How to Learn Adobe Online

Whenever you’re trying to learn something new, you can find dozens of tips and resources online. Learning Adobe is no different, and that’s excellent news because Adobe skills are vital in the creative industry. Adobe applications allow professionals to edit photos and videos, create illustrations, develop web pages, design print materials like brochures, and do countless other creative projects. If you’ve always wanted to learn Adobe, there are plenty of options at your fingertips. From free tutorials to live classes in person or online, explore the options below to discover the one that works best for you. 

What is Adobe?

Adobe Creative Cloud is a computer software application that allows users access to all the different Adobe programs. Creative design and marketing professionals typically use it to create content for print, video, or online distribution. You can find professionals in nearly every industry that uses Adobe Creative Cloud, including advertising, website design, and video editing.

At the center of the creative community, Adobe Creative Cloud connects creativity with collaboration, as the cloud-based systems allow you to share work with fellow creatives and work from anywhere. Adobe’s spectrum of programs allows you to edit photos, create stunning digital designs, build websites, and edit videos. Adobe Creative Cloud stores all your programs under the same roof, allowing you to switch easily between programs as needed. Using Creative Cloud can also introduce you to new programs you have not used before to help upgrade your career. 

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

What Can You Do with Adobe?

Adobe Creative Cloud is a one-stop shop for all creative projects, and several applications are industry leaders for creative software. Adobe has over 20 applications, though typically, when referring to Adobe Creative Cloud, people think of the top five most popular; After Effects, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro. However, Adobe Creative Cloud has much more to explore. 

Adobe offers applications to fit every project, from allowing users to view and edit PDF files to designing and publishing web pages. The top five applications allow users to edit photos and videos, create visual effects and motion graphics, and create page layouts, typography, and illustrations. With other programs like Adobe Spark, users can create social media or web content directly from their computer or phone. Dreamweaver allows users to publish web pages with a simplified code engine. Adobe Aero focuses on the world of augmented reality. There are endless possibilities for creating with Adobe Creative Cloud.

Live Online Adobe Training

Virtual online training continues to grow in popularity as the internet provides more online learning opportunities. Virtual learning is a convenient solution for students with busy schedules or living in remote areas too far from in-person courses to commute. Live online training enables them to learn the necessary skills without worrying about making it to class on time. Attending online classes also allows students to work in the most comfortable environment, like at home or a local coffee shop. Live online learning offers multiple freedoms for learning new skills. However, some people may find online courses distracting or less engaging without a clear separation between work and home. Online learning may also be more challenging for those seeking in-person classroom engagement. 

Noble Desktop has several live online Adobe classes for those intrigued by online learning. Unlike the self-paced structure of on-demand courses, Noble’s courses are all taught live through teleconferencing. Students can learn from expert instructors, interact with their classmates in real time, get instant feedback on assignments, and have their questions answered promptly. Noble’s Classes Near Me tool can also find other live online Adobe course providers. Other providers include General Assembly, ONLC Training Centers, Lumenbrite, and Ledet Training. These providers have courses covering multiple Adobe applications with skill levels ranging from beginner to advanced. 

On-Demand Adobe Classes

A schedule filled with personal and professional responsibilities may make it impossible for you to devote a set amount of time per week to learning a new skill. Taking an on-demand, self-paced Adobe class might be the perfect solution for learning a new skill without sacrificing anything on your busy schedule. These courses can be accessed at any time, allowing participants to engage with as much course content as they want in a given session. 

The course options you choose will depend on your skill level. If you’re new to Adobe, start with one of the beginner courses to allow you time to become comfortable with all Adobe applications. More advanced courses are available if you have experience in a particular program, like Photoshop, but want to learn more skills. Some on-demand courses are free, and while they are budget-friendly, topic videos are generally introductory. Pay options are available in program subscriptions or course fees and provide more in-depth training. 

On-demand courses are great options for learning programs at your own pace and rewatching the videos as needed. However, it’s not a learning style that suits everyone. Without set deadlines or an instructor’s motivation, discipline is required to hold yourself accountable for watching the course videos. But if this option fits your learning style, it can be beneficial to familiarize you with these new programs.

Free Intro Courses & Tutorials

Free introductory Adobe courses are a great start if you want to learn a new skill but are too busy to take an entire course. Noble Desktop offers several free seminars covering various topics. To get started with Adobe, check out the Intro to Adobe Creative Cloud seminar, where students receive an overview of the software and its applications. 

Noble Desktop is not the only provider offering free Adobe courses. Udemy offers several courses that cover a variety of design skills as well as a few Adobe applications. Coursera offers beginner courses in several Adobe applications. Through Coursera, students can audit longer courses for free, including a course on graphic design fundamentals. However, if those options do not work for you, there are hundreds of tutorials on YouTube for each Adobe application. When going through these video tutorials, focus on the most recent uploads to ensure you learn the most up-to-date software and trends, as Adobe updates regularly.

Read about more free Adobe videos and online tutorials.

Comparing Online Learning with In-Person Learning

There are various options for how to learn new skills, whether a new language or Adobe applications. But the fastest and generally most effective way is to take a course, and there are multiple options for that as well. 

Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool makes it incredibly easy to find in-person Adobe classes in your area if you prefer classroom learning. Traditional classroom learning does have its perks, including being among like-mind learners to exchange ideas and problem solve. In-person classes also allow personal interaction with the instructor, who can promptly answer questions and provide immediate feedback on classwork. Learning Adobe in a classroom can benefit those who are easily distracted or prefer to keep their work and home life separate. 

Online options are more suitable if you prefer learning at your own pace. Free online seminars, on-demand courses, or video tutorials are great for beginners not ready to commit to a training course. But self-guided learning requires patience and self-discipline as you use these free resources to teach yourself application fundamentals.

Live online training combines the best of both worlds, with expert instructors teaching live online while you complete the course wherever you are most comfortable—at home, in your office, or on vacation. Live online training is an excellent choice if you simply prefer that learning style, live in a rural area, or find it impractical to commute to an in-person learning locale. Live online training also offers more providers, as the location is unimportant. So, you can enroll in a course anywhere across the country or the world.

Your preferred learning style will determine the method you choose to learn Adobe applications. Each learning method has pros and cons, and styles that work for others may not work for you. If you know you get easily distracted at home or if you have a flexible schedule conducive to a commute, consider the courses nearby. But if you can’t make the commute or learn better in your own environment, virtual learning is equally effective.

Tips to Succeed when Learning Adobe Online

If you’re unfamiliar with online courses and don’t know what to expect, set yourself up for success by following these tips: 

• Learning Environment: Adobe courses require active learning, meaning you’re not just listening to a lecture. You’re using the software. Find a quiet place to learn and remove distractions, like your phone. If possible, learn behind closed doors to reduce household noises like family members watching television or talking. 
• Schedule: Setting up a schedule for promptly completing assignments and tasks can help you stay on top of your work and avoid procrastination. Online classes can leave you vulnerable to distractions or putting off assignments until the last minute. Scheduling your time creates a structure similar to traditional in-person courses. 
• Virtual interactions: If you thrive on interacting, working, and socializing with your course peers, take advantage of the virtual teleconferencing system. Set up a time to collaborate and work through challenging topics, especially with Adobe applications. You can also use virtual meetings for one-on-one mentoring to help you learn if your program offers it.
• Treat it like an actual course: Online courses are virtual, but you should treat them like in-person courses. Be sure to participate actively throughout the course and have a designated place for every class meeting where you can focus on learning and get the most out of the course. 
• Accountability: The most challenging tip to follow is to hold yourself accountable for learning. In-person courses designate a block of time for learning and meeting assignment deadlines, so it’s easier to stick with it. Online courses leave too much leeway for other responsibilities to take precedence. You may be tempted to skip a class or two because of other life events. Only you can hold yourself accountable for showing up and doing the work to get the most out of the class and thoroughly learn the applications. 

Online learning requires more effort at the start to ensure you get the most out of the training. But it also builds soft skills, like initiative and organizational abilities, which are as valuable on a resume as the Adobe applications you learn. If you keep these tips in mind, you should be successful in any online course you take.

Key Insights

Learning a new skill can be challenging, especially if you aren't sure where to begin your training. When you’re ready to learn an Adobe application, like Photoshop, Illustrator, or Adobe XD, know which learning style is best for you, and then find traditional, in-person training in your area or explore the many online providers that offer live online training. 

In-person and online training have their pros and cons. In-person training offers benefits like a structured schedule and personal interaction with classmates and expert instructors, but it also requires a commute to a specific location. Conversely, live online learning also has expert instructors and virtual interactions, but you can learn from the comfort of your home or office. However, you must create a structure that allows you to focus. You can also ease into online learning with free seminars, on-demand courses, and video tutorials to familiarize yourself with an application before jumping straight into a class. 

Participating in online learning can be daunting, especially for those who have never taken online courses. However, setting up a productive learning environment and schedule, treating it like an in-person course, meeting virtually with peers, and holding yourself accountable will ensure success in any online course.

Learn Adobe with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop provides several Adobe Creative Cloud Classes that meet any schedule or learning style. Participants have the option to attend in-person courses at Noble's campus in Manhattan, or they can opt to take courses virtually from anywhere in the world. Each option has students working closely with expert instructors in small groups. Noble also provides a free retake option within one year, allowing students additional time and opportunities to hone their skills without paying for another course. 

Learning Adobe Creative Cloud can be daunting; however, the Intro to Adobe CC Bootcamp is available for students who want to learn only a few applications quickly. This course covers several Adobe applications, introducing students to Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and After Effects. Students use each application to work through real-world exercises and projects. For those with a little more time on their hands who want in-depth training on more programs, the longer Adobe Creative Cloud Bootcamp devotes more time to work with each application. 

Additional options are available for those looking for more career-oriented learning. The Graphic Design Certificate dives into Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, while covering concepts surrounding the graphic design career. For more training on using Adobe programs to design web or mobile interfaces, there is the UI Design Certificate. As part of this course, you will work closely with Photoshop and Illustrator. In addition to learning the programs for your field of interest, you will develop a portfolio to send to potential employers.