Is Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights worth it if you’re shopping in Photography?
Quick answer
| Best for | Digital artists and photographers who want to master the specific technique of painting rain, splashes, and bokeh lights in Photoshop from scratch. |
| Skip if | You are looking for a general Photoshop 101 course, a plugin, or a tutorial that relies on pre-made brushes rather than manual digital painting. |
| Price | $10 |
| Format | ~80-minute video tutorial + full set of stock source images |
| One-line take | A rare $10 deep-dive that teaches you to paint atmospheric effects instead of just masking them. |
What you’re actually buying
Most Photoshop tutorials for “moody city scenes” rely on heavy masking, smart objects, and pre-made brushes. You drag, drop, and adjust opacity. It’s fast, but it doesn’t teach you how to actually create the texture of rain or the glow of a neon sign. Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights flips that script. Kevin Carden walks you through an 80-minute session where the raindrops, water splashes, and city lights are painted by hand inside Photoshop. This is a significant distinction. You aren’t just learning how to composite; you’re learning the brushwork, layering, and blending modes required to simulate atmospheric depth and wet surfaces.
The value here isn’t just the video—it’s the complete asset kit. You get every stock image used in the project, meaning you can follow along in real-time without hunting for your own reference photos. This is critical for a tutorial of this complexity. If you miss a step or want to experiment with different backgrounds, you have the exact source files to test your new skills. The curriculum moves from the base composition into the detailed painting of weather effects, and finally lands on color grading and post-processing. That final stage is where the image stops looking like a digital painting and starts looking like a cohesive, professional photograph. (Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights)
For $10, you’re getting a full stack: the step-by-step video, the source assets, and a specific workflow for creating a “colorful rainy scene.” It’s a focused, high-skill lesson that bridges the gap between photo editing and digital illustration. If you’ve ever wanted to add that “cinematic” wet-street vibe to your work but felt lost in the technical execution, the City Lights workflow provides the missing manual.
Why it’s on our radar
This tutorial stands out because it treats Photoshop as a painting tool, not just a masking tool. Most $10–$20 digital goods in the photography niche are either generic presets or shallow “10 things to fix” guides. Kevin Carden’s approach is more akin to a masterclass in a specific, high-demand aesthetic: the atmospheric, rainy cityscape. (Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights)
The inclusion of the stock images is a smart move for learners. It removes the friction of sourcing materials, allowing you to focus entirely on the technique. You’re not spending an hour on Unsplash trying to find a photo with the right angle; you’re immediately in the editing suite, learning how to build the rain and the glow. It’s a specific job-to-be-done: “I want to learn how to paint rain and lights in Photoshop.” If that’s your goal, this is a direct, no-fluff path to that skill. (Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights)
What actually matters
Before you buy, keep these three checks in mind to ensure this matches your current skill level and goals: (Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights)
- You need to be comfortable with the Brush Tool. This is not a “drag and drop” tutorial. You will be painting raindrops and splashes. If you haven’t touched a digital brush in Photoshop before, this might feel intense. It’s best for intermediate users who know their layers and blending modes but want to expand their artistic range. (Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights)
- The 80-minute runtime is a commitment. This is a full session, not a 15-minute tip. Plan to sit down with a coffee and follow along closely. The depth is what makes it valuable, but it requires your full attention to absorb the technique. (Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights)
- It’s a style-specific lesson. You are learning how to create a colorful rainy scene. While the principles of painting rain and grading color are transferable, the specific aesthetic is very particular. If you’re looking for a tutorial on portrait retouching or landscape HDR, this isn’t it. (Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights)
If you are looking to add a new, high-impact skill to your portfolio, the step-by-step painting guide is a solid investment for the price.
Mid-check
If you’re ready to start painting your own atmospheric city scenes, you can grab the full tutorial and asset pack right now. (Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights)
FAQ
Is this tutorial suitable for complete Photoshop beginners? It’s best for users who already know the basics of layers, masks, and the interface. Because the tutorial focuses on manual painting of effects, you’ll want to be comfortable navigating the workspace without getting lost in the menus. If you’re brand new, you might want to start with a general “Photoshop 101” course first. (Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights)
Do I get the files to practice with? Yes. This is a key feature of the Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights package. You receive all the stock images used in the video. This allows you to follow along exactly and also lets you experiment with the techniques on different base images if you want to test your new skills.
How long is the video? The main tutorial is approximately 80 minutes long. It’s a comprehensive walk-through that covers everything from the initial composition to the final color grading. It’s designed to be watched in one sitting or broken up into two sessions if you prefer to practice as you go. (Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights)
Does this include any plugins or presets? No. The beauty of this tutorial is that it relies on native Photoshop tools—specifically the brush tool, blending modes, and adjustment layers. You don’t need to buy additional plugins or install third-party presets. Everything you need is built into the software. (Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights)
Bottom line
If you’re tired of tutorials that just show you how to mask things and want to learn how to actually create texture and atmosphere, this is a fantastic value. For $10, you get a deep, 80-minute lesson in digital painting techniques that will elevate your cityscape and moody photography work. The inclusion of the source files makes it a complete learning package. (Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights)
If you’ve been wanting to master the look of rain and neon lights in your edits, Photoshop Tutorial - City Lights is the direct path to that skill.