How to Learn Photoshop

The quesion of how to learn Photoshop is natural because there are many different options, including live Photoshop classes, online Photoshop courses, self-paced Photoshop learning and even private training. These options make it possible to learn Photoshop in a way that meets your goals and considers how quickly you need to learn Photoshop. From independent learning to online classes and a more traditional classroom setting, we explore how to learn Photoshop to meet your own learning styles, time constraints, and budget requirements. We have included six different options for how to learn Photoshop here:

Learn Photoshop in a week

You may have asked Can you learn Photoshop in a week? Yes, you can learn Photoshop in a week with the Photoshop Bootcamp offered at American Graphics Institute. This one week Photoshop bootcamp offers an intensive way to learn Photoshop, with 24 hours of classroom time from a live instructor, hands-on projects and detailed curriculum. Learn Photohsop in a week by attending the Photoshop bootcamp and you will be able to proficiently correct, edit, design and manipulate images. The Photoshop bootcamp is available as a live online course or in-person.

Learn Photoshop in the Classroom

There are many Photoshop classes which provide a more traditional, structured learning environment that some students prefer. An in-person instructor can help to make a complex application such as Photoshop more accessible through demonstrations, lessons, and projects. Learning Photoshop in a classroom provides both essential skills as well as an overview of the application’s capabilities, learning the full potential of Photoshop. While most classes at American Graphics Institute range from five to 10 participants, there are schools that place up to 25 participants in a course. As Photoshop is a complex application, it is useful to check to class size before enrolling. Photoshop classes for beginners offer small-group courses.

Learn Photoshop online

You can attend live online Photoshop classes that are available from any location with an Internet connection. These live courses make it possible to learn Photoshop from anywhere while working with an expert instructor. The instructor presents concepts, participants work on exercises and share questions and receive live feedback in these small-group workshops.

Where to learn Photoshop

If you're in the Boston, New York City or Philadelphia areas, public Photoshop classes are available monthly at American Graphics Institute. These are regularly scheduled public classes where a computer is provided along with the Photoshop application. You learn Photoshop with an instructor in the same classroom with you.

Private Training to learn Photoshop

For those interested in gaining highly specific skills, wanting to accomplish unique tasks, or with a busy schedule, private Photoshop training is an option.  Available for individuals or groups, a private Photoshop training program can be focused on unique tasks and requirements, and provides opportunities to use images that relate to projects and work requirements. This allows participants to learn Photoshop skills and processes that help them to work efficiently and accurately. Private Photoshop training can be held off-site at an American Graphics Institute location, or on-site at a company or organization. For groups with a team distributed over different locations, live online sessions can also be arranged.

Learning Photoshop Independently

Individuals who prefer learning on their own will find there are many options to learn Photoshop independently. These include books, tutorials, and video lessons which include a variety of both no-cost and paid options. The Photoshop Digital Classroom is an example of a self-paced way to learn Photoshop. This Photoshop book includes step-by-step instructions as well as lesson files for practicing. As a complete book, it includes a structured option for learning introductory through intermediate Photoshop skills. Another self-paced way to learn specific Photoshop skills is through free Photoshop tutorials. 

Reasons to Learn Photoshop

Before examining how to learn Photoshop it is worthwhile to understand who uses Photoshop and why it is such a popular application. Photoshop is the original photo editing application and has become the industry standard for visual designers, marketing professionals, and photographers. As the most widely-used image editing program, learning Photoshop is often essential for many design and marketing jobs. Amateur artists and photographers also learn Photoshop because it is used for tasks that range from creative image manipulation to more basic image editing, such as lightening an under-exposed image. We discuss why you should learn Photoshop and the top reasons to learn Photoshop separately.