Filters Without Fear — How and When to Use Photoshop Filters
Photoshop filters can feel like a mysterious grab bag of sliders, previews, and “what did I just do?” moments. In this session, we’re going to demystify filters and turn them into reliable, creative tools you’ll actually want to use — without wrecking your image or painting yourself into a corner.
We’ll start by breaking down what filters really are, where they live in Photoshop, and why some filters permanently change pixels while others give you flexibility and control. You’ll learn when filters are helpful, when they’re overkill, and how professionals use them subtly rather than destructively.
A major focus of this class is understanding Smart Filters — what makes them different, when to use them, and how they allow you to edit, mask, and fine-tune your effects long after you’ve applied them. If you’ve ever wondered why experienced users almost never apply filters directly to a layer, this class will make that click.
What you’ll learn:
• What Photoshop filters are and how they affect your image
• Common, practical uses for popular filters
• The difference between destructive filters and Smart Filters
• How to convert layers for Smart Filter workflows
• How to edit, mask, and refine filters after applying them
• Best practices to avoid “over-filtered” images
By the end, filters will feel less like a gamble — and more like a creative advantage.
Open Sesame! — Every Way to Get Images Into Photoshop (Without Losing Your Mind)
Before you can edit an image, you have to get it into Photoshop — and surprisingly, there are a lot of ways to do that. Some are obvious, some are hidden, and some can cause real confusion if your system settings aren’t playing nicely. In this foundational session, we’ll walk through every common method of opening images and explain when (and why) you’d choose one over another.
We’ll start with the basics, including File > Open, drag-and-drop, and double-clicking files from your computer. Then we’ll tackle one of the most common beginner frustrations: file association problems — when images open in the “wrong” app or refuse to open in Photoshop at all.
From there, we’ll briefly explore how Adobe Bridge and Lightroom fit into the workflow, why many photographers use them as gateways into Photoshop, and how they differ in purpose (without stepping on the sessions dedicated to them).
What you’ll learn:
• All the common ways to open images in Photoshop
• The pros and cons of each method
• How file associations work — and how to fix them
• Why double-clicking sometimes doesn’t do what you expect
• How Bridge and Lightroom connect to Photoshop workflows
• Best practices for keeping your workflow organized and predictable
By the end of this class, getting images into Photoshop will feel effortless — not like the first obstacle of the day.
Crop It Like It’s Hot — Mastering Cropping for Composition, Size, and Sanity
Cropping isn’t just about trimming the edges — it’s one of the most powerful ways to improve composition, storytelling, and final output. In this class, we’ll take a deep dive into Photoshop’s cropping tools and options so you can crop with confidence instead of guesswork.
We’ll explore the Crop Tool in detail, including its settings, overlays, aspect ratios, and non-destructive options. You’ll learn how to straighten images, lock proportions, and use visual guides to make better composition decisions. We’ll also cover how cropping fits into different goals — whether you’re preparing images for print, social media, or web use.
Beyond the Crop Tool itself, we’ll look at Image > Crop, cropping based on selections, and how Photoshop treats resolution and canvas size during the process. Understanding these differences helps prevent accidental quality loss and ensures your images are sized correctly for their final destination.
What you’ll learn:
• How the Crop Tool works and how to customize it
• The difference between destructive and non-destructive cropping
• Using aspect ratios and overlays for better composition
• Cropping from selections and via menus
• How resolution and image size factor into cropping decisions