Adobe Photoshop 2026 Basic to Intermediate
Adobe Photoshop 2026 Basic to Intermediate is a course in editing images and creating graphics in Photoshop, from layers, selections, masks and smart objects to tone and colour correction, retouching and using Generative Fill with its limits in mind, through to exporting the right file for each job. It suits students, teachers, IT staff and anyone interested in graphic design.
- Duration12 hours · 2 days
- FormatOnsite / live online
- Next roundOn request
- CertificateIncluded
Course overview
Adobe Photoshop has long been the main tool for designers and graphics staff, whether for product photos, portrait retouching, advertising images or social media graphics. Yet many beginners still edit by erasing pixels, produce rough cut-outs and cannot go back and change their work, while the current Photoshop offers automatic selection tools, non-destructive editing and generative AI that can fill or extend an image in a few clicks.
This course lays the foundations of Photoshop 2026, from image resolution, colour modes and layers to selections with Select Subject and Select and Mask, compositing with masks, smart objects and smart filters, and tone and colour correction with adjustment layers and Camera Raw. You then practise retouching, use Generative Fill, Generative Expand, Harmonize and Generative Upscale with their limits in mind, paint and work with type, and export files for the web and for print. It finishes with a workshop that designs a set of product advertising images. (2 days, 6 hours per day, 12 hours in total, Beginner to Intermediate level.)
What you’ll gain
- Understand image resolution, image size and colour modes for screen and print
- Work confidently with layers, blend modes and layer styles
- Make selections and cut-outs with automatic tools and Select and Mask
- Composite non-destructively with masks, smart objects and adjustment layers
- Retouch portraits and restore old photos naturally
- Use generative AI in Photoshop with an understanding of its limits and terms
- Choose file formats and export work for the web, social media and print
Who this course is for
- School and university students who want a grounding in graphics
- Teachers, lecturers and trainers who produce teaching and promotional materials
- IT staff and website administrators who prepare their own images
- Business owners and anyone who wants to edit product and social media images
Prerequisites
- Able to use Windows or macOS
- Basic commands such as creating files and folders, copying and pasting
- No previous Photoshop experience is needed
- A laptop with Adobe Photoshop from your own Creative Cloud plan, or the trial version
Curriculum
Course Details
This is the 2026 edition of the Adobe Photoshop CC 2018/2019 Basic to Intermediate course. It runs for 2 days, 6 hours per day (12 hours in total, 09:00-16:00), as lectures with labs on sample images, at Beginner to Intermediate level. The content has been rewritten for Photoshop 2026 in Creative Cloud, dropping the 2018/2019 new-feature topics and the 3D layers Adobe has since removed, and adding Select Subject, the Remove tool, Generative Fill, Generative Expand, Harmonize, Generative Upscale and Export As. Learners use Photoshop from their own Creative Cloud plan or the trial version, and take home the course handbook, sample images and their workshop files.
Day 1 Layers, Selections and Compositing
Section 1: Digital Image Basics and the Photoshop Interface
- The Home screen, workspaces, the Contextual Task Bar, zooming and panning
- Image size, canvas size and resolution for screen and print
- RGB and CMYK colour modes and bit depth
- Lab: crop, straighten and extend an image with the Crop tool
Section 2: Lab: Layers and Blend Modes
- The Layers panel, groups, locking and ordering layers
- Layer types: pixel, type, shape, fill and adjustment
- Layer styles, opacity, fill and blend modes
- Lab: assemble a poster from several layers
Section 3: Lab: Making Selections
- Marquee, Lasso, Quick Selection and Object Selection
- Select Subject, Select Sky and Color Range
- Select and Mask for hair and complex edges
- Lab: cut people and products out of their backgrounds
Section 4: Lab: Non-destructive Masking
- Layer masks: hiding and revealing with white, black and grey
- Vector masks and clipping masks
- Gradients on masks for blending images together
- Lab: blend a portrait seamlessly into a new background
Section 5: Lab: Smart Objects and Smart Filters
- Embedded and linked smart objects
- Scaling and warping without losing quality
- Smart filters and changing filter settings later
- Lab: build a screen and packaging mock-up
Section 6: Lab: Tone and Colour with Adjustment Layers
- Levels, Curves and Hue/Saturation
- Targeting adjustments with adjustment layer masks
- The Camera Raw filter and opening RAW files
- Lab: fix dark, backlit and colour-cast photos
Day 2 Retouching, AI, Graphics and Export
Section 7: Lab: Retouching and Restoring Photos
- The Spot Healing Brush, Healing Brush and Remove tool
- Clone Stamp and Content-Aware Fill
- Liquify, and dodge and burn on a separate layer
- Lab: retouch a portrait and repair a scratched old photo
Section 8: Lab: Generative AI in Photoshop
- Generative Fill and Generative Expand from text prompts
- Harmonize for matching an object's light and colour to the scene
- Generative Upscale, choosing a model and generative credits
- Lab: replace a product background and check the details AI created
Section 9: Lab: Painting and Vector Shapes
- The Brush tool, brush settings and creating your own brushes
- The Pen tool and Curvature Pen tool
- Shapes, the Frame tool and transformations
- Lab: draw icons and image frames for social media
Section 10: Lab: Type and Graphic Layouts
- Point type, paragraph type and the Character panel
- Thai fonts, Adobe Fonts and font licensing
- Text effects with layer styles and Warp Text
- Lab: design a promotional banner with text
Section 11: Lab: Saving and Exporting Files
- PSD, cloud documents and keeping working files
- Choosing between JPEG, PNG, TIFF and PDF
- Export As, Quick Export and artboards in several sizes
- Lab: export one design for the web, social media and print
Section 12: Workshop: A Product Advertising Set
- Workshop: cut out, retouch and composite a product on a new background
- Add text and a logo and unify the tone across the set
- Use actions for repeated steps, plus essential shortcuts
- Export in several sizes and present your work
Schedule & training options
For individuals — public rounds
No public rounds are open right now. Join the waiting list and we will contact you first when the next round opens, or ask us on LINE. Or call 02-570-8449 or 088-807-9770
For organisations — in-house / private
- Tailor the content to your team’s tools and projects
- Your dates, at your office or live online
- Quotation with tax ID for procurement
Instructors
Frequently asked questions
What is a layer mask in Photoshop, and how is it different from using the Eraser?
A layer mask hides or reveals parts of a layer in black and white: paint black to hide, white to reveal and grey for partial transparency. The original pixels stay intact, so you can change your mind at any time, unlike the Eraser, which deletes pixels permanently. Masking is therefore a non-destructive way of working, ideal for compositing and for work that goes through several rounds of changes.
What is Generative Fill in Photoshop used for, and what should you watch out for?
Generative Fill adds, removes or replaces part of an image from a text prompt, such as changing a background or adding an object, and the result sits on its own layer so you can edit or delete it. It needs an internet connection and uses generative credits from your plan, and some partner models may use more credits. Check the details the AI creates, such as hands, text and logos, and check the terms for commercial use before publishing.
Should you save an image as JPEG, PNG or PSD?
PSD keeps all your layers, masks and adjustments, so use it as the working file you will come back to. JPEG uses lossy compression for small files, which suits photos on websites and social media, but it has no transparency. PNG is lossless and supports transparency, which suits logos, icons and images with text. Print work usually uses high-resolution TIFF or PDF.
Who is the Adobe Photoshop 2026 Basic to Intermediate course for, and what should I know beforehand?
It suits students, teachers, IT staff or website administrators, and anyone who wants to edit product or social media images in Photoshop. You do not need previous Photoshop experience, just the ability to use Windows or macOS and handle basic file tasks, plus Photoshop from your own Creative Cloud plan or the trial version.
What will I be able to do after the Adobe Photoshop 2026 Basic to Intermediate course?
You will be able to work with layers and blend modes, cut out images with Select Subject and Select and Mask, composite with masks and smart objects, correct tone and colour with adjustment layers and Camera Raw, retouch portraits and restore old photos, use Generative Fill and Generative Upscale with their limits in mind, create type and graphics, and export the right file for each job. Participants who complete the training receive a Certificate of Completion with its own number, which can be verified online.
Can the Adobe Photoshop 2026 Basic to Intermediate course be run in-house for our team?
Yes. It can be run in-house for your team, with examples adapted to your own work, such as editing product photos or creating images for your organisation's materials. You can request a quotation from this page, or contact us on LINE @itgenius or by phone on 02-570-8449.
Related articles
Articles are published in Thai.