Photoshop Tutorials: Learn Photo Editing, Effects, and Design

Learn Photoshop Step-by-Step

Welcome to my collection of free Photoshop tutorials, created for beginners, enthusiasts, and working photographers. Whether you’re learning the basics or refining more advanced techniques, these hands-on guides walk you through each step clearly and practically. Every tutorial has been classroom-tested over 15 years, and each one is designed to help you build real confidence in Photoshop.

I was one of the first photographers in the UK to switch fully to digital in 1998, after 18 years of shooting professionally on film. I’ve used Photoshop daily since its launch on Windows in 1992, and Lightroom since 2007, editing thousands of images for clients every year.

Why Learn with my tutorials?

I’ve taught Photoshop for over 15 years — in classrooms, one-to-one sessions, camera clubs, and online — including at North Hertfordshire College and other organisations. My students consistently rated the courses as excellent; clear, practical, and easy to follow. There’s also a growing library of tutorials covering the techniques my students have found most useful over the years.

If you want to understand every tool in the Toolbar, start here: Every Photoshop Tool Explained.

I’ve designed the tutorials to work well on phones and tablets, but image editing is always easier on a larger screen. If you’re on a desktop, one of the best upgrades you can make is adding a second monitor. I use a 32" as my main screen and a 24" as my second screen, rotated vertically for all the Photoshop panels — perfect for long menus and tool lists.

"Step View" Images Make Learning Easier

Some tutorials include Step View images. Click a numbered button and you’ll see that exact stage of the edit in a large image. Switching between steps makes it easy to spot subtle differences that are hard to see in side-by-side comparisons or even in videos.

Examples:
40 Montage Variations using Layer Styles
Before/After Motion Blur Cleanup
10-Step Wheel Selection & Transform

Windows and Apple Keys

I’m a Windows user, so shortcuts are written using Ctrl and Alt. The Apple equivalents are Cmd and Option, and most Mac users know the mapping, so I’ve kept the descriptions uncluttered. If you feel something needs clarifying, please let me know.

AI - Artificial Intelligence

Photoshop now includes powerful AI-based features, and they’re developing quickly. My tutorials focus on traditional and non-AI techniques — the core skills that give you full control over your edits. These are the same skills I’ve used professionally for over 30 years and taught in classrooms for 15.

AI tools can be helpful, but they’re not always predictable, and many options work differently depending on the image. Because my own work relies on precision and consistency, I don’t currently teach AI-driven workflows. Instead, these tutorials focus on the fundamentals that every photographer and editor still needs, regardless of how much AI becomes part of the software.

Request a Tutorial

If you’d like to request a tutorial based on one of your own images, you’re welcome to send it. You can contact me via the contact page, or email me at glen@glensmith.co.uk. I can’t promise every topic, but I’ll always reply.

Sending Images for Tutorial Requests

Please only send images that you own, and if the photo includes identifiable people, you must have their permission to share it.

By sending an image, you confirm that you have the right to share it and that I may display it on this site for educational purposes. If permission is ever withdrawn, I will remove the image promptly.

This keeps things simple and ensures that everyone’s privacy and rights are respected.