This course introduces students to Adobe Photoshop and prepares students to obtain the Adobe Certified Professional Certification for Adobe Photoshop. Students will get an insight into what it is like working in the visual and graphic design industry. Over 11 modules, students will learn everything from absolute basics like navigating Photoshop to performing complex tasks like editing and retouching photos, applying filters and effects, and even creating original artwork. The course contains guided tutorials, do-it-yourself projects, and great resources that will help students practice and learn how to work in Photoshop.

Course Outline

Getting Started

Module 1: Working in the Design Industry Part I

Working in the design industry is more than just knowing how to use graphic design tools. There are crucial design, legal, and technical aspects that you must take into consideration when you work on any design project. Another key factor is how you work with colleagues and clients, and how well you are able to communicate your ideas and design visions. In this module, students will learn critical skills to recognize what their audience needs, and how to communicate with colleagues and clients about design plans. They will also learn the legal ramifications of copyright, permissions, and licensing when using digital content.

In this module, students will:

• Understand the Adobe Creative Cloud and the role of the various applications
• Determine whether the content is relevant to the purpose, audience, and audience needs
• Demonstrate knowledge of techniques for communicating about design plans with peers and clients
• Demonstrate knowledge of basic project management concepts
• Identify legal and ethical considerations for using third-party content, such as copyright, permissions, and licensing
• Identify when and how to obtain permission to use images of people and locations

Module 2: Working in the Design Industry Part II

Before you dive into Photoshop, you need to have a strong base knowledge of design principles and sensibilities. In this module, students will be introduced to digital image terminology. They will learn about the basic building blocks of design like color, typography, layout, and composition. They will also be introduced to fundamental design principles and techniques that will be very valuable as they progress in this course.

In this module, students will:

• Demonstrate knowledge of digital image terminology
• Demonstrate knowledge of how color is created in digital images
• Communicate visually using the elements and principles of design and common design techniques
• Identify and use common typographic adjustments to create contrast, hierarchy, and enhanced readability/legibility
• Demonstrate knowledge of common photographic/cinematic composition terms and principles

Module 3: Project Setup and Interface Part I

The Photoshop Interface is a treasure trove of useful tools and settings. The first step for any beginner user of Photoshop is to get acclimatized with the interface so they can begin to identify the different sections and tools available. Students will learn how to get started with Photoshop by creating a new document. They will also get an overview of all the elements of the Photoshop interface and their functions. Finally, students will learn how to customize the Photoshop workspace and preferences in a way that is both convenient and efficient.

In this module, students will:

• Set appropriate document settings for printed and onscreen images
• Create a new document preset to reuse for specific project needs
• Identify and manipulate elements of the Photoshop interface
• Organize and customize the workspace
• Configure application preferences

Module 4: Project Setup and Interface Part II

Photoshop is a complex tool, but it also has some great features in place to make it easier for you to use Photoshop. In this module, students will learn how to easily navigate a document. They will learn how rulers, grids, and guides can make it so much easier to place objects and align them on a document. They will also learn all the different ways to import images and place assets in a Photoshop document.

In this module, students will:

• Navigate a document
• Use rulers
• Use guides and grids
• Open or import images from various devices
• Place assets in a Photoshop document and use the Adobe Camera Raw interface to process images

Module 5: Project Setup and Interface Part III

Photoshop is a must-know tool for anyone interested in photography, graphic design, art, and illustration because of the myriad of color editing tools available. This module will introduce students to ways in which they can select, use, and modify background colors, gradients, and swatches in Photoshop. They will also learn how to use Photoshop libraries to browse and edit brushes, graphic styles, and patterns.

In this module, students will:

• Set the active foreground and background color
• Create and customize gradients
• Create and edit swatches
• Open and browse libraries of included brushes, symbols, graphic styles, and patterns
• Create and edit brushes, symbols, styles, and patterns

Module 6: Organizing Documents Part I

Layers can help you manage all of the design elements of your document. They give you the flexibility to work on individual elements and adjust them as many times as you want till you have the perfect results. In this module, you will learn all about the Layers panel and how you can use it to create and modify layers. You’ll learn the mechanics of working with multiple layers on complex projects. You will also be introduced to new concepts like flattening and merging layers, as well as different types of layers.

In this module, students will:

• Use the Layers panel to modify layers
• Manage layers in a complex project
• Work with multiple layers
• Flatten and merge layers
• Recognize the different types of layers in the Layers panel

Module 7: Organizing Documents Part II

In this module, students will learn how to modify a layer’s visibility by adjusting opacity and using blending modes. They will learn about masks and how to apply them to layers. Students will gain an understanding of what non-destructive and destructive editing are, as well as the key differences between them.

In this module, students will:

• Adjust a layer's opacity, blending mode, and fill opacity
• Create, apply, and manipulate masks
• Nondestructive editing: Smart Objects, Smart Filters, and adjustment layers
• Destructive editing: painting, adjustments, erasing, and rasterizing
• Organize a document based on various specifications

Module 8: Creating and Modifying Visual Elements Part I

Photoshop is a haven for the creative mind, and there is a multitude of drawing, painting and text tools to explore. In this module, students will learn how to create designs and images using a variety of tools. They will also learn how to add and manipulate text using various typographic settings in Photoshop.

In this module, students will:

• Create images using a variety of tools
• Modify and edit vector images using a variety of vector tools
• Use type tools to add typography to a design
• Adjust character settings in a design
• Adjust paragraph settings in a design, and convert text to graphics

Module 9: Creating and Modifying Visual Elements Part II

The selection tools in Photoshop give you the flexibility to choose which areas of an image you want to make changes to. This allows you to apply multiple effects and filters to specific areas for more in-depth editing and refinement. In this module, students will learn to make, modify, and refine selections using various selection tools. They will also learn how to rotate, flip and modify elements of their images. Finally, students will get a brief overview of how to apply some basic auto-correction methods and tools in Photoshop.

In this module, students will:

• Make selections using a variety of tools
• Modify and refine selections using various methods and save and load selections
• Modify the canvas or artboards
• Rotate, flip, and modify individual layers, objects, selections, groups, or graphical elements
• Apply basic auto-correction methods and tools

Module 10: Creating and Modifying Visual Elements Part III

Photoshop is, first and foremost, a photo editing tool. In this module, students will learn how to use various tools, settings, and commands to repair and reconstruct images. They will learn how to evaluate the color, tone, brightness, and the overall appearance of the image and determine what tools, adjustments, and filters they can apply to enhance it. Students will also learn to work with layer styles.

In this module, students will:

• Use various tools to repair and reconstruct images
• Evaluate or adjust the appearance of objects, selections, or layers using various tools
• Apply photographic changes to images using tools and adjustments
• Use filters to modify images destructively or non-destructively
• Apply, modify, copy, and remove layer styles as well as create, manage, and save custom layer styles

Module 11: Publishing Digital Media

Photoshop gives you multiple ways and formats in which you can export your documents, images, and designs for digital use, printing, or for further processing in other tools or programs. In this module, students will learn how to adjust project specifications and save their files in the correct format. Students will also learn about exporting project elements in various formats. Finally, we’ll go over the structure and test prep students will need for the ACA Photoshop Certification Exam.

In this module, students will:

• Check the document for errors and project specifications.
• Save in the native file format for Photoshop (.psd).
• Save documents in appropriate image formats for print or screen.
• Export project elements.
• Understand the structure and test prep necessary for the ACA Photoshop Certification Exam.

Course Wrap Up and Final Exam