30 Days of Photoshop
Join us for 30 tutorials that cover some of the most important tools and techniques in Photoshop 2025! Master everything from foundational skills like layers and selections to advanced techniques in compositing, retouching, and AI.
What You’ll Learn
30 Days of Photoshop is built as a progression, not a grab bag. Each day assumes what came before it, so by the end you are not following steps — you are deciding which tool the job actually calls for. That judgement is the thing that separates someone who can follow a tutorial from someone who can edit.
- Move around Photoshop without hunting. Panels, tools, menus and file formats, and a workspace set up the way you actually work.
- Build edits that stay editable. Layers, layer masks, adjustment layers, Smart Objects and Blend If — the non-destructive core of every professional file.
- Make selections that hold up. Select Subject, refining edges, and what to do on the days the automatic selection gets it wrong.
- Control tone and color on purpose. Levels versus Curves, exposure correction, color correction, color grading, and matching color between two images.
- Retouch to a professional standard. A fast cleanup pass, advanced skin work, and dodging and burning to shape light after the fact.
- Composite believably. Cutting subjects out, replacing skies, scaling and aligning elements, and lighting the whole thing so it reads as one photograph.
- Use the AI tools where they earn it. Generative Fill for removing distractions and extending a frame — and the cases where traditional technique is still faster and cleaner.
- Finish and deliver. Exporting correctly for web and print, and building a mockup to present the work.
Who This Series Is For
If you have never opened Photoshop, start at Day 1. Nothing is assumed, and the first week is deliberately slow — the interface, layers, masks and adjustment layers — because everything after it depends on those four ideas.
If you already edit but learned in pieces, the series is worth taking out of order. Most self-taught editors have gaps in the same places: masking, the difference between Levels and Curves, and why their composites never quite sit in the frame. Days 6, 7 and 30 are a good diagnostic.
If you shoot professionally and want speed rather than theory, the retouching, color grading and AI days are the ones that change how long a job takes.
What You Need
- 31 tutorials, including the intro
- Free no PRO membership required
- Beginner no prior experience assumed
- 2025 recorded in Photoshop 2025
Every tutorial includes the sample images and layered PSD files used on screen, so you can edit along on the same photograph rather than hunting for something similar. An older version of Photoshop will handle most of the series; the AI days need Photoshop 2024 or later for Generative Fill.
How Long It Takes
Most tutorials run between 20 and 45 minutes. The name suggests one a day for a month, and that pace works well — it leaves time to repeat the technique on your own photos before the next one, which is where it actually sticks. Doing it in a week is possible and considerably less effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a PHLEARN PRO membership?
No. All 30 days are free, including the sample files. PRO exists for the in-depth Learning Paths and full courses, but nothing in this series is behind it.
Do I need the newest version of Photoshop?
The series was recorded in Photoshop 2025 and the interface will match most closely there. Almost everything works in older versions — the exceptions are the AI features like Generative Fill, which need Photoshop 2024 or later.
Do I have to watch them in order?
For a beginner, yes for the first ten or so. Layers, masks and adjustment layers are used constantly from then on. After that the days are largely self-contained and you can jump to what you need.
Is this the same as the original 30 Days of Photoshop?
No. This is the 2025 Edition, rebuilt from scratch. The original 2020 run is still on the site as the Classic Edition, and it remains a good series — but Photoshop has changed enough since that the tools, and in places the whole approach, are different. Start here.
Will this teach me photography as well as editing?
No, this is an editing series. It works on supplied images and does not cover cameras, lighting or shooting.
Where to Go Next
Start the Series
Day 1 is a tour of the whole program — every major tool, option and menu — so nothing later feels unfamiliar.
On This Page
Go Further with PRO
When you have finished the 30 days, the Learning Paths pick up where this leaves off — full courses in portraits, compositing, product work and AI, with the same sample files.
On Day 4 of 30 Days of Photoshop, you’ll learn to use layers and layer masks for nondestructive editing, creating photo composites with blending modes and smart filters.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Easy | 30 mins | 1 video
3 Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD
In Day 5 of 30 Days of Photoshop, we show you how to use Adjustment Layers to enhance colors, fix exposure, and more!.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 30 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
It’s Day 6 of our series! Learn how to use Layer Masks to create stunning composite images. We’ll show you how to cut out subjects and blend new elements for a cohesive final image.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 30 mins | 1 video
3 Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD
It’s day 7 of our series! Learn the differences between Levels and Curves. We’ll show you how to use these powerful tools for precise exposure and color adjustments.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 30 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
In Day 8 of 30 Days of Photoshop, we show you how to change the color of anything in a photo using Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layers.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
It’s Day 11! Learn to remove distractions in Photoshop using the new Remove Tool and Generative Fill for effortless, one-click object removal with AI.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
2 Sample Images | 2 Sample PSDs
On day 12 of 30 Days of Photoshop, learn to scale, rotate, and align layers for beautiful compositions, using Smart Objects for non-destructive editing and precise placement.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 30 mins | 1 video
3 Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD
In day 13 of our series, you’ll learn to crop, straighten, and expand images in Photoshop using the crop tool and AI for stunning compositions.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
Learn how to use the Liquify Tool to change the shape of clothing and protect areas you don’t want to be warped, like the body.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
Blend If is Photoshop’s best kept secret. On day 17 we’ll show you how to use it to blend color and exposure effects into the highlights, midtones, and shadows of any Layer.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
2 Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD
It’s day 18 of our series! In today’s episode, learn how to use Photoshop blending modes to combine images and create stunning photo composites.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 30 mins | 1 video
8 Sample Images | 3 Sample PSDs
Learn how to dodge and burn in Photoshop, recovering details and adding beautiful shape and dimension to your photos.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
It’s day 20! Learn how to color correct photos in Photoshop using the Camera Raw filter’s White Balance tool or handy Auto feature to fix JPEGs and raw files.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
In Day 22 of 30 Days of Photoshop, we show you how to fix the exposure of any photo, recovering the details in dark shadows or blown-out highlights.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
In Day 23 of 30 Days of Photoshop, we’ll teach you the basics of retouching! Learn how to remove blemishes and smooth out skin tones, creating a cleaner image while preserving all the beautiful, natural details.
Photoshop | Retouching | Medium | 30 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
It’s day 24! Learn advanced Photoshop retouching using the Remove Tool and frequency separation. Make sure to download our free action to even out skin tone!
Photoshop | Retouching | Advanced | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD | 1 Photoshop Action
Get amazing colors for your photos! Learn a simple trick to match colors from one picture to another using a powerful tool in Photoshop. It’s easy, fast, and a huge upgrade for your work.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Advanced | 30 mins | 1 video
2 Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD
Learn to create a realistic Photoshop mockup using the Remove Tool, Smart Objects for perspective, and adding highlights and shadows for a lifelike image.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Advanced | 15 mins | 1 video
2 Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD
It’s day 29! Today, we’re diving into the differences between Lightroom and Photoshop. Use Lightroom for organizing and batch editing large sets of photos, and use Photoshop for detailed retouching, composites, and graphics on a single image.
Photoshop | Workflow | Advanced | 30 mins | 1 video
22 Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD
Welcome to the final episode of our series! Today we’ll show you how to use blending modes and smart objects to create dynamic, artistic light effects that look in-camera.
Photoshop | Compositing | Advanced | 30 mins | 1 video
7 Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD