Top 5 Coursera Courses to Master Photoshop in 1 Month

In the context of increasingly developing digitalization, Photoshop has become an indispensable tool in the creative field. From photo post-processing, media publication design, website interface construction to creating cinematic effects, Photoshop is present everywhere. Mastering Photoshop means you own the key to open up countless attractive career opportunities in design, marketing, photography and many other fields. The online learning platform Coursera offers a world-class learning experience with a system of lectures compiled by leading experts and lecturers from prestigious universities. Join SaDesign to explore the best quality Photoshop courses on Coursera, make your dream of conquering this powerful tool come true, step by step reaching the pinnacle of your career.

1. Course 1: Photoshop for Beginners by University of Colorado Boulder

Summary: The University of Colorado Boulder's "Photoshop for Beginners" course goes beyond introducing basic tools to delving into professional photo manipulation and layout design techniques. It's a great option for anyone who wants a solid foundation in Photoshop and the ability to apply it to a variety of different fields.

Main content:

Introduction to the interface: The course begins with a familiarization with the Photoshop interface. You will be guided through how to arrange panels, use menus, and customize your workspace to your liking.
Photo editing tools : This section will focus on introducing and guiding you through the most important photo editing tools in Photoshop, including:
Selection Tools : How to use tools like Lasso, Magic Wand, Quick Selection to select parts of an image.
Adjustment Layers : How to adjust the brightness, contrast, color, saturation, etc. of an image non-destructively.
Retouching tools (Healing Brush, Clone Stamp) : How to remove photo blemishes, retouch skin, erase objects,...
Drawing and coloring tools (Brush, Paint Bucket) : How to use brushes, paint colors and create special effects.
Create professional layouts : This is a big plus of the course. You will learn how to apply the knowledge you have learned to design professional layouts for many different purposes.
Course duration : About 4 weeks. With a reasonable study schedule, you can complete the course within a month and gain significant Photoshop skills.

2. Course 2: Mastering Layers and Masking Techniques by CalArts

Summary: This course focuses entirely on mastering Layers and Masking, two powerful tools that allow you to precisely control each element of an image and create complex graphic effects. Unlike a beginner course, this course requires learners to have basic knowledge of Photoshop.

Main content:

Layer blending modes : This is a powerful feature that allows you to combine layers in a variety of ways, creating a myriad of lighting, color, and texture effects. The course will go into depth on each blending mode, explaining how they work and providing real-world examples for you to easily apply.
Masking Techniques : Masking allows you to hide or show parts of a layer flexibly, without having to permanently delete that part. The course will introduce a variety of masking techniques, including:
Layer masks: Use black and white brushes to show and hide parts of a layer.
Vector masks: Use sharp vector lines to create masks with high precision.
Clipping masks: Use a layer as a mask for the layer above.
Color Range: Create a mask based on the selected color range.
Combining advanced effects: After mastering Layer blending modes and Masking, you will learn how to combine them together to create more complex effects,
Duration: Approximately 5 weeks. This course requires a lot of practice to get familiar with the complex techniques, so you should set aside time to study regularly and fully.

3. Course 3: Adobe Photoshop Essentials by UC San Diego

Summary: UC San Diego's "Adobe Photoshop Essentials" course equips students with the essential skills to transform ordinary photos into impressive works of art. With a focus on lighting, color, detail, and effects techniques, this course helps you master the professional photo editing process.

Main content:

Increasing Image Detail : This section focuses on techniques to make your photos sharper and clearer. You will learn how to use tools such as:

Sharpening filters: Unsharp Mask, Smart Sharpen, help increase the contrast at the edges, making the photo look sharper. The course will guide you on how to use these filters effectively to avoid "noise" or over-sharpening.
Clarity slider in Camera Raw or Lightroom: Increases local contrast, making mid-tone details clearer.
High Pass filter: A more advanced technique for sharpening images, especially effective for printing.
Creating 3D Effects : While not an in-depth 3D course, this section will introduce basic techniques for creating simple 3D effects in Photoshop, such as:

Perspective correction: Corrects distortion caused by shooting angle.
Vanishing Point filter: Creates 3D planes in your photo to overlay images or text.
3D layers and basic extrusion: Introduction to creating basic 3D objects from text or vector shapes.
Retouching Techniques : This section covers portrait and product photo editing techniques, which help remove blemishes and improve image quality:

Healing Brush and Clone Stamp tools: Remove blemishes, pimples, wrinkles,... from the skin.
Frequency Separation: An advanced retouching technique that allows for separate skin and texture editing.
Dodge and Burn tools: Lighten and darken areas of the image to create volume and depth.
Course duration: Approximately 6 weeks. Due to the focus on many photo editing techniques, this course requires a lot of practice to get familiar with and master.

4. Course 4: Creative Photo Manipulation by Michigan State University

Summary: This course will take you into the world of Photo Manipulation, where you will learn how to combine images, create special effects and bring your creative ideas to life. The course is hands-on, helping you hone your skills and develop your own style.

Main content:

Photo Compositing Techniques : This is the foundation of Photo Manipulation. The course will guide you through techniques for compositing photos seamlessly and naturally, including:

Seamless blending: Use Layer Masks, Blending Modes, and color editing tools to combine images without leaving traces.
Perspective and scale matching: Adjust the size and perspective of images so they fit together in a composition.
Lighting and color matching: Adjust the lighting and color of images to create a unified and harmonious whole.
Refine Edge Technique: To accurately separate complex details such as hair or fur.
Creating Surreal Effects : The course will introduce techniques for creating surreal effects, helping you turn seemingly impossible ideas into reality:

Surreal compositing: Create unrealistic photos by combining images in unexpected and creative ways.
Dreamlike effects: Use tools and filters to create dreamy and mystical effects.
Playing with light and shadow: Create dramatic light and shadow effects to add depth and drama to your photos.
Texture and pattern adding techniques: Create unique surface effects for images.
Optimize Workflow : The course also covers building an efficient workflow in Photoshop, saving you time and increasing productivity:

Organization of layers: Manage layers neatly and efficiently.
Using Smart Objects: Allows non-destructive editing and easy changes to elements in your photo.
Workflow tips and tricks: Tips to help you work faster and more efficiently in Photoshop.
Study time: About 4 weeks. To master Photo Manipulation skills, you need to spend time practicing and experimenting.

5. Course 5: Photoshop Advanced Techniques by Stanford University

Summary: This course will delve into complex Photoshop techniques, focusing on creating cinematic effects, professional skin retouching, and optimizing software performance, helping learners create professional graphic products.

Main content:

Cinematic Effects : This section will explore techniques for creating color, light, and contrast effects commonly seen in movies, giving a cinematic feel to your photos:

Color grading: Use tools like Curves, Color Balance, Lookup Tables (LUTs) to create distinctive color tones, from warm, classic to cool, modern.
Split toning: Apply different colors to light and dark areas, creating unique color effects.
Advanced Dodge and Burn: Use subtle techniques to create volume and depth in your photos, mimicking the way lighting is used in film.
Special lighting effects: Add sun rays, light through leaves, lens flare effects for added cinematic appeal.
Professional Skin Retouching : Delve into more complex skin retouching techniques, while still maintaining natural texture:

Advanced Frequency Separation: Separate control over skin texture and color correction.
Micro Dodge and Burn: Corrects tiny details on the skin, such as pores or tiny wrinkles.
Dedicated plugins for portrait retouching: Use plugins like Portraiture to automate part of the process.
Contouring and Highlighting: Use light and shadow to shape the face, making it slimmer and sharper.

Conclude

With the support of professional courses, Photoshop is no longer a difficult software to access. The skills you learn do not stop at normal photo editing but also open up wide career opportunities in the fields of design, marketing and communication. Courses on Coursera are systematically designed to help you master Photoshop step by step, from basic to advanced. Contact SaDesign to seize this opportunity to improve your skills, assert yourself and create impressive products.