4-lesson course · about 2 hours

Delivering Editable Source Files, Not Just Polished Previews

For Designers, photographers, editors and creative producers using Adobe tools to develop, refine and deliver visual assets

Everything for Adobe creatives

For designers and retouchers integrating generative AI: learn to build non-destructive, layered files with clear naming and records so your sources are as reviewable and editable as your final previews.

Try lesson 1 freeSee what you’ll learn

What you’ll be able to do

By the end, you can…

Protect primary sourcesLock original assets at the bottom of your layer stack. This ensures that the primary photograph remains untouched and accessible, preventing destructive edits during complex retouching sessions.
Avoid 'baked-in' AI fillsStructure Photoshop files using non-destructive layers and masks. You will be able to hand off files where generative elements are separate and editable, so teammates can revise AI fills without starting over.
Verify generative physicsInspect contact shadows, reflections, and edges at 200 percent zoom. This habit allows you to spot perspective errors and repeated textures that often go unnoticed in a polished preview but fail a professional review.
Define product boundariesCategorize image elements as required or optional based on the project brief. You will learn to draw a strict boundary between untouchable product details and the generative environment elements.
Ensure visual transparencyLabel specific pixels as either photographed or generated. This creates a clear audit trail within the file, ensuring transparency for team members and clients regarding what was captured and what was invented.
Create professional export recordsDocument export specifications, including size, format, version, and source. You will be able to record client permissions for generative settings to ensure every delivered asset meets legal and technical requirements.

How it works

A tutor that meets you where you are

  1. Adaptive Learning PathYour lessons are not static. The AI dynamically adjusts the depth and pace of the material based on your current skill level as you reach each new module.
  2. One-on-One AI TutorYou have a personal tutor available at all times to guide you through the coursework. You can ask for clarification or deeper examples via typed text or out-loud voice conversations.
  3. Reinforcement ToolsEvery lesson is paired with targeted quizzes and digital flashcards. These tools ensure you have mastered the technical non-destructive habits before moving to the next topic.
  4. Progress TrackingKeep a clear record of your journey with built-in progress monitoring. Once you have completed all modules and requirements, you will receive a certificate of completion.

Curriculum

The curriculum

This focused course teaches you how to maintain professional file structures while integrating generative AI into your retouching and design workflow.

Module 1Non-Destructive AI Workflows4 lessons

  1. 1Defining the Boundary: Required vs. Optional
    • Categorize image elements as either required or optional based on a product brief
    • Draw a boundary between untouchable product details and generative environment elements
  2. 2Structuring for Handoff: The Non-Destructive Stack
    • Lock original assets at the bottom of the layer stack
    • Implement non-destructive layers and masks to avoid flattened AI fills
    • Label pixels as either photographed or generated for transparency
  3. 3Physics-Based Inspection at 200 Percent
    • Inspect contact shadows, reflections, and glass edges at 200 percent zoom
    • Spot perspective errors and repeated textures in generative fills
  4. 4Recording Export and Permission Data
    • Record export specifications including size, format, version, and source
    • Document client permissions regarding the use of generative settings

Who it’s for

Made for you if…

Made for: Designers, photographers, editors and creative producers using Adobe tools to develop, refine and deliver visual assets

Production Designers

You often receive files that look great in the preview but are flattened into a single layer with baked-in AI fills. You need a system to ensure that every asset you hand off is reviewable and editable, so your teammates can make revisions without starting the project from scratch.

High-End Retouchers

You are integrating generative fill and Adobe Firefly into your workflow but want to maintain the non-destructive standards of professional production. This course helps you draw a clear line between untouchable product details and generative elements to keep your source files pristine.

Creative Leads and Art Directors

You are responsible for the final quality and legal compliance of assets before they reach the client. You need a reliable method for your team to label photographed versus generated pixels and document permissions so that every export is technically and visually verified.

Freelance Visual Artists

You want to deliver agency-grade source files that demonstrate your professionalism beyond the final JPEG. By structuring your PSDs with locked originals and clear naming conventions, you provide the transparency and flexibility that high-paying clients expect during the review process.

Questions

Good to know

Do I need to know how to prompt AI to take this course?

No. This course focuses on file structure, non-destructive editing, and inspection rather than prompt engineering for artistic style. You only need basic experience with Adobe Firefly or Photoshop generative fill to start.

Which software and tools are covered in the lessons?

The course focuses on professional workflows within Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. You will learn how to manage generative elements using these tools to ensure your source files remain editable and reviewable.

What are the prerequisites for this course?

You should have an intermediate level of proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, specifically with layers and masking. Basic familiarity with generative fill tools is also required to follow the non-destructive workflows.

What does 'physics-based inspection' actually mean?

It is the practice of checking AI outputs at 200 percent zoom to find errors the machine often makes. You will learn to inspect contact shadows, reflections, glass edges, and perspective lines to ensure they look realistic.

How does the course help with client permissions and transparency?

You will learn to label pixels as either photographed or generated so there is no confusion about the source. The course also teaches you how to document client permissions regarding whether a generated setting is acceptable for the final asset.

Will this teach me how to organize my layers for a better handoff?

Yes. You will learn to lock original assets at the bottom of the stack and use a non-destructive layer structure. This prevents the common problem of 'baked-in' AI fills that force the next designer to start over.

How do I handle product details that cannot be changed by AI?

The course teaches you how to categorize elements as 'required' or 'optional' based on the project brief. You will learn to draw a strict boundary between untouchable product details, like labels or colors, and optional generative environment elements.

What kind of export records will I learn to create?

You will learn to record detailed export specifications for every asset you deliver. This includes documenting the size, format, version, and the specific source used to create the final file.

Master the art of the professional handoff

$47

One payment · lifetime access

  • Techniques for non-destructive AI layer stacks
  • Methodology for physics-based inspection at 200% zoom
  • Framework for separating required product details from optional generative elements
  • Standards for recording export specs and client permissions
  • Workflows for labeling photographed versus generated pixels
  • Strategies for locking primary assets to prevent source loss

Secure checkout by Stripe. Have a promotion code? Enter it at checkout.

Refunds: Full refund if you ask before you open your first lesson. Once you’ve started, purchases aren’t refundable, except where the law gives you that right.

Already bought it? Sign in