By Gabe Paredes, Creative Coordinator
Let's face it: getting into the Adobe suite is hard. The programs are cluttered, convoluted and overly expensive. They’re equally useful, though, as one can make a career out of what they create on Adobe. Having fluency on the Suite or software like it gets you one step closer to being prepared for a career in communication and design. Here are three tips to get you started on Adobe.
Take Advantage of the Student Discount
The best way to get over a fear of doing something is doing it, a lot. Same applies to the Adobe Suite.
A major positive from our time online is the fact that the university gave students free Adobe Suite access. This let students practice all they wanted in the comfort of their own laptops. No more going to the I.C. with the mere hope that a computer is free to use and having logout once finished to let others use it.
Good things don’t last forever though. As we go back to normal, so does our Adobe access. Students once again have to pay to get the Adobe software on their personal devices. While unfortunate, I strongly think that this is a very valuable investment for all students interested in design and communication, especially with the 60% discount of $19.99 a month. This lets students access and practice on the Adobe Suite anywhere they go. These programs are pivotal to all careers in this field. Might as well get the hang of them now at a reduced price.
The 30-70 rule
I’ll admit that Adobe software is so well equipped with tools and effects that it feels overwhelming at times. The good news is that you don’t have to know how to use half of the features in order to create quality work.
I live by the 30-70 rule: You only use 30% of the features, 70% of the time.
This means that a majority of projects will only require a select few tools to complete. Once you’ve mastered these tools and become more accustomed to the program, you’ll be halfway there to figuring out all the other features if you need to. To learn how to use the first 30%, or if you still have questions, luckily there are a plethora of resources like YouTube to help you out.
YouTube University
I’m a proud student of YouTube University.
No, sadly YouTube doesn’t have a special Adobe degree. If it did, I strongly believe that it’d be the best in the world. YouTube University is what I like to call the almost infinite amount of Adobe tutorials and pro-tips you can find on the site.
If Adobe were a language, YouTube would be the Oxford Dictionary. Following the 30-70 rule, you don’t have to know all the vocabulary to be fluent in the language. You just have to be flexible and know how to find the answer through your resources.
Although there are plenty of other tutorial resources, YouTube is by far my favorite. It’s the first place I go to if I don’t know what I’m doing on Adobe and that’s all the time. YouTube always gets me through, and it gives me the opportunity to learn how to do more on the software I’m using.