Design with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
Choose a starting date
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 18 May 2025End Date: 13 Jul 2025Sun (Daytime): 11:00 - 17:00In PersonFull fee £649.00 Senior fee £519.00 Concession £422.00
- Start Date: 16 Nov 2025End Date: 01 Feb 2026Sun (Daytime): 11:00 - 17:00In PersonFull fee £699.00 Senior fee £559.00 Concession £454.00
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This course is about learning the basics of how to use the latest version of Adobe® Creative Cloud for Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign – the three main programs used by graphic designers for print. Gain experience with the different software and learn how they can be integrated in your projects while you explore a variety of design techniques and concepts.
What will we cover?
Please note: this course is usually oversubscribed. Those that sign up for it are expected to participate fully and will be required to do homework each week.
- Fundamentals of InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator for print
- Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign integration
- Design and illustration concepts, composition, colour, texture and pattern
- Editing Raster images with Photoshop
- Using Photoshop to repair, enhance and combine images into photomontages
- Vector graphics and illustration with Illustrator
- Using Illustrator to create illustrations, graphics, logos and patterns
- Page layout and design with InDesign
- Using InDesign to layout pages, create multi-page documents and compile projects,
- Typography basics, saving text styles and wrapping text around images
- Saving and exporting work to different file formats.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Identify the main differences between, and the uses for
Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
Use Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign for the following:
- Create designs
- Layout page/s with text and images
- Set up and indicate: bleed, crop and fold marks for folded materials
- Save a body of work for future development.
- Export a pdf for print or online viewing
- Export images for web and print.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No prior knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign is required. However,students should be confident and competent computer users on a Mac or a Windows PC and be proficient with a mouse and keyboard in either a creative software, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or equivalent and should be able to download, upload, save, open and retrieve files. Some awareness of design for print or any other art/design practice would be useful.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught using a range of techniques including short lectures, demonstrations, practical exercises, tutorials, group and individual assistance. Student preparation and homework outside class times is strongly encouraged.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No costs. Should you wish to practice outside class time, you will need to have access to your own licensed Adobe® Creative Cloud software.
Pen and notepad for note taking. You may also find that having a couple of sheets of A4 paper and a ruler to hand would also be useful. Handouts for this course will be provided electronically and are best viewed in Adobe Acrobat Reader (or, if you have full Creative Cloud, Acrobat DC) so may want to have Acrobat on your computer.
As a City Lit student, you may be entitled to student discount on Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Please visit the Adobe website Creative Cloud for education webpage for full details.
*Please note that your Adobe account is not accessible to City Lit and no technical support can be provided. At renewal, you will need to create another Adobe account using your personal email.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please click here to view our courses in the Adobe Creative Cloud.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: Use of Third-Party Software
This course might require you to either use your own personal account or create an account for the purposes of this course. City Lit cannot accept any responsibility for any failings of the third party or provide technical support. Whilst using the software you will be responsible for abiding by the providers terms and conditions and maintaining your own work.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.