Photoshop is an Adobe application that is used for editing photos and images. It includes a wide variety of tools designed for both beginners and experts and is relatively easy to use. As a result, it has become one of the world’s most popular photo editing applications. In fact, Photoshop is often referred to as the industry standard for photo editing.
This application was first developed in 1987, by Thomas and John Knoll. In 1988 it was sold to Adobe, and in 1990 it was first released to the public. An Adobe blog post, “Adobe Explains It All: Photoshop, ” discusses the way that Photoshop fundamentally changed the design industry. It says, “Just imagine how things were back in the 1980s, and how limited design options were. Today design is everything, and well-designed experiences are everything—critical to business, critical to the user experience, and critical to brands—and that’s largely thanks to Photoshop…. Without Photoshop, people would be missing an important vehicle for expressing their creative visions.” Since its release in 1990, Photoshop has continued to evolve, with new features and tools being added often.
What Can You Do with Photoshop Training?
Photoshop is an extremely versatile application that can be used for many different types of design projects. You can use it to edit photos, including correcting color, retouching images, and even changing backgrounds. You can also use it to edit many other types of images, like illustrations or logos. The application even allows you to combine and edit different types of images. In addition to using Photoshop to edit existing designs, you can also use its many painting and drawing tools to create your own digital designs. Finally, Photoshop not only gives you a wide range of design tools, but it also makes the design process quicker and easier.
What Will I Learn in a Photoshop Class?
Every Photoshop class is unique; however, several fundamental skills are covered in most classes. These include learning the principles of composition, using layers, making selections, adding and manipulating text, and painting.
Composition
Composition is the process of arranging multiple elements to create a design. The composition of a design is important because it will determine how that design affects your audience. When you take a Photoshop class, you’ll learn about the principles of composition.
Layers
Photoshop allows you to work on your designs in layers. This is a unique feature that many Photoshop users love. With layers, you can edit elements in one layer without affecting another layer, which means that you can more easily edit parts of your image without completely changing the whole thing.
Selections
Another important skill in Photoshop is making selections. A selection is part of an image that you define, using either a selection command or the selection tool. You can edit a selection without affecting the rest of the image. Most classes will cover the process of making selections.
Text
In addition to working with images, Photoshop allows you to add and manipulate text. When you take a class, you’ll learn how to add the text that you want, exactly where you want it. You’ll also learn edits like changing color or style, bending, and warping.
Painting
In addition to editing images, you can also create digital art with Photoshop. A class is likely to cover the Brush tool, and the many different ways that you can customize your art such as adjusting the size and color of the tool.
How Hard is It to Learn Photoshop?
Most people say that it is relatively easy to learn Photoshop’s fundamental features. You can probably learn skills like basic photo retouching within a few days, and get fairly comfortable with this application within several weeks. However, Photoshop is a powerful program, with a large number of features, including many advanced ones, and mastering all of them is more difficult. It can take months, or even years.
What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Photoshop?
One of the most challenging parts of learning Photoshop is that there are many different tools and features to learn. While it can be fairly easy to start using the application’s basic features, learning to use all of the available tools is much more difficult. Writing in PC Magazine in May 2020, software analyst Michael Muchmore says, “Photoshop is one of the most complex programs that's commonly used today. Getting a handle on Photoshop teaches you not one skill, but many: photo editing, image design with layers, web image optimization, 3D imagery, typography, and drawing.” In addition, he says, “In every one of these areas, Photoshop offers a deep, rich set of tools, each of which can be further modified with options and adjustments.”
How Long Does It Take to Learn Photoshop?
How long it takes to learn Photoshop varies, and depends on several factors including whether you know how to use any other Adobe applications, how much you know about design, and the amount of time you devote to learning. Most people say that it’s possible to learn some basic Photoshop skills within a few days and that you can get pretty comfortable with this application within a few months. However, mastering all of Photoshop’s features can take several months, or may even take years.
Should I Learn Photoshop in Person or Online?
When it comes to learning Photoshop, there are several different class formats. One is an in-person class, where you learn in a classroom with an instructor and a group of other students. Many people find this to be the most engaging format, and they like that they can ask questions and get feedback whenever they want. In-person learning also makes it easy to connect and network with other students. However, in-person learning requires that you commute to a classroom, which can be expensive and inconvenient. You’re also limited to classes that you can commute to. For these reasons, live online learning has become a popular alternative. This type of learning still takes place in real-time, but you attend by logging in online. When you take a live online class, you typically have a lot more options since you don’t have to physically get to the class location. A downside is that you typically need to supply your own equipment and software. A third class option is on-demand learning. This format is asynchronous, allowing you to work through pre-recorded material at your own pace. It’s a popular option for students who need more flexibility; however, it does require a higher level of focus and motivation, since you set your own learning schedule.
Can I Learn Photoshop Free Online?
There are many different free online Photoshop resources. For instance, the Adobe website has short tutorials where you can pick up a new skill, and Noble Desktop has an online learning page that can help you get a good overview of many Photoshop-related topics. However, if you’re serious about learning Photoshop, you’ll probably want to invest in a paid class. When you take a paid class, you are guided through the learning process by an experienced instructor who can give you feedback and answer all of your questions. In addition, you’ll know that you are getting accurate and up-to-date information. Finally, with a paid class, you’ll often receive a certificate that shows your achievement.
What Should I Learn Alongside Photoshop?
If you’re learning Photoshop, you may also benefit from learning Illustrator. This Adobe application is used for creating and editing vector graphics and allows you to resize these graphics without losing image quality. In contrast, Photoshop is designed to work with raster images, which consist of pixels. Like Photoshop, Illustrator is a popular, industry-standard design tool. It also integrates easily with Photoshop, so you can use the two applications in combination to create and edit designs that include both photos and graphics.
Industries That Use Photoshop
Photoshop is a common tool within many different design industries. This includes photography, graphic design, product design, marketing, and web design. It is a staple tool in the field of photography. Professional photographers almost always edit their photos, and many use Photoshop. This application gives them the freedom to edit their images in a wide variety of ways. Photoshop is also a popular tool in design, used by many different types of designers. The marketing industry uses Photoshop too, for creating and editing marketing material such as graphics and branding elements. Photoshop is also a popular tool in the field of education. Educators often use it to create engaging content for their students. Miami has many job opportunities in all of these industries. In 2019, Forbes named Miami one of the best places for business and careers. On its website it says, “Miami is a major center of commerce, culture, entertainment, the arts and international trade. The city's Civic Center has also become a significant hub for research institutes, medical centers and biotechnology industries.”
Photoshop Job Titles and Salaries
Photographer
Photographers take and edit photos, and they often rely on Photoshop for the editing process. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (the BLS), over the next ten years, this profession is likely to experience job growth of 4 percent, which is about average. It says, “Demand for portrait photographers will remain as people continue to want new portraits. Corporations also will continue to require commercial photographers’ services to develop compelling advertisements to sell products.”
Web Designer
Web Designers design websites, and they often use Photoshop to create visual elements for those sites. The BLS predicts 16 percent job growth in web design over the next ten years, which is much faster than average. It says, “Employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow as ecommerce continues to expand. As retail firms keep increasing their online offerings, demand for these workers is expected to grow.” In addition, it says that the use of mobile devices is also driving demand because there is a need for designers who can create content that works for these smaller screens. The average salary for a Web Designer is $53,000 to $63,000 yearly.
Digital Designer
Digital Designers design digital content for apps, websites, and other types of digital media, and may use Photoshop. The BLS groups Digital Designers and Web Developers together on its website, and reports that between 2023 and 2032, there will be 16 percent job growth in this field. In addition, it finds that about 13 percent of Digital Designers and Web Developers are self-employed. A Digital Designer earns $81,000 to $94,000 per year on average.
Graphic Designer
Graphic Designers use a variety of different visual elements to communicate ideas, and they frequently work with Photoshop. The BLS predicts that jobs in this field will grow by 3 percent between 2022 and 2032. It finds that print jobs for Graphic Designers may decrease in the future, but says that digital design jobs are likely to increase. It explains, “As companies continue to increase their digital presence, graphic designers may be needed to help create visually appealing and effective layouts of websites and social media sites.” The average salary for a Graphic Designer is $56,000 to $59,000 yearly.
Photoshop Classes Near Me
If you are located in the Miami area, and you want to learn Photoshop, there are several different class options. Miami Dade College’s School of Continuing Education & Professional Development offers an Adobe Photoshop – Basic class, which is an introductory course. This class covers the Photoshop interface, navigation, selections, channels, and layers. You’ll learn about resolution and image size, color models, and selection techniques. In addition, you’ll also get tips and shortcuts.
Founded in 1990, Noble Desktop is a coding and design school that is based in New York City, and also offers its classes in a live online format. Its ||CPN711|| is a multi-day class that covers basic and intermediate Photoshop skills. In this course, you’ll learn how to edit your photos and create graphics. You’ll learn to adjust color and contrast, remove unwanted elements, and make selections to work with specific parts of an image. You’ll also learn about masks, layers, filters, and type, and you’ll earn a certificate of completion at the end of the course. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department.
Noble also offers a Photoshop Masterclass, which covers beginner through advanced Photoshop skills. In this class, you’ll learn Photoshop basics like working with filters, selection tools, blend modes, and layers. In addition, you’ll learn about color correction, masking, and creating composites. This class also covers advanced skills including blending modes, generative AI features, and the Pen tool.
Another Noble option is the Photoshop Certification Program, which is designed for students who want to become a certified Adobe Photoshop expert. When you take this course, you’ll get two Photoshop classes, where instructors cover basic through advanced skills. You’ll also get six hours of private tutoring to help you prepare for the exam. At the end of the course, you’ll take the Adobe Certified Professional exam for Photoshop. The class fee includes a free exam retake.
The Manhattan Edit Workshop also offers live online Photoshop classes. Adobe Photoshop Level I is designed for Producers, Editors, Assistant Editors, and Motion Graphic Artists. It covers basic photo corrections, working with selections, layer basics, and quick fixes. Students also learn about typographic design and vector drawing techniques, and how to save files correctly. This school also offers a Photoshop Level II class, which covers more advanced techniques.
Lumenbrite Digital Design Training offers beginner and advanced Photoshop classes in a live online format. This school is based in Austin, Texas, and offers a variety of digital design classes. The ||CPN722|| is a multi-day class that combines Lumenbrite’s two essential Photoshop skills classes. Students who complete this bootcamp will progress to an intermediate level of Photoshop mastery. Covered skills include retouching, working with layers, repairing, masks, color management, typography, and advanced image manipulation. Students also learn to work with Camera Raw and learn about the program’s animation and video features.
Ledet Training also runs Photoshop classes. This school is an Adobe Authorized Training Center. Adobe Photoshop 101 covers Photoshop fundamentals. Students learn about the Photoshop interface and how to set up a professional image editing system. They also learn repair and publishing, photo retouching, layers, working with masks, channels, and typography. Ledet also offers an advanced Photoshop class.
headTrix is a Los Angeles-based school that runs live online classes. ||CPN714|| is a short class that covers a wide range of Photoshop skills including creating a new file, cropping and resizing photos, working with layers, manipulating images, and adding text to images. Other covered skills include creating effects with layer styles, using filters, and optimizing images for the web. The class is taught by an Adobe Certified Instructor.
You can also learn to use Photoshop through Computer Training Source, Inc. which is based in Chicago, but offers live online classes. Photoshop Part I is a short class designed for beginners. Students learn to customize and organize their workspace and to use Adobe Bridge. They also learn how to work with basic images, and how to work with layers and selections. After that, they learn to adjust and refine images and how to manage their Photoshop files.
Photoshop Corporate Training
Photoshop skills can be useful to many different types of companies, and Noble Desktop offers onsite and virtual Photoshop training classes. Its experienced instructors can conduct onsite training at your office or can train your employees virtually through a platform like Zoom. Scheduling options are flexible and include evenings and weekends, and content can be customized to your needs. Another training option is to purchase vouchers to Noble’s regular group classes and let your employees enroll individually. A discount is offered with bulk voucher purchases. To get more information about corporate training, or to schedule a complimentary consultation, contact Noble Desktop.