Is Photoshop Tutorial - Night Reading worth it if you’re shopping in Photography?
There is a specific type of Photoshop frustration that hits when you watch a 20-minute “masterclass” that skips the messy middle. You see the final composite, you admire the lighting, and then you try to replicate it only to realize the instructor never showed you how they actually cut out the subject, matched the color temperature, or blended the edges without a halo. That gap between “inspiration” and “execution” is exactly where most tutorials fail you. (Photoshop Tutorial - Night Reading)
Kevin Carden’s Photoshop Tutorial - Night Reading takes a different approach by stripping away the polish and showing the entire 100-minute process of building a surreal composite from scratch. It’s not a quick tip-and-trick reel; it’s a full, unedited walkthrough of a project he created with his wife, complete with the exact stock assets and custom brushes he used. If you’ve ever stared at a complex digital artwork and wondered, “How did they actually make that look real?” this $10 resource is designed to answer that question with step-by-step precision.
Quick answer
| Best for | Intermediate Photoshop users who want to learn compositing, blending, and color grading through a complete, real-world project. |
| Skip if | You are a complete beginner who hasn’t mastered basic layers and masks, or if you are looking for a short, 10-minute quick tip. |
| Price | $10 |
| Format | ~100-minute video tutorial + stock images + custom Photoshop brushes |
| One-line take | A rare full-process breakdown that gives you the actual assets to practice alongside the instructor. |
What you’re actually buying
At $10, you aren’t just buying a video; you are buying a practice environment. Most tutorials force you to hunt down your own reference photos, which often leads to mismatched lighting and scale that makes the final composite look amateurish. Here, you get the exact stock images Kevin Carden used for the “Night Reading” piece. This means you can open Photoshop, drop in the same assets he did, and follow along pixel-for-pixel. It removes the variable of “finding the right photo” and lets you focus entirely on the technical skills of compositing.
The core of the product is a roughly 100-minute video that walks through nine distinct stages of the workflow. It starts with drawing the space scene and editing the book, then moves into the heavy lifting: cutting out the book, beginning the composition, and extracting the model. The later stages—adding the model to the book, blending, color grading, and final polishing—are where the real value lies. These are the steps that separate a flat collage from a believable image. By watching the full blending and color grading sequence, you learn how to make disparate elements feel like they exist in the same physical space.
Crucially, the pack includes the custom Photoshop brushes used in the project. Brushes are often the secret sauce in compositing, used for softening edges, adding texture, or creating specific lighting effects. Having access to the exact tools the instructor uses allows you to replicate the specific look and feel of the final image, rather than guessing at brush settings. This combination of video instruction, source assets, and custom tools makes it a complete learning kit rather than just a passive viewing experience.
Why it’s on our radar
This tutorial stands out because it prioritizes process over polish. In a market saturated with 5-minute “how to make a glow” videos, a 100-minute deep dive into a single, complex project is a breath of fresh air. It respects the viewer’s time by showing the full journey, including the decisions made at each stage. (Photoshop Tutorial - Night Reading)
The inclusion of the source files is a significant differentiator. It transforms the tutorial from a “watch and learn” experience into a “do and learn” experience. You can pause the video, try the technique yourself with the provided assets, and see the immediate results. This is particularly valuable for learning compositing, where context and asset quality matter more than in other areas of Photoshop. The specific job-to-be-done here is clear: learn how to build a multi-element composite from start to finish, with all the necessary resources provided. (Photoshop Tutorial - Night Reading)
What actually matters
Before you buy, consider your current skill level. This tutorial assumes you are comfortable with basic Photoshop navigation, layer management, and masking. If you are still struggling with the basics, you might find the pace too fast or the concepts too advanced. However, if you can handle basic tools, this is an excellent way to level up your compositing skills. (Photoshop Tutorial - Night Reading)
Check the video length carefully. 100 minutes is a substantial commitment. If you are looking for a quick fix or a single technique, this might be overkill. But if you are looking to understand the full workflow of a complex composite, the length is a feature, not a bug. It allows for a thorough explanation of each step, from the initial drawing to the final polish. (Photoshop Tutorial - Night Reading)
Finally, verify that you have the version of Photoshop required to use the provided brushes. While most standard brushes are compatible across versions, it’s always good to check. The Photoshop Tutorial - Night Reading is a practical, hands-on resource that rewards your time with tangible skills and a completed project you can be proud of.
Mid-check
If you’re ready to dive into the full process and get the assets to practice with, See current options
FAQ
Is this tutorial suitable for complete beginners? Not really. While the step-by-step nature is helpful, the project involves advanced techniques like complex masking, blending modes, and color grading. You should be comfortable with basic Photoshop tools before starting this. (Photoshop Tutorial - Night Reading)
Do I need to buy the stock images separately? No. The stock images used in the tutorial are included in the purchase. This is a major advantage, as it ensures you are working with the same assets as the instructor, which is crucial for accurate compositing.
How long is the video? The video is approximately 100 minutes long. It covers the entire process from start to finish, so you can watch it in one sitting or break it up into smaller sessions. (Photoshop Tutorial - Night Reading)
Are the brushes included? Yes. The custom Photoshop brushes used in the project are included in the download. This allows you to replicate the specific effects and textures used in the final image.
Bottom line
If you are an intermediate Photoshop user looking to improve your compositing skills, Photoshop Tutorial - Night Reading is a fantastic value at $10. It provides a complete, real-world project with all the necessary assets and tools, allowing you to learn by doing. The 100-minute length ensures that you get a thorough understanding of the process, from the initial concept to the final polish. It’s a practical, hands-on resource that will help you take your Photoshop skills to the next level.