Photoshop Fundamentals: An Introduction to Photoshop CC

This 3-day course provides a thorough overview of the interface, the tools, the features, tricks, and tips for using Photoshop CC. The course is an ideal combination of instructor-led demonstration and hands-on practice.

Adobe Photoshop has become an industry standard for so many different disciplines including desktop publishing, multimedia design, web design, digital video editing, and much more. Photoshop is often a prerequisite for many other software programs, and is the one program that everyone in every area of digital media should know.

Practical working knowledge of computers and basic Mac OS X or Windows skills.

Note: The curricula below comprise activities typically covered in a class at this skill level. The instructor may, at his/her discretion, adjust the lesson plan to meet the needs of the class.

Lesson 1: Understanding How Digital Images Work

• Understanding RGB and CMYK color models (Additive and Subtractive)
• Image size vs. Resolution - What’s the difference?
• Pixel Aspect Ratio - Are all pixels square?
• Bits per channel - What does that mean?
• Alpha Channel - Why is this important to us?

Lesson 2: Getting to Know the Work Area

• Starting to work in Adobe Photoshop
• Using the tools
• Sampling a color
• Working with tools and tool properties
• Undoing actions in Photoshop
• More about panels and panel locations
• Finding resources for using Photoshop

Lesson 3: Basic Photo Corrections

• Strategy for retouching
• Resolution and image size
• Opening a file with Adobe Bridge
• Straightening and cropping the image in Photoshop
• Adjusting the color and tone
• Using the Spot Healing Brush tool
• Applying a content-aware patch
• Repairing areas with the Clone Stamp tool
• Sharpening the image

Lesson 4: Working with Selections

• About selecting and selection tools
• Getting started
• Using the Quick Selection tool
• Moving a selected area
• Manipulating selections
• Using the Magic Wand tool
• Selecting with the lasso tools
• Rotating a selection
• Selecting with the Magnetic Lasso tool
• Selecting from a center point
• Resizing and copying a selection
• Cropping an image

Lesson 5: Layer Basics

• About layers
• Getting started
• Using the Layers panel
• Rearranging layers
• Applying a gradient to a layer
• Applying a layer style
• Adding an adjustment layer
• Updating layer effects
• Adding a border
• Flattening and saving files

Lesson 6: Quick Fixes

• Improving a snapshot
• Blurring a background
• Creating a panorama
• Correcting image distortion
• Adding depth of field
• Moving objects with the Content-Aware Move tool
• Adjusting perspective in an image

Lesson 7: Masks and Channels

• Working with masks and channels
• Getting started
• Creating a mask
• Refining a mask
• Creating a quick mask
• Manipulating an image with Puppet Warp
• Working with channels

Lesson 8: Typographic Design

• About type
• Getting started
• Creating a clipping mask from type
• Creating type on a path
• Warping point type
• Designing paragraphs of type
• Adding a rounded rectangle
• Adding vertical text

Lesson 9: Vector Drawing Techniques

• About bitmap images and vector graphics
• About paths and the Pen tool
• Getting started
• Drawing with the Pen tool
• Working with defined custom shapes
• Importing a Smart Object
• Adding color and depth to a shape using layer styles

Lesson 10: Saving your files

• Understanding file types
• The right file for the right job