Regardless of which particular skill you learn, knowledge of an Adobe product will make you a stronger candidate on the job market. Which programs you’ll find most useful will vary by the particular profession you’re interested in, but if you’re looking for a job in design, chances are at least one Adobe program will be an expected skill in your field. Adobe skills are also transferable to different fields and industries, so if you like variety in your career, knowing Adobe can help you find a new professional home. And if you already know one or two Adobe programs, learning new skills within Adobe Creative Cloud will make you an even more desirable job candidate.
The 11 Best Online Adobe Classes
- General Assembly—2-Day Adobe Creative Cloud Crash Course (Live Online)
- General Assembly—Adobe User Experience Design Bootcamp (Live Online)
- Noble Desktop—Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp (Live Online)
- Noble Desktop—Adobe Illustrator (Live Online)
- Certstaffix—Adobe Premiere (Live Online or On-Demand)
- Ledet—Acrobat for Professionals (Live Online)
- LumenBrite—After Effects Bootcamp (Live Online)
- LumenBrite—Premiere Pro Training Bootcamp (Live Online)
- ONLC—Adobe CC Graphic Design Bootcamp (Live Online)
- ONLC—Adobe On-Demand Bootcamp (On-Demand)
- CreativeLive—Adobe Photoshop CC Bootcamp (On-Demand)
#1: General Assembly—2-Day Adobe Creative Cloud Crash Course (Live Online)
The 2-Day Adobe Creative Cloud Crash Course from General Assembly covers three of the most popular applications within Adobe Creative Cloud: InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Students will learn the basics of all three interfaces and how to use the most important tools in each.
InDesign’s purpose is to facilitate design for print publications like magazines and newspapers. Students will explore how to use its master and local pages features, which are most useful for large-scale projects. On a more granular level, they’ll also learn how to use the character, paragraph, and styles panels to format content. The course covers the construction of single or multiple layouts. Students discover how to import assets and images from Illustrator and Photoshop. Finally, they package their files for professional printing.
Photoshop is a popular digital imaging software, originally designed for photographers but now used to create interfaces and iconography for responsive digital design. This portion of the course begins with the use of layers and functions of the adjustment panels. Students discover how to make the best use of smart objects by transforming them for various applications. They also learn how to create digital iconography and how to create a landing page for a website. The course covers how to manipulate photographs, Photoshop’s original purpose, as well.
Illustrator is a vector graphics software, used to create original typography, logos, and illustrations. Students will learn how to employ the pen and shape builder tools for their illustrations. They’ll discover how to create and export branding components, including logos and iconography, for handoff to clients.
Key Information
This is a full-time, two-day course. There are no prerequisites. Tuition is $950. There are no financing options or scholarships available.
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Students say that design courses at General Assembly are “a game-changer in confidence-building.” The “thorough and helpful” instructors provide “fantastically engaging and informative” lessons.
#2: General Assembly—Adobe User Experience Design Bootcamp (Live Online)
General Assembly’s Adobe User Experience Design Bootcamp is both an introduction to user experience (UX design) and an overview of Adobe XD, which is a vital tool for UX Designers. UX design is the practice of centering design choices on the needs of the user. The course teaches the fundamentals of UX. It also helps students learn how to use Adobe XD as a tool for creating prototypes of designs that can then be employed for user testing. Students begin by learning about UX design and what types of professional work are available in the field. They then practice basic design skills in Adobe XD. After creating prototypes in the program, they test these prototypes with users and stakeholders. The course wraps up with a design challenge using Adobe XD to create a brand-new user experience.
Key Information
This is a full-time, one-day course. It has no prerequisites. Tuition is $475.
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This course provides the opportunity to network with professional UX designers, local creatives, and potential clients.
Students say the bootcamp gave them “the resources and skills needed” to proceed with their study of UX design.
#3: Noble Desktop—Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp (Live Online)
The Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp at Noble Desktop provides hands-on training to help students make the best use of what Photoshop can do. The course begins with manipulating photos, specifically retouching and cropping. Students then learn to create graphics by combining photos, illustrations, and text. They discover how to replace the background of an image, as well as maximize the usefulness of blend modes and adjust opacity. And they explore color correction using color balance, curves, and blending mode.
Once they’ve created edited files in Photoshop, students learn how to export those files for photo printing or digital uses. The course covers sharpening photos, using smart filters and layers, converting to black and white, and lens correction. Students discover how to use pre-made mockups to place their designs. They explore clipping masks, that is, filling shapes with images, and how they can use adjustment layers for this purpose. They learn how to edit RAW files and use them as filters. Next, the course covers batch actions in Photoshop and how to use the Image Processor function. Finally, students explore how to use Photoshop for design specifically, including adding a title and layer styles, creating digital art, and compositing images into a photo.
Key Information
This is a full-time, three-day course at seven hours a day. It is designed for beginners, with no prerequisites. Tuition is $975. It is the same price whether you pay upfront or in 12 monthly installments.
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Notable advantages of Noble Desktop include expert instructors, project-based training, and small class sizes. This bootcamp comes with a proprietary workbook you can use in your studies. Students may retake the course for free within one year.
Noble’s “excellent” teachers, say students, “really make learning fun.” After working with these “top-notch” instructors, they “felt empowered” by their experience.
#4: Noble Desktop—Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp (Live Online)
In Noble Desktop’s Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp, students discover the techniques that make Illustrator a powerful tool for graphics creation. They learn to make a variety of types of graphics, including icons, logos, patterns, packaging, and typography.
The course starts off with the use of the pen tool to make straight lines, as well as object arrangement, color fills, and fill and stroke. It then moves on to curves and corners, including anchor points and direction points. Students learn how to use shape tools, group objects, and work with layers and templates. They discover the tools for live tracing and live painting in Illustrator, including brushes and the flare tool. They also learn group selection, blob brush, eraser, reflect, and type tools.
The course covers clipping masks with both shapes and types. Students explore image manipulation techniques including filling text with a photo and linked image placement. Instructional time is devoted to many tools and techniques of blending. Students learn about transparency, gradients, patterns, and layers. They discover different graphic styles and how to replicate them using the tools available in Illustrator. The course includes hands-on projects like making an advertisement and creating a shirt design.
Key Information
This course is available full-time or part-time. Full-time enrollment is three days at seven hours a day. The part-time course is six hours a week for three weeks.
This program is designed for beginners, with no prerequisites. Tuition is $975. It is the same price whether you pay upfront or in 12 monthly installments.
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Noble Desktop is known for its small class sizes, expert instructors, and project-based training. Students may retake this course for free within one year. Included in the course is a proprietary workbook for your studies.
Students find Noble’s hands-on approach “very effective” and said the teaching “keeps you engaged.” Instructors are “eager to help and share their knowledge.”
#5: Certstaffix—Adobe Premiere Pro Course (Live Online or On-Demand)
The Certstaffix Adobe Premiere Pro course begins with a tour of the Premiere interface, workflow, and keyboard shortcuts. Students learn how to create a project, choose settings, and set up a sequence. They do non-linear editing, import and integrate media files, record voice overs, and customize their projects’ media caches. They discover how to use bins and maximize the effectiveness of the tools in the Project panel. The course covers reviewing footage, including in freeform view, and clip modifications as well. Students learn how to use the Source and Program monitors and the Timeline panel. They explore storyboard-style editing, markers, gaps, clips, and segments. They discover how to add and fine-tune video and audio transitions. The course includes the Motion and AutoReframe effects, as well as nesting, trimming, and changing clip positions. Students learn how to mix, adjust, and improve audio for their projects. They discover visual effects and the art of color management. And they learn about how to use transparency and opacity to work with green screen effects. The course covers video typography, including text styles and title rolls. Finally, students discover how to export everything from a single frame to a master file.
Key Information
This is a full-time course. It lasts three days at seven hours a day. There are no prerequisites necessary. Tuition is $1,330, but group rates are available.
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This course includes access to a virtual computer with the Adobe Premiere Pro software. Students may retake the course for free within six months of completion.
Certstaffix students say their instructors combined “technical expertise” with “ease and humor, ” making the classes both informative and enjoyable.
#6: Ledet—Acrobat for Professionals (Live Online)
With Ledet’s Acrobat for Professionals, students will learn how to create, edit, and manage PDFs using Acrobat and the Acrobat family of programs. In this Adobe-authorized class, students discover how to create engaging PDF documents. They’ll learn to combine text, graphics, animations, videos, and sound, making the most of Acrobat’s abilities. The course also covers the use of the collaboration and commenting tools within Acrobat to construct a more efficient workflow for collaborative document review. Students explore techniques for editing content, creating simple forms, adding buttons and actions to PDFs, and converting other forms of documents into PDFs as well. They discover how to promote security by employing digital signatures and making their PDFs secure against malicious alteration. Students also learn how to use Acrobat to prepare a document for professional printing.
Key Information
This is a two-day, full-time course. There are no prerequisites. Tuition is $895. Students can get a discount by purchasing the Creative Design Bundle, which includes classes in Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator as well.
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Students report that Ledet’s instructors are “very knowledgeable” and the classes are “well-structured.” These courses “make it fun and inviting to learn.”
#7: LumenBrite—Adobe After Effects Training Bootcamp (Live Online)
Lumenbrite’s Adobe After Effects Training Bootcamp introduces students to what Adobe After Effects can do in terms of creating motion graphics and effects for cinematic purposes. Students begin by familiarizing themselves with the program interface and the workspaces within it. They discover the shortcuts that will provide the most efficient workflow, and learn how to identify aspects of After Effects that will serve the needs of their particular projects. They learn how to integrate video with audio and images, including items they’ve created in Photoshop and Illustrator. The course also covers transitions, specifically how to use transformation properties, keyframes, and blend modes to make them land more smoothly.
Students explore animation and compositing techniques with lower third graphics. They learn about tracking, keying, and layer use. The course focuses on tracking for some time, including different tracking methods, surface tracking, point trackers, track effects, tracking data, 3D tracking, and the Mask Tracker tool. Students discover tools for stabilization and optimization, as well as how to export a completed file once these elements are in place. They learn remapping, time effects, and colorization techniques. They also explore time-saving techniques like using third-party effects and automating animation. The course covers different rendering options for varying types of workflows. It includes an optional concluding lesson in the program’s 3D capacity.
Key Information
This is a five-day, full-time course. There are no prerequisites for this foundation-level course. Tuition is $1,995. There are no payment plans, discounts, or scholarships available.
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This course is designed to help prepare students for the official Adobe Professional certification exam. Students receive access to After Effects, as well as proprietary course materials.
Graduates praise Lumenbrite for its “special crafted experience” and even take multiple courses because of the “really great teachers.”
#8: Lumenbrite—Premiere Pro Training Bootcamp (Live Online)
In Lumenbrite’s Premiere Pro Training Bootcamp, students will progress from beginner status to an intermediate video editing skill level. They begin by familiarizing themselves with the interface and workspaces of the program. They master the basic vocabulary of editing and video post-production. They discover how to create new projects and import their footage. And they learn how to use the three point editing workflow to make an initial rough cut of their project.
The course covers adding utility effects for better image composition. It also includes the use of tools such as Ripple, Rolling Edit, Rate Stretch, and the Title tool. Students learn how they can employ these tools to polish their edits, make basic time changes, and create a title card for their project using a Photoshop or Illustrator image. They’ll explore how to fix audio issues and how to manipulate audio with effects, levels, and editors, as well as how to merge audio with video clips. The course also covers the use of bins for media organization and storyboard creation.
Students learn basic animation techniques and color correction. They discover how to use the Adobe Media Encoder for rendering. Then they move on to multi-camera editing projects. For this purpose, they learn a more sophisticated range of tools such as Slip, Slide, Warp Stabilizer, and Time Remapping. They also learn some After Effects skills such as creating and integrating animated graphics and removing green or blue screens in editing. Finally, when they have a complete file, they discover how to manage files, media, memory, and caching.
Key Information
This course is full-time and takes five days. It has no prerequisites. The cost of tuition is $1,995.
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This Adobe Authorized Training provides access to Premiere Pro, as well as proprietary training materials to help you in your studies.
Students say that they “feel more confident” in their Adobe skills after working with Lumenbrite’s “great” instructors.”
#9: ONLC—Adobe CC Graphic Design Bootcamp (Live Online)
The Adobe CC Graphic Design Bootcamp hosted by ONLC teaches the skills needed to make the best use of the many features and functions offered by Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. The course begins with an introduction to Adobe Creative Cloud and an overview of what is available with a paid Adobe subscription. Students learn about resources like Typekit–a library of proprietary fonts—and Adobe Stock Photography. The course covers graphic design basics to help students create visual assets in all three programs. It also helps students discover the most important functions of each program and how to choose which one to use.
Students explore the core skills needed to use Illustrator to make high-quality vector graphics and illustrations. They learn how to use InDesign to create compelling layouts and designs for digital or print publishing. And they discover image editing and compositing in Photoshop, as well as a bonus introduction to using Adobe Lightroom in concert with Photoshop for photo editing. The course concludes with an introduction to the use of Adobe Bridge to manage assets created in any Adobe program.
Key Information
This full-time course lasts four days at seven hours a day. The only prerequisites are basic file management skills. Tuition is $1,995. This must be paid upfront, and there are no discounts, scholarships, or payment plans available.
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ONLC students say its instructors are “incredibly knowledgeable.” One even states that they “couldn’t imagine the teacher doing a better job.” They “highly recommend” this “relaxed” and “excellent” training program.
#10: ONLC—Adobe Bootcamp (On-Demand)
ONLC’s Adobe On-Demand Bootcamp covers Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.
With Illustrator, students begin by learning techniques for selecting artwork and using shapes to create and transform it. They discover how to edit by combining shapes and paths. After building an illustration with the drawing tools, they explore the use of color and type in signage. The course covers using gradients, blends, and brushes. The hands-on project for this portion of the class is creating artwork for a t-shirt. Finally, students learn how to integrate Illustrator with other Adobe applications and export their work from the program.
The course then moves on to InDesign, starting with setting up a document and its pages. Students learn how to work with objects in a layout. They discover text and typography, including flowing text. The course covers working with styles, importing and modifying graphics, creating tables, and working with transparency. Students then learn how to print and export their files, as well as how to construct a fillable PDF for Adobe Acrobat.
The last portion of the class focuses on Photoshop. Students begin with basic photo correction. They learn how to work with selections, layers, masks, and channels. They discover typographic design and vector drawing techniques. The course covers compositing, video editing, and preparing files for digital publication.
Key Information
This on-demand course includes 15 days of content, which must be completed within 180 days. Basic file management skills are the only prerequisite. Tuition is $995.
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This course includes 24/7 online support from subject matter experts. Students receive the official Adobe workbook, as well as a range of supplementary videos, tutorials, and other materials.
Students say the course “far exceeded expectations.” Instructors were “kind, ” “patient, ” “knowledgeable, ” and “clear.”
#11: CreativeLive—Adobe Photoshop CC Bootcamp (On-Demand)
The Adobe Photoshop CC Bootcamp from CreativeLive begins with overviews of the Photoshop, Lightroom, and Bridge workspaces. Students learn how to edit and develop raw images using adjustment sliders, as well as the effects and HLS tabs. They discover how to use the many applications of the selection tool. And they master the use of masks and layers for various types of image manipulation. The course covers editing with levels, curves, shadows, and highlights.
Students discover color theory, hue and saturation, and how to use curves and the blend tool for color editing. They learn a range of tools and techniques for retouching photos. They get an overview of other tools, including the crop, frame, eye dropper, color sampler, brush, eraser, gradient, brush flow, opacity, blur, and shape tools. The course covers Photoshop’s many modes such as dissolve, multiply, screen, and hard light, as well as color modes. Students extensively explore filters, masks, and smart objects. They discover how to edit unusual types of photography such as panoramic, HDR, and time-lapse. Students also learn about patterns, warping, and blending. They even create their own custom actions in Photoshop. The course concludes with some troubleshooting tips for the program and instruction on how to use it with Lightroom.
Key Information
The class includes 18 hours 36 minutes of video content. There is no estimate given for how long it takes to complete. The course does not have any prerequisites. With CreativeLive, you can buy a single class for $99 or subscribe to the platform for $13 a month.
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Students say that this course is “in-depth” and “covers absolutely everything you need to know.” The instructor is “clear, concise, ” and “keeps you engaged.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Different Types of Online Adobe Classes?
The two varieties of online Adobe classes are live online and on-demand.
Live online learning is more effective for most students. This is because a live online course gives you real-time access to an expert instructor who can give you feedback, guidance, and advice. It also gives your studies a set structure, with scheduled classes that you attend virtually and homework with specific deadlines. Many students find this helpful in keeping themselves motivated.
An on-demand course is a set of materials that students can use to pursue their studies on whatever schedule suits them. This type of course generally costs less than a live online one. It is also easier to fit into a busy schedule. However, since you have to provide all the structure yourself, this type of course is best suited to self-starters who don’t need external motivation. Not having designated class times or specific assignment deadlines can make it difficult to follow a consistent study schedule.
While the highest-quality on-demand courses are typically paid, there are also some on-demand courses that are available for free or at a very low cost. These materials are best for getting an overview of what there is to learn–they can only take you so far in mastering the skills you want. Also, since Adobe programs are regularly updated, make sure you choose recent courses from a reliable institution.
What Will I Need for an Online Adobe Class?
To study Adobe online, you must have a computer with an internet connection. You will also need to download whichever software or software you are learning how to use.
Can I Learn Adobe Online for Free?
Motivated students can teach themselves a few introductory Adobe concepts using free online tutorials or YouTube videos. However, if you want to learn comprehensive and up-to-date Adobe skills, you’ll likely need to make at least a modest investment in your education. Adobe programs typically have free trials available, but unless you can gain permanent access through your school, you will eventually have to pay for a subscription.
Is It Better to Learn Adobe in a Live or Self-paced Class?
There are important advantages to both live online and on-demand Adobe classes. With live classes, the crucial benefit is their interactive nature. For this reason, they tend to be more engaging. Also, when you are working with a real-time instructor, you can ask questions when you are confused and get feedback on your designs as you go. Another advantage is that live classes provide a cohort of peers who are taking the same journey as you and can provide support. The set schedule of classes and firm deadlines for assignments also make it easier for some students to organize their time and remain motivated in their studies.
Some students favor on-demand learning because it offers flexibility and is typically more affordable. For students who work long hours, have families, or otherwise live with a particularly busy schedule, studying from on-demand materials can be easier to fit into their lives, since it doesn’t require being available at a specific time for a live class. It’s also a good fit for students with limited financial resources. The drawback of on-demand training, however, is the lack of direct, real-time access to an expert instructor who can provide clarification and feedback. It’s also important to be cautious about which on-demand materials you select, as the frequent updates to Adobe software mean that even fairly recent materials can already be out-of-date by the time you start working with them.