What’s New: Photoshop 2026 Updates
Photoshop’s release notes move faster than any one tutorial can keep up with. This free playlist tracks every meaningful feature update from the last two years — new tools, reworked panels, and quiet improvements to things you already use — as short, practical walkthroughs.
What You’ll Learn
Eighteen tutorials covering new tools and reworked features across Photoshop 2025 and 2026, in the order Adobe shipped them.
- Try the newest tool the day it lands How to Use the New Light Adjustment Layer in Photoshop is the most recent addition, published days before this playlist.
- Master the effects everyone’s asking about How to Create a Cinematic Vintage Glow in Photoshop 2026 and How to Remove Reflections From Faces in Photoshop 2026 cover two of the most-requested looks.
- Get comfortable with reworked selection and masking The Power of Object Masking in Photoshop 2026 and Discover the Latest Update for the Remove Tool in Photoshop show how these core tools have changed.
- Use text and adjustment layers the new way Photoshop 2026: Exploring the Dynamic Text Tool and Photoshop 2026: New Adjustment Layers Explained cover interface changes that affect nearly every project.
- Fix common real-world problems fast How To Use The Dust Removal Feature in Lightroom & Photoshop and Photoshop Basics: How to Use the New Upscale Tool solve two problems photographers hit constantly.
- Catch features while they’re still in beta Photoshop Beta: Discover the Updated Dynamic Text Tool and How to Use the Harmonize Tool in Photoshop Beta get you using tools before they’re officially released.
Who This Series Is For
Anyone who opens Photoshop, sees a new icon in a panel, and wonders what it does. This playlist assumes you already know your way around Photoshop — it’s not a beginner course — but it doesn’t assume you’ve kept up with every point release.
It’s also useful if you skipped a version or two: the tutorials are ordered newest-first, but each one stands alone, so you can jump straight to the feature you’re curious about.
How Long It Takes
Eighteen tutorials, roughly 15 minutes each — about 4.5 hours if you watch every one, but most people will pick and choose based on what’s new to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a PHLEARN PRO membership for this playlist?
No — this entire playlist is free.
Do these tutorials apply if I’m still on an older version of Photoshop?
Most of the underlying techniques still work; the specific tool locations may differ. Each tutorial notes which version introduced the feature.
How often is this playlist updated?
We add a new tutorial here every time Photoshop ships a feature worth covering — typically every few weeks.
Where to Go Next
ON THIS PAGE
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Photoshop replaced the Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer with a new Light adjustment layer. Learn what the six sliders do, how to get the legacy controls back, and when to use it instead of Curves.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
Create a manual vintage look from scratch in Photoshop 2026! Learn how to craft realistic film bloom, add analog grain, and tweak color channels.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
Learn how to rescue dark foregrounds and balance exposure. This tutorial shows you how to easily isolate complex details using Camera Raw’s updated object masking tool.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
Learn how to create realistic composites using Photoshop’s AI tools: fix 3D perspective with Rotate Object, match lighting via Harmonize, and blend natural shadows using Generative Fill.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Easy | 30 mins | 1 video
2 Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD
Learn how to remove distractions in one click using the updated AI-powered Remove Tool in Photoshop. Plus stay organized with the new Cleanup Layers feature.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
Create stunning double exposures in Photoshop 2026! Learn to blend high-contrast images with Screen mode and use Generative Expand for the perfect fit.
Photoshop | Visual Effects | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
3 Sample Images | 1 Sample PSD
Master Lightroom Mobile’s AI Quick Actions to instantly clear skin. Use the new Blemishes tool and amount slider for professional, natural retouching results on the go.
Lightroom | Retouching | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
Paint exposure, hue, vibrance or a photo filter straight onto an image with the Photoshop 2025 Adjustment Brush. Covers Colorize for big color changes, Apply to Object for one-click masking, and what the tool really creates.
Photoshop | Workflow | Easy | 15 mins | 1 video
2 Sample Images | 2 PSD Files