Is 30 Too Old to Learn Photoshop?

Many wonder if time has run out on learning a new skill. Although 30 is not even remotely old, some think you stop doing new things after a certain age. However, this is far from the truth. Learning is a lifelong experience that occurs in big and small ways every day. Likewise, 30 isn’t too old to learn Photoshop. Some may think Photoshop is too difficult to learn, particularly for someone less tech-savvy. Others may not see the point in learning Photoshop. However, 30 is not too old to learn Photoshop (or any skills, for that matter) and it is a rather useful skill for several reasons. If you have ever wanted to learn Photoshop but let your age hold you back, review this article and use it as an opportunity to reconsider your stance. You may even feel compelled to explore your options to learn Photoshop.

Why Learn Photoshop at 30?

There are many professional and personal reasons to learn Photoshop at 30. Learning Photoshop for small and large editing tasks is incredibly worthwhile, particularly if you already work in a creative design field. Many job positions require strong Photoshop skills and keen attention to detail. However, even if you do not work in a creative field, it can be advantageous to learn Photoshop. You may have some personal projects coming up that would be even more polished and visually appealing with a little Photoshop tweaking. All in all, Photoshop is a fun, useful, and interesting skill to acquire, regardless of your age.

Professional Development and Advancement

Learning Photoshop can lead to professional development and advancement, particularly if you already work in a creative design field. You may have opportunities to take on new tasks and expand your responsibilities at your company. Alternatively, learning Photoshop can be the first step in finding a rewarding, engaging, and profitable career. You are not too old to make a career shift, so learning Photoshop at 30 is entirely reasonable. Fields such as graphic design, digital design, marketing, web design, and photography require astute Photoshop skills. If you are interested in any of these fields and want to get a head start on your career, enrolling in a Photoshop class is the best next step. Not to mention Photoshop skills can lead to starting a side hustle as a photo editing expert. You can work as a freelance professional casually and help members of your community have polished photos, gifs, vector graphics, and other imagery. This is a great way to set the terms for how you make money and to afford yourself more flexibility in your career. Plus, many roles that need Photoshop skills have remote positions, so if this aligns with your goals and desires, it is a worthwhile skill to learn. 

Personal Reasons

Beyond professional reasons, Photoshop can be useful in your personal life, serving as a fun hobby or a way to preserve your memories. You can also learn Photoshop for personal reasons. Your 30s are an interesting age -- some folks are settling down and starting families while others are more career-focused, perhaps spending their time traveling, socializing, and exploring. Regardless, Photoshop skills can help make your photos look bright, enhanced, and as you intended. Everyone knows it can be challenging to get all the kids looking in the same direction during the family photo. Luckily, Photoshop can fix this. In addition, having tourists in the background of your travel photos is rather irritating. Again, this is an easy solution with Photoshop. You could also use Photoshop solely for hobby purposes. Many creative people choose digital art as their medium. Photoshop makes it easy to create digital invitations, memes, digital scrapbook material, collages, and other creative endeavors. These are just a few of the many personal reasons to use Photoshop. Once you learn how to use the tools, you can explore other creative ventures.

Don’t Limit Yourself!

Ultimately, it is never too late to learn a new skill. With the abundance of avenues for learning, you can access free resources, find classes, and access other ways to learn more about Photoshop, making it an accessible skill to pursue. In addition, it is a versatile skill that can be used for professional or personal reasons. Although you may feel it is too late to learn a new skill, that could not be further from the truth. Not only this, but technology is continually growing and shifting. If you keep up with newer technology, you may feel more in tune with the world around you and potentially learn other applications within Adobe Creative Cloud. Whether you want to learn Photoshop for personal fulfillment or career advancement, it is a worthwhile skill to study.

How Long Will It Take to Learn Photoshop?

Each person learns differently. You also have to consider certain factors, such as your current skills, comfort using technology, and reason for learning. A beginner will typically learn to navigate the interface, use tools, and apply design principles. This will take some time, but many can learn foundational Photoshop concepts within a few weeks. This can be easily achieved through enrollment in a beginner-level course or bootcamp. Although there are shorter classes that span a few hours to a few days, it typically takes longer to truly get the hang of Photoshop. Through continued practice and ample instruction, achieving beginner-level skills can take less time.

However, it will take a few months or longer to become a Photoshop master. To obtain professional-grade skills, expect to spend more time going beyond the basics, creating complex projects, and learning advanced design theory and principles. Many advanced classes prioritize teaching skills that lead to job acquisition, so this may be preferable if you have career aspirations. However, it is easy to argue that learning Photoshop never truly ends, even once you obtain mastery. Although you can understand all the tools, menus, panels, and functions, Adobe regularly updates its software, so many consider this a continual learning process. In addition, you will develop and enhance your professional editing style throughout each new project, job position, or creative endeavor.

Of course, you must consider your reason for learning Photoshop as it will largely determine how lengthy the learning process is. If you want to use Photoshop as a hobbyist or need to acquire only the most basic skills, you can expect to spend much less time learning or can at least pace yourself as you learn. In addition, if you have a small project at work that requires basic Photoshop skills, you may not want to spend weeks on end learning every tool, trick, and technique. Alternatively, suppose you want to use Photoshop regularly in your professional life. In that case, you need to dedicate a significant amount of time and energy to becoming a Photoshop expert.

Ways to Make Learning Photoshop Easier and Quicker

Live classes are one of the quickest, easiest ways to learn a new skill, especially one as hands-on as Photoshop. This instructor-led learning method is considered one of the best due to the various associated benefits. First, live classes occur in real-time, so you can ask questions, receive feedback, and get direct, immediate help with any errors. In addition, live classes provide interaction between the instructor and peers, regardless of whether the course is in an online or in-person format. This is incredibly different from asynchronous options which require students to provide their own instruction, feedback, and troubleshooting techniques through extensive and timely research.

Specifically, live classes are more effective because they offer benefits than asynchronous options. Because they occur in real-time, students can receive immediate feedback on their projects and classroom activities. This yields a more interactive and immersive experience where students feel comfortable asking questions, discussing new concepts, and working alongside like-minded individuals. In addition, the curriculum is designed to guide students through practical uses of the application. Students will know what to expect and continue growing as Photoshop users. Plus, live classes will hold you accountable. You are expected to join and participate in class regularly; otherwise, you will likely have a hard time succeeding. Overall, there are ample benefits to learning in a live format, but the main one is that learning acquisition is easier by being less time-consuming and stressful. 

However, you should consider your schedule and learning preferences as this may indicate whether you need a full-time or part-time option. Full-time classes are fast-paced and involve intensive training. Many courses are held throughout the work week and are longer than their part-time counterparts. This may be overwhelming at best and impossible at worst, since many work during the week and can’t take time away to complete a class. Alternatively, the part-time options are spread out, perhaps meeting once or twice a week. The classes are likely to be shorter than the full-time option, which could make the learning process feel drawn out and slower. However, it could also help you feel less stressed and pressured to learn new skills. This format is ideal for busy individuals or those in no rush to learn. Live courses are offered in both formats, so ultimately the decision is up to you.

Overall, live classes make learning easier through real-time interaction, hands-on exposure, connections with peers, structured learning, and an overall diverse, immersive experience. The ability to ask questions and have an instructor help with errors in-person makes it easier to handle issues in the future when you are working on your own. Similarly, the hands-on guidance enables you to use techniques and tools to your advantage once you enter the workforce or start using Photoshop for personal projects. In addition, learning alongside others who share your goals makes the process more enjoyable and affords you potential networking opportunities. Overall, the curriculum is designed with student success in mind, so you can feel confident enrolling in a live online or in-person class.

Live Classes and Bootcamps at Noble Desktop

The 138-hour Digital Design Certificate from Noble Desktop provides comprehensive training in various digital design software, tools, and techniques. Specifically, students will learn Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to create projects such as album art, book covers, posters, websites, and other marketing materials. Students will also learn Figma and important UI design principles. Noble Desktop always offers students additional resources and benefits. In this certificate course, students can access bonus training sessions, a free retake within one year, class recordings and workbooks, and a digital certificate of completion.

The Intro to Adobe CC Bootcamp is an all-encompassing bootcamp that covers multiple applications under Adobe Creative Cloud, including Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Illustrator. Students will practice using each application and create projects that help them grasp the foundational tools and purposes for using the application, such as retouching photos in Photoshop and creating vector graphics in After Effects. After 30 hours of instruction, students will leave feeling confident and capable of using the applications in Adobe Creative Cloud. During the bootcamp, students have access to setup assistance, a free retake, and a certificate of completion.

However, if you have limited time to learn Photoshop, you may contemplate enrolling in the Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp. Students will learn how to retouch and edit nature photography, portraits, nature imagery, and action shots. They will specifically learn to sharpen images, remove background objects, and improve the visuals through color correction, contrast, special effects, and filters. This bootcamp totals 18 hours and offers students setup assistance, workbooks, a free retake, and a certificate of completion to serve as proof of your newly acquired skills.

For an even quicker learning experience, consider the six-hour Photoshop in a Day. This is a fast-paced workshop that gives students practical exposure to the application. The class can be full-time (six hours in one day) or part-time (six hours spread across two days). Students will dive right in and use various tools, work with layers, and apply effects. In addition, they will Students in this short class still have resources and benefits, including setup assistance, a free retake, and a certificate.