Adobe Photoshop is just one of many versatile computer programs that any creative professional needs on their resume. This digital image editor can quickly transform raw pictures into dynamic content in just a few steps. Once you’ve decided to learn Photoshop, the next important question is deciding how you plan to learn these skills. Most students find that they learn better when they receive guided training, and there is no shortage of available options for students to receive guidance as they tackle this versatile program. 

To learn more about the different Photoshop training options and what advantages and disadvantages they carry with them, read on.

What is Photoshop?

Available within the Adobe Creative Cloud, Photoshop’s primary functions include editing, enhancing, and creating digital images from scratch. Professionals across nearly every industry use Photoshop to design anything from graphics for social media to the interface of an entire website!

You can use Photoshop to adjust lighting and colors, or create a single image from your favorite components of existing photos. It comes with several retouching tools, enabling you to remove anything that makes your image less than perfect. Photoshop also contains rudimentary animation capabilities, meaning users can create GIFs as well. 

Read more about what Photoshop is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Photoshop Skills?

Photoshop allows you to edit, add, or remove almost anything to create your perfect final image. However, Photoshop is used for so much more than enhancing images. Because the program allows users to combine multiple images, designers in any industry can use Photoshop to demonstrate how a proposed design would appear on a product. This helps clients clearly visualize a final product and quickly make changes, saving time and money. Although you can’t code a website in Photoshop, you can create mockups of components that designers will add to a website later. Photoshop contains powerful compression tools, ensuring the images on a website aren’t pixelated.

Why Training Format Matters

When deciding how to best learn a new skill, a few important factors must be considered before choosing. Some of these include price, required time commitment, and your preferred learning style. The classes available range from just a few hours to several weeks, depending on the depth of the course. Understandably, longer classes typically cost more but also provide more training. You’ll want to consider your budget, so you don’t cause additional stress by enrolling in a program you cannot afford.

Classes are also offered in-person and online, so you’ll want to reflect on which format works best for you. Some students prefer the social aspect of learning in a classroom, while others find learning at home more convenient and less stressful. Once you’ve identified which priorities are most important to you, you can select a course that best suits your unique needs. 

Types of Training Formats

In terms of Photoshop training formats, there are four main types available: in-person, live online, on-demand, and free classes. We’ll discuss each in more detail so you know what to expect before enrolling.

Live In-Person Classes

In-person courses are likely the most popular choice for people who want to learn a new skill. This environment likely feels familiar to most learners since they will interact with other students and their instructor in a traditional setting. Many people report that the routine and mandatory attendance required for in-person classes helps them stay focused on their studies. However, these classes offer students very little flexibility. Those with hectic schedules may be unable to commit to such a rigid curriculum, especially if a commute is involved.

Live Online Classes

Live online learning is a great choice for students who prefer the guidance of an instructor but cannot attend an in-person program for any reason, such as living in a more rural area. Many students find they learn best at home or in some other familiar environment. In a virtual class, students will interact with their classmates and instructors in real time and get immediate feedback on their progress. 

However, some students find learning at home distracting and prefer the structure of a classroom. Additionally, those who consider themselves more social may struggle with the lack of physical interaction and have a harder time engaging with the curriculum.

On-Demand Classes

Also referred to as “self-paced” classes, these programs usually consist of pre-recorded content that students can view whenever their schedule allows. On-demand classes are often best suited for folks who want to learn a new skill but have too many commitments to enroll in a more traditional course. These courses are often available through a paid subscription with providers like LinkedIn or Udemy, and they are often less expensive than traditional classes. 

Affordability and flexibility are two advantages to on-demand learning, but they require a great deal of self-discipline and perseverance. Students in self-paced programs often have to independently search for answers to their questions since they don’t have access to an instructor. 

Free Courses

Several free courses and tutorials are available online for anyone wanting to learn Photoshop. These are an ideal way to start learning the basics before you decide whether to invest in a more intensive course. When searching for videos on YouTube or other platforms, it’s essential to limit your search to videos that were uploaded in the last year or so. Because Photoshop is frequently updated and design trends are constantly evolving, you want to avoid wasting time learning outdated features or unpopular techniques.

Noble Desktop has a free Intro to Photoshop seminar available. This brief course demonstrates some of Photoshop’s most commonly used functions and discusses basic design principles. Viewers will also learn about the different Adobe Creative Cloud plans available, how to correctly save and export different file types, and how to determine the appropriate resolution for print and digital files.

Depth of Training Formats

Just like there are different formats for Photoshop training, the classes range in terms of how much information they cover. Some classes will only teach fundamental skills in a day or two, while others will cover a range of subjects and take weeks or months to complete. 

Certificate Programs

For people wanting to start a new career or pivot in a new professional direction, a certificate is their best bet. These longer programs provide instruction in multiple skills relevant to a specific career, preparing students for entry-level jobs in the field of their choice. For example, Noble Desktop’s Graphic Design Certificate helps students become proficient in the industry’s most popular computer programs— Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. The school also offers a UI Design Certificate for students who wish to use their skills to develop user-friendly interfaces for digital applications. 

Noble’s certificate programs also provide each student with individual career mentorship sessions with an expert instructor. Participants can use these meetings to edit their resumes, discuss interview tips, and enhance their professional portfolios. These programs also allow students to retake the class for free within one year, which is an excellent way to gain additional experience and further hone their skills. 

Training Bootcamps

Shorter and less expensive than a certificate, a training bootcamp usually covers one skill related to a particular topic. Training bootcamps provide a solid overview of a specific topic or program, but a person may need to enroll in multiple bootcamps before they’re prepared for a career change. For instance, someone hoping to become a Graphic Designer would need to find bootcamps in several software programs before they were proficient enough to work in a professional environment. Bootcamps are also an excellent choice for those who just need the basics or are self-taught and need a refresher.

Noble Desktop has an Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp geared towards beginners. This hands-on class teaches some of the program’s most commonly used tools and features, including layering, masking, and color correction. Students with Photoshop experience may be more at home in the Photoshop Advanced Retouching course. It covers more challenging subjects like smoothing skin textures, color management, and sharpening. Both of these bootcamps are available online or in-person and come with a free retake within one year. 

Introductory Courses

As their name suggests, these classes are designed with beginners in mind. They are usually shorter than a bootcamp or certificate and help students learn the basics to decide whether to continue with more in-depth training. Because they are shorter and cover less material, introductory courses are often the least expensive option. On the flip side, students will likely have to take multiple shorter courses if they want to truly master a new skill.

The Photoshop in a Day course through Noble Desktop is ideal for beginners with no previous design experience. This course covers basic editing tools like color correction, cropping, and adjusting brightness and contrast. Students will also learn to create basic graphics for social media in this short class. Students who have worked with Photoshop before might enjoy Noble’s single-day Photoshop Animated GIFs class. This course covers how to design simple

animations that can be inserted into emails, websites, and other promotional content.

Learn Photoshop Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop’s Photoshop classes meet various scheduling needs and learning styles. Whether students attend in-person or virtually, they’ll learn from expert instructors in small groups. All courses include a free retake within one year, giving students additional practice if needed.

Noble’s quick Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp guides students through projects like adjusting colors, creating composite images, and removing components to improve a final image. The Graphic Design Certificate teaches Photoshop and two other Adobe programs– Illustrator and InDesign. The UI Design Certificate teaches using Photoshop alongside Figma and other Adobe tools to design web and mobile interfaces. Participants will also create a portfolio they can show to potential employers.

Key Insights

• Photoshop is a digital image editing program with a tremendous range of tools and applications.
• There are multiple ways to learn photoshop, and each training format has its pros and cons. 
• Live classes are the most interactive but also the most expensive. On-demand or free courses are flexible and affordable, but students can sometimes get discouraged without the guidance of an instructor when they need help. 
• The type of class you take will depend on your goals. A certificate is ideal for those looking to find an entry-level job, while bootcamps and introductory classes are better suited for those who prefer an overview of a topic before getting into the finer details.
• Comprehensive Photoshop training is available at Noble Desktop. Programs are offered in-person and live online.