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Graphic Design
Join Big Rock Academy’s Instructor-Led Adobe Photoshop Courses in Belfast, Dublin & the UK.
Whether you’re completely new to Photoshop or looking to develop advanced editing and retouching skills, our Adobe Photoshop courses are designed to support learners at every level through dedicated Beginner and Advanced training programmes.
Our Beginner course focuses on building a strong foundation in Photoshop, covering core tools, layers, masks, image editing, and essential design workflows for digital and print content.
Our Advanced course is designed for experienced users looking to refine professional workflows using advanced retouching techniques, intelligent selections, generative fill, content-aware tools, automation, and AI-powered features to work faster and more creatively.
Through practical, hands-on training, learners will gain the confidence to create polished, professional visuals and apply efficient Photoshop workflows across photography, marketing, social media, and digital content creation.
Understand raster vs vector graphics
Know when to use Photoshop vs Illustrator
Identify real-world use cases (photography, marketing, social, web)
Navigate the Welcome Screen
Create documents for print, web, and social
Understand panels, tools, and workspaces
Customise the interface for efficiency
Properties Panel
Contextual Task Bar (CC 2026)
Tool presets
Dark vs light UI themes
Zoom with tools and shortcuts
Pan efficiently using the Hand Tool
Use Fit on Screen and Actual Pixels
Navigate high-resolution images accurately
Learn how to:
Use the Navigator panel
Switch between screen modes
Hide panels for distraction-free editing
Move between open documents
Understand pixel dimensions vs resolution
Set up images for print vs screen
Avoid common resizing mistakes
Extend or crop canvas safely
Reframe compositions
Prepare images for different aspect ratios
Use layers non-destructively
Stack, hide, lock, and reorder layers
Understand transparency and blending
Group layers logically
Duplicate and rename layers
Use smart object basics
Use Marquee, Lasso, and Object Selection tools
Make clean selections efficiently
Add, subtract, and refine selections
Use Select Subject
Use Remove Background
Refine edges with Select and Mask
Understand when AI works best—and when to intervene manually
Use Levels, Curves, Brightness & Contrast
Work non-destructively
Target shadows, midtones, and highlights
Correct colour casts
Adjust saturation and vibrance
Match colours between images
Use Spot Healing, Healing Brush, and Clone Stamp
Remove blemishes and distractions
Work on empty layers safely
Use Content-Aware Fill
Remove objects cleanly
Understand AI limitations in complex areas
Extend backgrounds realistically
Replace objects intelligently
Use prompts effectively
Maintain visual consistency
Use AI as a creative assistant
Avoid over-reliance on automation
Combine AI output with manual refinement
Match lighting and colour
Use masks for seamless blends
Scale and transform elements realistically
Add realistic shadows
Use blend modes correctly
Create depth and separation
Convert layers to Smart Objects
Apply non-destructive filters
Re-edit transformations safely
Save PSD files properly
Understand autosave and versions
Flatten vs preserve layers
Export JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PDF
Use Export As vs Save a Copy
Optimise images for different platforms
Avoid common beginner mistakes
Build efficient workflows
Decide when to use Photoshop vs Illustrator
Continue skill development confidently
Build fully editable workflows
Combine Smart Objects, Smart Filters, and adjustment layers
Avoid destructive edits in high-pressure production environments
Build complex masks using channels
Combine luminosity-based selections with manual refinement
Use Calculations for difficult edge cases (hair, smoke, glass)
Learn how to:
Push Select Subject beyond default results
Refine AI selections using Select and Mask
Combine AI output with hand-built masks for production-quality results
Separate tone and texture using Frequency Separation
Retouch skin while preserving realism
Avoid common “over-retouched” mistakes
Use Clone Stamp and Healing Brush strategically
Work with aligned vs non-aligned sampling
Retouch complex textures and repeating patterns
Use Generative Fill for object replacement and scene extension
Write effective prompts for consistent results
Control variation, perspective, and lighting
Extend canvases for new aspect ratios
Repair cropped or damaged compositions
Combine AI-generated areas with manual blending
Identify AI artefacts
Blend AI results seamlessly into existing imagery
Maintain brand, style, and realism standards
Match perspective and scale accurately
Balance colour temperature across assets
Integrate assets from different sources convincingly
Build realistic contact and cast shadows
Use blend modes for light interaction
Create depth using atmospheric perspective
Use Curves for channel-based colour shaping
Apply selective colour grading
Maintain tonal consistency across composites
Build reusable colour grading stacks
Apply cinematic or brand-specific looks
Maintain consistency across campaigns
Record reliable actions
Build reusable retouching and export workflows
Batch-process images efficiently
Combine AI tools with actions and smart objects
Reduce repetitive manual tasks
Speed up production without sacrificing quality
Prepare assets for print, web, and social
Maintain colour accuracy across outputs
Control compression and sharpening
Deliver clean, well-organised PSD files
Prepare files for teams, agencies, or clients
Avoid common handoff errors
Claire Youd
Both course content and instructor knowledge is exceptional – fresh, engaging and relevant. The ongoing support that Big Rock Designs provides is a real plus. I plan to attend future courses and would recommend other do too!
Joanne Doherty
Although my Photoshop knowledge was very limited, I found the organised sessions very easy to follow and I was over the moon at the amount I had learned. I’m looking forward to putting it all into practice in the coming months ahead.
Lorna McGivern
As someone who has attended numerous digital workshops and training I can honestly say Big Rock Academy’s introduction to Photoshop was the best I’ve ever experienced. They excelled in teaching us the logic behind the main tools in a very easy to understand way.
Rachael Weir
I just completed the Advanced Photoshop course at Big Rock Academy and I’m extremely pleased with what I’ve learnt. I now feel equipped to put it into practice in my job. I had a great teacher and I was able to really get to grasps with the software very quickly.
Live, instructor-led training in graphic design, marketing & video production.
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