Graphic Design Certification Course Online
A 132-hour certificate covering the Adobe graphic design toolkit: Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, taught through projects that mirror real design work rather than tool tours. Design theory and visual principles run alongside the software instruction....
What's included
- Access to Adobe Creative Cloud for 4 months
- Adobe Certified Professional exam for Photoshop
- 132 hours of project-based instruction
- 100 training videos
- Instruction from an Adobe Certified Professional
- Additional one-on-one mentoring outside class
- Course workbooks
- Verified digital certificate of completion
- Instruction at an ACCET-accredited school
Overview
A 132-hour certificate covering the Adobe graphic design toolkit: Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, taught through projects that mirror real design work rather than tool tours. Design theory and visual principles run alongside the software instruction.
A dedicated portfolio course covers branding and marketing projects and assembles the work into a presentable body, and a closing course covers AI for graphic design. Tuition includes four months of Adobe Creative Cloud access.
Who this course is for
People starting out in graphic design, and business owners, marketers, and staff who produce their own marketing materials and want to stop outsourcing design work.
Tuition & enrollment
Enroll with Virtual Design and Construction Institute, the course provider.
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Preview the course
Watch free previews and explore the lessons included with enrollment at VDCI.
Adobe Photoshop Course Online
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Getting Started
Lesson 1: Photoshop Foundations & Image Editing
10:00
Discover how to navigate Photoshop’s interface, workspaces, and essential tools with confidence. Learn how to reset preferences, manage panels, and troubleshoot interface issues. Perfect for beginners wanting a clean, organized setup.
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Photo Retouching
Lesson 1: Photoshop Foundations & Image Editing
10:00
Learn professional techniques for removing distractions and cleaning up photos using healing brushes and layer management. Understand the importance of working non-destructively and how to reset tools for precise edits. Create flawless images that look natural and polished.
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Cropping Photos
Lesson 1: Photoshop Foundations & Image Editing
16:40
Explore powerful cropping techniques that preserve your original pixels and maintain flexibility in your workflow. Learn how to straighten tilted photos and recover cropped areas without losing data. This session emphasizes non-destructive editing for perfect composition.
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Creating Graphics Combing Photos, Text, & Graphics
Lesson 1: Photoshop Foundations & Image Editing
33:35
Create stunning social media graphics by combining photos, text, and logos inside Photoshop. Learn about document setup, resolution, color modes, and how to import images the right way. Build visually appealing digital designs ready for any platform.
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Replacing Backgrounds
Lesson 2: Selections, Color, & Image Correction
10:00
Replace boring photo backgrounds with ease using Photoshop’s advanced selection and masking tools. Learn how to use Select Subject, Select and Mask, and refine edges for clean, professional results. Perfect your compositing skills while maintaining natural details.
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Blend Modes and Opacity
Lesson 2: Selections, Color, & Image Correction
12:29
Enhance your photo composites with realistic blending techniques. Discover how opacity and blend modes like Screen, Multiply, and Overlay transform layers for creative effects. Add atmosphere, texture, or fog to seamlessly merge subjects and backgrounds.
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Color Correction Using Color Balance
Lesson 2: Selections, Color, & Image Correction
14:09
Train your eye to detect subtle color imbalances and master the principles of the color wheel. Learn how warm and cool tones interact and how to balance them effectively in your photos. This foundational color theory lesson sets the stage for precise adjustments.
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Color Correction Using Curves
Lesson 2: Selections, Color, & Image Correction
28:39
Master professional-level color correction using the Curves adjustment layer. Learn how to analyze histograms, adjust tonal ranges, and balance colors for realistic, vibrant images. This powerful method gives you precision control over every pixel.
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Preparing & Exporting Digital Photos for Print and Web
Lesson 2: Selections, Color, & Image Correction
10:00
Understand image resolution, resizing, and preparing files for print or web with perfect clarity. Learn the difference between pixels per inch (PPI), resampling, and how to maintain quality across media. Discover when to use RGB or CMYK for optimal results.
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Sharpening Photos
Lesson 3: Sharpening, Filters, & Layer Masking
13:43
Learn how to enhance image sharpness realistically using Photoshop’s Smart Sharpen and Unsharp Mask filters. Understand what sharpening can and can’t fix, how contrast affects detail, and how to fine-tune radius and amount settings for crisp, natural results.
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The Liquify Filter & Intro to Smart Filters
Lesson 3: Sharpening, Filters, & Layer Masking
10:50
Discover how Smart Filters make Photoshop edits fully adjustable and nondestructive. Explore the powerful Liquify filter to reshape images, adjust facial features, and selectively undo changes using the Reconstruct tool.
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Layer Masking
Lesson 3: Sharpening, Filters, & Layer Masking
17:07
Master nondestructive editing with layer masks to hide or reveal parts of an image. Learn how to use selections, transform tools, and fill layers to isolate subjects, create clean compositions, and maintain full flexibility in your design workflow.
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Masking Smart Filters
Lesson 3: Sharpening, Filters, & Layer Masking
21:29
Apply filters nondestructively with Smart Objects and Smart Filter masks. Learn how to selectively blur backgrounds using field blur and realistic bokeh effects to create professional depth and focus within your images.
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Converting to Black & White & Lens Correction
Lesson 4: Creative Image Enhancement & Presentation
18:33
Convert color photos to black and white with complete tonal control using adjustment layers. Fine-tune luminance values by color channel, mix selective color and monochrome areas, and preserve editability through nondestructive workflows.
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Placing Your Designs in Premade Mockups
Lesson 4: Creative Image Enhancement & Presentation
9:44
Present your designs professionally with Photoshop mockups. Learn how to place artwork into realistic environments using Smart Objects, adjust perspective and lighting, and save time with pre-made mockup templates for logos, packaging, and branding.
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Adjustment Layers & Masks
Lesson 4: Creative Image Enhancement & Presentation
18:38
Use adjustment layers and masks to guide the viewer’s eye through your image. Practice selective lighting, contrast adjustments, and color balance to draw attention to key elements and create more visually compelling compositions.
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Retouching
Lesson 4: Creative Image Enhancement & Presentation
10:00
Remove unwanted objects and imperfections using Spot Healing, Healing Brush, and Clone Stamp tools. Learn blending and rotation techniques to repair lines, textures, and details seamlessly for high-quality retouching.
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Changing Color With a Blending Mode
Lesson 5: Camera Raw & Professional Photo Editing
18:29
Change clothing and object colors precisely with Photoshop’s selection tools and color adjustment layers. Refine edges using Select and Mask, apply hue and solid color adjustments, and create realistic, natural-looking color transformations.
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Clipping Masks Filling Shapes with Images
Lesson 5: Camera Raw & Professional Photo Editing
8:56
Combine layers creatively with clipping masks to display images within text, shapes, or logos. Understand the difference between layer masks and clipping masks, manage layer order, and group elements for flexible, organized compositions.
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Using Adjustment Layers as Clipping Masks
Lesson 5: Camera Raw & Professional Photo Editing
10:00
Learn how to replace dull skies with vibrant, realistic ones using Photoshop’s AI-powered Sky Replacement tools. Adjust lighting and color balance to perfectly blend your new sky with the scene for natural-looking composites.
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Camera Raw Fundamentals
Lesson 5: Camera Raw & Professional Photo Editing
10:00
Unlock the full potential of your images with Adobe Camera Raw. Explore how to recover shadows and highlights, correct white balance, reduce noise, and achieve nondestructive, professional-quality edits using raw image data.
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Camera Raw as a Filter
Lesson 5: Camera Raw & Professional Photo Editing
5:01
Apply Adobe Camera Raw features to any image, even non-RAW files, using the Camera Raw Filter. Enhance photos with tools like Dehaze, noise reduction, and selective masking for advanced, localized image adjustments.
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Batch Actions & the Image Processor
Lesson 6: Automation, Design, & Mockups
12:06
Save time by automating repetitive tasks in Photoshop using Actions. Record and replay editing steps, batch process multiple images, and create consistent results quickly and efficiently.
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Photoshop for Design Adding a Title & Layer Styles
Lesson 6: Automation, Design, & Mockups
20:49
Design a professional magazine ad while learning essential layout, typography, and color principles. Set up print-ready files, use Smart Objects, and apply gradients and effects for a modern, eye-catching composition.
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Photoshop for Design Creating Digital Art in Photoshop
Lesson 6: Automation, Design, & Mockups
21:51
Create dynamic designs using vector tools and the Pen Tool to draw custom shapes and graphics. Learn how to combine gradients, strokes, and editable paths for scalable, precise design elements.
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Photoshop for Design Compositing into a Photo
Lesson 6: Automation, Design, & Mockups
9:41
Build your own realistic Photoshop mockups to showcase your designs. Learn to distort, warp, and texture your graphics for lifelike presentation and reusable mockup templates.
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Adobe InDesign Course Online
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Course Overview & Setup
Lesson 1: InDesign Basics & Business Card Design
1:04
Discover how to use Adobe InDesign to create professional print and digital layouts, including business cards, brochures, magazines, and books.
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Document Setup & Importing Graphics
Lesson 1: InDesign Basics & Business Card Design
10:00
Set up Adobe InDesign correctly by resetting preferences, adjusting measurement units, and understanding print versus digital presets.
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Adding Text
Lesson 1: InDesign Basics & Business Card Design
15:03
Add and position text frames for a business card using placement techniques and alignment tools.
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Color & Swatches
Lesson 1: InDesign Basics & Business Card Design
28:41
Create and manage color swatches for consistent print design using CMYK values.
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QR Code Design
Lesson 1: InDesign Basics & Business Card Design
16:56
Design the back of a business card with a QR code and custom border styling.
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OpenType Features
Lesson 1: InDesign Basics & Business Card Design
12:11
Activate Adobe Fonts and explore OpenType features to enhance typography with swashes and advanced character options.
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Brochure Setup
Lesson 2: Brochure Design & Layout
10:00
Create a folded brochure layout with correct page sizing, facing pages, bleed settings, and page numbering control.
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Layers & Images
Lesson 2: Brochure Design & Layout
10:00
Organize brochure layouts using layers to manage background and content.
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Advanced Typography
Lesson 2: Brochure Design & Layout
31:59
Refine brochure typography using paragraph spacing, hidden characters, measurement units, and picas.
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Tab Formatting
Lesson 2: Brochure Design & Layout
12:12
Format pricing layouts using tabbed text and custom tab stops in Adobe InDesign.
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Exporting PDFs
Lesson 2: Brochure Design & Layout
29:33
Prepare print-ready and client-ready PDFs by configuring bleed, crop marks, compression, and color conversion settings.
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Menu Setup & Leading
Lesson 3: Restaurant Menu Design
10:00
Understand leading (line spacing) in Adobe InDesign and configure it as a paragraph-based setting for consistent typography control.
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Character Styles
Lesson 3: Restaurant Menu Design
10:00
Create and apply character styles to format prices and labels independently from paragraph styles.
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Keep Options & Spanning
Lesson 3: Restaurant Menu Design
6:35
Prevent awkward text breaks using Keep Options and span headings across multiple columns for cleaner layouts.
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Bulleted Lists
Lesson 4: Magazine Layout Design
10:11
Convert comma-separated text into formatted bulleted lists using Find/Change and custom bullet styling.
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Magazine Layout Setup
Lesson 4: Magazine Layout Design
17:38
Create a professional magazine spread with facing pages, modular column grids, bleed settings, and photo placement.
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Magazine Styles
Lesson 4: Magazine Layout Design
13:57
Establish paragraph styles for headings and body text to ensure consistency across magazine articles.
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Color Themes & Shapes
Lesson 4: Magazine Layout Design
13:35
Generate cohesive color palettes using the Color Theme tool and apply them to typography and graphic elements.
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Text Wrap Techniques
Lesson 5: Advanced Magazine Techniques
10:00
Create dynamic layouts by wrapping text around custom shapes and images using Text Wrap settings.
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Page Control
Lesson 5: Advanced Magazine Techniques
11:45
Control page insertion, document reflow, and section numbering in Adobe InDesign.
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Book Document Setup
Lesson 5: Advanced Magazine Techniques
19:59
Set up a multi-page book layout in InDesign using primary text frames and smart text reflow.
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Book Styles
Lesson 6: Book Design & Typography
10:00
Create professional paragraph styles for chapter numbers, chapter titles, body text, and drop caps.
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Hyphenation & Justification
Lesson 6: Book Design & Typography
10:00
Improve book typography by refining hyphenation settings, justification controls, and paragraph composition.
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Baseline Grid Setup
Lesson 6: Book Design & Typography
5:48
Align body text across facing pages using a baseline grid for consistent vertical rhythm.
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Running Heads & Parent Pages
Lesson 6: Book Design & Typography
17:52
Create dynamic running heads using text variables that automatically update by chapter title.
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Course Outro
Lesson 6: Book Design & Typography
0:13
Reinforce key Adobe InDesign skills learned throughout the course and encourage continued practice to build speed and confidence.
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Adobe Illustrator Course Online
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Course Overview & Setup
Lesson 1: Illustrator Foundations
1:15
An introduction to the course structure, learning flow, and resources, and learn how to use the workbook.
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Drawing with Basic Shape Tools
Lesson 1: Illustrator Foundations
10:00
Set up Illustrator preferences, workspaces, and tools while creating basic vector shapes and navigating the interface.
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Shape Controls
Lesson 1: Illustrator Foundations
17:14
Resize, rotate, and round shapes using selection and transform controls for precise vector editing.
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Line Tools, Variable Width Strokes, & Rotate Tool
Lesson 1: Illustrator Foundations
13:37
Draw straight lines and adjust stroke weight using the Width Tool and variable-width profiles.
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Building Complex Shapes with Basic Shapes
Lesson 1: Illustrator Foundations
13:31
Combine and refine shapes using direct selection and anchor point editing.
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Pathfinder
Lesson 2: Building & Exporting Graphics
10:00
Build complex artwork by merging, subtracting, and intersecting shapes with Pathfinder and live compound shapes.
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Image Trace Converting Pixel Graphics into Vectors
Lesson 2: Building & Exporting Graphics
14:17
Convert raster images into editable vectors using Image Trace and evaluate source quality for best results.
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Social Media Graphics with Type, Photos, & Vectors
Lesson 2: Building & Exporting Graphics
21:02
Design a complete social media graphic using photos, vectors, color sampling, and layout principles.
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Exporting as JPEG, PNG, & SVG
Lesson 2: Building & Exporting Graphics
18:18
Export artwork for web, social media, and apps using optimized SVG, PNG, and JPEG settings.
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Drawing with the Pen Tool Straight Lines
Lesson 3: Mastering the Pen Tool
10:00
Learn pen tool fundamentals by creating clean, straight-line paths with accurate anchor placement.
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Drawing with the Pen Tool Curves
Lesson 3: Mastering the Pen Tool
24:31
Create smooth Bézier curves by controlling direction handles for professional vector paths.
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Drawing with the Pen Tool Corners & Curves
Lesson 3: Mastering the Pen Tool
14:51
Combine curves and corners using anchor conversion tools to build complex custom paths.
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Color Swatches & Gradients
Lesson 3: Mastering the Pen Tool
13:46
Create global color swatches and editable gradients to maintain color consistency across designs.
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No Smoking Sign
Lesson 4: Color, Strokes, & Patterns
10:00
Design a print-ready no-smoking sign using layers, guides, shapes, and tracing techniques.
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Join, Average, & Aligning Points
Lesson 4: Color, Strokes, & Patterns
6:14
Clean up artwork by joining, averaging, and aligning anchor points for accuracy.
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Strokes: Dashed, Dotted, Gradients, & More
Lesson 4: Color, Strokes, & Patterns
16:19
Enhance strokes with dashed lines, dots, width profiles, and gradient strokes.
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Patterns
Lesson 4: Color, Strokes, & Patterns
10:39
Create seamless vector patterns and save them as reusable swatches with flexible tile controls.
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Clipping Masks
Lesson 5: Advanced Appearance & Effects
4:29
Use clipping masks to hide and reveal artwork while keeping designs fully editable.
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Blending Objects
Lesson 5: Advanced Appearance & Effects
6:55
Blend shapes and strokes to create smooth transitions and morphing effects.
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The Appearance Panel & Multiple Strokes
Lesson 5: Advanced Appearance & Effects
17:28
Build advanced styles using multiple fills, strokes, and effects through the Appearance panel.
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3D Text
Lesson 5: Advanced Appearance & Effects
9:00
Apply Illustrator’s 3D effects to text and shapes to create dimensional designs.
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3D Revolve Making a Soda Can
Lesson 6: 3D, Mockups, & AI Tools
4:54
Create a realistic 3D soda can using revolve, lighting, materials, and artwork placement.
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Putting a Design into a Mockup Photo
Lesson 6: 3D, Mockups, & AI Tools
5:36
Place vector designs into photos using mockup tools with perspective and blending adjustments.
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Recoloring Artwork
Lesson 6: 3D, Mockups, & AI Tools
6:19
Explore color variations using the Recolor feature to generate and test new palettes.
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Generate Vectors with Adobe's AI
Lesson 6: 3D, Mockups, & AI Tools
4:53
Generate editable vector artwork using Illustrator’s generative AI tools and refined prompts.
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AI for Graphic Design Course Online
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Course Overview
Lesson 1: AI Foundations & AI in Photoshop
1:48
An introduction to a complete AI-powered graphic design workflow using Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Adobe Firefly.
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Photoshop Setup
Lesson 1: AI Foundations & AI in Photoshop
10:00
Prepare Photoshop for AI-based work by resetting tools, preferences, and workspaces to create a clean, consistent environment for generative and retouching tools.
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Remove Tool AI
Lesson 1: AI Foundations & AI in Photoshop
27:40
Remove unwanted elements such as people, wires, and objects using Photoshop’s AI-powered Remove Tool and Content-Aware Fill, comparing traditional techniques with generative removal.
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Generative Expand
Lesson 1: AI Foundations & AI in Photoshop
13:28
Extend images beyond their original edges using Generative Expand and Content-Aware Fill, evaluating image quality, resolution limits, and practical sharpening workarounds.
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Smart Selections
Lesson 1: AI Foundations & AI in Photoshop
12:45
Create accurate selections and masks with Select Subject, Object Selection, and AI-based people detection, refining edits for hair, skin, clothing, and facial features.
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AI Upscaling
Lesson 1: AI Foundations & AI in Photoshop
10:37
Improve image resolution using Generative Upscale, Firefly Upscaler, and Topaz Gigapixel, and learn when AI upscaling is effective without distorting identity.
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Upscale Limitations
Lesson 1: AI Foundations & AI in Photoshop
3:28
Experiment with extreme upscaling on low-resolution images to understand common failures with facial details and determine when creative enhancement is acceptable.
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Neural Filters
Lesson 1: AI Foundations & AI in Photoshop
11:05
Enhance images using AI-powered Neural Filters such as Colorize, Skin Smoothing, Smart Portrait, and Color Transfer while maintaining non-destructive workflows.
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Harmonize Tool
Lesson 1: AI Foundations & AI in Photoshop
3:37
Blend subjects into new backgrounds using the Harmonize feature to automatically match lighting, shadows, and color for realistic compositing.
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Generative Fill
Lesson 1: AI Foundations & AI in Photoshop
4:08
Replace, remove, or add visual elements with Generative Fill while comparing different AI models and learning how prompts and selections influence realism.
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Select & Mask AI
Lesson 1: AI Foundations & AI in Photoshop
8:53
Refine difficult selections using Select Subject, Remove Background, and the Select and Mask workspace with cloud-based AI processing for cleaner edges.
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Photoshop Web AI
Lesson 1: AI Foundations & AI in Photoshop
5:01
Edit images directly in Photoshop on the web by accessing cloud-based AI tools to adjust lighting, color, and tonal values through web workflows.
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Vector Generation
Lesson 2: AI in Illustrator
10:00
Generate vector illustrations in Adobe Illustrator using AI text prompts while exploring different styles, detail levels, and model options.
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Vector Styles
Lesson 2: AI in Illustrator
5:25
Customize AI-generated vector artwork by applying effects, color presets, and stylistic variations such as pixel art, flat design, and low-poly styles.
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Shape Fill AI
Lesson 2: AI in Illustrator
5:44
Fill custom shapes with AI-generated vector artwork using Generate Shape Fill to follow complex paths and freeform drawings.
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Model Comparison
Lesson 2: AI in Illustrator
3:03
Compare multiple AI models inside Illustrator, including Firefly and external models, to evaluate illustration quality, creativity, and accuracy.
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Pattern Generation
Lesson 2: AI in Illustrator
2:04
Create seamless, editable patterns from AI-generated graphics in Illustrator and adjust layout, density, and color through swatches.
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AI Recoloring
Lesson 2: AI in Illustrator
5:16
Apply AI-driven color variations to vector artwork using Generative Recolor to explore brand palettes, moods, and themes quickly.
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Mockups with AI
Lesson 2: AI in Illustrator
1:49
Build realistic product mockups by wrapping vector designs onto packaging and objects using AI mockup tools and blending modes.
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InDesign AI
Lesson 3: AI in InDesign
17:49
Generate and expand images directly in InDesign to improve layouts, bleeds, and framing while integrating AI-generated imagery into print-ready designs.
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Adobe Firefly
Lesson 4: Adobe Firefly
13:40
Explore Adobe Firefly’s standalone interface for generating and editing images, comparing built-in and partner models while managing usage credits.
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Midjourney Basics
Lesson 5: External AI Tools for Designers
Generate high-quality images using Midjourney’s web-based workflow by refining prompts, testing variations, and evaluating creative output.
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Leonardo AI
Lesson 5: External AI Tools for Designers
5:00
Create images with multiple AI models in Leonardo AI, comparing realism and illustration styles while managing generation settings and credits.
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Curriculum
What you'll learn
- Use Adobe Photoshop to retouch photos and create graphics
- Use Adobe InDesign to design page layouts that combine text and images
- Use Adobe Illustrator to produce vector graphics such as logos, icons, and more
- Expand your understanding of graphic design concepts, ideas, workflows, and processes, both formal and conceptual
- Learn the core elements of design
- Develop and grow your graphic design portfolio
- Practice discussing your work and learn how to incorporate and evaluate critiques
- Upload your work to Adobe Portfolio, included with your Creative Cloud membership, to create your portfolio website
Course outline
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Adobe Photoshop Course Online 30 hours
Learn how to retouch and color correct photos, combine images, and create graphics in Photoshop. This course covers the basic and intermediate features of Photoshop such as color/contrast, photo retouching, layers, masks, filters, and saving files for web/video/print.
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Adobe InDesign Course Online 30 hours
Build professional page layout skills in Adobe InDesign at your own pace. In this self-paced course, you will learn how to style text, import graphics, package files, and apply advanced techniques such as styles, parent pages, and more. Create projects like books, magazines, brochures, and other polished layouts.
- Create layouts that combine text, color, and graphics
- Import text and apply styling
- Add and manage color within your designs
- Design short or long documents such as brochures, business cards, restaurant menus, magazines, and books
- Prepare files for final output, whether for printing or PDF
- Create and modify paragraph and character styles to format and update text across a design with ease
- Use parent pages to manage and control layouts in multi-page documents
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Adobe Illustrator Course Online 30 hours
Learn how to draw and edit vector graphics in Adobe Illustrator at your own pace. This course explores both foundational and advanced features, including the Pen tool, effects, layers, masks, and more. It is ideal for creating logos, icons, and other vector graphics.
- Create a wide range of graphics, including icons, patterns, and typography
- Use the Pen tool to draw vector artwork, with tracing templates that help you practice and build confidence with this essential tool
- Work with shapes, appearance settings, and pathfinders to produce dynamic visual effects
- Design colorful vector graphics using gradients and blends
- Develop custom patterns for graphic and fashion design
- Save and prepare files for web, digital use, or print
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Graphic Design Portfolio Course Online 30 hours
Learn the fundamentals of graphic design as you get hands-on experience and produce real-world projects. Broaden your understanding of graphic design concepts, understand the elements of design, and expand your portfolio in this comprehensive graphic design course.
- Learn about the elements of design
- Develop and expand your graphic design portfolio
- Learn how to discuss your work and incorporate and evaluate critiques
- Broaden your understanding of graphic design concepts and processes, both formal and conceptual
- Upload your work to Adobe Portfolio (included with your Creative Cloud membership) to create your portfolio website
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AI for Graphic Design Course Online 12 hours
Leverage the power of advanced AI tools and features in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and other Adobe apps in this hands-on class.
- Generate vector illustrations, photo edits, and layouts using AI tools in Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign
- Create original visuals through prompt-based image generation with Midjourney, Leonardo AI, and DALL·E 3
- Enhance and restore images with AI-powered sharpening, upscaling, and denoising techniques
- Use ChatGPT and Notion AI to develop creative briefs, brand names, and design concepts
- Build mood boards, style guides, and concept sets with free and paid AI design tools
- Assemble a complete brand identity using multiple AI platforms within a simulated design workflow