Overview
Adobe Photoshop Advanced takes your skills to the professional level with sophisticated techniques for complex retouching, compositing, and creative workflows. This two-day course builds directly on the foundations from Photoshop Introduction, diving deep into the tools and methods used by professional designers, retouchers, and digital artists.
You’ll master advanced selection and masking techniques, work non-destructively with Smart Objects, create complex composites with seamless blending, and develop efficient workflows using actions and automation. By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills to tackle professional-level projects with confidence and precision.
Format: 2 Days | VILT
Who Should Attend
- Designers who have completed Photoshop Introduction or have equivalent experience
- Marketing professionals creating sophisticated graphics and campaigns
- Photographers ready to master advanced retouching and creative techniques
- Anyone working on complex composites, beauty retouching, or professional imaging projects
What You’ll Learn
- Create precise selections using channels, paths, and Select and Mask workspace
- Work non-destructively with Smart Objects and Smart Filters
- Master advanced retouching techniques including frequency separation
- Build seamless composites with advanced masking and blending techniques
- Apply professional color grading and creative effects
- Automate repetitive tasks with actions, batch processing, and scripts
- Develop efficient professional workflows for complex projects
Course Outline
Module 1: Advanced Selection Techniques
- Using channels for luminosity and color-based selections
- Pen tool for precise paths and converting paths to selections
- Select and Mask workspace for refining complex selections including hair and fur
- Focus Area and Color Range for sophisticated selection methods
Module 2: Smart Objects and Non-Destructive Workflows
- Converting layers to Smart Objects and understanding the benefits
- Editing Smart Objects while preserving original quality
- Applying Smart Filters for non-destructive effects
- Creating linked Smart Objects for efficient multi-instance editing
Module 3: Advanced Masking and Compositing
- Vector masks vs. layer masks and when to use each
- Combining multiple masks with clipping masks and groups
- Advanced masking techniques: density, feather, and mask refinements
- Creating seamless composites with edge blending and color matching
Module 4: Professional Retouching Workflows
- Frequency separation for advanced skin retouching
- Dodge and Burn techniques for dimensional sculpting
- Patch tool and Content-Aware Move for complex object removal
- Building retouching workflows with non-destructive layers
Module 5: Camera Raw and Raw Processing
- Opening and processing Raw files in Camera Raw
- Advanced Camera Raw adjustments: tone curve, HSL, and split toning
- Local adjustments with gradient and radial filters
- Applying Camera Raw as a Smart Filter for non-destructive editing
Module 6: Advanced Color Grading and Correction
- Color Lookup Tables (LUTs) for cinematic color grading
- Selective Color adjustment for precise color control
- Channel Mixer and color balance for creative color effects
- Matching colors across multiple images in a series
Module 7: Blending Modes and Advanced Layer Techniques
- Deep dive into blend modes: understanding the mathematics and applications
- Blend If sliders for targeted blending based on tonal values
- Knockout options for punching through layer stacks
- Creating complex lighting and texture effects with blend modes
Module 8: Layer Styles and Advanced Effects
- Creating sophisticated layer styles for text and graphics
- Saving and loading custom layer styles for consistency
- Converting layer styles to separate layers for further editing
- Combining multiple effects for realistic textures and depth
Module 9: Filters and Creative Effects
- Blur Gallery: Field Blur, Iris Blur, and Tilt-Shift effects
- Liquify filter for reshaping and creative distortions
- Neural Filters for AI-powered effects and enhancements
- Building complex effects by stacking and masking filters
Module 10: Perspective and Transformation Tools
- Perspective Warp for adjusting angles in composite images
- Puppet Warp for organic shape transformations
- Vanishing Point for perspective-correct retouching and compositing
- Content-Aware Scale for intelligent resizing of images
Module 11: Actions, Batch Processing, and Automation
- Recording and editing actions for repetitive tasks
- Batch processing multiple files with consistent adjustments
- Creating droplets for drag-and-drop automation
- Image Processor and Scripts for advanced automation workflows
Module 12: Professional Workflows and Optimization
- Organizing complex projects with layer comps and artboards
- File optimization techniques for large, layer-heavy documents
- Libraries and Cloud Documents for team collaboration
- Best practices for archiving and preparing files for client handoff
Prerequisites & Technical Requirements
- Completion of Adobe Photoshop Introduction or equivalent experience
- Strong understanding of layers, selections, masks, and basic adjustments
- Adobe Photoshop CC (current or recent version recommended)
Customization Options
This course can be tailored to your team’s specific advanced needs—whether you’re focused on beauty and portrait retouching, product photography and e-commerce imagery, advanced compositing for advertising, or creative digital art. We can adjust examples and exercises to match your industry and the sophisticated projects you’ll be tackling in Photoshop.