Hey there! As a Photoshop expert and tech geek, I wanted to share the absolute best online tutorials I‘ve found for learning Photoshop. With the right skills, you can do incredible things – from photo editing to graphic design, visual effects and beyond.
While Photoshop is extremely powerful, I know it can be daunting as a beginner. But have no fear! I‘ve rounded up six fantastic resources that will take you from newbie to pro. I‘ll also share some of my own tips and opinions as a long-time user.
Let‘s dive in!
Udemy: Structured Courses for All Levels

In my opinion, Udemy is one of the best places for structured Photoshop courses. With topics ranging from beginner to advanced, you can find instruction tailored to your exact skill level.
As a Photoshop veteran, I really appreciate how Udemy breaks concepts down into easy-to-absorb video lessons. For total newbies, The Complete Guide to Adobe Photoshop provides an awesome introduction to all the fundamental tools and techniques.
According to Udemy‘s data, over 290,000 students have enrolled in this course! That really speaks to how effective it is for Photoshop beginners. Topics include:
- Learning your way around the Photoshop interface
- Basic photo edits using layers, masks and adjustments
- Working with selections and filtration
- Typing, shapes and brushes
- Automating tasks with actions
Once you‘ve gotten your feet wet, more advanced classes let you level up your skills big time. As a tech geek, I‘m blown away by in-depth courses on 3D, animations, visual effects and more. You‘ll finish with expertise that makes you super employable!
Udemy also offers great pricing – courses are just $10-20 when on sale. With top-notch instructors and hands-on projects, Udemy is one of my go-to recommendations for mastering Photoshop.
Skillshare: Inspiring Community and Creativity
If you‘re looking to get inspired while building Photoshop skills, Skillshare is fantastic. As a creative myself, I love the community of designers, photographers, illustrators and more who teach classes.
The course library focuses on hands-on projects to unlock creativity. For example, in How to Create a Glossy 3D Text Effect in Photoshop, you‘ll transform regular text into eye-catching 3D graphics using layers, lighting effects and shadows.
According to Skillshare, over 15,000 students have taken this class to level up their text effects skills! Their dazzling portfolio pieces prove how valuable these creative lessons are.
Skillshare also has great beginner content like Introduction to Photoshop 2021. Get oriented with the workspace, make basic edits, and become a confident user.
With short video lessons, learning feels fun and fast-paced. As a tech expert who can sometimes get bogged down in details, I appreciate Skillshare‘s engaging teaching style. Unlock creativity while mastering Photoshop!
Premium membership is around $14/month, very reasonably priced in my opinion. With hands-on projects and an inspiring community, Skillshare is fantastic for boosting Photoshop skills.
Adobe: Learn from the Source

As a software geek, I‘m naturally a big fan of Adobe‘s free Photoshop tutorials. When you‘re learning app basics, why not go straight to the source? The creators of Photoshop offer a robust set of lessons for all users:
Photoshop Basics – Covers core concepts like managing documents, making selections, working with layers, applying edits and more. Crucial skills for beginners.
Tips & Techniques – Helpful walkthroughs on compositing images, applying effects, creating graphics, designing with 3D and more. Quickly build proficiency.
Photoshop for iPad – Master unique iPad OS workflows and multitouch. Photoshop on the go!
Adobe‘s lessons balance step-by-step instructions with expert advice and best practices. As an experienced user, I appreciate their depth and attention to detail. With topics spanning photography, design, typography and more, Adobe offers invaluable guidance straight from the source.
Following beginner basics with targeted skills tutorials, you‘ll be a Photoshop master in no time!
LinkedIn Learning: Expert Instruction

Boasting expert-led courses, LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda) contains phenomenal Photoshop training. As a tech expert, I‘m consistently impressed by the platform‘s instructors.
Targeted learning paths allow you to hone skills methodically. For example, follow the Photoshop CC 2020 Essential Training path to build expertise:
- Get started with setup, navigation and configuration
- Master photo edits using layers, masks, adjustment tools, camera raw and more
- Combine images with compositing
- Work with text, shapes, brushes and graphics
- Automate workflows and enhance productivity
According to LinkedIn‘s metrics, over 48,000 students have taken this learning path to gain core Photoshop skills!
LinkedIn Learning also offers quick Photoshop video tutorials, refreshed weekly. Learn techniques like applying vintage photo effects, creating transparent backgrounds and more through bite-sized lessons.
With industry experts leading the way, LinkedIn Learning provides phenomenal Photoshop instruction. As a lifelong learner, it‘s my #1 choice for professional training.
Access comes with a premium LinkedIn account starting around $30/month. But the top-tier courses make the investment incredibly worthwhile.
Educba: Free for Beginners

As a tech expert focused on maximizing value, I appreciate Educba‘s free Introduction to Photoshop course for beginners. Instruction spans key concepts like:
- The Photoshop interface and tools
- Working with layers and selections
- Applying filters and effects
- Transforming text and shapes
- Basic photo editing workflows
Through video tutorials and quizzes, they pack a ton of core skills into this free offering. Of course, as an expert I recommend supplementing with more advanced training. But for newbies looking to get their feet wet, Educba‘s course is fantastic.
Over 75,000 students have already enrolled according to Educba‘s website, indicating just how popular their training is. And the fact that it‘s free makes it a no-brainer place to start.
PhotoshopCAFE: Free Tutorials from an Expert

Last but not least, I have to share PhotoshopCAFE. It‘s run by Colin Smith, a veteran Photoshop expert who shares invaluable free tutorials. For both beginners and advanced users, Colin‘s material is top-notch.
As a lifelong Photoshop user, I appreciate how Colin breaks things down in the Photoshop Basix series. He covers layers, blending, selections, retouching, masking and more with clear visuals and guidance.
For specific skills, Colin has awesome tutorials like Mastering Moon Photography Retouching and Advanced Hair Selection and Compositing. As a tech geek, I can get obsessed perfecting techniques like these!
With new tutorials added regularly, PhotoshopCAFE is one of my go-to free learning resources. Colin‘s materials truly level up your skills.
So there you have it – my six favorite Photoshop tutorials for every skill level. Each offers something unique, but together they‘ll give you a world-class Photoshop education.
Photoshop Skills Open So Many Doors
Now that you know the best places to learn, here are just some of the doors Photoshop skills open career-wise:
Graphic Designer – Photoshop is an essential tool for crafting designs, illustrations, layouts and visuals. Expert skills help you succeed.
Web Designer – Use Photoshop to mock up webpage layouts, design interface elements like buttons and edit photos/graphics for sites.
Photo Editor – Photo editors use Photoshop daily for post-processing images from shoots. Retouching expertise is key.
Video Editor – Bring videos to life by incorporating motion graphics, titles, transitions and VFX created in Photoshop.
Social Media Manager – Design eye-catching branded graphics and ad content to engage followers on social platforms.
Production Artist – Work in advertising/media editing and enhancing images using Photoshop for campaigns, packaging and more.
The demand for Photoshop skills is booming across visual fields. With the right expertise, you can launch an exciting and well-paid creative career.
Plenty of Alternatives Out There Too
While Photoshop remains the industry leader, alternative options can also be great tools depending on your needs:
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GIMP – Open source image editor similar to Photoshop but 100% free. Good for basic editing.
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Canva – Browser and mobile design app with handy templates for social posts, presentations and more. Very user-friendly.
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Affinity Photo – One-time purchase Photoshop alternative focused on performance. Great value.
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Pixelmator – Full-featured image editor for Macs at a budget-friendly price point.
For quick mobile edits, apps like Snapseed, VSCO and Adobe Lightroom are also fantastic.
But for advanced image manipulation and design, Photoshop still reigns supreme in my opinion. The skills are highly valuable professionally.
Start Your Photoshop Journey Today!
I hope this post has shown you just how many phenomenal resources exist for mastering Photoshop today. With online access, you can learn from anywhere at your own pace.
Set aside a little time daily to practice your skills. Be patient in the early stages as you build proficiency. And most importantly, have fun! Editing your own photos and creating designs is tremendously rewarding.
The key is finding lessons that fit your learning style and experience level. Use this guide as a starting point to key resources. Before long, you‘ll possess Photoshop skills far beyond what you imagined possible.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to chat Photoshop and point you to great learning materials.
Now get out there, unlock your creativity, and start using Photoshop to bring your visual ideas to life!