Looking to break into Web Development or Design? An Adobe qualification might be for you…
Whether you’re still searching for your dream job, or you’re ready to move to the next level with a professional qualification, the Adobe Suite is essential knowledge for anyone looking to work in a creative field.
Not sure what your options are? Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to know:
What is Adobe?
Adobe is the global leader in producing digital marketing and creative software.
They offer a wide range of programs from web design tools, photo manipulation and vector creation, through to video/audio editing, mobile app development, print layout and animation software.
The Adobe Creative Suite (CS) and the Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) are a series of software programs, comprising of graphic design, video editing and web development applications, allowing users all over the world to create ground-breaking content, whether it’s in print, or online.
What is Adobe used for?
Adobe produces multiple software programmes, so their uses are extremely vast, and ultimately dependent on the product you’re using.
You could do anything from design graphics, edit photos, and build animations, to design websites, make videos, edit audio, and much more.
All you need is a computer and the right programme, and Adobe has you covered.
What Adobe products are there?
Here’s a quick rundown of the types of Adobe software, and who uses them:
- Graphic design software
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Pagemaker, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe InDesign, Adobe InCopy, Adobe ImageReady, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Freehand, Adobe FrameMaker, Adobe Fireworks, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe XD.
Perfect for: Photographers, Illustrators, Graphic Designers.
- Web design software
Adobe Muse, Adobe GoLive, Adobe Flash Builder, Adobe Flash, Adobe Edge, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Contribute.
Perfect for: Web Designers, Web Developers.
- Video editing, animation, and visual effects software
Adobe Ultra, Adobe Spark Video, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Premiere Elements, Adobe Prelude, Adobe Encore, Adobe Director, Adobe Animate, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Character Animator.
Perfect for: Videographers, Editors, Animators.
Adobe also provides audio editing software, eLearning software, and digital marketing and management software – such as Adobe Marketing Cloud.
What are the most popular Adobe qualifications?
Here are some of the most popular Adobe qualifications, that allow you to get certified in particular Adobe programs:
Adobe Dreamweaver courses. Will teach you how to build, publish and manage a range of websites and applications using Adobe Dreamweaver.
Adobe Flash courses. Will teach you how to create rich content, such as vector graphics and animations, as well as interactive content, such as mobile applications and games with Adobe Flash.
Adobe Illustrator courses. Will teach you how to use Illustrator to create artwork for projects in print, and online.
Adobe InDesign courses. Will teach you how to use the industry standard publishing application for both print and online. You’ll learn how to create content ranging from posters and brochures, through to magazines, newspapers and books.
Adobe Photoshop courses. Will teach you how to use one of the most popular Adobe programs to edit, manipulate, and retouch images, as well as create image compositions and website mockups.
Adobe Premiere courses. Will teach you how to produce professional quality finished products using Premiere, a timeline-based video editing platform. This will involve learning how to add effects, grading, titles and other features to videos.
Will I become certified?
Yes. Certifications are available for all of the programs listed above, as are many others under the Adobe banner.
All Adobe certifications come under the CS or CC categories, for Creative Suite and Creative Cloud respectively. CS6 is the most up-to-date of the Creative Suite certifications.
How long will it take?
As many of the courses can be taken part-time and online, how long it takes to get qualified will generally be up to you.
It will also depend on your previous level of experience, and how much studying is needed before the exam.
As a rough guideline, most courses offer a year’s worth of support, and many include exams as part of the package.
What are the benefits of taking an Adobe course?
There are many potential benefits of becoming Adobe certified, including:
- Being in greater demand by employers
- Validating your skills
- Opportunities for career advancement
- More lucrative salaries
- Being globally-recognised as an expert in your field
How to become a Graphic Designer
How do I know if an Adobe course is right for me?
Still not convinced? Becoming Adobe certified might be for you if:
- You’re interested in becoming a Graphic Designer, Web Designer or Web Developer
- You’ve always wanted to build your own websites, applications and animations
- You regularly use Adobe products and want sharpen your skills
- You’re looking for something to help your CV stand-out
- You just want to make your holiday pictures look a little bit better
Ready to start studying? View all Adobe courses now.
