I had mentioned in my previous article, PhaseRunner Fantasy Environment Course that I have learned a lot from Phlearn courses to learn Photoshop. So today I am going to share a review of a specific free course which I found very helpful in getting started. I will also share my personal experience with you and also make it clear for whom this course is perfect and how beneficial it can be.
Why Choose Phlearn’s 30-Day Photoshop Course?
If you really want to learn Photoshop then a good free course can change everything. In my last review, I talked about Phlearn’s photo manipulation courses, but today we will talk about the course that became the starting point for all of us: Phlearn’s 30-Day Photoshop Course.
If anyone wants to become a beginner digital artist or photographer in 2025, then this 30-day course from Phlearn is the most accessible and easy-to-follow program. Aaron Nace and his Phlearn team have designed this course in such a way that complex tools and interface of Photoshop are explained in short lessons every day.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is best for beginners but also if anyone wants to learn photo editing or digital art at a professional level, then this is a great option for them. This course starts from the very basics — like navigating the interface, what are the uses of the tools — and gradually moves on to advanced topics like compositing and retouching.
Key Features of the Course
- Practice Resources: Every lesson comes with sample images and PSD files so you can practice.
- Proven Popularity: The proof of Phlearn’s quality is that their tutorials have been watched for 500 million minutes in 190 countries. This shows how popular and trusted this course is.
- Comprehensive Learning: Almost everyone agrees that this 30-day program is an invaluable resource for creatives, whether beginners or intermediate level.
About Phlearn and Aaron Nace
If you want to understand this course, you will first have to understand the philosophy of Phlearn. Phlearn was started by Aaron Nace in 2011 and today it has become a leading platform in the world of creative learning. His mission is simple: to make learning fun, affordable and accessible for anyone, anywhere. To date, Phlearn has created more than 600 tutorials and built a community of more than 2.6 million followers.
Aaron Nace’s teaching style is very simple and effective. He explains every complex topic by breaking it down into small and easy parts. His work has been featured on major platforms like Adobe, Wacom, Fstoppers and PetaPixel. This 30-day course is a perfect example of his daily learning method. This is not a course where everything can be stopped in a day. The idea is to learn a little bit every day, practice and slowly become an expert.
Course Structure and Daily Learning Approach
This 30-day course is based on the concept that a skill like Photoshop can only be learned through daily consistent practice. Cramming is a no-no. This course is specially designed for people who are intimidated by Photoshop’s complex interface. It gives you a proper roadmap to go from “I don’t understand anything” to “I am an expert”. If you want to learn graphic design in Photoshop then I would definitely recommend this course – and yes, it’s completely free.
Who Benefits Most?
- Beginners: People who keep hearing about Photoshop but don’t know how to use it.
- Intermediate Users: Those who want to strengthen their basics.
- Self-Learners: Individuals confused by random YouTube tutorials.
- Freelancers, Graphic Designers, Students: Especially those who cannot afford expensive classes.
- Photographers and Creatives: Anyone looking to move beyond basic editing apps or improve their skills.
Flexible Learning for Busy Schedules
Since each lesson lasts just 15-30 minutes, it’s perfect for working professionals too. You can learn a little bit every day without disturbing your routine.
What You’ll Learn in the 30 Days
This 30-Day Photoshop Course is based on a daily learning framework, in which one concept or tool is taught each day. Here’s a breakdown of the early lessons:
- Day 1: Introduction to the Photoshop interface, tools, menus, and workspace setup.
- Day 2: How to open an image, make basic edits, and save/share it.
- Days 3–4: Layers and Masks, the foundation for advanced Photoshop projects.
- Day 5: Selection Tools for removing backgrounds or editing specific areas.
- Day 6: Levels and Gradients to control brightness, contrast, and color.
- Day 9: Basic uses of the Brush Tool, including dodging, burning, and creating atmosphere.
- Day 10: Crop Tool for resizing or optimizing images for social media.
Later lessons cover Transform options (scale, warp, rotate) and Typography/Text tools, enabling you to create complete designs. Every new lesson builds on the previous ones, ensuring smooth learning progression.
How Phlearn Stands Out
If we compare it with other platforms for learning Photoshop, Phlearn’s 30-day course is at a different level. It doesn’t provide random tutorials – it provides a structured step-by-step guide. Platforms like Udemy or Skillshare also have courses, but they do not have the proper structure for beginners. Sometimes it is difficult to understand which lesson to watch first.
Phlearn fills this gap. It provides a clear and progressive learning path for beginners. Even though Adobe’s own resources are authentic, they can sometimes seem dry and boring. Phlearn makes learning easy and engaging. Formal institutes are also an option but they are costly and come with a fixed schedule, which becomes difficult for working professionals or students. This 30-day program of Phlearn offers the perfect balance: professional-quality training with maximum accessibility.
Comparison with YouTube Tutorials
YouTube tutorials are also helpful. Special mention deserves a channel like PiXimperfect who run Unmesh Dinda – top level artists in compositing. But the issue with YouTube for beginners is that each video is on a different topic, and you have to decide yourself what to learn and in what order. Phlearn removes this burden by giving a ready-made curriculum without compromising on quality.
Potential Challenges
But if an honest review is to be given then there can be some potential problems as well:
- Learning Pace: As everyone’s learning pace is different, complex topics like advanced selection techniques or complex masking can be difficult to understand in a day, so extra practice is needed.
- Daily Commitment: Daily commitment is good, but sometimes life gets busy and you skip a few days, which can break the flow.
- Technical Requirements: If you have an old computer or an outdated Photoshop version then learning can slow down, which seems frustrating.
- Advanced Learning: This course is very comprehensive for the beginner level, but if you want to go to the advanced level then you will need Phlearn’s Pro courses (paid), like color theory or advanced compositing.
My Personal Experience
This 30-day Photoshop course by Phlearn is a valuable asset for anyone who wants to learn digital art and needs a structured roadmap. It takes you from beginner to intermediate level, with high-quality videos and practice files. Best of all — this course is completely free, but the quality is so top-notch that it beats many paid courses.
This course doesn’t teach you random tricks, it builds a strong foundation so you can start creating your own creative projects and easily follow advanced tutorials. I remember when I started this 30-day course by Phlearn, I didn’t have the money for paid programs. A friend recommended it, and honestly if I had not listened to him I probably wouldn’t have been so confident about Photoshop today. I made a full schedule for this course and stuck to it. This course was life-changing for me.
Who Should Take This Course?
That is why I can say that this course is best for people who:
- Are complete beginners in Photoshop and want structured learning
- Are creative professionals who want to add something new to their skill set
- Are photography enthusiasts who want to seek expert editing
- Are students who cannot afford expensive classes
- Are freelancers who want to develop new skills for clients
- Want to boost their career by learning Photoshop
Why It’s Worth It in 2025
If you are a beginner, or you want to become a professional, or want to get into photography/freelancing — then this free course is for you. Not everyone can afford a paid course, that’s why I recommend this course so strongly. My goal is to show you a valuable free resource, because people waste money on paid courses where they don’t get real value, but here they are getting a lot for free.
Yes, this course is 100% worth even in 2025. It teaches in a structured way, you get high-quality lessons, and it prepares you for a strong creative career. Everyone is launching a paid course these days. People get confused after seeing flashy social media ads, waste money and later regret thinking that if only they could get a good free course. So there you go – this is that course.
Final Thoughts
I am recommending this course based on my personal experience. When I started learning Photoshop, I did this course. Once you complete this, do subscribe to the Phlearn YouTube channel as you will keep getting new tutorials there and your learning will continue.
In the end I would just like to say this: When I started, I had limited resources. If you are also in a similar situation – because learning has become expensive these days – then these free resources are a gift for those who cannot afford costly programs. If you want to build your career, then this course is a best option. Then join it. If you have any specific questions, comment below, I will definitely answer.
