warzone

I want to give a shout out to community college classes. Depending on your age, those classes might be free. While the on line videos and books are certainly resources, personally, I don’t think you can beat the personal interaction in a classroom.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

lynda.com has very good instruction for all areas of photography. You get a period of time for free, and then it's $25(?)/month. Also, for free - https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/tutorials.html
and https://www.jkost.com/

geoffd Loc: HULL,England

Plenty of courses for a couple of pounds on EBAY or hundreds of free tutorials on YouTube.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

I just finished a course by Khara Plicanic and it starts out VERY basic; but I learned a lot from it. Cost is $29 when it’s on sale through Creative Live. Highly recommended.

FredCM Loc: Central Illinois

I was looking into GIMP to replace Photoshop. My favorite selection tool is the quick selection brush in Photoshop. I couldn't figure out anything like it in GIMP. There is the pen tool which can be used for fine selections, and masking, and.... But I want the quick selection brush. The pen tool is supposed to be marvelous once it's mastered but oh boy, mastering it.

The OP is familiar with GIMP 2. It's now at 10 something, and 64 bit. And free. He won't miss the quick selection brush, why not try the latest GIMP? Won't start a fire or anything bad.

dandev Loc: Enumclaw, WA

You might want to check out Affinity Photo vs. Photoshop. There was a discussion on that a few days ago. I think it has most of the power of Photoshop - at a lower price point. There are lots of tutorials and a good book you can order for a reasonable price. Some say it's easier to learn than Photoshop. I knew how to use Photoshop (somewhat) before I started in with Affinity - so I can't really compare on the learning curve.

For Photoshop - good learning resources are Lynda (might be available via your local library for free - mine offers it), Phlearn, Kelby One. Many of the tutorials for Photoshop also apply to Affinity - just the names/locations of the controls may be different.

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

There are tons of "instructional videos" on UTube. My experience has been more than frustrating, however.
Of those videos, only a very small percentage is done by people who have the foggiest notion how to teach and actually get something across. The time spent sifting through them to find a competent instructor could be far better spent on learning from one of the pros mentioned in several previous posts. Find one of them you like and stay with him/her.

Al Beatty Loc: Boise, Idaho

I will echo those in favor of the subscription plan for $10.00 per month - you get Photoshop AND Lightroom. Regarding learning the program: Jesus Ramirez at the Photoshop Learning Channel has a BUNCH of really good YouTube videos on the subject. Take care & ...

fotoman150

Don’t learn in college because they go too fast and do not repeat the techniques so you can put them to long term memory. If your computer hangs up you will also be left behind. I was in a class and walked out and bought books. That’s how I learned

Best to buy Scott Kelby’s latest book “Photoshop for Photographers and Adobe’s Classroom in a book because you can take your time and repeat the techniques. May as well learn Lightroom at the same time. Get a cup of coffee at Starbucks and enjoy yourself. Learning Photoshop is fun. Once I picked up an assignment while in Mcdonald’s Learning Photoshop. It paid for the books I bought. Someone saw what I was doing and hired me.

Secondarily you can take a course by Udemy. Com or Lynda.com or other reputable online video. Also KelbyOne.com subscription is highly recommended. I find Kelby is more designed for beginners than Phlern.com

fotoman150

I think you would get more out of Lightroom if you’re not going to use layers. Much easier and nondestructive.

bleirer

I agree that layers can seem daunting at first and you can do quite a lot just by duplicating the background layer and working on the duplicate layer only. If you know GIMP you already have the basics of making a selection and using tools, so you know more than you think. You can make an area selection and then use a tool that only applies to that area, so that is good. In that case the undo is your friend and you can save versions under different names.

That said, layers can really open up a new world to you. Even the adjustment layers, they are an easy click and you can try out 20 different adjustments and undo is as easy as deleting the layer. Of course it goes deeper if you want it to. If you right click a layer to convert it to a smart object, then using a filter such as camera raw, reduce noise, smart sharpen, and so on gives you the same adjustments, but you can click anytime later to further adjust them or remove them completely, rather than being stuck with a previous decision.

Blending 2 layers is not too hard, for example you adjust one layer for a shadow area and another layer for highlights and use a brush to reveal different parts. Or do dodging/burning but make it reversible if you don't like it later. Making a mask is another daunting idea, but when you get used to it the possibilities open up.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I took a course at the local community college, and it provided me with a good basis for self-learning subsequently.

lloydl2 Loc: Gilbert, AZ

I've, after a couple of years have learned enough about PS to use it effectively which I do along with Lightroom. Most of my editing is using Lightroom and then Photoshop for what lightroom doesn't do well, like healing tools, selections using layers. I've tried most of the learning sources Youtube, Kelbyone, Lynda.com, Phlearn, Creativelive. The best immersion class and the one that made it click for me was Ben Willmore's photoshop bootcamp available on creative live (wait for a sale) it's called adobe photoshop cc the complete guide.. it's on sale now for $49 you can download all the videos, paper transcripts, image files etc to your computer, so you can go over them as many times as you need. The only issue it is a few years old so you'll have to go to other sources for some of the handful of newer things in PS. Ben also has a master's academy where he provides a video and transcript every Monday on something PS and LR and you would have access to all the previous videos while you are a member. Photoshop has a steep learning curve so be prepared to spend some time and effort. I have a background in computer tech and have learned how to use all the office 365 programs and other PC stuff on my own- PS gave me pause and it took me a good couple of years to learn it really well. That said Ben is very thorough, goes slow and explains everything he is doing and why...

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

I would have thought you have two of the best free software products available too you.
Why would you believe needing a 3rd program is needed?

I’m curious, have you mastered both DPP and GIMP2 or not? Again I’m curious.

Each of these software products have a significant learning curve?