So, you’ve got Photoshop installed. You’ve played around with layers. Maybe even cropped your ex out of a few pics. But now you’re ready to actually learn this beast of a program—and Udemy keeps popping up in your Google searches. Good news: it’s packed with Photoshop courses. The only problem? There are too many options.

Don’t worry, I sorted through the chaos for you. Whether you’re a total beginner, a graphic design hopeful, a social media content creator, or even someone eyeing freelance gigs, this guide is your shortcut to the best Photoshop courses on Udemy right now.

Who’s Looking for Photoshop Courses Anyway?

Before we dive into course names, let’s talk about who’s actually hunting down Photoshop tutorials on Udemy. (Spoiler: it’s way more than just traditional designers.)

• Total beginners who opened the app and immediately panicked at the 50+ icons staring back.
• Social media marketers who want to level-up their visuals, stop relying on Canva, and create more branded, scroll-stopping content.
• Photographers—both hobbyists and pros—who want to clean up images, fix lighting, or get into high-end retouching.
• Freelancers looking to pad their service list—hello, extra income streams from graphic gigs on Fiverr or Upwork.
• Small business owners who are sick of outsourcing graphics or waiting three days for a designer to change one word.
• Students and portfolio-builders eager to stand out in internships, job interviews, or creative courses.
• Etsy sellers, content creators, and hobbyists who just want their visuals to pop—be it for printable planners, YouTube thumbnails, or Instagram reels.

And let’s not forget the career switchers—folks looking to transition into creative roles from completely different industries. Photoshop skills often open doors to UI design, web design, marketing, and even animation.

Basically? If you use visuals in any way—or want to—you’ll probably find yourself on Udemy looking for the right course.

Top Photoshop Courses on Udemy (With Real Personality)

Let’s get into the goods. These aren’t just highly rated—they’re actually worth your time.

1. Photoshop Master Course: From Beginner to Pro (by Chad Neuman, Ph.D.)

This one’s a classic—and for good reason. It covers the basics like cropping and color correction but also dives into logo design, photo retouching, and web banners. What makes it shine is the well-paced layout. Plus, Chad has a calm teaching style that doesn’t make your brain explode.

Perfect For: Beginners who want a well-rounded overview without fluff.

Bonus: Tons of downloadable resources and real-world examples.

Time to Complete: ~10 hours, but you can totally skip around.

Real-World Use: You could start freelancing after finishing this one.

2. Adobe Photoshop CC – Essentials Training Course (by Daniel Walter Scott)

Daniel’s courses are like having that cool creative friend who also knows how to teach. This course is beginner-friendly, super visual, and full of quick wins (like making your first social post or mockup within an hour). He focuses a lot on creative projects, which is great for visual learners.

Perfect For: Total newbies, design students, and visual content creators.

Vibe: Friendly, creative, and not too “technical.”

Time to Complete: ~7 hours

Takeaway: By the end, you’ll be comfortable creating professional-looking graphics from scratch.

3. Photoshop for Photographers (by Chris Parker)

If your main thing is taking photos and making them shine, this course is your jam. It zeroes in on RAW editing, light and shadow tweaks, and removing unwanted objects. It’s also a solid bridge between Lightroom and Photoshop.

Perfect For: Hobby photographers, pros, or even photo retouchers.

Real Talk: It assumes you’re already a little comfy with editing software, so beginners might want to pair it with an intro course.

Skill Boost: Skin retouching, color grading, noise reduction.

Time to Complete: ~9 hours

4. The Ultimate Photoshop Training: From Beginner to Pro (by Cristian Doru Barin)

Cristian is basically a Photoshop machine. This course is ideal for those who want to actually make money using Photoshop—think freelancing, Fiverr gigs, and digital products. You’ll learn how to design posters, business cards, social media graphics, and more.

Perfect For: Entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and aspiring freelancers.

What’s Cool: Real-world projects and tips on turning skills into cash.

Time to Complete: ~14.5 hours

Standout Section: The design briefs that simulate real client projects.

5. Photoshop Mega Course – Beginner to Advanced (by Manfred Werner)

This one’s loaded. You get everything from the basics to advanced topics like 3D objects, vector shapes, and even UI/UX design. It’s long (25+ hours), but the structure is solid, and you can hop around to whatever skill you need.

Perfect For: Intermediate learners who want more advanced tricks.

Heads-Up: You’ll need patience—it’s a slow burn, not a crash course.

Unique Angle: Covers niche skills like isometric illustrations and digital painting.

What You’ll Actually Learn (And Use!)

Each of these courses is packed with real-world takeaways, but let’s break it down into digestible chunks:

• Basic Tools & Shortcuts: Every course starts here. You’ll finally understand what those icons do—and how to speed up your workflow.
• Layers & Masks: This is where the magic happens. You’ll learn to non-destructively edit, create collages, and control what’s visible in your designs.
• Text & Typography: From adding headlines to tweaking letter spacing like a pro.
• Color Correction: Improve skin tones, fix lighting disasters, and master the mood of your images.
• Retouching Techniques: Remove blemishes, unwanted objects, or even entire backgrounds.
• Project Work: Whether it’s social media graphics, business cards, or web headers—hands-on tasks build confidence fast.
• Exporting Files the Right Way: Because saving as JPG or PNG isn’t as simple as it sounds.

The bonus? You’ll not only learn Photoshop—you’ll learn how to think like a designer.

✨ How Long Does It Take to Get Good at Photoshop?

Honestly? You could pick up the basics in a weekend if you stay focused. But to get comfortable designing logos, retouching portraits, or creating Instagram content, you’re probably looking at a few weeks of consistent practice. Here’s a rough idea:

• 1-3 hours: You’ll be able to crop, adjust brightness, and add basic text.
• 10-15 hours: You’ll know how to use layers, masks, and some key shortcuts.
• 20+ hours: You’ll be creating polished designs, editing like a pro, and even freelancing.

The best part? All these Udemy courses are self-paced. So you can binge-watch on the weekend or chip away 30 minutes a night after dinner.

Udemy Photoshop Course Comparison Chart

Course Title	Best For	Length	Style	Standout Feature
Chad Neuman’s Course	Beginners to Pro	~10 hrs	Calm & structured	Balanced overview
Daniel Walter Scott’s	Absolute beginners	~7 hrs	Creative & fun	Quick wins & projects
Chris Parker’s	Photographers	~9 hrs	Niche & detailed	RAW & portrait editing
Cristian Doru Barin’s	Freelancers	~14.5 hrs	Real-world-focused	Client-style projects
Manfred Werner’s	Advanced users	25+ hrs	Deep dive	3D & UI/UX design

So, Which One Should You Pick?

Here’s the honest answer: It depends on what you want out of Photoshop.

• Just starting? Go with Daniel Walter Scott’s or Chad Neuman’s course.
• Want to monetize your skills? Cristian Doru Barin’s course is gold.
• Photographer? Chris Parker has your back.
• Already familiar but want to level up? Manfred Werner will stretch your skills.

And don’t worry—these courses go on sale all the time. You can usually grab them for under $20. Total steal.

Tips to Make the Most Out of Your Course

• Use a second monitor if you can. Seriously, this one’s a game-changer. Watching the lesson on one screen and practicing on Photoshop with the other keeps you in the flow. No more toggling between tabs and losing your spot mid-demo.
• Actually do the projects. Watching a lesson might feel productive, but the real magic happens when you create. Even if your first attempt looks nothing like the instructor’s example, that’s how you learn. Muscle memory > passive viewing.
• Join design communities. You don’t have to go it alone. Platforms like Reddit’s r/Photoshop, design Facebook groups, or creative Discord servers are goldmines for tips, critiques, and encouragement. Sharing your work—even when it’s messy—builds confidence and improves your eye faster than lurking.
• Set a mini-goal. Start with something simple but meaningful. Maybe you want to design a YouTube banner for your channel, make a printable calendar for your home office, or mock up a product label for your side hustle. Having a personal project keeps you focused and excited.
• Take notes while you watch. You’d be surprised how much easier it is to retain tool names, shortcut keys, and workflow tricks when you jot them down. Bonus points if you keep a Photoshop “cheat sheet” as you go.
• Replay tricky parts. Got stuck during a masking tutorial or forgot how to group layers? Go back and rewatch it. That’s the beauty of on-demand learning—rewind until it sticks. No shame in five replays.
• Experiment beyond the lesson. Once you learn a new effect (like drop shadows or blending modes), try using it in a totally different project. Stretch your brain a bit. This is how you move from mimicry to mastery.
• Don’t stress perfection. You’re going to mess up layers. You’ll forget to save. You’ll probably warp a face by accident. It’s all part of the ride. Progress > perfection every single time.
• Schedule learning time like a workout. It’s easy to let your Photoshop learning fall to the bottom of your to-do list. Try setting a recurring 30-minute block a few times a week. Even small, consistent sessions add up fast.
• Upgrade your assets. Free stock photos and fonts are everywhere, but consider building a little toolkit of high-quality design elements (like mockups, textures, or icon packs) to elevate your projects.

Final Thoughts: Learning Photoshop Is Easier Than You Think

Look, Photoshop seems intimidating. But with the right teacher, it becomes fun—even addictive. Whether you’re polishing up your brand, building a portfolio, or just want to design memes that slap, one of these Udemy courses will get you there.

So pick a course, open up that blank canvas, and start creating.

You don’t have to master everything overnight. Just start. The rest will follow.