Remain competitive

Skills in Photoshop are often listed as "advantageous" in descriptions attached to job applications. Learning Photoshop skills will give one a competitive edge over other applicants who do not know how to use the software. Knowledge of Adobe products, including Photoshop, is becoming increasingly desirable as part of a sound digital skill set, in addition to a good grasp of Microsoft Office.

Create high quality marketing content

Using Photoshop, it is possible to create a vast range of high quality marketing content, including designing content for your social media profiles, producing animated banner ads and creating a stylish and innovative design for one's blog. Photoshop enables users to perform basic graphic design functions as well as simple animations, making it a good all-rounder in the Adobe Creative Suite family.

Retouch images for profit or pleasure

One of the most common uses for Photoshop is retouching images. Various results can be achieved, from enhancing colour and contrast and airbrushing imperfections, to using deep-etching to remove a section of an image from its background, cloning one area of an image and copying it to another, and using the warp tool to dramatically manipulate the shape and form of text or images. Whether one wants to enhance the quality of one's own photographs to create a high quality album, or want to use one's skills for profit (in one's regular job, or as a freelancer), there are thousands of possibilities made available by Photoshop.

Add Photoshop skills to one's CV with the University of Cape Town Photoshop short course, which starts on Friday, 13 September. The course is presented part-time and entirely online by the University of Cape Town in partnership with GetSmarter.

For more information, phone Jade on 021 447 7565 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, visit www.getsmarter.co.za.