From Zero to Design - Photoshop Basics for Everyone

Explore the Photoshop workspace by learning the document window, toolbar, panels, and the 11 menu bar, with context-sensitive tool options and how selections affect available commands.

Learn how to open files in Photoshop using the file menu, the Ctrl+O shortcut, and the home screen open button, then select and open the file.

Learn how to quickly open recent files in Photoshop by using file > open recent or by clicking thumbnails on the home start screen.

Master creating a new Photoshop document with the new document dialog box, using starter templates and choosing print, web, or screen settings via file menu, Ctrl+N, or the start screen.

Create a new Photoshop document using presets, choose a type (print or web), adjust width, height, orientation, resolution, and color mode, then open the ready document.

Set up a personalized Photoshop document by choosing file, new, and adjusting width, height, and units; save a descriptive preset and create the document.

Set the resolution for a new document in Photoshop, choosing 72 ppi for on-screen use or 300 ppi for print.

Explore the main Photoshop color modes: bitmap, grayscale, RGB, CMYK, and lab color—and learn when to use each for screen display and print.

Explore saving options in Photoshop, including PSD for editable layers and web-ready formats. Learn when to save for web and when to keep a PSD for future edits.

Use save as to save an open image as PSD, JPEG, or PNG in Photoshop. Always provide a new file name and choose a location to avoid overwriting the original.

Explore layers in Photoshop, including content layers and adjustment layers, and learn how stacking, hiding, and editing each layer independently provides flexibility and control.

Learn how to view, create, and edit layers using the layers panel in the lower right corner, and add new layers with the new layer button or Shift+N shortcuts.

Learn to create a new layer from a selected area in Photoshop using layer via copy, layer via cut, or a blank new layer.

Learn how to duplicate a layer in Photoshop by right-clicking the layer, selecting duplicate layer, and confirming in the dialog box to try edits without altering the original.

Learn to delete a layer in Photoshop by selecting it and pressing the delete key, or dragging it to the trashcan in the layers panel.

Learn how to hide and reveal layers in Photoshop using the eye icon, including turning off the text layer to control document visibility.

Learn to edit layers in Photoshop by selecting the correct layer, using the move and eraser tools, and editing text layers by double-clicking to change text, font, size, or color.

Reorder layers to control how your document looks by adjusting the stacking order, using drag to move layers and convert the background layer to a regular layer for reordering.

Master Photoshop layer styles by applying effects like drop shadow and inner shadow via blending options, then hide, copy, paste, or clear them, and save as PSD to preserve edits.

Learn how adjustment layers enable non-destructive color and tonal edits in Photoshop and affect layers below; create by selecting a base layer, clicking the adjustment button, and choosing a type.

Explore practical tools in the toolbar, located on the left side of the workspace. Learn to use the move and selection tools to click, hold, and move a layer.

Master marquee selection to crop rectangular, square, and circular regions by clicking and dragging. Hold shift to constrain shapes and use the space key to move and place selections.

Master Photoshop selection tools, including freehand, polygonal, and magnetic lasso, and learn how to draw freehand areas, create polygonal shapes, and close selections by double-clicking.

Master quick selection and the magic wand using bracket shortcuts to adjust size for precision; use color tolerance to select or recolor colors, with lower tolerance yielding more accurate selection.

Explore the selection option panel to refine selections using four tools: new selection, add to selection (shift), subtract (alt), and intersection to keep only overlap.

Use crop and slice tools in Photoshop to remove unwanted parts, choose standard sizes or 2 in 1 values, rotate the crop, adjust perspective crop, and open a new document.

Use the eyedropper to sample colors from images and update the foreground color. Explore the color sampler to add multiple color points, view codes, and save or clear them.

Master the ruler for precise horizontal and vertical measurements and the node tool to add color notes for ideas, client feedback, unlimited notes, and future changes.

Explore retouching and painting tools in Photoshop, focusing on the Spot Healing Brush tool and Patch tool to remove unwanted areas and seamlessly blend them with surrounding content.

Master the brush tool in Photoshop by selecting colors, using the eyedropper with Alt to pick a color, adjusting opacity and flow in the option bar, and undoing with Ctrl+Z.

Use the pattern stamp tool to select an area as pattern and copy it anywhere; adjust size with brackets, alt-click to define, then drag to apply with opacity.

Master the eraser tool in Photoshop basics by adjusting opacity, size, and hardness in the option panel or via right-click, seeing how erasing reveals the bottom layer.

Use the gradient tool to create color blends on posters, selecting two points or a circle gradient with center and radius, and adjusting foreground and background colors on the layer.

Use the paint bucket tool in the gradient tool group to color specific areas, and set tolerance from 0 to 255 to control range, with 255 painting the entire image.

Use the blur tool with strength from the option panel to soften areas. Sharpen edges for clarity and use the smudge tool to reshape by dragging color for a poster.

Master dodge and burn tools to selectively lighten or darken image areas, adjust exposure for custom contrast, and paint effects manually in Photoshop basics for everyone.

Master the pen tool to create straight and curved shapes, edit points with the space key and handles, and manage fills, strokes, gradients, and layers.

Use the shape tool to draw rectangles, circles, triangles, polygons, and custom shapes, then adjust fill, stroke, and line options, drag inner points to curve corners.

Learn to use the type tool and type option panel to adjust fonts, font effects, size, color, spacing, and paragraph palettes, including vertical text and automatic layer creation.

Discover how to zoom in and out in Photoshop using the plus and minus icons, keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+Plus and Ctrl+Minus, and the mouse wheel with Alt for precise control.

Master the color swatch panel by selecting foreground and background colors via the color picker, eyedropper, color table, or color codes in RGB/CMYK, and switch foreground and background.