Hi. I'm considering taking a course that covers both Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator (and pertains to the fashion industry). The course, which is 12 hours of class time costs $ 985. I have taken the course many years during design school, however it has been so long that I barely remember the basics. In order to land a fashion job here in NYC as a designer, Adobe software proficiency is a MUST. My question is... Is it "worth" me taking such an expensive course or does anyone feel I can grasp the basics and teach myself the frills through time. I want to be an "expert", however finding that kind of cash right now is nearly impossible. Any suggestions/thoughts would be greatly appreciated..

Thanks!

Taking a course I always worth since you have someone to guide you and explain you. Though achieving perfectness needs lot of practice and time. Photoshop going to enhance your artistic ability and lead you in fashion industry since you will be able to draw what is in your mind. Though you can do same on paper but editing becomes far easy when we talk of photoshop.
However, you can learn photoshop by trying and exploring yourself too. There are so many tutorials available just you need not be a spoon feeder. Trust me learning yourself, help you more.

ISSUE 1:

As a software trainer, I have to be honest. YOU are the biggest unknown in the equation here.

There are people who learn well, fast and with efficiency in a classroom environment. I'm not talking about "getting it", or even getting a good grade, I'm referring to the "REALLY getting it" person who not only understands the concepts being taught but immediately starts to make the mental connections to how what they've learned applies to other "related" issues.

Not everyone is like that. Some people pass tests with As and Bs and still have phenomenal difficulty applying what they've learned beyond the original exercises themselves.

I see this all the time.


ISSUE 2:
There is also a "quality of education" issue regarding the teacher, the curriculum, the follow-through and thoroughness being employed by the school. You could be a killer student and find yourself paying $985 for $100 worth of information.

The only way to know the answer to this is to talk to 5 people who have taken the course, preferably people who are now using PhotoShop on a daily basis afterward.

ISSUE 3:
Proficiency is not acquired in the classroom. It is a real-world accomplishment.

You may be a REAL killer student (issue 1) and the class itself top-notch (issue 2), and at the end of your class you have knowledge and foundation. You don't have proficiency.

You know you have proficiency at a task when someone asks you how to do something and the FIRST thing you think of is 3 ways to do it and are trying to consider the one THIS person will learn easiest from you.

That's proficiency.

If during an interview for a job they indicate a proficiency in PhotoShop is required and you're perfectly comfortable asking them right then and there to give you a PhotoShop task and let you do it in front of them, then you're ready.

I agree with most of Jb's post, but thought I'd throw in a little nugget. I started a part time job last summer knowing nothing at all about Photoshop. Seriously. I had heard of Adobe, but nothing of it's various products.

This job required Photoshop skills, my employer (for some unknown reason) thought I knew all there was to know about it. I bluffed for the first few days but picked things up very quickly. Within two weeks I was using the majority of functions.

What I'm saying is that, considering you've had previous experience with the programme, I don't see a reason you should shell out a thousand dollars for a twelve hour course ($1.37 per minute - I'm a nerd, I worked it out) when there is a very high chance you could manage picking it up yourself.

If you choose not to go for the course, you should sit down and practice every day, looking at different functions or maybe even buy yourself a manual for $20. If you do go for the course, remember that you will still need to practice everything you learned that day. The lessons may be done very quickly and things may not be repeated, whereas with a book, you can go at your own pace.

Good luck. :)