# Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/photoshop-beginner>

## Overview

In this course, you'll learn how to remove unwanted elements, make selections, adjust color and contrast, and save files for print or web in Adobe Photoshop. You'll work on various projects, gaining hands-on experience with layers, masks, filters, and type, while mastering techniques to improve photos and build graphics.

## What you'll learn

- Learn to retouch photos and create graphics
- Improve your images by adjusting color, brightness, and contrast
- Use selections to work with specific parts of an image
- Prepare images for digital, web, video, or print
- Make updates easier by using adjustment layers
- Remove backgrounds with layer masks
- Sharpen photos
- Create visual effects with filters, shadows, blend modes, and much more

## Curriculum

### Section 1

#### Getting Started

- Zooming
- Scrolling
- Getting around
- Tools
- Copying & pasting

#### Photo Retouching

- Spot Healing Brush
- Content-Aware Fill

#### Cropping Photos

- Cropping Photos
- Straightening Photos
- Straightening a Layer

#### Creating Graphics: Combing Photos, Text, & Graphics

- Adding Type
- Smart Objects
- Importing Vector Graphics (Such as Logos)
- Type Anti-Aliasing

### Section 2

#### Replacing Backgrounds

- Select Subject
- Select and Mask
- Image compositing

#### Blend Modes & Opacity

- Blend Modes
- Opacity
- Placing & Editing Smart Objects

#### Color Correction Using Color Balance

- Creating adjustment layers for color correction
- Adjusting color balance
- Adjusting brightness/contrast

#### Color Correction Using Curves

- Color correction with a Curves adjustment layer
- Adjusting brightness and contrast with Curves
- Setting white, black, & mid points

#### Preparing Digital Photos for Print

- Viewing/setting image size
- Resampling pros & cons
- Saving as PSD
- Saving as TIFF

#### Exporting Files for Web/Digital

- Resizing images for the web/digital
- Reducing image size with resampling
- Exporting an optimized JPEG
- Exporting a transparent PNG

### Section 3

#### Sharpening Photos

- The Smart Sharpen filter
- Sharpening photos for digital & print

#### The Liquify Filter & Intro to Smart Filters

- Smart Objects & Smart Filters
- The Liquify Filter: Facial Features
- Editing the Smart Filter: Using Liquify to Push Pixels

#### Layer Masking

- Creating a Mask
- Adjusting a Mask by Painting On It

#### Masking Smart Filters

- Object Selection
- Using & Masking Smart Filters

### Section 4

#### Converting to Black & White & Lens Correction

- Converting to Black & White
- Bringing back color in a specific area
- Removing Lens Distortion

#### Placing Your Designs in Pre-made Mockups

- Placing Your Design into a Mockup
- Customizing the Mockup

#### Adjustment Layers & Masks

- More Curves practice
- Masking out unwanted adjustments
- Organizing layers into groups

#### Retouching

- Healing Brush with Rotation
- Content-Aware Fill
- Patch Tool

### Section 5

#### Changing Color With a Blending Mode

- Change the color of an object
- Using the Color Blend Mode

#### Clipping Masks: Filling Shapes with Images

- Masking a graphic with a shape/type
- Clipping masks
- Adding a Drop Shadow

#### Using Adjustment Layers as Clipping Masks

- Adjusting the color/brightness/contrast of specific areas in an image
- Using Adjustment Layers with Clipping Masks

#### Camera Raw Fundamentals

- Opening & editing RAW files

#### Camera Raw as a Filter

- Applying Camera Raw as a Non-Destructive Smart Filter
- Using Dehaze
- Masking in Camera Raw

### Section 6

#### Batch Actions & the Image Processor

- Creating & running actions
- Batch processing files
- The Image Processor script
- Adobe Bridge

#### Photoshop for Design: Adding a Title & Layer Styles

- Creating a File with Photo & Text
- Adding Effects: Stroke & Outer Glow
- Fill vs. Opacity
- Editing a Gradient & Saving a Gradient Preset for Later Use

#### Photoshop for Design: Creating Digital Art in Photoshop

- Vector shapes
- Brush Settings

#### Photoshop for Design: Compositing into a Photo

- Distorting & warping a graphic onto a photo to create a mockup
- Adding texture & shading

## Schedule
- May 31, 2026 – Jun 14, 2026 — Live Online
- Jul 6, 2026 – Jul 8, 2026 — Live Online
- Aug 3, 2026 – Aug 5, 2026 — Live Online
- Aug 11, 2026 – Aug 27, 2026 — Live Online
- Sep 14, 2026 – Sep 16, 2026 — Live Online
- Oct 5, 2026 – Oct 21, 2026 — Live Online
- Oct 18, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026 — Live Online
- Oct 26, 2026 – Oct 28, 2026 — Live Online

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $975

Payment options: GI Bill accepted.