Master Photoshop
Thirteen deep-dive courses, one feature each: layers, adjustment layers, blending modes, Camera RAW, smart objects, the Pen Tool and more. The Master series is where working knowledge of Photoshop becomes command of it.
What You’ll Learn
Every course in the Master series takes a single Photoshop feature and exhausts it — not the three options you already use, but everything the feature can do and when each capability earns its place. Together they cover the machinery underneath all serious Photoshop work.
- The document structure Layers & Groups, Adjustment Layers, Layer Styles and Smart Objects — the four courses that determine whether your files stay editable or collapse into flattened guesswork.
- The blending engine Blending Modes, explained by what each mode actually does to pixels, and Double Exposure as the creative proof.
- Color and tone command Color & Tone, Black & White, and Adobe Camera RAW — global control over how an image reads.
- Precision tools The Pen Tool for perfect paths and selections, Luminosity Masks for brightness-based control, and Sharpening done deliberately.
- Speed Photoshop Actions — recording your own automation so repeated work happens in one click.
Who This Playlist Is For
Photoshop users past the beginner stage who keep hitting the same walls: a file that will not stay flexible, a blend that never looks right, a selection the automatic tools cannot make. Each wall has a Master course pointed at it.
It also works as a reference shelf — when a project demands smart objects or luminosity masks, the relevant course teaches the feature completely in one sitting.
What You Need
- Photoshop Any recent version. These features are the stable core of the application.
- Sample files Included with each course, so every technique is practiced, not just watched.
- Basic Photoshop experience These are deep dives, not first-day introductions.
How Long It Takes
Thirteen courses, each a substantial session. Nobody takes them straight through — pick the feature that limits you most and start there. Layers & Groups, Adjustment Layers and Blending Modes are the three that most reliably transform how people work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a PHLEARN PRO membership?
Yes. All thirteen Master courses and their sample files are included with PRO.
What order should I take them in?
Start with Layers & Groups if your files get messy, Adjustment Layers if your edits are destructive, or Blending Modes if you have been picking modes by trial and error. After those three, follow your projects.
How is this different from the Photoshop Learning Path?
The Learning Path is a curriculum — a sequenced route through Photoshop as a whole. The Master series is depth: one feature per course, covered completely. The Learning Path tells you what to learn; the Master series is where you go to own a specific tool.
Are these up to date?
The features covered are Photoshop’s permanent core — layers, blending, RAW, paths. Interfaces shift slightly between versions; the concepts and workflows do not.
Is this too advanced for a beginner?
As a starting point, yes — begin with the Photoshop Learning Path. Come back here when you know which features you need at a professional depth.
Where to Go Next
Start Mastering
Layers & Groups is the foundation every other Master course assumes.
On This Page
PHLEARN PRO
All thirteen Master courses with sample files, plus the full PRO library.
Learn how to use Blending Modes, Smart Objects, Layer Masks, and Adjustment Layers to seamlessly blend multiple exposures. Work through six different examples, combining two, three, and four exposures together.
Photoshop | Photo Effects | Medium | 1.5 hours
21 Sample Images
In this tutorial, we walk you through how to manually blend exposures using the power and flexibility of Luminosity Masks. You will learn to create selections based on light levels and then use those selections to paint detail back into your photos.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Advanced | 3.5 hours
11 Sample Images | 2 Photoshop Actions
Learn everything about layers and groups! From a thorough examination of the Layers Panel to the skills required to get all of the different elements of an image to blend together beautifully, these are must-have skills for the Photoshop pro.
Photoshop | Tools & Techniques | Easy | 3.75 hours
30 Sample Images
Adjustment Layers are the smartest and most powerful tools for photo editing in Photoshop. We walk you through all 19 Adjustment Layers while showing you how to fix exposure, apply professional coloring, create custom LUTs and more.
Photoshop | Tools & Techniques | Easy | 4.5 hours
45 Sample Images
In this tutorial, we’ll help you master every layer effect with practical examples like adding photorealistic text to an environment, creating a neon glow effect from scratch, using layer styles to add a natural glow to a light source and much more!
Photoshop | Tools & Techniques | Easy | 3.5 hours
19 Sample Images | 1 Photoshop Brush
Blending Modes control how different layers blend, interact, and create a combined image. Join us as we go in-depth with each of the 27 Blending Modes to add clouds to a clear sky, make colors pop, and learn to sharpen an image like a pro.
Photoshop | Tools & Techniques | Easy | 3.25 hours
72 Sample Images | 1 Custom Texture
Learn to use Adobe Camera Raw to adjust white balance, recover details in the highlights and shadows, remove minor distractions, create HDR images, and to work seamlessly with Photoshop so that you can go back at anytime to make changes or adjustments.
Photoshop | Tools & Techniques | Easy | 4 hours
15 Sample Images
Learn to convert layers into Smart Objects, apply Smart Filters that can be adjusted or removed, and create multiple design mockups quickly and easily! Smart Objects will help you work faster, smarter, and non-destructively.
Photoshop | Tools & Techniques | Easy | 1.25 hours
19 Sample Images
Black & white photography is an art form all its own. Learn a bit of history, some practical advice for shooting in monochrome, as well as all of the tips and tricks for editing stunning black and white images in Photoshop.
Photoshop | Color & Tone | Easy | 3.5 hours
23 Sample Images | 1 Photoshop LUT | 3 Custom Textures | 1 Photoshop Preset
Professional coloring can transform a good image into an unforgettable one. Learn to color correct, color grade, and add your own unique style. Help skin tones look more natural, enhance the colors in a sky, or create a classic vintage look.
Photoshop | Color & Tone | Medium | 5.5 hours
31 Sample Images | 2 Photoshop LUTs | 1 Photoshop Gradient
Give your photos a professional finish with sharpening in Photoshop. Learn to enhance details, create contrast, and prepare your images for print, web, and social media.
Photoshop | Tools & Techniques | Medium | 3 hours
18 Sample Images | 1 Photoshop Action
Photoshop Actions can help you work faster than ever! Record and save complicated tasks, like coloring or sharpening, and apply them to any other image in only a fraction of the time.
Photoshop | Workflow & Productivity | Medium | 3.25 hours
30 Sample Images | 12 Photoshop Actions
In this tutorial, we teach you everything you need to know about the Pen Tool, from the most important keyboard shortcuts to making beautiful lines and curves. Learn to change a background color, remove an entire background, and create a simple logo.
Photoshop | Tools & Techniques | Medium | 2.75 hours
14 Sample Images