keeps the Windy City’s creative workers busy.
Graphic Designers and other creative service providers rely heavily on Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to create logos, print ads, signage, and numerous other visuals to support businesses in the city. Web Designers may also use Adobe Animate and other applications to create and maintain dynamic websites for their clients.
Advertising & Marketing
From the earliest days of mail-order catalogs to today’s cutting-edge digital agencies, Chicago has always been a leading city for advertising and marketing. Whether creating marketing campaign materials for print or the digital world, advertising agencies today use Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign to create compelling visuals that prompt potential customers to take action. Both streaming and local radio commercials may be produced using Adobe Audition, while Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects are must-haves to produce today’s video advertisements, whether traditional, streaming, or even interactive commercials.
Nonprofits & Education
Adobe Creative Cloud is an essential part of nonprofit organizations’ toolkits for streamlining workflows and creating high-quality collaborative content. Recognizing this, Adobe offers sizable discounts to qualified 501(c)(3) public charities in the U.S. Nearly 700,000 Chicagoans work at the 55,000 nonprofits in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Meanwhile, nearly 8,000 educational institutions call the Chicago region home.
Both schools and nonprofit organizations require extensive communication materials for teaching, training, and telling critical stories. Nonprofits use videos, websites, social media content, and print materials produced using Adobe Creative Cloud applications to change the world through fundraising, raising awareness about critical social issues, and advocating for change. Meanwhile, similar media forms created with Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and other Creative Cloud applications form the backbone of many school curricula and make up essential supplementary materials supporting teachers and students alike.
Adobe Job Titles and Salaries
Countless different job titles are available to experts in Adobe Creative Cloud applications. While you’ll find Photoshop, Illustrator, and other popular CC applications on the computers of entrepreneurs, journalists, teachers, and others, many who work with Adobe software daily work in some area of design, media, or creative services. Graphic Designers are some of the most prominent users of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, while Motion Graphics Designers and Video Editors rely strongly on After Effects and Premiere Pro. Meanwhile, Web Designers may use Adobe’s graphic design tools along with Adobe XD, Animate, and other Creative Cloud components to meet their goals on the job.
Graphic Designer
Graphic Designers use their knowledge of design theory, composition, aesthetics, and typography to create eye-catching images and text for visual communication. Adobe Creative Cloud—especially Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign—are the go-to tools of the trade today. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Chicago is home to nearly 8,000 Graphic Designers, the third highest number in the country. The BLS projects that job growth for Graphic Designers in the U.S. will be as fast as average through 2032. Indeed reports that base salaries for Graphic Designers in Chicago average between $72,000 and $75,000 within the first two years of their careers.
Motion Graphics Designer
Motion Graphics Designers work across industries providing illustrations and text featuring the illusion of movement. Their work can be seen in news, sports, and weather broadcasting, commercials, television shows, and social media, among other places. After Effects is the go-to application for creating Motion Graphics, and Motion Graphics Designers often use Premiere Pro to edit their work into a cohesive whole. Chicago’s motion graphics scene thrives in studios like Digital Kitchen and Optimus. According to Glassdoor, most salaries for Chicago Motion Graphics Designers range between $68,000 and $84,000.
Video Editor
Video Editors are responsible for cutting, editing, and otherwise modifying film footage into a complete project. They sometimes play a project management role on filmmaking teams, as they are present with each project every step of the way, from development to post-production. Adobe Premiere Pro is the industry-standard for video editing, whether for the media and entertainment industry or advertising and marketing. After Effects is another vital application for Video Editors, as it is a must for creating special effects, title sequences, and any other text elements in a video project. The BLS reports that Chicago ranks seventh in Video Editor employment in the U.S. and projects Video Editor job growth to be 7%—faster than average—through 2032. According to Indeed, Video Editors in Chicago can expect a base salary averaging in the mid $50,000s in their first one or two years of employment.
Web Designer
Web Designers create visually appealing and functional websites using a rich menu of skill sets and tools. They benefit from a Graphic Designer’s toolkit of design knowledge and software expertise—including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. They also can use the After Effects knowledge of Motion Graphics Designers to bring elements of movement into their design. Adobe Animate—formerly known as Flash—is still used in web design today, while the vector design tool Adobe XD is a must-have for prototyping designs. The BLS lists Chicago among the top ten areas for Web Designer employment, which is promising for Chicagoans wishing to work in an occupation with a much faster-than-average job growth projection through 2032. Indeed reports that the base salaries for Chicago Web Designers match the national average, with most early- and mid-career professionals making between $60,000 and $65,000.
Adobe Classes Near Me
Ledet Training offers several Adobe class options, including an Adobe Photoshop 101—Photoshop Intro class in-person in The Loop. This short course is ideal for beginners to the application, though Ledet Training recommends that students purchase or set up a trial version of Photoshop before the class start date. Ledet Training’s instructors focus on ensuring students develop best practices and efficient workflows while avoiding common pitfalls. Participants will learn the Photoshop interface and how to work with layers, masks, channels, and typography. With the tips and tricks students learn, they will be ready to create professional-quality edited images for print, web, and video by the end of the class.
Ledet Training also offers Adobe Creative Cloud Print 501, an in-person short course hosted in Ledet Training’s classroom in The Loop. Basic computer skills and familiarity with the student’s own equipment, including their file management system, are the only prerequisites for this beginner-friendly class. Students should have Adobe Creative Cloud installed on their computers prior to the start of the class. Adobe Creative Cloud Print 501 is a hands-on intensive program designed to help students feel confident navigating Adobe CC and its core applications for design professionals. The curriculum covers the essentials of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, along with Adobe Bridge and creating PDFs. Students will also develop their print production skills using the tools of Adobe Creative Cloud.
Computer Training Source, Inc.’s expansive menu of training options includes classes on several Adobe applications. In Computer Training Source’s Schaumburg classroom, Adobe learners can attend their in-person After Effects Part 1 course to begin their journey to mastery of the leading motion graphics software. With their new knowledge of After Effects, students will be able to navigate the application's interface, create animated text, integrate Photoshop images, and use advanced motion techniques. The curriculum includes instruction on working with audio, arranging layers, using the roto brush tool, stabilizing a shaky camera, and creating other impressive motion graphics and special effects. No prerequisites are required to attend this brief part-time course.
ONLC Training Centers offers a wide range of IT training classes, many focusing on preparing students to pass certification exams in various applications. ||CPN103|| is an in-person Chicago class for complete beginners to the industry-standard publishing software. Meeting at the ONLC’s Schaumburg campus, this InDesign class is suitable for beginners to the publishing application as well as experienced users looking to fill gaps in their knowledge. Students will learn the fundamental skills necessary to create professional layouts with InDesign’s vast menu of tools. The instructor will teach students how to navigate the interface, work with text and graphic frames, apply styles, export their projects, and other vital processes and techniques. By the end of the class, students will feel confident in their abilities to craft an InDesign project and package it for printing.
ONLC also hosts an Adobe CC ||CPN547|| Course in the same Schaumburg location. This week-long Adobe bootcamp gives students a comprehensive crash course in the core three Creative Cloud applications for graphic design: Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Students are expected to have basic computer knowledge, including file management skills, but no experience with Adobe software is required. In addition to these three industry-standard applications, the curriculum also provides an overview of Adobe Creative Cloud for Graphic Designers, covering features such as Typekit, My Portfolio, Adobe Stock, CC libraries, and creative asset management with Adobe Bridge. Students will gain a solid foundational knowledge of Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign in this graphic design bootcamp, including practice with Lightroom CC, organizing projects, and best practices for graphic design workflows in Adobe Creative Cloud.
Chicago Botanic Garden provides a wide range of educational offerings, with many focused on the art of photography. Photoshop 3 is an in-person Adobe class for intermediate to advanced Photoshop users who are ready to level up their photo editing skills. This advanced class requires prospective students to either attend Photoshop 1 and Photoshop 2 as a prerequisite or seek the instructor’s approval before enrolling should they already possess the equivalent knowledge. This Adobe class meets at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. During these sessions, the instructor will assist students with their own projects. Students must bring their own equipment, including a digital camera and a laptop computer with Photoshop installed. Students can use Photoshop 3 to work on abstract art, displacement mapping, focus stacking, HDR, or any combination of the above.
For more than thirty years, Noble Desktop has provided high-quality coding and design classes in NYC. Noble’s online ||CPN548|| offers students in Chicago the same exceptional Adobe training they provide in-person in Manhattan. No experience is necessary to attend this certificate program, which provides a comprehensive education that will prepare you to launch a career in graphic design. With zero-interest financing plans and the ability to choose between a full-time or part-time schedule, this online Adobe class provides a flexible and fast alternative to a four-year degree. The ||CPN548|| program features modules on Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and creating a graphic design portfolio. As a student in the program, you’ll learn how to use these three Adobe programs on the job as a Designer while also mastering graphic design elements, concepts, and processes and how to apply them in your own work. Tuition covers a free retake option, one-on-one career-prep mentoring, and a verified certificate of completion.
Noble Desktop provides several other Adobe training options, including a Photoshop Certification Program. This Adobe class is available in-person in NYC and online for students around the world. Like all of Noble’s classes, tuition covers the option to retake the program for free for a year should you find you would like a review. Noble’s Photoshop Certificate Program also includes two Photoshop classes, six hours of private tutoring, prerecorded exam-prep videos, and the Adobe Certified Professional exam for Photoshop with the option to retake for no additional charge. As a student in this certification program, you’ll learn how to create graphics and retouch photos in Noble’s ||CPN118||. Your second class will be Photoshop Advanced, where you’ll level up your knowledge of retouching, AI, and other tools available within the application. All levels of experience are welcome to enjoy this beginner-friendly comprehensive Photoshop class. Noble offers Photoshop learners who have no need to take the certification exam the option to exchange it for an additional hour of private tutoring.
Adobe Corporate Training
Are you looking for Adobe corporate training options for your team? If you are looking for classes for multiple employees within your business or organization, Noble Desktop has solutions for you. Whether your whole team could use a brushup on Photoshop or a few new hires need training in several Creative Cloud applications, you can find customized training solutions with Noble to help your team meet their goals.
Noble Desktop provides classes on Adobe applications and related skill sets for individuals and teams. In-person classes run in Midtown Manhattan, while students in Chicago can attend from their office, home, or location of choice. Noble offers you the opportunity to buy discounted bulk vouchers for regularly running in-person and online classes that can take care of your business’s needs for Adobe learning. Alternatively, you can email Noble Desktop to begin planning onsite Adobe corporate training customized to your team’s specific needs.