35 Basic Tutorials to Get You Started with Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a very powerful and versatile image editing/graphics creation application that is the industry standard in its category. Though Photoshop’s interface is intuitive enough for an absolute beginner to learn basic image editing tasks such as cropping and resizing, to be able to fully master and utilize all of its tools takes a considerable amount of time. If you’re interested in honing your Photoshop skills to create spectacular compositions, this is for you.
In this article, you’ll find 35 Photoshop basics tutorials for getting started with Photoshop.
General tutorials
If you’ve never had any experience with Photoshop, this tutorial from SitePoint will get you up to speed with Photoshop’s basic features.
This tutorial outlines Photoshop CS2’s interface. Even if you use an earlier or later version of Photoshop, this Photoshop CS2 tutorial is still helpful in familiarizing yourself with how Photoshop – in general – is laid out.
3. You Suck at Photoshop (series)
This wildly popular and humorous screencast on Photoshop techniques by (probably) fictional character Donnie Hoyle is an excellent Photoshop series to follow if you like laughing and learning at the same time!
4. Photoshop’s Toolbox
This basic Photoshop tutorial goes over the anatomy of Photoshop’s Toolbox.
Photoshop tools and features
5. Retouch and Healing Tools
Photoshop has a host of tools and options for retouching and correcting images. This tutorial goes over the tools at your disposal and what situations each tool excels in.
6. Photoshop’s Pen Tool: The Comprehensive Guide
Photoshop’s Pen tool gives you the ability to draw objects in a vector-like fashion. This thorough tutorial even comes with a practice sheet that will help you master the concepts of working with the Pen tool.
7. Photoshop’s Painting Tools
Photoshop’s Painting tools allow you to draw and fill in objects with colors and color gradients. This tutorial showcases Photoshop’s painting capabilities.
8. Photoshop Color Replacement Tool
Sometimes you want to replace certain colors in an image. With the Color Replacement tool – you can specify which colors you’d like to change and Photoshop will automatically replace them for you. This Adobe Photoshop basics tutorial goes through the color replacement process and discusses all the things you need to know about the Color Replacement tool.
One of the fundamental skills to learn in Photoshop is the art of masking (isolating certain parts of a composition). This comprehensive tutorial goes over the Layer Masking features of Photoshop.
10. Photoshop’s Image Masking Tools
There are different methods of masking objects in your Photoshop composition. This tutorial goes over the basic masking tools available to you.
11. Layer Styles in Photoshop
Layer Styles are the effects and options you apply to a particular layer. This tutorial discusses the concept of Layer Styles and how to utilize them in your Photoshop documents.
12. Understanding Bevel and Emboss
Bevel and Emboss is a particular Layer Style. There are many options you can tweak and change (such as the shading and the angle of light); this tutorial goes over what each option does.
13. Understanding Drop Shadows
Drop Shadow is another Photoshop Layer Style that applies a silhouette to the objects in a layer. In this basic Photoshop tutorial, you’ll learn about the different options and settings of the Drop Shadow Layer Style.
In this video tutorial, you’ll learn about the different Blending Modes available at your disposal.
15. Photoshop’s Filters
Photoshop filters are simply effects applied to your image (much like the concept of using photographic lens filters). For example, the Blur filter unsharpens the focus of your images. This tutorial goes over the Filters interface in Photoshop.
16. Useful Applications for the Clone Stamp Tool
This tutorial goes over some excellent uses of the Clone Stamp tool in Photoshop.
17. Getting to Grips with the Vanishing Point Filter
Master the Vanishing Point filter (a Photoshop filter that adjusts the image’s perspective) with this excellent Photoshop tutorial.
The Brush tool is a versatile drawing feature of Photoshop the mimics different art brushes and styles like water coloring, oil painting, or charcoal painting. This tutorial covers some of the best features of the Brush Tool in Photoshop.
This tutorial goes over the usage of the Background Eraser tool in Photoshop.
Common tasks and techniques
20. A Comprehensive Introduction to Photoshop Selection Techniques
In order to become a Photoshop master, you’ll need to understand how to select different sections and objects in your composition. This guide goes over some techniques you can use to selectively isolate certain objects or groups of objects.
21. Sharpening the Details
You’ll often need to sharpen photos for image correction. In this video tutorial, you’ll learn about various sharpening techniques.
22. Saving Images for the Web
One of the most powerful features of Photoshop is its ability to save compositions in a variety of web formats. This tutorial explains the different options and settings of saving images for the web.
Custom Shapes are reusable objects in Photoshop. It gets stored in a library and you can access them later on from another Photoshop document. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create, import, and save your own custom shapes.
24. Photoshop Smart Objects, smart but not always that smart
Smart Objects are instantiated objects – that is, you can create multiple instances of a source object and make a change to an instance of that object while still keeping the original object intact. This basic Photoshop tutorial goes over how to use Smart Objects.
Enhancing your workflow and efficiency
25. Using Pen Tablets in Photoshop
You can use a Pen tablet (an input device that lets you draw images directly into an image editor) over a mouse to create more accurate drawings by hand. This tutorial shows you the basic concepts behind utilizing a Pen Tablet to supplement your workflow.
An Action is a sequence of Photoshop tasks that you can repeat and reuse. For example, if you find yourself constantly resizing images to 550 pixels in width and then saving them in PNG file format, you can record a Photoshop Action that will apply these settings automatically. This excellent tutorial covers the basics of creating and using Photoshop Actions.
27. Using Palettes in Photoshop
Palettes are sets of tools and options that help you organize Photoshop’s interface. In this Photoshop basics tutorial, you’ll get a great primer on how to take advantage of using Palettes.
You can install pre-made brushes (instead of creating your own) in Photoshop as well as save important settings for future use. This tutorial will show you how to work with brushes and other Photoshop presets.
29. Layer Comps in Photoshop CS
A Layer Comp is a version of your composition that you can switch back and forth to. Learn a little about an actual use of Layer Comps.
Shortcuts enable greatly increases your efficiency. In this excellent tutorial, you’ll learn about some of the lesser-known but tremendously useful Photoshop shortcuts.
31. Manage your shortcuts in Photoshop
If you don’t like the preset keyboard shortcuts the Photoshop comes with out of the box, this tutorial will show you how to change and manage your Photoshop shortcuts.
Learning by doing
32. Manipulate an Image with Scripting
Scripting allows you to automate and extend Photoshop’s features by authoring your own code. Learn about Photoshop Scripting with this tutorial that uses image manipulation as a working example.
33. Use Photoshop’s Filters to Make Simple Illustrations
Learn to use Photoshop Filters to transform a photo into an illustration.
Learn to create seamless textures in Photoshop.
35. Simple organic shapes in Photoshop
This tutorial goes over a technique for creating simple organic shapes using several Photoshop tools and techniques such as the Shape Tool and Gradient Masks.
Benefits of Photoshop
Photoshop can help increase the user experience on your site by making images more engaging, and assuring you are getting the most for your SEO budget. It’s a great tool to use to build icons, edit pictures, and make the media on your site more appealing to your users. It’s so much more than a random color picker because it allows you to change almost anything you can imagine on the media you have on your website.
For highly competitive industries on the internet, such as auto parts, a company can really make their images stand out from the crowds, and make their site more appealing than competitors. Simple photoshop techniques can make even the most boring of images have a little more pop.
Got more?
Do you have a tutorial you think will help beginners get started with Photoshop? Please share it with us in the comments.
Related content
100+ Great Photoshop Tutorials for Clever Beginners
Before you can start with your Photoshop project ideas, you need to learn the basics. Even the most complex digital artworks are built on a foundation of simple actions. These 100+ cool Photoshop tutorials are aimed at the clever beginner who wants to master Photoshop from the roots.
Unlimited Design Resources for Your Photoshop Projects at Envato Elements
There are a number of ways to make a living with your Photoshop skills. We have a series of articles that explore careers in design and illustration, which is a great starting point to explore after you work more in Photoshop.
Also, as your design skills improve, you can sell graphic components yourself and earn a solid income. We have plenty of professional resources available on Envato Elements, with unlimited downloads for a low monthly price.
Take a look at our awesome range of Photoshop actions and Photoshop brushes, for example. You can use these to bring the "wow" factor to your projects and start building a freelance clientele.
Add-ons available on Envato Elements to bring your Photoshop ideas to life.
Or watch a free course on how to use Photoshop from the ground up. Certified Adobe instructor Daniel Scott teaches tips and tricks for Photoshop beginners with a tutorial that you'll love. Go through all the essential features in more than three hours of easy-to-watch video.
Now let's get into these free lessons for your Photoshop projects!
Text Effects for Cool Photoshop Tutorials
These cool Photoshop tutorials are a great entry point into Layer Styles in Photoshop.
Photo Manipulation Photoshop Tutorials
Want to improve your Photoshop techniques? These tutorials will help you to achieve your goals.
Photoshop Techniques for Print Design
Are you looking for new ideas for Photoshop projects? These step-by-step tutorials will help you to make top-quality designs. You'll learn the basics of composition, digital collages, and typography.
Digital Drawing in Adobe Photoshop
Do you want to learn cool things to do in Photoshop? Try digital drawing. Create your own universe by following these awesome tutorials. Warning, some of them may need a graphics tablet.
Other Interesting and Cool Photoshop Tutorials
Learn more Photoshop basics with our instructors.
Clever Ideas for Photoshop: Video Tutorials
I've shown you an awesome selection of free Photoshop tutorials from Tuts+, which I'm sure you've found useful. But, if you prefer to watch cool things to do in Photoshop for beginners in video, I'm here to help you.
The next videos are from our playlist Learn Adobe Photoshop, where you can watch more than 150 cool things to do in Photoshop. And don't forget to check our Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel, where you'll find more fun Photoshop projects.
Have you ever wondered how to draw a mermaid from scratch? For sure, this could make a very fun Photoshop project! Well, this free Photoshop tutorial will teach you how to draw a mermaid tail using the Pen Tool and some photo manipulation. Turn your Photoshop ideas into amazing digital drawings!
Text effects are really cool things to do in Photoshop. Why don't you take a look at these Photoshop tutorials for beginners and learn how to make a 3D text effect.
Looking for awesome Photoshop projects? What about creating a live galaxy? That's a cool Photoshop idea. Learn how to create stars, galaxies, and nebulas in this free Photoshop tutorial.
Instagram stories can be great Photoshop projects, believe it or not. In these Photoshop tutorials for beginners, you'll learn to quickly create Instagram story templates for your accounts.
Speaking about cool things to do in Photoshop, a glitch effect is a pretty nice thing to Photoshop. Check this free Photoshop tutorial and recreate a glitch like the ones you see on television or in video games.
Halftone patterns can become fun Photoshop projects if you follow our Photoshop tutorials for beginners. Learn how to create a halftone effect in Adobe Photoshop in different ways to achieve the exact look you want.
If you've got plenty of things to Photoshop, then you need to master the use of masks. Photoshop masks add tons of advantages to your workflow that will help you achieve some of the best photo effects.
Looking for Photoshop ideas for your pictures? Learn a simple and useful animation tip with our Photoshop tutorials for beginners.
If you'd like to start Instagram filters Photoshop projects, then this free Photoshop tutorial is for you. With a few simple adjustments, you can achieve a cool photo effect like your favorite app in Adobe Photoshop.
Who hasn't taken a cool picture, only to realize a person is ruining the view? Well, cropping out objects and removing unwanted tourists from pics are some really cool things to do in Photoshop. Just follow our free tutorial and start this fun Photoshop project!
Tribal makeup styles are nice Photoshop ideas to recreate, don't you think? Learn to create this glowing photo effect inspired by African tribal makeup following this free Photoshop tutorial.
There are plenty of cool things to do in Photoshop. What about creating a trippy diamond lens effect? Follow this tutorial and get yourself some cool Photoshop projects!
You'll find these Photoshop tutorials for beginners pretty easy to follow! In 60 seconds, learn to create your own Photoshop Action for a cool vintage photo effect.
Looking for more things to Photoshop? Then check this fun Photoshop project and learn to decorate pictures with drawings in less than 60 seconds!
We've got this handy tutorial from our selection of cool things to do in Photoshop. A blurred background is a great way to bring attention to the objects in the foreground.
I've got some pretty unique Photoshop ideas for you. Have you ever wished to create a haunted image? Then this free Photoshop tutorial will give you tons of cool Photoshop projects.
We haven't run out of Photoshop ideas for you. This Photoshop tutorial for beginners will teach you how to create a kaleidoscope effect to use in your Photoshop projects.
Tattoos are interesting things to Photoshop. If you're wondering how a tattoo would look on you or a friend, then follow this useful free tutorial.
For cinematography lovers, movie posters are awesome things to Photoshop. This free Photoshop tutorial focuses on creating a gritty post-apocalyptic color grade using adjustment layers.
If you're short on Photoshop ideas, why don't you take a look at this?
The Orton effect is a dreamy glow often added to landscape images to make them look magical. This free Photoshop tutorial will show you how to create an action to recreate the popular Orton effect.
Learn how to make an amazing cartoon effect in this step-by-step Photoshop tutorial with Cristi Kerekes.
9 Creative Photoshop Effects From Envato Elements
We've covered a great range of free Photoshop tutorials and effects you can learn with some practice.
However, if you're short on time, you can always use our premium Photoshop actions and brushes from Envato Elements to give your pictures some cool effects in a few clicks. Let's see them!
Double exposure pictures are cool things to Photoshop. Use this Photoshop action to create a double exposure effect in a few clicks. You can add any tone or gradient to your composition to make it stunning!
Looking for Photoshop ideas? Check this complete set of Photoshop brushes, which includes a total of 36 brushes, divided into 3 different categories: regular brushes (for ink sketches and illustrations), ink washes, and ink stain stamps.
Get this creative Photoshop action and give your pictures a dramatic sand effect! This best-selling action also includes a video tutorial link, so you'll learn in detail how to complete this fun Photoshop project.
This is one of our favorite sets of Photoshop brushes because it's very complete and easy to use. This Photoshop project includes:
15 watercolor hand-drawn brushes
15 flora and fauna elements on transparent background
2 backgrounds with floral elements
Give your pictures a retro look! This kit gives you 15 cool film Photoshop actions, 10 beautiful light leaks, an easy date stamp generator, and a retro font.
Use these Photoshop brushes to give your image a realistic look. This set comes with 30 Brushes inside, 2500 pixels size, and works with any Photoshop version! These brushes will give a cool look to all your Photoshop projects and ideas.
We've got more Photoshop ideas! What about this cool dispersion effect? Dissolve and disperse parts of your photo! Simply brush over the areas that you want to dissolve, choose the direction of liquid dispersion, and just play the action.
Use this Photoshop action to create a professional painting effect of watercolor and vintage looks. The final result will include fully editable layers, colors, and elements.
This set of 15 splatter stamp brushes will come in very handy when you're looking for cool things to do in Photoshop. Don't hesitate to add it to your collection.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed these Photoshop basics and tutorials.
Still craving more inspiration and Photoshop ideas? Then check our incredible collection of Photoshop effects and Photoshop add-ons to transform your photos through Envato Elements.
Video Tutorial: Learn Adobe Photoshop – All the Basics – Student Success Knowledge Base
Learn all the basics of Photoshop in just 40 minutes.
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