Photoshop & Lightroom Workflow Tutorials
Edit faster, stay organized, and stop redoing work. Workflow tutorials for Photoshop and Lightroom on culling, batch editing, presets and actions, Smart Objects, non-destructive editing, and exporting. More than 250 free and PRO video tutorials from Aaron Nace.
What You’ll Learn
Workflow is the difference between a great edit that took all night and a great edit that took twenty minutes. These tutorials are about the habits and tools that make editing repeatable: setting up files so changes are cheap, doing the same thing to a hundred photos at once, and knowing which program to do each job in.
- Non-destructive setup. Smart Objects, adjustment layers, masks, and Blend If, so a client change is a slider move instead of a redo.
- Lightroom for volume. Culling, syncing edits and masks across a shoot, presets, Denoise, and moving between Lightroom and Photoshop without losing anything.
- Automation. Actions, batch processing, LUTs, and the new AI tools that take the grunt work out of masking and clean-up.
- Organization and export. Naming, catalogs, color spaces, sharpening for output, and export settings for print, web, and social.
- Photoshop 2026 features. Object masking, the AI slider, Firefly, and the updated Remove Tool, with an honest verdict on which ones actually save time.
Where to Start
The Lightroom Editing & Workflow collection is the fastest way to speed up a whole shoot. In Photoshop, start with The Ultimate Guide to Smart Objects and the non-destructive editing tutorials, because everything else in this category depends on files that stay editable.
Free and PRO Tutorials
Free tutorials are complete lessons, not previews. PRO tutorials go deeper and longer, and they include the sample images, RAW files, actions, and presets used in the lesson so you can follow along on the exact same file. A PHLEARN PRO membership unlocks every PRO tutorial on the site, including all of the ones in this category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I edit in Lightroom or Photoshop?
Cull, correct, and batch in Lightroom; retouch, composite, and do anything that needs layers in Photoshop. Most professional workflows use both, and several tutorials here show the round trip.
What is non-destructive editing?
Editing in a way that never overwrites the original pixels: adjustment layers instead of direct adjustments, masks instead of erasing, Smart Objects instead of flattened filters. It costs nothing up front and saves hours when something changes.
Do actions and presets replace learning the tools?
No, but they multiply what you already know. An action is only as good as the technique inside it, which is why the workflow tutorials teach the manual version first and then show how to automate it.
Where to Go Next
Workflow supports everything else on the site. For the editing itself see Photo Editing and Retouching; for the tools in depth see Tools & Techniques; and for Lightroom-first editors, the Lightroom tutorials and presets.
Speed Up a Whole Shoot
The Lightroom Editing & Workflow collection shows how to cull, sync, and export a full session in one sitting.
On This Page
PHLEARN PRO
Every PRO tutorial in this category, with sample and RAW files, plus the full PRO library.
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
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
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
Transform photos into art! Learn to blend multiple images in Photoshop, from AI tools to classic techniques, to create stunning, realistic composites with perfect color and light.
Photoshop | Compositing | Advanced | 3.25 hours
26 Sample Images | 6 Sample PSDs
Create, export, and import LUTs in Photoshop!This tutorial teaches you how to make a custom color effect, save it, and use it across various programs. Plus, download the included LUT.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
2 Sample Images | 2 Sample PSDs | 1 Photoshop LUT
Master lighting effects in Photoshop with our top ten techniques! Create cinematic glows, sparkling skin, sun flares, and retro film looks. Learn to intensify highlights, sculpt light, and more!.
Photoshop | Visual Effects | Advanced | 3.75 hours
27 Sample Images | 10 Sample PSDs
Learn to remove glare from glasses in Photoshop! This tutorial uses the Clone Stamp Tool to copy and warp facial features for realistic results, without just using AI.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
1 Sample Image | 1 Sample PSD
Transform your portraits! This advanced tutorial in Photoshop and Camera Raw guides you through editing eight diverse RAW photographs, tackling unique challenges. Learn AI masking, reshape lighting, and more!
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Advanced | 3.5 hours
8 Sample Images (RAW Files) | 8 Sample PSDs
Master Photoshop’s color channels! Learn how to precisely cut soft-edged objects and create unique artistic color effects.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Easy | 30 mins | 1 video
2 Sample Images | 2 Sample PSDs
Elevate your landscape photos! Learn to use AI selection tools in Lightroom and Camera RAW, enhancing skies, mountains, and more for stunning results.
Lightroom, Photoshop | Photo Editing | Medium | 15 mins | 1 video
2 Sample Images | 1 PSD File
Master advanced landscape editing in Photoshop and Adobe Camera RAW. Learn Aaron’s must-do adjustments, advanced Sky Replacement, color grading, and more! This tutorial includes RAW files so you can follow along.
Photoshop | Photo Editing | Advanced | 3.75 hours
6 Sample Images (RAW Files) | 6 Sample Images (JPEG Files) | 5 Sample PSDs
