Which Photoshop Training Format Is Right for Me?

Just one of many design programs powered by Adobe, Photoshop is a powerful photo editing tool used by creative professionals around the world. Regardless of your long-term career goals, Photoshop is a fabulous addition to any resume. Companies in virtually every industry can use employees skilled in Photoshop to help design marketing materials, improve their website layout, or create eye-catching content for social media.

When comparing types of Photoshop training, there are many factors to consider. Everyone learns differently, and choosing the right kind of training is critical to your experience.

Keep reading to learn more about the different formats of Photoshop training, how they compare, and how to determine which is best for you.

What is Photoshop?

Photoshop is a software program available as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud. Its primary functions include editing, enhancing, and creating digital images from scratch. The program has a wide range of impressive capabilities. Creative professionals across nearly every industry can use Photoshop to design anything from graphics for social media, logos, and the interface of an entire website!

You can use Photoshop to adjust lighting and colors and to create a single image from your favorite components of existing photos. The program comes loaded with plenty of retouching tools, enabling you to remove anything you feel makes your image less than perfect. If you’re scanning a physical photo into the program, you can edit it to remove stains, tears, and wrinkles. Photoshop also contains rudimentary animation capabilities, meaning users can create GIFs with the program as well.

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

What Can You Do with Photoshop?

Photoshop is the industry-standard software for photo editing. The program can make virtually any adjustment you can think of, and you can add or remove almost anything you want to create your perfect final image. For example, photographers who work with large groups will often use Photoshop to make a composite of several images; this way, they can combine the best photo of each individual into one picture.

But Photoshop is used for so much more than enhancing images! Graphic Designers frequently use the program to design logos and advertisements for their clients. Because the program allows users to combine multiple images, designers in any industry can use Photoshop to quickly demonstrate how a proposed design would appear on a product. This helps their clients get a clear picture of the final product and quickly make changes, saving both time and money.

It’s also commonly used in web design. Although you can’t code a website in Photoshop, you can use it to create mockups of interfaces, backgrounds, and graphics that designers will add to a website later. Photoshop also contains powerful image compression tools, ensuring the images on a website are clear rather than pixelated. Web Designers can also use the program to build the layout of a website, though other tools are more capable of creating a responsive design.

Training Formats for Photoshop

There are multiple formats available for those seeking Photoshop training. In-person training is the most traditional; courses are held in a classroom, and students can interact and complete projects together. With live online training, students are still connected with their classmates and teacher in real-time, but they can learn from their home or anywhere else they prefer.

Free tutorials are generally videos that students can watch and follow along with. On-demand classes generally require a payment, but they are more in-depth than a single video. With this method, someone can learn at their own pace and access the material at a time that suits their schedule.

In-Person Photoshop Training

In-person learning is a very popular option for anybody wanting to learn a new skill. People enjoy meeting like-minded classmates, and they can receive direct guidance and feedback from their instructor. A traditional classroom also helps people hold themselves accountable during the learning process; they must arrive on time and actively participate to get the most out of their education. The additional time commitment required for an in-person class is the primary drawback to consider. Students who enroll in this type of class have to factor an additional commute into their day, which can be especially challenging if they live in a more rural area and need to travel to a nearby city to attend classes.

If you feel in-person learning is the best method for you, check out Noble Desktop’s in-person Photoshop classes. Noble’s Photoshop classes range from just a few hours to several weeks and can accommodate beginner and advanced students. The campus is located in New York City, and its proximity to numerous public transportation options makes it a convenient option for students who are commuting from areas like New Jersey or Philadelphia. If you live outside this area but still want to pursue an in-person course, you can use Noble’s Classes Near Me tool to find in-person Photoshop classes in your area. This tool allows users to filter by course length and cost, ensuring you can find something that will work with your budget and schedule.

Live Online Photoshop Training

Virtual learning is an understandably popular alternative to in-person courses. It provides flexibility to students who live in remote areas or lack the time in their schedule to commute to a class after finishing their regular workday. Many students also enjoy having the option to learn in an environment that feels comfortable, like their home or favorite coffee shop. On the other hand, some people find learning at home distracting and prefer a clearer separation between work and home. More extroverted students might also struggle to engage with online learning since they thrive on in-person connections with others.

For students who find online learning appealing, Noble Desktop offers plenty of live online Photoshop classes to choose from. Unlike self-paced lectures that many people imagine when they hear “online learning,” all of these classes are taught live through a teleconferencing platform like Zoom. Students can interact with their classmates and instructors in real-time, receive instant feedback on assignments, and get quick answers to any questions they may have.

You can also check out other live online Photoshop courses using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. Some training options are available through providers like General Assembly, Future Media Concepts, and Ledet Training. These schools offer a variety of Photoshop courses that cover beginner through advanced topics.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

If you’re not quite ready to dive into a full course, but you still want an overview of Photoshop, you can still start learning Photoshop for free online! Check out Noble Desktop’s free Intro to Photoshop course. This two-hour training teaches viewers about Photoshop’s essential functions and discusses fundamental principles of design. You’ll also learn about which Adobe Creative Cloud plan you should invest in, tips to save your files, and how to select the appropriate resolutions for print files and digital files.

There are other online providers that offer free Photoshop classes as well. Udemy has a handful of courses that cover the basics of Photoshop for different career paths, like web design and graphic design. You can also find some classes for free on Coursera, including one about the fundamental principles of graphic design. There are also hundreds of tutorials available on YouTube, but you’ll want to focus on recent uploads. This ensures you’re learning the most recent version of Photoshop with the most current trends.

Read about more free Photoshop videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Classes

For those with an already packed schedule, the demands of a live class might be too big a burden. If this sounds like you, on-demand Photoshop classes might be a better fit. Some of these introductory courses are free, while others require a subscription to the platform that hosts the course. There are on-demand options for beginners who want to learn the basics and advanced students who are ready to learn some of Photoshop's more complex features. On-demand options are available through providers like LinkedIn Learning, Skillsoft, and Udemy.

Comparison of Photoshop Training Formats

Now that you know more about the types of training available, it’s time to compare them more closely so you have enough information to decide which format is best for you. When narrowing your choices, there are a few factors that are crucial to consider.

One of the most common concerns about learning Photoshop is the cost. Resources like free video tutorials or affordable on-demand classes are an excellent way to combat this stress. But, these options are typically more beneficial in the beginning stages of learning; attempting to learn advanced techniques is even more complicated when you can’t ask questions or get extra help when you get stuck.

Self-paced learning is another solid option for beginners, people with hectic schedules, or those who want to learn Photoshop for fun. They often cover a variety of techniques and can give people a reasonably complete foundation in design concepts. However, it can be difficult to maintain a learning schedule due to the lack of structure and limited sense of obligation.

Instructor-led courses are the most expensive Photoshop training option but are generally the most comprehensive. Many of these programs also provide career support and can lead to lucrative networking opportunities, making them ideal for students who want to learn Photoshop for professional reasons. Online classes are a terrific alternative to in-person learning for students who prefer to learn at home or cannot feasibly access a training center. Here, students still receive the same expert guidance they would during an in-person class without ever leaving home.

Is it Possible to Teach Yourself Photoshop?

Because users must pay for a subscription to access Photoshop and potentially invest in a high-quality computer to use it effectively, many people wonder if it’s possible to teach themselves without spending additional money. Free resources are helpful, and you can definitely learn some fundamental Photoshop skills from YouTube and other tutorials. However, searching for “free Photoshop tutorials” will generate thousands of results, and you have no way of knowing if the creator has the appropriate expertise or is providing accurate information.

This is where an expert instructor teaching a live Photoshop class is critical, especially if you’re learning Photoshop to advance your career or enter a new industry. This environment allows students to receive hands-on support and get feedback on their assignments so they know what they need to improve. Live instructors can also provide students with additional support outside of the classroom if they need it. A classroom environment also has professional benefits since students are able to network, and many instructors can help students with job applications and resumes.

How to Decide the Best Way to Learn Photoshop

Because there are so many methods available to learn Photoshop, it’s wise to spend some time considering which will work best for you before getting started. One of the most important things to focus on is understanding why you want to learn and what you hope to do with your new skills in Photoshop. If you’re a complete beginner or aren’t sure if Photoshop is a good fit, you may want to start with a short introductory course like Noble Desktop’s free Intro to Photoshop seminar. This course provides a basic overview of what Photoshop does and how different professionals use the program, but there’s no risk of losing money if you decide to learn another design program instead.

For those who are more confident that Photoshop will help them grow in their current career, a bootcamp might be a better fit. Noble Desktop has a three-day Photoshop Bootcamp that immerses students in the most critical functions within the program, taking them from beginner to advanced in less than a week. These shorter programs are an excellent investment for professionals who need to learn additional skills but lack the available time for a longer course.

If learning Photoshop will help you start a new career or enter a new industry, it's worth checking out some of Noble Desktop’s certificate programs. These provide detailed instruction in multiple design programs and offer one-on-one career mentorship to help students prepare to enter the job market. Designed specifically for beginners, the Graphic Design Certificate teaches students how to use Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign in one comprehensive course. Others might be interested in the six-week UI Design Certificate, which discusses using Figma to create responsive mobile apps and websites.

Different learning tools can meet different needs depending on your learning preferences. You’ll want to be sure you enroll in a program that won’t stress your budget unnecessarily or leave you with insufficient time to take care of yourself; people who are under a lot of stress generally don’t retain information very well. Deciding which method will best accommodate you can feel daunting at first, but it will ultimately save you time and money. If one method doesn’t work out how you’d hope, you can always pivot to something new.

Learn Photoshop with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers a range of Photoshop classes that are sure to meet a variety of scheduling needs and learning styles. Whether students attend in-person at Noble’s Manhattan campus or virtually from anywhere in the world, they’ll learn from expert instructors in small groups. All Noble courses also include a free retake option within one year, giving students additional opportunities to hone their skills at no additional charge.

For students who only have a few days to spare, the Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp is an excellent way to move from beginner to intermediate in just three days. This course guides students through various projects that each target a specific skill within Photoshop. By the end of the bootcamp, students will be able to complete tasks like adjusting colors, creating a composite image, and removing components of an image to make the end result more appealing.

Photoshop is also covered in a few of Noble Desktop’s more intensive certificate programs. There is a Graphic Design Certificate that teaches Photoshop and two other Adobe programs– Illustrator and InDesign. If you are curious about using Photoshop to design web and mobile interfaces, the UI Design Certificate might be a great fit. You’ll incorporate several design principles to create stunning and accessible interfaces using Figma and multiple Adobe programs. Participants in these programs will add their coursework into a portfolio they can show off to potential employers.