There are some very valuable graphic design tutorial websites online today that you’ll definitely want to check out, especially if you’re trying to brush up on your design skills, or just want to learn how to use graphics software to make cool images. These sites are well maintained and really allow you to capture the power of your software tools. Of course if you prefer hand on training Silicon Beach Training in Brighton provide Photoshop Training courses for beginners and advanced users.
Eventually, you need to get out on your own and start creating your own work. These sites will provide plenty of great inspiration for those designers who are just starting out, or looking to learn some new techniques.
PSDTuts+: This site should definitely be your first stop for great Photoshop inspiration. You’ll find a huge number of exceptionally valuable Photoshop tutorials that you can put to good use. The site is presented like a blog, often with several entries published in a single day. Better still, the tutorials are archived so you can return as often as you want. The site covers more than just Photoshop. You’ll also find killer tutorials on working with illustrations, drawings and videos, as well as a wide range of materials designed to appeal to artists of all skill levels.
NetTuts+: If you like PSDTuts+, then check out little brother NetTuts+. This tutorial site will help you fill in the gaps you’ll need to know as a Web designer that perhaps you didn’t pick up in your graphic design programs. Learn how to work with JavaScript, PHP, Ajax, RSS, Ruby and other scripting languages that are critical to website functionality. A must for Web designers and a really good read for everyone else.
Abduzeedo: If your graphic design work requires you to combine Photoshop and Illustrator, then Abduzeedo is the place you want to be. You’ll find excellent tutorials on these two products, using them separately and together. There’s a ton of material here for inspiration and tutorials on a few other choice graphic design programs like Fireworks. You’ll also find helpful sections on typography, architecture, illustration, photography, a collection of not-to-be-missed wallpapers, news, interviews and even a jobs board.
Photoshop Star: Photoshop Star is a pretty good place to find Photoshop tutorials. The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow and can allow even beginners in Photoshop to master its many effects. The website isn’t updated daily, but you can find new materials there every week. The site is laid out simply, but you can really sink your teeth into the tutorials. If you visit, you’ll find solid tutorial sections on Photoshop Basics, Text Effects, Website Design, and Photo Effects.
Photoshop Essentials: Here’s another great tutorial site devoted to Photoshop. This site is designed for graphic designers of all levels, as well as people who just want to learn the software. You’ll find a large selection of specific tutorials that cover the basics of Photoshop like creating and working with shapes, Photoshop tools, and layers, photo effects, photo editing, text effects and more. The site also has a collection of free downloadable Photoshop brushes that enable you to create new textures and styles that are great for trees, rocks and stones, marks and scratches, paint effects. Check out the brush sets for The Simpsons, World of Warcraft, Super Mario and the butterfly collection! This site even provides a tutorial that shows you how to create your own brushes. Everything on the site is free, and tutorials work with a wide range of Photoshop versions, include Photoshop 7 and the original Creative Studio to Photoshop CS5.
Glen Pierce is a journalist for a local paper that loves to play with designs on his computer, he hopes to get good enough to write how tos and tips for his blog.
