Adobe Photoshop CC: The Complete Guide

Overview

Watch now – this video will only be available on The Great Courses Plus until November 7th.

Join photographer and world-renowned Photoshop instructor as you dive into Adobe Photoshop CC tools and techniques that can open up a whole new world of photo editing possibilities. This course includes bonus content and videos to enhance your learning experience. You can find the links to download this content under the ‘DETAILS’ section below.

Course Structure

01: Introduction to Photoshop

Begin by looking at what Photoshop is and its many features, starting with your first step: opening files. Then move on to resolution and color settings, file formats, managing panels, creating and using presets, and more. Also gain a valuable understanding of the differences between Adobe Lightroom, Bridge, and Camera RAW.

Duration: 56 min

02: How to Use Camera Raw

Most of the basic adjustments users need to make to their photographs can be done in Adobe Camera RAW (ACR)—an easy, one-stop shop containing the best of Photoshop. Look at the capabilities of ACR and, through several demonstrations, why up to 70% of your image finishing can be accomplished there.

Duration: 66 min

03: Making Selections in Adobe Photoshop

What do you do if you want to alter just a small portion of your photograph at a time? Learn the different editing tools and techniques for making selections in Photoshop, including the lasso, quick selection, and paint tools. Begin with simple shapes and progress to more complex and precise challenges.

Duration: 68 min

04: Using Layers in Adobe Photoshop

Layers in Photoshop comprise the various elements of your image and they are an important concept to understand before moving into more advanced territory. Build a solid foundation in this first of several looks at the concept, as you explore not just the technical how-to aspects, but also how to think about layers and what you want to accomplish.

Duration: 88 min

05: Using Layer Masks in Adobe Photoshop

Adding and removing elements from images is about more than cut-and-paste. When you understand how to use masking via layers in Photoshop, you can manipulate your images in surprising new ways. Watch as Mr. Willmore shows you how to alter specific portions of a single image and how to create a new image by masking and combining several shots.

Duration: 63 min

06: Tools Panel in Adobe Photoshop

Get an overview of the editing tools panel and where to find the tools you need for various adjustments. Resize, trim, and rotate images with the crop tool; match colors with the eyedropper; navigate the color panel and brush panel; set up and store preset elements and swatches in the libraries panel; and more.

Duration: 73 min

07: Adjustment Layers in Adobe Photoshop

Often, you need to make adjustments to a particular part of an image, but without disturbing the other elements. Learn to use adjustment layers in Photoshop to make tonal adjustments to specific portions of your images, as well as how to reduce color noise or adjust brightness and contrast.

Duration: 64 min

08: Color Adjustments in Adobe Photoshop

Learn the essentials of color adjustment in the Properties Panel, including hue, saturation, and lightness (HSL), as well as color matching and manipulation. See how you can isolate colors for adjustment without altering the other colors present and why you should be aware of the settings that can affect your tools.

Duration: 92 min

09: Retouching Images in Adobe Photoshop

Begin your basic photo editing fixes with spot removal in Camera RAW. Then, turn to how to eliminate or downplay unwanted objects using the spot healing brush, followed by a look at how to fill in empty areas with the magic wand tool or the selection tool and the fill option. Also look at the healing brush and using paint tools for retouching.

Duration: 59 min

10: Layer Blending Modes

Explore the layer blending modes menu, which you’ll find throughout Adobe Photoshop, which can allow you to change the ways your tools and layers interact with each other. Use this handy tool to create all sorts of eye-catching effects, including how to layer similar images, create repeating patterns, and much more.

Duration: 63 min

11: How to Use Filters in Adobe Photoshop

How do you combine multiple photographs to create a panorama? And how do you avoid making effects look artificial or generic? Learn how to use filters in Adobe Photoshop so you can fix problem areas, heighten contrast and detail, and create special effects, such as making your photos look like paintings.

Duration: 56 min

12: Advanced Photoshop Masks

Take what you have learned about masks so far and turn to more advanced techniques. Learn how to use advanced masks to isolate a part of your photo so you can make targeted adjustments on that portion only. Also get valuable guidance on when you should use complex techniques and when it may be better to keep it simple.

Duration: 95 min

13: Using Smart Objects in Adobe Photoshop

Fundamentally change the way you think about Photoshop as you learn about using smart objects, which allows you to preserve the original properties even after saving and closing. Look at how the function works, when it can help you—and when it can get in your way.

Duration: 69 min

14: Photography for Photoshop

Mr. Willmore helps you consider some things you might shoot with Photoshop in mind, such as taking multiple shots to stitch together as a panorama. Also, see how shooting in HDR can give you multiple versions of the same image that you can combine or adjust according to your needs.

Duration: 60 min

15: Photo Retouching in Photoshop

Learn to do more advanced photo retouching in Photoshop with blend modes, the magic wand tool, the adjustment brush, and more. Understand how to determine which tools are best for the corrections you want to make, and when you should tackle things manually and when you can automate instead.

Duration: 91 min

16: Warp, Bend, Liquify

The ability to warp, bend, and liquify your images is important when you want to place them on curved surfaces, add them to other photos, or make them match a particular perspective. Incorporate some of tools you have learned previously and combine them with new techniques that will allow you to move and combine your images in new ways.

Duration: 101 min

17: Advanced Photoshop Layers

Use what you have learned about layers as you explore some of the hidden features and unique settings in advanced Adobe Photoshop layers that can take your skills to the next level. With these insights, you will be able to do more complex manipulations and adjustments and further increase your photo editing toolkit.

Duration: 100 min

18: Photoshop Tips and Tricks

The more you work with Photoshop, the more you will uncover about its capabilities—and the techniques and workarounds that can make your experience even better. Learn helpful and time-saving Photoshop tips and tricks like scanning photos in bulk, using the histogram to make your adjustments, and automated color correction.

Duration: 68 min

19: Photoshop Actions

Now that you know many of the tools and techniques Photoshop has to offer, learn how Photoshop actions allow you to automate common tasks to make your workflow faster and more efficient. Once you know what you need to accomplish, you can add plugins, shortcuts, and design presets that will make your Photoshop experience even better.

Duration: 84 min

20: Troubleshooting Photoshop

Even the most experienced Photoshop users can run into trouble, and some issues are more common than you might think. Follow Mr. Willmore as he demonstrates some of the things that can go wrong in Photoshop and how to go about troubleshooting in a variety of situations.

Duration: 69 min

21: Photoshop Q&A

Once you know the most important tools—and quite a few tricks and hidden gems—what is the next step? Close the course by looking at specific issues and roadblocks many users encounter as Mr. Willmore holds a Photoshop Q&A, where he fields questions from students via Skype.

Duration: 22 min