Photoshop / Adobe Illustrator help

[Bgr1936]

I need to get up to speed on these programmes - never used either before. Any tips on the best / cheapest way to access them - iPad or laptop? anyone know of an easy guide, printed or online, which could help me gain basic proficiency?

100% not the ipad, it's an abridged version. Unfortunately as the opportunities are endless there really isn't a comprehensive guide as such and many people approach the same things in very different ways. Youtube is the best place. I think the best approach is to follow along some little project tutorials that give you an insight into each of the tools. When you get more of a feel for what you like creating (working with photography, making patterns, making posters for example) then you can look for more specific tutorials, it will snowball!

Good luck!

this is the wonderful platform for art and craft, the best part is they also accept guest posts.

Regarding guides, this channel on Youtube is what I've used to learn Adobe products, he explains things really clearly:

I would say best way is to take some family pictures and start editing them in lightroom. Contrast, exposure, shadows, etc. Try to make the photos pop, but not too much.

Photoshop is more advanced, but you can get filter modules which make things simpler.

But really, it depends on what you are photographing. Whether you are aiming for realism or something a little more left field.

There's no cheap way to access Adobe products, unless you're eligible for a student discount.

Afinity is very similar but alot cheaper.

I agree with PP not the iPad. Using Adobe on Mac is more efficient in terms of processing ability if the laptop / desktop had a graphics card. I mostly use illustrator because I don’t usually work with pixels so it really depends on what you’d be wanting to use them for? I found good old YouTube tutorials perfect for gaining a basic skill set. I’m currently learning procreate as it’s an amazing way to add texture easily and for sketching a design out with the assisted pen control, and I use my iPad for procreate.