Photoshop + Illustrator Unleashed
Master Photoshop and Illustrator in 8 Weeks
Master the basics of Photoshop and Illustrator and gain invaluable insights in this introductory level course from Jake Bartlett. By the end of this course, you'll be able to create your own artwork from scratch with tools and workflows used by professional designers every day.
Class Start Date:
August 7, 2023
July 10, 2023
July 10, 2023
Course Length:
Session Duration:
8 Weeks
3 Payments of
Instant Access! Start learning immediately.
100% Free! Start learning immediately.
This Course Bundle Includes:
8 Weeks
of video lessons,
guides, and access to our 24/7 motion community
podcasts, guides, and support
from our amazing team!
guides, and access to our
24/7 motion community!
podcasts, guides, and access to
our 24/7 motion community!
podcasts, guides, community
and critique from pros!
WEEK 1
Familiarize Yourself with the Course
It’s time to get comfortable..before things get intense! You’ll start right off learning how to work in Adobe Illustrator, completing your first vector illustration. This is a great warm up for what’s to come.
Using the Pen Tool
Now that you’ve jumped into the deep end, it’s time to get a handle on the different tools within the program. You’ll work with the Pen Tool until it becomes second nature, enabling you to recreate and rebuild a client logo for homework.
Cutting Out and Compositing Images
This week we’ll jump into Photoshop, where you’ll learn how to cut out and manipulate assets to create images that entertain and inform using blend modes, filters, and more. You’ll even have your first taste of what it’s like to work with direction from a Creative Director.
The History of Photoshop and Illustrator
Take a week off to focus on any lessons and homework you’re behind on. You’ll get a short primer on the history of Adobe software, and why a lot of the tools you’ve been using feel very similar even though they’re in different programs.
Setting Type
Let’s dive even deeper into the software and explore tools and techniques that will help you build up your design chops. You’re going to learn typography for both Ai and PS, and how to select a variety of styles based on client briefs. The main project for the week is creating your own illustration from scratch based on a theme, including sketching the concept, exploring references, and settling on a style.
Putting it All Together
You’ll be challenged like never before with a real-world project that will put all of your newfound Photoshop and Illustrator knowledge to the test. You’ll need to create a series of design boards for a client, and we’re expecting professional results. As a bonus, check out how the boards you’re creating can be brought into AE and animated to complete and actual commercial.
Extended Critique Period
You’ve got an additional 2 weeks to finish your final project and to get targeted feedback from your Teaching Assistant. This should give you plenty of time to give that project some polish so you can start building up your portfolio.
Learn the secrets of high-end work
Better than in-person training
School of Motion instant-access courses are unlike anything you've ever experienced. Along with world-class training, you'll also get access to tons of professional project files and a 24/7 network of likeminded artists, and more support than you'll know what to do with.
Over 20,000 artists have taken School of Motion courses, find out what all the hype is about.
School of Motion courses are unlike anything you've ever experienced. Along with world-class training, you'll also get 1-on-1 feedback from an industry pro, a 24/7 network of likeminded artists, and more support than you'll know what to do with.
Over 17,000 artists have taken School of Motion courses, find out what all the hype is about.
This instant-access course features
Exercises and project files for every lesson
Each course comes packed with free project files, assets, and additional material to keep you learning and growing long after the course ends. Our exercises are designed from real world briefs, so you’re learning the skills you need to excel on your next project or venture.
Permanent access to course materials
We all need a refresher now and again, which is why you’ll keep access to your course—and all the assets and project files—for the rest of your life. Come back to listen to exclusive interviews, review old lessons, and try out new techniques using your old assets.
Support from the School of Motion team
Reach out to our incredible support team at any time to answer questions about the material, or to help you find the best way to achieve your career goals. We are here to help.
This instant-access course features
Exercises and project files for every lesson
Each course comes packed with free project files, assets, and additional material to keep you learning and growing long after the course ends. Our exercises are designed from real world briefs, so you’re learning the skills you need to excel on your next project or venture.
Real-world examples and video training
We go above and beyond when producing our courses, making sure that the curriculum is presented in the right order, with the right examples, and using the best practices currently used in the industry. In short, you're learning to do things the way they're done in the real world.
Permanent access to course materials
We all need a refresher now and again, which is why you’ll keep access to your course—and all the assets and project files—for the rest of your life. Come back to listen to exclusive interviews, review old lessons, and try out new techniques using your old assets.
A world-wide artist community
You’ll gain instant access to our 24/7 motion design community, The Square. Here you can network with professional artists at every stage of their career. You’ll get to meet new friends, ask for help, and build your network.
This instant-access course features
Exercises and project files for every lesson
Each course comes packed with free project files, assets, and additional material to keep you learning and growing long after the course ends. Our exercises are designed from real world briefs, so you’re learning the skills you need to excel on your next project or venture.
Real-world examples and video training
We go above and beyond when producing our courses, making sure that the curriculum is presented in the right order, with the right examples, and using the best practices currently used in the industry. In short, you're learning to do things the way they're done in the real world.
Permanent access to course materials
We all need a refresher now and again, which is why you’ll keep access to your course—and all the assets and project files—for the rest of your life. Come back to listen to exclusive interviews, review old lessons, and try out new techniques using your old assets.
A world-wide artist community
You’ll gain instant access to our 24/7 motion design community, The Square. Here you can network with professional artists at every stage of their career. You’ll get to meet new friends, ask for help, and build your network.
What makes us different?
Cohort-Based Learning
Join artists from around the world on our custom learning platform. Never learn alone, as you’ll have immediate access to a forum of fellow students to share work, ask questions, and improve together.
Exercises and project files for every lesson
Each course comes packed with free project files, assets, and additional material to keep you learning and growing long after the course ends. Our exercises are designed from real world briefs, so you’re learning the skills you need to excel on your next project or venture.
Technical and creative support along the way
You’ll be assigned a Teaching Assistant with years of experience in your chosen course. They’ll provide technical and creative feedback to guide you through new skills, improve your techniques, and provide encouragement along your journey.
Verified credential upon course completion
Completing a course isn’t just about bragging rights. Once you’ve completed at least 70% of your work in a given course, you’ll earn a verified credential that can show current and future employers exactly what you’ve accomplished.
Permanent access to course materials
We all need a refresher now and again, which is why you’ll keep access to your course—and all the assets and project files—for the rest of your life. Come back to listen to exclusive interviews, review old lessons, and try out new techniques using your old assets.
A world-wide alumni community
You’ll gain instant access to our alumni platform, The Square. Here you can network with professional artists at every stage of their career. You’ll get access to new job opportunities and exclusive alumni events, such as meetups, virtual hangouts and reel reviews.
Meet your instructor
Jake Bartlett
Digital Creator & Educator
Jake Bartlett is a motion designer and online instructor based in Denver Colorado. After working at a production company in Los Angeles for nearly five years he decided to quit his day job to pursue the freelancer’s life, teaching animation online. His creativity runs on coffee, lego bricks and “Weird Al” Yankovic. Throughout his career he’s had the opportunity to work for clients like Coca-Cola, Twitter, Skype, Evernote, HGTV, NatGeo Wild and Norah Jones.
School of Motion alumni work at
companies like these
.svg){kind=logo}
Our no-risk money back policy
We want to make sure you have a positive learning experience with us, so for any session based course you're enrolled in, you can request a refund any time within 30 days of purchase.
We want to make sure you have a positive learning experience with us, so for any session based course you're enrolled in, you can request a refund up until the end of Week 3 of the course
Registration Opens
June 24, 2023
Class Start Date:
August 7, 2023
July 10, 2023
July 10, 2023
Course Length:
Session Duration:
8 Weeks
3 Payments of
Instant-Access! Start learning immediately.
100% Free! Start learning immediately.
Join over 20,000 alumni around the globe
Frequently Asked Questions
Photoshop and Illustrator Unleashed is for the true beginner. You could be brand new to the tools, or someone who is self taught but doesn't feel confident using the software. This course will help you master the most commonly used tools in both Photoshop and Illustrator as well as best practices to use them.
The only thing you need to take this class is a desire to learn Photoshop & Illustrator and an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. We'll take you from blank page to a finished piece, giving you the opportunity to build new skills with each lesson.
Photoshop and Illustrator Unleashed is an 8-week course. Lessons become available at a specific time each week but you can watch them and do your work whenever it is convenient for you. The lessons include pre-recorded videos, podcasts, PDFs and assignments with working files.
All student work is critiqued by our highly trained Teaching Assistants. School of Motion TA's are professional Animators with real life experience in the industry.
During the course you will be invited to a private classroom that contains all of the students and Teaching Assistants in your session. This is a great tool for connecting, asking or answering questions, sharing thoughts or insights, and winning cool contests!
Yes, if you complete, submit, and have 70% of your course assignments approved by your Teaching Assistant you will be eligible for a Course Credential through Credly. With your Credly Course Credential, you can share your accomplishments across your social networks, the blockchain, or to print out yourself.
You can begin with either course. There are no prerequisites for either and both are a ton of fun! But if you are really on the fence about which one to take, we suggest Photoshop and Illustrator Unleashed first. This way you can become familiar with the tools that Adobe has to offer. You'll have more time getting comfortable in the software, making artwork, and learning techniques that you can use in some of the exercises in After Effects Kickstart.
You'll also have a better understanding of how Photoshop and Illustrator files are set up and created. This can be helpful when working with imported artwork in After Effects, which you will do in After Effects Kickstart.
- Adobe Illustrator CC 2018.1 (22.1.0 or Higher)
- Adobe Photoshop CC 2018 (19.1.5 or Higher)
Photoshop and Illustrator Unleashed is an 8-week course. You'll have the flexibility to watch the course content and complete your course work on your schedule. However, you can expect to commit at least 15 - 20 hours per week on course material. The video lesson are 1-2 hours in length. There are 9 assignments total. Assignments are typically assigned on Mondays and Thursdays with soft deadlines the next day. We have designated catch-up weeks built into the schedule so students have extra time to complete their assignments if needed. There is also an extended critique add-on for those that want more time with a Teaching Assistant after the 8-week course or need more time to complete assignments towards earning a credential.
Yes! Once you complete Photoshop and Illustrator Unleashed, you’ll have lifetime access to all the course lessons and materials, so you can revisit them whenever you like. Also, if we make any changes to Photoshop and Illustrator Unleashed following your session, you’ll automatically receive access to the latest version.
Please note: Video critiques change each session, so you’ll only have access to the video critiques during the session you're enrolled in. The written critiques you receive in your homework locker as well as the classroom content will also remain available to you forever!
You will not recognize your work when class is over.
Our courses have been meticulously designed to simulate real-world situations so that you're learning best-practices from day one. You'll be challenged, supported, and celebrated by your fellow artists as you level-up in real-time.
Are you ready to take the next step in your career?
Registration Opens
June 24, 2023
Class Start Date:
August 7, 2023
July 10, 2023
July 10, 2023
Course Length:
Session Duration:
8 Weeks
3 Payments of
Instant-Access! Start learning immediately.
100% Free! Start learning immediately.