Total Training Online Review
Photoshop Training Courses
Reviewed Date: November 2007
Reviewed By: Jennifer Farley
Product Reviewed: Total Training Online


As both a design instructor and someone with a desire to learn more about the fine points of all kinds of design software, I was very keen to take a look at Total Trainings Online offerings. They have been producing high quality DVDs for over 10 years now and I have found them to be both educational and entertaining.

Exclusive 20% Discount On Select Total Training Products & BundlesThe website offers online training in many of the well-known Adobe products as well as the Microsoft Office and Expression software. Training plans are offered for access to; the "Adobe Library" – which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver, InCopy, InDesign and Premiere – the "Microsoft Library" – which includes ASP.net, Office, SQL Server Development, and the Expression set of design software. Also available is "All Access" presenting the whole shebang which is an incredible value. The lessons are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The library is absolutely bang up to date with most courses being the current version of the software. When you sign up and select the training plan you want, its simply a matter of lashing in your credit card number, choosing a username and password and off you go to your new homepage. The homepage is the base from where you pick your courses and navigate through them.

The interface is clean and simple to use. The upper part features the large window where the training videos appear while the lower part shows your courses and the parts that you have completed or yet to watch.

The video and sound is very high quality so theres no squinting your eyes to try and focus on a tiny pixilated screen. The standard controls are there so you can play, pause, stop and forward and rewind to your hearts content. When you have watched a particular topic or section, a tick will appear beside that topic to remind you that you have completed it. You can add a bookmark too, in case you need to get back there quickly. Overall the organization and layout is excellent.

Regarding the actually training material itself, Total Training can pride itself with hiring the best instructors. I watched several different courses and was impressed with their knowledge and importantly the ability to impart that knowledge to the viewer. The instructions are step by step and clearly explained.

An extra bonus and additional learning aid is the ability to download the project files that go with each lesson so that you can follow along with the instructor. The files are available to download either as a SIT or ZIP file if you are working on a MAC or a PC.

Support is also available by clicking on the Support tab, but I found the whole experience to be trouble free and, dare I say it, moron-proof. Any details you need to know about your account such as when your training expires, is easily found through the "My Subscriptions" tab.

Total Training Online is very impressive and also extremely good value for the money. No matter which training plan you choose, and each plan lasts for one year, you will have access to DAYS and DAYS of top quality training. Now all you have to do is practice!


View original at www.photoshopsupport.com