Is Ultimate Guide to Space Art worth it if you’re shopping in Photography?
Quick answer
| Best for | Digital artists and hobbyists who want to move beyond basic starry skies and learn to build realistic, layered space scenes in Photoshop. |
| Skip if | You are looking for a beginner intro to basic color theory, or you do not use Adobe Photoshop. |
| Price | $20 |
| Format | 12 project-based video tutorials, full PSD files, stock assets, and a custom brush pack. |
| One-line take | A dense, project-based crash course that hands you the exact files and brushes used to create professional-looking nebulae and planets. |
What you’re actually buying
Most space art tutorials stop at “add some noise and call it a nebula.” Kevin Carden’s Ultimate Guide to Space Art goes significantly deeper, treating the cosmos as a complex lighting and texture problem rather than just a background. For $20, you are not just getting a video series; you are getting the entire working environment. The package includes 12 individual projects that cover a wide range of celestial bodies, from dense nebulae to textured planets and star fields.
The real value here is the “open the file” factor. Every single project comes with the full PSD file, meaning you can peel back the layers and see exactly how the artist built the depth, the glow, and the atmospheric haze. You also get all the stock images used in the tutorials, so you never have to guess which assets were used to create a specific effect. This removes the friction of hunting for resources and lets you focus entirely on the technique. (Ultimate Guide to Space Art)
The custom SPACE BRUSH pack is a standout inclusion. Creating custom brushes is often a bottleneck for digital artists trying to mimic organic space phenomena, but this pack provides pre-made tools specifically designed for this genre. Carden even includes a detailed explanation on how to install these brushes and how to create your own, turning this from a simple asset download into a genuine skill-building workshop. With over 6 hours of video training, you have enough material to work through at your own pace without feeling rushed or under-explained.
Why it’s on our radar
This pack stands out because it solves the “blank canvas” paralysis that often hits artists when they try to depict something as vast and abstract as space. Instead of giving you a generic “how to use Photoshop” overview, it focuses entirely on the specific, difficult techniques required to make a black background look alive. The combination of 12 distinct projects and the inclusion of every single PSD file makes it an ideal reference library. You can buy this once and keep it as a permanent resource, pulling up specific layers whenever you need to remember how to handle a particular type of star flare or planetary surface. (Ultimate Guide to Space Art)
What actually matters
Before you commit, make sure your workflow aligns with Adobe Photoshop. This is a specialized toolset, and the techniques rely heavily on specific layer blending modes and filter stacks native to that software. If you are a complete beginner to digital painting, the jump from “basic shapes” to “realistic nebulae” might feel steep, but the 6-hour runtime suggests a gradual, project-based learning curve. (Ultimate Guide to Space Art)
Check your storage space and organization habits. Because you are receiving 12 full PSD files, a brush pack, and stock images, you will want a dedicated folder structure to keep these assets organized. The Ultimate Guide to Space Art is designed to be a long-term reference, not a one-time watch-and-forget video.
Mid-check
If you are ready to upgrade your space scenes from “flat” to “cinematic,” this is a high-value entry point. (Ultimate Guide to Space Art)
FAQ
Do I need to buy the stock images separately? No. The listing explicitly states that all stock images used in the projects are included in the package. This is a significant time-saver, as you won’t need to search for specific textures or base images to follow along with the tutorials. (Ultimate Guide to Space Art)
Is this suitable for complete beginners to Photoshop? It is best for those who already have a basic grasp of layers and tools. The focus is on advanced compositing and texture work specific to space art. If you are brand new to the software, you might want to spend a few days learning the interface before diving into the 12 space art projects.
Can I use the brush pack in other software? The brushes are designed for Photoshop. While some brush formats can be converted, the custom SPACE BRUSH pack is optimized for the Photoshop environment and its specific engine.
Bottom line
If you have been staring at a black canvas wondering how to make your space art look like it belongs in a sci-fi film, this is the shortcut. You get the theory, the practice, the files, and the tools all in one $20 bundle. It is a dense, high-quality resource that respects your time by giving you the exact assets and explanations you need to replicate the results. (Ultimate Guide to Space Art)