How to Start Learning Photoshop Without Feeling Overwhelmed

Intro: Photoshop is a must-learn program for anyone with an interest in photography, graphic design, and even web page design. One of the often-heard warnings about this premier image-editing tool is that it has a steep learning curve. While it does have a noticeably large number of tools and controls, it does not necessarily have to be quite as overwhelming as many people make it out to be. Some tricks for mastering Photoshop include focusing only on the basics first, not trying to memorize every tool and its function right away, and making small goals of being able to repeat the same workflow steps consistently.

Step 1: Start with a simple workspace. The sheer number of panels on the default Photoshop workspace can be confusing at first, particularly when you don't yet know what any of them do. A few of the main panels you will probably be using the most for beginner lessons are the Layers panel and the Adjustments panel. As you progress with different projects, you can add more panels to the workspace as needed. This step can be done by going to the drop-down menu under Window and checking only Layers and Adjustments. You also want to make sure Options and Tools are checked near the bottom of this menu. If you like, you can create your own custom workspace by going to Window--Workspace--New Workspace. This will automatically save your two panels so you do not have to keep checking the same options in the Windows drop-down menu.

Step 2: Get to know the Toolbar. This bar is located on the left side of the workspace, though you can move it around if you choose just as with all the rest of the panels. The first five or six tools near the top of the toolbar are generally the ones you will start using for basic tasks such as selecting only one area of an image. Tools to focus on first include the Move tool, the Marquee tool, the Crop tool, the Spot Healing Brush tool, and the Brush tool.

Step 3: Don't try to memorize all the keyboard shortcuts, at least not right away. A good number of Photoshop books and tutorials describe every step with the mouse and with the keyboard shortcuts at the same time. While this information can be useful, it can also be time-consuming and a bit overwhelming to try to remember. Focus on just remembering each step with the mouse clicks first and gradually add in the corresponding keystrokes as you feel more comfortable using Photoshop.

Step 4: Use some simpler images for practice. Pictures with a lot of different colors and textures can sometimes create problems for beginning Photoshop lessons. A good image for basic lessons usually has a simple background such as a blue sky and only one or two main subjects in the foreground. Copyright-free images can be found on sites such as Wikimedia Commons and Flickr Creative Commons, meaning you can download and modify them all you wish.

Step 5: Learn how to create new layers. This is a fundamental Photoshop skill that will safeguard against any permanent image changes you may not want. The easiest way to do this step is to clisk the New Layer button at the bottom of the Layers panel. You can also create a duplicate layer from the drop-down menu under Layers. If you do not want to keep the edits you make, you can simply delete that corresponding layer by dragging it to the trash can at the bottom of the Layers panel.

Tips: Save your practice images as .psd files rather than .jpg files at first. This way, you can go back to them later and make further edits without any loss of image quality that happens when as image is compressed into a .jpg format.

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