Adobe Photoshop: a detailed introduction

About this course

The course introduces Photoshop’s workspace and core tools through demonstrations, short lectures, workshops and practical exercises. Participants work with image size and resolution, cropping, selections, layers, masks, tonal and colour adjustments, and basic digital colouring. Exercises include retouching photographs, removing unwanted elements, creating composites from multiple images and preparing files for print or web. The course also covers suitable file formats and ways to apply Photoshop skills to photographic, illustration or personal projects.

What you'll learn

• Set up Photoshop documents for print and web use
• Crop, straighten and correct the perspective of images
• Select and isolate areas of an image using Photoshop’s selection tools
• Combine images and layers to create composite artwork
• Apply tonal, colour and retouching adjustments to photographs
• Save images in appropriate formats for print or web

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for learners new to Photoshop, including those developing skills for photography, illustration, employment or personal projects. No Photoshop knowledge is required, but participants should be comfortable using a Mac or Windows computer, managing files and following demonstrations and written instructions. Group discussion and preparation outside class are included.

• Basic computer skills with a mouse and keyboard are expected
• Participants should be able to download, upload, save, open and retrieve files
• Some awareness of print design or another art and design practice may be useful
• Homework and preparation outside class are strongly encouraged

Before you go

• Bring a pen and notepad for taking notes.
• Notes will be provided.
• Participants who complete the full course receive an electronic City Lit certificate of attendance.