Photoshop CC Fundamentals

Learn practical Photoshop workflows for editing and compositing

Duration 6h 48m Rating (4.6) Price Included with subscription on Pluralsight
Created by Matthew Pizzi
Last updated 2026-05-11
Platform: Pluralsight Topic: Graphic Design Photo/Video Editing Skills: Adobe Photoshop Image Compositing Photo Retouching

Photoshop CC Fundamentals, taught by Matthew Pizzi, is an introductory course that teaches practical Photoshop workflows for photo editing, compositing, and digital painting.

The curriculum emphasizes hands‑on techniques — including working with layers, masks, blend modes, retouching, color correction, and basic animation — so learners can produce polished assets for graphic design, UX, and other creative projects.

At a Glance

Photoshop CC Fundamentals is an introductory course taught by Matthew Pizzi that introduces core Photoshop workflows and tools. It covers photo editing, compositing, digital painting, basic animation, and design-focused techniques used across UX and graphic work.

Level Beginner
Rating 4.6 out of 5
Duration 6+ hours
Languages English
Certificate Certificate of completion
Access Access while your subscription is active
Course includes
  • Video lessons
  • Downloadable exercise files
  • Course transcript
Price Subscription-based (monthly or annual plans)

What This Course Teaches

By the end of the course, learners can apply reproducible Photoshop workflows to edit and prepare images for design or publication. The curriculum frames outcomes as measurable skills such as performing retouching, implementing color correction, using layers and masks, and composing basic composites or digital illustrations.

Image Editing
Perform foundational image edits using selection, cropping, and adjustment tools.

Photo Retouching
Apply retouching techniques to remove blemishes and improve subject appearance.

Image Sharpening
Implement sharpening workflows to enhance perceived image detail for different outputs.

Color Correction
Execute color-correction steps to balance white, adjust contrast, and match tones.

Layers & Masks
Use layers and masks to organize edits and apply non-destructive adjustments.

Blend Modes
Apply blend modes to control layer interactions and achieve specific visual effects.

Image Compositing
Compose multi-image composites and blend elements to create cohesive scenes.

Digital Painting
Create basic digital paintings using brushes, layers, and blend techniques.

Animation Basics
Build simple frame or timeline animations and export animated assets.

How the Course Is Structured

The course is organized as a sequence of concise sections that walk learners through Photoshop’s interface and core workflows. The publicly listed syllabus shows 17 discrete clips/modules and the course runs about 6 hours and 48 minutes in total.

Curriculum overview

01 Course Overview 1m 35s
02 Version Check 15s
03 The Welcome Screen 2m 54s
04 Creating New Documents 5m 21s
05 Mac and Windows Differences 2m 43s
06 Artboards 4m 23s
07 Introducing Panels 3m 41s
08 Moving and Customizing Panels 4m 5s
09 Customize Panels and the Toolbar 6m 33s
10 Keyboard Shortcuts and Menu Commands 5m 51s
11 Using Workspaces 3m 59s
12 Interface Shading Options 2m 5s
13 Screen Modes 2m 3s
14 Working with Multiple Documents 3m 19s
15 Tab Preferences 3m 57s
16 Document Navigation 4m 51s
17 Preferences Dialog Box 5m 8s

Audience & Requirements

Photoshop CC Fundamentals is aimed at learners who need a practical, hands‑on introduction to Photoshop’s core workflows. The course suits beginners, creative hobbyists, photographers, and designers who want to quickly gain usable skills in editing, compositing, and basic digital painting or animation.

Who It’s For
  • Complete beginners seeking a practical introduction to Photoshop workflows.
  • Photographers who want retouching and color‑correction skills.
  • Graphic and UX designers preparing Photoshop assets for projects.
  • Digital artists and hobbyists learning basic painting and simple animation techniques.
What You’ll Need
  • Photoshop CC 2021 (the course specifies this version as required).
  • No prior Photoshop experience required.
  • A computer that meets Photoshop CC 2021 system requirements.

Final Verdict

Photoshop CC Fundamentals is a practical, well‑paced introduction that is worth taking for beginners and creative professionals who want to gain immediately usable Photoshop skills. Given its strong rating and broad adoption among learners, together with an included certificate and subscription access model, the course offers good value for anyone who intends to apply Photoshop to photography, design, or digital art workflows.

If you need only a brief orientation, this course may be more in‑depth than necessary, but for learners who plan to practice and build a portfolio it is a sensible first step; those aiming for advanced, production‑level work should follow it with targeted intermediate or specialist courses.

Course Details

Platform Pluralsight
Rating (4.6)
Duration 6h 48m
Level Beginner
Language English
Price Included with subscription
View on Pluralsight