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arnies3895359
Participant
December 24, 2017
Question

A Beginning - How do I start learning Photoshop?

  • December 24, 2017
  • 8 replies
  • 832 views

How do I start

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    8 replies

    Nancy OShea
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 27, 2017

    Photoshop cannot be learned all at once.  You need to break it down into easy to digest bites. 

    Start with the tools.  Learn what they do, where to find them and how to customize your toolbar for different  projects or editing situations.   Then patiently work with each tool to get some practice.  

    https://design.tutsplus.com/articles/10-essential-tools-tips-all-photoshop-beginners-should-learn--cms-29333

    Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
    Participating Frequently
    December 27, 2017

    Dive in! That's how I learned

    I also read a lot of books and watched a lot of YouTube tutorials. As suggested above, the Classroom in a Book series is a great place to start. Lynda.com is also a great place, but it does require a subscription. Once I became a little more familiar with Photoshop and at least knew some terms, I identified projects that I would like to try via YouTube and I completed them. The more you learn, the more questions you'll have... especially at the beginning. This forum is a great place to ask questions and we will try to answer to the best of our ability!

    Community Expert
    December 26, 2017

    Lynda.com is a good site for software tutorials and broader skill development like time management. It has a subscription model. The tutorials are detailed and well structured with video, transcripts that you can use to navigate the videos, and exercise files.

    Here's a link to the Photoshop tutorials:

    Photoshop - Online Courses, Classes, Training, Tutorials on Lynda

    Abambo
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 26, 2017

    Not to forget: you can buy Photoshop books. I can recommend the ”Classroom in a Book” series. They take you step by step into the matter.

    If you are stuck with a specific problem, you can ask the community in the forums. People here are great and knowledgable.

    ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
    josephlavine
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 26, 2017

    Adding to what others have already suggested. 

    Once you dive in you'll have questions, and that's good.  Come back here and ask away.  You'll find that providing specific including images and screen captures really helps us help you.

    Good luck and have fun.

    Norman Sanders
    Legend
    December 24, 2017

    Arnie, this question has been asked so often that I saved my previous response and am posting it here again for you. First, I strongly endorse the advice offered in the previous posts. I would. like to add this:

    If you live in or near a large city, I suggest you check the Adult Ed (also called Continuing Education) courses that may be available at a nearby college, the local Y or community center. Check their sites to see course descriptions. These classes usually provide the opportunity to work at a computer as you cover the material, proceed in a logical sequence and ask questions during each session. Some instructors offer email assistance when an assignment has you baffled.  In addition, you will meet people with a similar interest and probably form a mutual-aid network when the class is over. Avoid the One Day cram courses. They are worthless for a beginner. (The courses I taught at a college in NY met for three hours on 8 consecutive Saturday mornings and was limited to 15 students. I suspect other colleges have a similar setup.)

    Derek Cross
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 24, 2017

    The Photoshop QuickStart Guides and the Classroom in a Book series are excellent as are the online video tutorials from Lynda.com (you can get a 30-day free trial): Photoshop CC 2018 Essential Training: The Basics

    Just Shoot Me
    Legend
    December 24, 2017

    Google "Photoshop tutorials".

    Watch, Read all you can.

    Buy books on using Photoshop.

    Ask questions in this forum and the Photoshop General Discussions forum on specific topic you want to know about.