35 Basic Tutorials to Get You Started with Photoshop ~ Photoshop Tutorial

Jan 5 2009 by Jacob Gube |

Adobe Photoshop is a very powerful and versatile image editing/graphics creation application that is the industry standard in its category. Though Photoshops 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 youre interested in honing your Photoshop skills to create spectacular compositions, this is for you. In this article, youll find 35 basic Photoshop tutorials for getting started with Photoshop.

General tutorials

1. Getting Started with Photoshop

Getting Started with Photoshop

If youve never had any experience with Photoshop, this tutorial from SitePoint will get you up to speed with Photoshops basic features.

2. Adobe Photoshop Interface Tutorial

Adobe Photoshop Interface Tutorial - screen shot.

This tutorial outlines Photoshop CS2s interface. Even if you use an earlier or later version of Photoshop, this tutorial is still helpful in familiarizing yourself with how Photoshop in general is laid out.

3. You Suck at Photoshop (series)

You Suck at Photoshop - screen shot.

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. Photoshops Toolbox

Photoshops Toolbox - screen shot.

This tutorial goes over the anatomy of Photoshops Toolbox.

Photoshop tools and features

5. Retouch and Healing Tools

Retouch and Healing Tools - screen shot.

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. Photoshops Pen Tool: The Comprehensive Guide

Photoshops Pen Tool: The Comprehensive Guide - screen shot.

Photoshops 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. Photoshops Painting Tools

Photoshops Painting Tools - screen shot.

Photoshops Painting tools allow you to draw and fill in objects with colors and color gradients. This tutorial showcases Photoshops painting capabilities.

8. Photoshop Color Replacement Tool

Photoshop Color Replacement Tool - screen shot.

Sometimes you want to replace certain colors in an image. With the Color Replacement tool you can specify which colors youd like to change and Photoshop will automatically replace them for you. This tutorial goes through the color replacement process and discusses all the things you need to know about the Color Replacement tool.

9. Understanding Layer Masks

Understanding Layer Masks - screen shot.

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. Photoshops Image Masking Tools

Photoshops Image Masking Tools - screen shot.

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 in Photoshop - screen shot.

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

Understanding Bevel and Emboss - screen shot.

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

Understanding Bevel and Emboss - screen shot.

Drop Shadow is another Photoshop Layer Style that applies a silhouette to the objects in a layer. In this tutorial, youll learn about the different options and settings of the Drop Shadow Layer Style.

14. Introduction to Blending Modes

Introduction to Blending Modes - screen shot.

In this video tutorial, youll learn about the different Blending Modes available at your disposal.

15. Photoshops Filters

Photoshops Filters - screen shot.

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

Useful Applications for the Clone Stamp Tool - screen shot.

This tutorial goes over some excellent uses of the Clone Stamp tool in Photoshop.

17. Getting to Grips with the Vanishing Point Filter

Getting to Grips with the Vanishing Point Filter - screen shot.

Master the Vanishing Point filter (a Photoshop filter that adjusts the images perspective) with this excellent Photoshop tutorial.

18. The Hidden Power of Photoshop Brush Tool

The Hidden Power of Photoshop Brush Tool - screen shot.

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.

19. "Background Eraser Tool" is the new Magic Wand

"Background Eraser Tool" is the new Magic Wand - screen shot.

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

A Comprehensive Introduction to Photoshop Selection Techniques - screen shot.

In order to become a Photoshop master, youll 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

Sharpening the Details - screen shot.

Youll often need to sharpen photos for image correction. In this video tutorial, youll learn about various sharpening techniques.

22. Saving Images for the Web

Saving Images for the Web - screen shot.

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.

23. Create Your Own Custom Shapes in Photoshop

Create Your Own Custom Shapes in Photoshop - screen shot.

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, youll learn how to create, import, and save your own custom shapes.

24. Photoshop Smart Objects, smart but not always that smart

Photoshop Smart Objects, smart but not always that smart - screen shot.

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 tutorial goes over how to use Smart Objects.

Enhancing your workflow and efficiency

25. Using Pen Tablets in Photoshop

Using Pen Tablets in Photoshop - screen shot.

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.

26. Automating Photoshop with Actions

Automating Photoshop with Actions - screen shot.

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

Using Palettes in Photoshop - screen shot.

Palettes are sets of tools and options that help you organize Photoshops interface. In this tutorial, youll get a great primer on how to take advantage of using Palettes.

28. Installing and Managing Brushes & Other Presets

Installing and Managing Brushes & Other Presets - screen shot.

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

Layer Comps in Photoshop CS - screen shot.

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.

30. Photoshop Secret Shortcuts

Photoshop Secret Shortcuts - screen shot.

Shortcuts enable greatly increases your efficiency. In this excellent tutorial, youll learn about some of the lesser-known but tremendously useful Photoshop shortcuts.

31. Manage your shortcuts in Photoshop

Manage your shortcuts in Photoshop - screen shot.

If you dont 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

Manipulate an Image with Scripting - screen shot.

Scripting allows you to automate and extend Photoshops features by authoring your own code. Learn about Photoshop Scripting with this tutorial that uses image manipulation as a working example.

33. Use Photoshops Filters to Make Simple Illustrations

Use Photoshop's Filters to Make Simple Illustrations - screen shot.

Learn to use Photoshop Filters to transform a photo into an illustration.

34. Custom made Seamless Texture Tutorial

Custom made Seamless Texture Tutorial - screen shot.

Learn to create seamless textures in Photoshop.

35. Simple organic shapes in Photoshop

Simple organic shapes in Photoshop - screen shot.

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.

Got more?

Do you have a tutorial you think will help beginners get started with Photoshop? Please share it with us in the comments.

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Photoshop Tutorial