How to Use Adobe Photoshop: Beginner’s Full Tutorial - Tips and Tricks

Today, Adobe Photoshop is arguably the most advanced graphical editing software on the digital market.
An essential tool for designers, illustrators, photographers, and digital artists alike, it boasts a wide spectrum of advanced features and powerful editing capabilities. However, if you're just getting started, the abundance of options and tools can be quite overwhelming.
This guide aims to ease your worries, offering a complete beginner's tutorial for Adobe Photoshop – inclusive of tips and tricks – that will get you started on your creative journey.

To start with, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with the Adobe Photoshop Interface.
Once you open Photoshop, you'll see a screen with a series of panels and tools. The initial interface can look pretty intimidating, but with time and practice, you will understand how to navigate around it.

Start with the Tools Panel, typically located on the left of the screen.
More often than not, this will be your go-to location for various tools, including but not limited to, Marquee tools, Lasso tools, Quick Selection tools, Crop tools, and the Type tool.

There's also the Menu bar located at the top, offering a plethora of options and sub-options.
As a beginner, you may not use all of these features immediately, but it's good to know where they are when you need them.

Understanding layers is crucial to mastering Photoshop.
Layers can be found in the Layers Panel on the right-hand side of the screen. They serve as the foundation for any design created in Photoshop. Each modification or addition you make can be placed on a new layer, allowing for easy modifications later.

One of the first skills to learn in Photoshop is cropping and resizing images.
Simply select the Crop tool from the Tools Panel, draw a rectangular shape over the image, and adjust it to your liking. Then, hit Enter to crop the image. For resizing, go to Image > Image Size, and alter the numbers to fit your desired dimensions.

Understanding basic color correction is another important step. The Color panel on the right allows you to adjust the saturation, hue, and brightness.
However, a more holistic approach would be to use the Levels and Curves functions found under Image -> Adjustments, which provide more control over the color balance and contrast.

Finally, spend some time experimenting with filters.
Found under the Filter tool in the Menu bar, these allow you to create a wide variety of effects, from blurring and sharpening to noise reduction and artistic stylizations.

As a beginner, the tips and tricks are endless. For instance, master keyboard shortcuts to speed up your workflow.
Learning to work non-destructively by preserving the original image data while experimenting with edits is another vital tip. Moreover, using masks for selective modification and taking advantage of Smart Objects can elevate your Photoshop game dramatically.

Remember, there is so much to Adobe Photoshop that this guide barely scratches the surface. As a beginner, the best way to learn is to apply these tips and get hands-on experience. Spend time practicing, experimenting, and pushing your creative boundaries.
Good luck with your Photoshop journey and happy editing!