How to Use Photoshop for Beginners

Master Photoshop basics with this beginner guide. Learn essential tools, layers, and editing techniques to start creating professional-quality images.

1. Set up your workspace and create a new document. Open Photoshop and go to File > New to create a new document. Set your width and height in pixels (1920x1080 for web, 300 DPI for print). Choose RGB color mode for digital work or CMYK for print. Click Create to open your new canvas.
2. Learn the essential tools in the toolbar. Locate the toolbar on the left side of your screen. Master these core tools first: Move Tool (V) for positioning elements, Selection Tools (M for rectangular, L for lasso), Brush Tool (B) for painting, and Type Tool (T) for adding text. Press the keyboard shortcut in parentheses to quickly switch between tools.
3. Understand layers and the Layers panel. Open the Layers panel from Window > Layers if not visible. Every element in Photoshop exists on a separate layer, like transparent sheets stacked on top of each other. Create new layers by clicking the New Layer icon at the bottom of the panel. Name your layers by double-clicking the layer name for better organization.
4. Import and position images. Drag an image file directly from your computer onto the Photoshop canvas, or go to File > Place Embedded. Photoshop will show transform handles around the image. Hold Shift while dragging corners to maintain proportions, then press Enter to confirm placement. The image appears on its own layer.
5. Make basic adjustments with Adjustment Layers. Click the Adjustment Layer icon (half-filled circle) at the bottom of the Layers panel. Choose Brightness/Contrast for simple exposure fixes, Hue/Saturation to adjust colors, or Levels for more precise tonal control. Adjustment layers are non-destructive and can be modified or deleted without affecting your original image.
6. Use layer masks for selective editing. Select an adjustment layer and click the white thumbnail (layer mask) next to it. Choose the Brush Tool (B) and set your foreground color to black. Paint on areas where you want to hide the adjustment effect. Use white to restore the effect. This lets you apply adjustments to specific parts of your image.
7. Save your work in the proper format. Save your project as a PSD file (File > Save As > Photoshop Document) to preserve all layers and editability. For sharing or web use, export as JPEG or PNG by going to File > Export > Export As. Choose JPEG for photos with many colors, PNG for images with transparency or sharp edges.