How to Learn Photoshop Fast: 6 Mind Tricks Every Beginner Should Know

If you can imagine it, you can create it — that’s the power of Adobe Photoshop. From crafting stunning social media graphics to designing brand assets and retouching product images, Photoshop is the go-to tool for visual creatives.

At GlyphLabArt, we work with business owners, startups, and professionals who want top-tier visuals — and we deliver both design and print, all under one roof. But if you're just getting started with Photoshop, we’ve got you covered.

Here are 6 simple mind tricks to help you learn Photoshop faster and more efficiently — whether you're a complete beginner or just brushing up your skills.

1. Get Comfortable with the Photoshop Workspace

Before diving into tools, it's crucial to understand the Photoshop environment. Knowing your workspace saves time and improves your workflow.

• Application Bar: Top-level controls like File, Edit, Window.
• Options Bar: Displays settings for the selected tool.
• Tools Panel: Your toolkit — Brush, Move, Crop, and more.
• Document Window: This is your digital canvas.
• Panels: Includes Layers, History, Swatches, and more.

Pro Tip: Save your custom workspace layout for consistency and speed.

2. Understand the Power of Layers

Layers are the backbone of Photoshop. They let you build designs element by element without affecting the rest of the project.

With the Layer Panel, you can:

• Create and rename layers
• Adjust opacity and blending modes
• Group or lock layers
• Apply masks for precise editing

Pro Tip: Always name your layers — trust us, it saves hours on big projects.

3. Focus on the Essential Tools First

Photoshop has dozens of tools — but as a beginner, just focus on the core ones that handle 80% of the work.

Start with:

• Type Tool: For headlines, quotes, and text in your designs.
• Pen Tool: For custom shapes, paths, and complex cutouts.
• Quick Selection Tool: For fast, accurate selections.
• Healing Brush & Patch Tool: For photo retouching.
• Brush Tool: Great for shading, digital painting, and texture.
• Crop Tool: Remove unnecessary elements and improve composition.
• Gradient Tool: Create smooth background blends.

Pro Tip: Practice each tool daily in small projects. Repetition builds speed.

4. Practice with Compositing Projects

Want to boost your creative confidence? Start compositing. It helps you combine multiple images or elements into one seamless design.

Essential skills for compositing include:

• Layer Masks – Control which parts of a layer are visible
• Adjustment Layers – Apply color and tonal corrections non-destructively
• Filters – Add artistic or realistic effects

Project Ideas: Try matte painting, surreal edits, or double exposure art.

5. Give Time to Image Editing

Photoshop isn't just about creativity — it’s also about perfection. Learn to enhance images with precise edits that make your work look professional.

Follow these steps:

1. Crop your image to improve focus and framing
2. Fix exposure using Brightness/Contrast or Levels
3. Adjust color with Hue/Saturation
4. Remove blemishes using the Healing Brush
5. Apply light filters for finishing touches

Pro Tip: Compare the before/after often to stay objective.

6. Use 3rd-Party Plugins and Presets

Don’t try to reinvent the wheel — Photoshop supports powerful third-party plugins that can save you hours.

Useful plugin types include:

• Custom Brushes
• Action Sets (auto-edit scripts)
• Gradients & Patterns
• Filters for stylized effects

You can download many of these from the official Adobe Exchange or designer marketplaces like Envato.

Final Thoughts

Photoshop is a deep, powerful tool — but you don’t need to master everything at once. By focusing on these 6 mind tricks, you can build a strong foundation fast and grow your skills over time.

At GlyphLabArt, we combine design mastery with print precision — so if you’re ever in need of professional graphics, brand assets, or high-quality printing, we’re just one message away.