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If you're a digital artist who's always worked in 2D, the thought of stepping up to the third dimension probably sounds exciting but daunting. That's exactly how designer and developer David DeSandro felt, so he decided to create Zdog, a straightforward 3D modelling engine designed for use on the web. And after working on it for the last year, DeSandro recently launched it as a beta-release to the public. On the Zdog site, DeSandro explains that the 3D JavaScript engine is designed for use with <canvas> and SVG. And once you get to grips with it, you can design and render simple 3D models. What separates Zdog from other engines that have been used to create inspirational 3D art though is that while its geometries exist in 3D space, they are actually rendered from flat shapes. This has prompted DeSandro to describe Zdog as a pseudo-3D engine. "Zdog was designed to bring the simplicity of vector illustration into 3D," he reveals on the Zdog site. "Drawing circles and squares is easy and fun. Zdog just adds another dimension." His engine takes its inspiration from Dogz, a 1995 virtual pet game that used 2D sprites to render models in a 3D scene. "Zdog uses the same principal. It renders all shapes using 2D drawing API in <canvas> or <svg>. Spheres are actually dots. Toruses are actually circles . Capsules are actually thick lines. It’s a simple, but effective trick." For DeSandro, the decision to create Zdog came about after he struggled to get his head around other more powerful and complex 3D engines. "I made Zdog so I could design and display simple 3D models without a lot of overhead," he adds. The small but powerful library only weighs in at 2,100 lines of code, and the modelling is all done with a straight-forward declarative API. And because all round shapes are rendered as proper circles, they won't be distorted by polygonal jaggies. We've been blown away by the work DeSandro has created in Zdog. Take a look at some of the amazing examples he's shared below, complete with CodePen demo links, and head over to the Zdog site to download it for free today. Related articles: The best cities for 3D artists The hottest new tools for 3D artists this spring Check out these unbelievably realistic 3D portraits View the full article

ZBrush 2019 by Pixologic has some excellent new features for both 2D and 3D artists. The only downside (for some) may be that it has now migrated to a subscription model. There are monthly and six-monthly options, alongside its one-time perpetual licence offering. The price has grown steadily in recent years, but if you factor in that all upgrades have been free of charge (since the early 2000s), then there is not a lot to moan about. Plus, having a monthly option is always great news for small studios and freelancers who may need a small number of licences for a short period of time or a specific contract or 3D project (see our pick of inspiring 3D art). Let's take a look at the new tools ZBrush 2019 offers: Buy ZBrush 2019 from $39.95 a month ZBrush 2019: Non-photorealistic rendering Non-photorealistic rendering is a great addition for illustrators, designers and mixed-discipline artists [Image: Glen Southern] Accessed from the Render panel, NPR or non-photorealistic rendering adds a whole new system to change the look of your final renders. The range of styles is actually mind-boggling as there is now a huge range of sliders and settings to choose from and then combine. You can turn sculpts into a comic style with heavy outlines, overlay textures and paper styles, create hand-drawn effects similar to Photoshop filters or actions and even add halftone effects. This is not a huge bonus for traditional 3D artists perhaps, but it’s a great addition for illustrators and mixed-media artists wanting to stand out from the crowd in a saturated market. ZBrush 2019: ZRemesher and new folder system More of an improvement to subtools than a new feature, this version brings folders and a range of folder settings [Image: ZBrush] ZRemesher has been through two iterations already and both have been well received. It is essentially an auto retopology tool and it makes quick work of making really high-resolution models usable by giving you a fairly clean topology and edge loops for the most part. This latest version works better for hard-surface models as it can detect sharp surface angles and even maintain creased edges, as well as giving you polygroups. One big gripe with the subtool system in ZBrush has always been that you can’t easily group and manage your subtools effectively. This becomes a real issue when you get into hundreds of subtools per character. Good naming conventions helped, but a true folder system was needed and that’s now been added. Subtools can be placed into folders and there is even a folder setting button allowing you to access lots of folder actions like delete, transpose, merge and Boolean. The ability to move, scale and rotate the whole folder is a real bonus. Having used it for a few days it is a massive help in organising your creations, and it seems a shame that we only have one folder level and we can’t nest them (yet). ZBrush 2019: Snapshot 3D Snapshot 3D is an enhancement to the functions found on the Spotlight wheel. Spotlight was introduced to allow an artist to take any image (texture) and project it onto the surface of a model using Polypaint. It came in the form of a wheel that, when activated, allowed you to place the image or portion of the image over your model and then paint through, adding the texture to the surface below. Snapshot 3D works in the same way and as part of the Spotlight wheel. What’s different is that the textures, rather than applying anything to the model below, allow you to convert the image to a 3D model as a subtool. For example, if you take a greyscale image of a white cube on a black background and apply it through Spotlight, it will create a cube of that shape and size. Using complex greyscale images and the live Boolean function in the SubTool panel enables you to make extremely complex shapes very quickly. It is a novel way to add 3D geometry from 2D patterns and shapes. ZBrush 2019: Universal camera This release brings a new camera system that will be more familiar to 3D artists [Image: ZBrush] The ZBrush camera has often baffled new users as you could argue that it doesn’t really exist in any recognisable way. It is there as we are looking through it when we work, but it has always been seen as a weakness. ZBrush 2019 adds the Universal Camera, which now gives us some of the basic functions we would see in other 3D cameras. There is a focal length control, crop factor and even import and export functions. You can match the focal length of imported photographs and you can save some of the settings to reuse in other scenes. Of course, this now plays well with programs like KeyShot. Pixologic also added some new plugins, including Intersection Masker, allowing you to use a mesh to mask, and ZColor, which enhances digital painting tasks. ZBrush is still clearly the market-leader in digital sculpting packages, and this 2019 update brings some diverse new features and tools. Pixologic doesn’t always respond to industry needs, but has a habit of coming up with unique ways to solve problems. There’s plenty in this release for illustrators, designers and mixed-discipline artists, plus some much-needed additions for 3D artists such as the camera and folders. This article originally appeared in 3D World magazine; subscribe here. Buy ZBrush 2019 from $39.95 a month Read more: The best 3D modelling software in 2019 View the full article

For some reason, unlike any other industry we know of, non-creative folk have this idea that artists and designers like to do stuff for free. Actually, we do know why, it's 'for the exposure', right? Wrong. It's a misconception that has plagued the design industry since the beginning of time, and one which, quite rightly, gets on every creative professional's last nerve. In fact it's a cause of such frustration that many artists over the years have used their creative prowess to express exactly how they feel about it. The only free work creatives should really be considering is side projects that inspire, hone skills and help make yours one of the best design portfolios going. A prime example of such work is this offering from comic artist Joey Alison Sayers, with this tongue-in-cheek illustration of an 'alternative' dollar bill. The 'it's funny but not' currency replica replaces the original The United States of America and Federal Reserve Note text with 'The United States of Freelancio' and 'Just a piece of paper'. It also sees the removal of the Department of Treasury stamp in favour of a steaming pile of turd, leaving absolutely no doubt about how Sayers' feelings on working 'for exposure'. Posted on Twitter, it's no surprise Sayers' new currency has been liked, shared and commented on by many, all of whom clearly share the same discontented feelings about being asked to work for free. While we, like many, long for the day when projects like this no longer have to exist, we can't help but enjoy the fun and admire the craft and effort that has gone into this piece. Here's hoping art like this will continue to raise awareness and soon make the problem a thing of the past. Read more: 'New Coke' makes a comeback It burns! Vampire posters catch fire in the sun Asus reveals new dual screen laptop - and it looks EPIC! View the full article

Amazingco, an events planning firm, exposed 212,220 records with personal data relating to children's parties, wine tours and more. View the full article

Researcher discloses vulnerability in macOS Gatekeeper security feature that allows the execution of malicious code on current version of the OS. View the full article

If you're like most everyday computer user, you probably have large amounts of data stored on your device. But data can get lost or stolen and hard drives can sometimes crash beyond the point of repair, which is why it's always good to have a back up plan. To keep your work safe from malware you should seriously consider investing in one of the best antivirus software packages. If you want to protect, manage and share your files with ease, the Degoo Premium: Lifetime 1TB Backup Plan. is a great option. The best cloud storage 2019 Using Degoo, you get 1TB of secured backup space. High-speed transfers make it easy to move your data around or send files to friends, and you can perform backups to all the devices you own (and let's face it, lots of us own more than one). Automatic file change detection automatically keeps your backup up to date, so you don't have to! Get Degoo Premium for just $49.99 – sign up here. Related articles: The best 404 pages: Excellent error pages to explore The best computer for graphic design in 2019 9 security tips to protect your website from hackers View the full article

Researchers have discovered one million devices that are vulnerable to a "wormable" Microsoft flaw, which could open the door to a WannaCry-like cyberattack. View the full article

The potential of Patreon for artists is life-changing. In case you haven't heard, Patreon is a membership program for artists that keeps creators creating through regular donations from supporters. Whether you make street art or 3D movies, it might be just what you need to push you forwards with your projects. To many onlookers, Patreon can appear to be a numbers game. Artists who use the platform jockey for subscribers, and therefore funds, as part of a transaction for their work. As for the site itself, the statistics speak volumes. Set up five years ago, Patreon has sent over $150 millions to its creators, who in turn get to keep 90 per cent of received donations. The site has had an impact beyond these figures, though. Patreon has put creators back in the driver seat and freed them up to create more personal work. How to make money on Pinterest as a creative For many, it’s been the platform they’ve been waiting for. "I’d been dreaming of Patreon for 10 years before it existed," explains Peter Mohrbacher, a fantasy illustrator whose passion had always lain in personal work. "After about seven years working in the games industry, I stopped seeking new employment because I wanted to pursue the dream of making a full-time living from my personal work. Not long after that, Patreon launched and I jumped right on board." We've found artists who are using Patreon to achieve their goals, and asked for their tips on how you can utilise it with maximum success. So read on for seven things you can do to get the most out of the platform. Click on the icon at the top-right of the image to enlarge it. 01. Embrace the new model Wylie Beckert released her first playing card deck, Wicked Kingdom, via Patreon [Image: Wylie Beckert] Illustrator and artist Wylie Beckert turned to Patreon out of frustration with the traditional career model of working for clients, brands and commissions. "I realised that if I was ever going to make it in the industry, I had to cut out the middleman and create that product myself," she explains. By setting up shop on Patreon, Beckert was able to concentrate on her own work. Seeing her art turn into a reliable income is an immensely gratifying draw to the platform for her. "There’s this poisonous misconception in our culture that if a creator isn’t creating sheerly for the joy of it, then they’re somehow less of a legitimate artist. Yet in reality, it’s a heck of a lot harder to create something worthwhile when you’re stressed about money or burned out after a long day at your ‘real’ job." 02. Build an audience Michael Lim built his fanbase before creating a Patreon page [Image: Michael Lim] Despite the fulfilment it offers, Patreon won’t do the legwork for its users. "Having a fan base is key, and is probably one of the most important aspects of creating a Patreon page," says Michael Lim, aka Daarken. "All of the people I know who are making a decent amount on Patreon had a large fan base beforehand. With the oversaturation of art and tutorials online, trying to make a name for yourself can seem almost impossible." Concept artist Irshad Karim agrees, "Patreon’s a great tool for monetising an audience, but I don’t find it to be effective at building one from nothing. Before you even think about launching your Patreon campaign, get out there and show people you’ve got something to offer." 03. Find your fit Orc and Gnome's Mild adventures is one of Karim's Patreon-funded projects [Image: Ishrad Karim] Karim explains that every project requires a different approach: "Unfortunately, it’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario. My Drawabox campaign has grown steadily since it was launched. I also draw a web comic, Orc and Gnome’s Mild Adventures, which itself has a Patreon campaign – and it’s a whole other beast to contend with. Balancing what to give away for free and what to hide behind a pay wall is an inherently uncreative decision." 04. Offer incentives The enamel pin Beckert produced as an incentive [Image: Wylie Beckert] To attract an audience, and therefore more funds, Lim suggests offering personalised incentives. "If people think they’re receiving something that no one else does, then it becomes more valuable. It feels more like the creator created something specifically for them. Patrons want to feel like they are a person, and not a number." This is exactly what Beckert did when she launched a Patreon-exclusive enamel pin, promising one to every patron who signed up by a deadline as a signing bonus. "My patron count nearly tripled in a month," the artist reveals. "This was a bit of a risky investment. Manufacturing and shipping around 700 pins cost me thousands of dollars and many days of stuffing envelopes. "Yet while a lot of people dropped their pledge as soon as they got their pin, today [six months later] I still have about twice as many patrons as I started out with, and Patreon has gone from supplementing my commercial work to almost completely replacing it." 05. Support and share Karim's Orbs of Knowledge: Patreon is a way of garnering support [Image: Ishrad Karim] Patreon also gives creators the chance to support the development of other artists by sharing their knowledge. Karim found himself moving on to the platform after spending time passing on his accumulated expertise via Reddit and amassing a large community in the process. "People started asking how they could help contribute and give back for what they’d received," Karim says. "At that point I hadn’t thought about monetising the community. Rather, I figured it could help me develop a reputation, and then further down the road perhaps I’d offer mentorships or something, when I felt my skills and experience levels were ready for that. And so, my Patreon campaign – as well as the Drawabox website itself – was born. "I’ve always seen Patreon not specifically as a way to make money, but as a means of garnering support," Karim adds. "It just so happens that the easiest way for someone to support you is with a burger’s worth of dollars each month." "If I hadn’t been lucky enough to enter the field at a time when this platform was available to creators, I’d probably be building spreadsheets instead of strange fantasy worlds," says Beckert. 05. Value the community Giving back to the community is just as useful for the teacher as it is the student. "Tutorials serve a hidden purpose for me," says Beckert. "Normally, it’s all too easy to zone out while working on a piece and start to rely on habit instead of conscious decision-making – at which point, the quality of my work starts to suffer. Documenting the process as I go keeps me engaged and reviewing my photos and notes after the fact helps me find ways to fine-tune my process." And Patreon has an inbuilt way of connecting with your audience, Karim explains, "Patreon’s Discord chat integration is a seemingly minor feature, but truly an amazing one. It’s simple to set up and enables you to build a stronger bond with your community. And that is how one succeeds on Patreon!" 06. Use Patreon to balance tough industry conditions Morbacher's Redux. Morbacher couldn't have devoted his full attention to his work without Patreon [Image: Peter Mohrbacher] "There are a lot of creative industries where the pay and the terms of work continue to slide into unliveable conditions,” says Mohrbacher. “Illustrators in particular have become abused and exploited by their industry. “I’m hoping that an alternative to working for big companies will create the competition we need to help improve wages and terms." For artists like Lim, though, Patreon hasn’t really affected his freelance work because he uses the platform to offer a different service altogether. "Since the decline of my mentorship attendance, Patreon has enabled me to keep the lights on," he explains. "Without the monthly revenue stream from Patreon, I wouldn’t be able to pay my bills." This article was originally published in issue 170 of ImagineFX, the world's best-selling magazine for digital artists. Buy issue 170 or subscribe to ImagineFX. Related articles: Boost your illustration career with these 6 tips The art of going freelance Why you should embrace design thinking View the full article

Nobody wants a straightforward website or app any more. These days you need a more than just an excellent website layout; you need a whole design system that provides you with all the elements you need to create a whole set of sites, pages and apps that follow the same design rules and can evolve as required. Having a robust design system in place can really ease the process of designing and building apps and sites, and now Adobe has taken the first steps to enabling you to deploy them using Adobe XD. In its May update, XD introduces new features aimed at helping you create cloud documents with reusable colours, character styles and components that can be shared with team members to create their own documents. Everything you need to know about design systems The key part of XD's new design system toolset is the introduction of components. Replacing XD's symbols, components are reusable elements that designers can bring into their own designs, and customise them if necessary. Crucially, though, if the master component is updated - say, if the client changes their mind about the colour scheme - these updates are rolled out across all non-customised instances, so every design based on that particular system is updated to reflect the changes. The various components, colours and fonts that might make up your design system can be controlled and curated through XD's assets panel. And beyond that, there's also the option to create style guides in the form of 'sticker sheets', which can be published online for reference by external designers or developers. Adobe's guide to how design systems work in XD The beauty of design systems is that everyone, from designers to developers, is reading from the same hymn sheet throughout the build process, so if you're using Adobe XD in your workflow then this should be an exciting update. Adobe says it plans to follow up with refinements offering more fine-grained control over permissions and distributing updates to design system elements. Other new additions in the Adobe XD May update include the ability to drag guides onto artboards, support for keyboard and gamepad triggers within prototypes, a new polygon tool and improved text formatting with the ability to make text upper, lower or title case as well as defining strikethroughs. You should be able to check them all out in the updated Adobe XD right now; find out more on the Adobe blog. Related articles: The best new web design tools of 2019 so far Explore top companies' design systems Develop reusable React components View the full article

Taiwanese electronics company Asus has a track record of releasing innovative and top of the range devices, but it might just have out done itself with its recently announced dual-screen laptops. Unveiled at Computex, the ZenBook Pro Duo and ZenBook Duo feature two in-built 4K screens, with the aim to help users create more intuitively. Building on 2018's ZenBook Pro 15, which came with a touchscreen trackpad, the ZenBook Pro Duo features an impressive 4K main screen and an accompanying touch-sensitive 4K 'Screen Pad Plus' located directly underneath. An LED backed touchpad completes this device's unique setup. We've yet to see the device in action, but if early reports are anything to go by, the ZenBook is headed for a spot in our best laptops for graphic design round up. Super Screen Pad Plus If you're trying to figure out how the Screen Pad Plus works, think of a supersized MacBook Pro Touch Bar. The secondary display is the same width of the laptop's 15.6-inch 4K main screen, and can still be classed as 4K itself thanks to its 3840 x 1100 resolution. In comparison, the main screen packs more of a punch thanks to its 3840 x 2160 pixel display. So what can you use the Screen Pad Plus for? According to the promotional video and press previews, it looks like it's ready for a whole number of tasks. Digital artists can use it with a stylus for an intuitive drawing experience that looks set to make the best Photoshop brushes pop. Meanwhile gamers can view info and stream simultaneously. It also functions as an extended workspace, a multi-app launcher, or as a storage space for content creator galleries. Stylus compatibility gives the ZenBook Pro Duo an intuitive feel. Image: Asus The secondary screen also shakes up web browsing. Users can either view websites on the main display and line up other sites in the Screen Pad Plus, or they can sync them so pages appear descend all the way down to the keyboard. Speaking of the keyboard, the additional screen doesn't put the squeeze on it as it comes in a regular size. In terms of power, the 2.5kg laptop boasts a 9th generation Intel Core i9 CPU, a GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, Wi-Fi 6 capability, up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD worth of storage. On top of this, it also comes with a Thunderbolt 3 port, a pair of USB-A ports, a full-sized HDMI port and let's not forget the headphone jack. Fans of Asus will be all too familiar with its range of innovative laptops, including the Asus Chromebook Flip, which we chose as one of the best 2-in-1 laptops available right now. But with the ZenBook Pro Duo, Asus is pushing the limits of the laptop even further. Currently there's no pricing information, but we've a feeling the ZenBook Pro Duo might be quite pricey. Good news is there's a smaller version too, the 14-inch ZenBookPro Duo, which will almost certainly be cheaper than it's bigger sibling. This slimmed down model comes with a 12.6-inch ScreenPad Plus, an Intel Core i7 CPU and GeForce MX250 GPU. At the time of writing Asus haven't mentioned any concrete release dates for these devices, but it's expected to announce a Q3 shipping date in the coming weeks so stay tuned for further updates. Related articles: The 5 best laptops for Photoshop in 2019 The best laptop cooling pads in 2019 The best Walmart laptops in 2019 View the full article

Once you get stuck into a serious font collection it's almost impossible to stop adding things to it. Not only are there all the classic fonts that every designer ought to own, there's also an ever-growing selection of free fonts available online, all clamouring for your attention. There's so much to choose from, though, that it can be hard to pick out the best ones and avoid the dross. So to help you out, we've looked around and found 10 of the best free sans serif fonts released this year; whether you want a sensible all-rounder or something quirkier with a bit of visual flair, there's certain to be something here to give your font library a welcome boost. 19 great places to download fonts for free 01. Red Hat Red Hat's not just for Linux nerds The name might not mean much to you if you're not into Linux and open source, but Red Hat is big enough to have recently brought in Pentagram's Paula Scher to redesign its branding, and part of this process has been a Red Hat type family. Designed by Jeremy Mickel, it's a fresh take on a geometric sans and inspired by American sans serifs such as Highway Gothic and Tempo. It comes in two optical sizes and in a range of weights, including italics, and the entire family is available to use under the SIL Open Font Licence. 02. Mattone Mattone's bold, curvy and versatile A highly visible sans serif designed by Annunziato Mazzaferro, Mattone is a wonderfully wide and curvy font with sharp, straight-cut endings, and is built to fit beautifully with bold graphics. It'll also work as an attention-grabbing display font or a stand-out paragraph font. 03. Luciole Luciole mixes visibility and Gallic flair The result of a two-year project by France's Centre Technique Régional pour la Déficience Visuelle and typographies.fr, Luciole has been designed to be easy for people with impaired vision to read. It features strong, heavyweight characters and extra-bold punctuation, accents and mathematical symbols, and it comes in four weights: regular, bold, italic and bold italic. All of them are available under a Creative Commons licence. 04. Public Sans Public Sans is a sensible font for serious stuff Created as part of the United States Web Design System, Public Sans is a free and open source webfont designed with interfaces, text and headings in mind. It's based on Libre Franklin and is a strong, neutral font with a broad range of weights and as few quirks as possible. If it's a no-nonsense sans that you're after, you can't go far wrong here. 05. Sophia Sophia is wonderfully retro and slightly quirky On the other hand, if you're after something a little more sophisticated then allow us to direct you towards Sophia, a free sans serif from Goicha for personal use only. Its gloriously thick stems and thin hairlines give it a lovely retro feel, and it has some excellent little quirky touches that really draw the eye. If you like what you see, you might want to check out Goicha's bundle of 17 fonts for just $48. 06. Köhne Makina Köhne Makina also comes in lovely textured version Another pleasingly quirky font, this time from Krafti Lab. Köhne Makina is a tall vector all-caps font with lovely rounded ends with an urgent but friendly feel to it, and it's free for personal and commercial use. If you want something a bit grungier it's also available from Krafti Lab in a textured version. And the name? Apparently Köhne means old, worn or outdated in Turkish and Persian. 07. Aire Exterior Get that '50s B-movie feel with Aire Exterior One for fans of terrible cult sci-fi, Aire Exterior is a public domain geometric sans serif that's based on the title screen of Ed Wood's infamously bad 1959 classic, Plan 9 from Outer Space. Despite its truly awful heritage, the font itself is quite a looker; we'd advise grabbing the font but not bothering to check out its inspiration. 08. Ferghaus Sans We love the free version of Ferghaus; you might want to pay for all the OpenType features, though Described as a modern sans with a twist, Ferghaus is a versatile font with plenty of OpenType features such as alternate characters, ligatures and swashes, and is suitable for everything from classic-style designs or more modern creations. This free demo version only contains the standard characters, but it's more than enough to give you a feel for Ferghaus' capabilities. 09. Gorgeous Grafix Gorgeous Grafix is perfect for drumming up a bit of excitement Looking for a sans serif that's a little bit futuristic? Darrell Flood's Gorgeous Grafix could be just the thing; we reckon it has a bit of a Star Wars feel to it, with thick, sharp strokes really stand out on the page. It's free for personal use, but Darrell adds that he appreciates donations. 10. Goodlight We'd like to wish you all a very Goodlight A modern header font designed by Daler Mukhiddinov, Goodlight is a sans serif that's apparently inspired by walking home at night; we'll take Daler's word for that. It's a splendidly clean-looking font that comes in normal and light flavours, and it's free to use in commercial projects under the SIL Open Font Licence. Related articles: 15 top typography resources Typography rules and terms every designer must know The 41 best free web fonts View the full article

New American television series, The Passage, found a brilliant way to promote its premiere in Brazil. The show, which sees scientists battling against genetically altered vampires, is the latest in a long line of fiction centred around the folklore monsters. But with its combustible posters, the show has proven that there's still plenty of ways to drum up interest in the famous blood-suckers. Created in partnership between Fox and ad agency BETC São Paulo, the marketing campaign for The Passage includes four displays of The Vampire Poster. This design comfortably sits alongside the most inspirational poster designs we've ever seen thanks to its vampiric aversion to sunlight. As we all know, vampires can't stand a direct hit of sunlight as it causes them to curl up in flames. It's one of their biggest weaknesses, along with stakes to the heart, garlic, and door thresholds. And while a dose of vitamin D is bad news for vampires, it's a dream opportunity for advertisers. The posters appeared on the streets of São Paulo [Image: BETC/Havas] By coating the back of the posters in a special paint that combusts in sunlight, the creative team were able to make an advert that truly reflected its subject. Not that vampires have reflections, mind. But you know what we mean. Upon being exposed to daylight, the posters burst into flames, garnering lots of interest and online impressions in the process. A glass case stopped the posters from harming passers by, and a message on the base of the display told viewers all they needed to know about the upcoming series. Bizarrely, this isn't the only ad campaign we've seen recently that centres around posters going up in flames. Burger King recently invited customers to set fire to its competition's posters in exchange for a free Whopper. Although that was an AI campaign, so there were no real-life fires. The Vampire Posters have a brief lifespan, given that they can't survive the day. But having achieved a reach 688 per cent higher than estimated by investors (according to the stats at the end of the video), this short and sweet campaign appears to have hit the spot. Related articles: The 12 best London Underground posters A designer's guide to printing a poster 14 beautiful travel posters View the full article

Even the biggest successful brands don't get it right all the time. But the most successful ones learn from past mistakes, and, best case scenario, find ways to use them to an advantage. Right now Coca-Cola is attempting just that, reintroducing a product that failed first time round 34 years ago. If you haven't heard the story of 'New Coke', let us take a moment to fill you in. Recognised as a brand so strong it doesn't need a logo, Coca-Cola took arguably the biggest risk in consumer history back in the mid-80s when it changed the formula for its flagship product. The term 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' springs to mind. But Coca-Cola did. And it failed spectacularly. 18 controversial moments in logo design and branding The change marked the first time Coke had altered its recipe in 99 years, and the Coca-Cola website reports it 'spawned consumer angst the likes of which no business has ever seen'. The backlash was so fierce, New Coke was withdrawn a mere 79 days after its initial release. A point in Coke's history you'd think they'd want to forget, right? Wrong. Despite New Coke being an utter flop, Coca-Cola is resurrecting the formula following a recent partnership with Netflix's Stranger Things. Set in the summer of 1985, when New Coke was first released, the old-now-new design will feature in various episodes of the third series, giving the show added authenticity. (We can't help but wish New Coke also featured in this epic new Stranger Things Lego set too). Speaking to CNN Business, Stuart Kronauge, president of Coke's business unit and senior vice president of marketing for Coca-Cola North America, said: "Maybe a while ago we wouldn't have done this. But we're changing and trying to innovate in ways that are beyond traditional new products. This is a cultural innovation." Kronauge also stated the comeback of New Coke is a way for Coca-Cola to "not take ourselves too seriously." It's a brave move for a brand to resurrect a product that was originally such a monumental disaster, but something tells us things will be slightly different this time around. The ability to recognise and play on a not-so-successful part of Coca-Cola's history shows strength and personality from the brand, which we can't help but admire. Want a New Coke can for yourself? You can find them at various Stranger Things-themed pop-up vending machines in various cities this summer. But you’ll need to be quick. Coca-Cola has produced under 500,000 of the New Coke 12-ounce cans, and we don't expect them to hang around for long. Read more: 21 outstanding uses of colour in branding Can you guess the brand from its original logo? Liquid Death is 2019's stupidest branding View the full article

You're reading Background Images in Email Templates, How to Use, originally posted on Designmodo. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow on Twitter, Facebook! Use of multimedia in an email newsletter is not something new. Almost every other message in our inbox is packed with images, icons, and even gifs and videos. Rich multimedia is an integral part of the web sphere and designers … View the full article

New .htaccess injector threat on Joomla and WordPress websites redirects to malicious websites. View the full article

The Windows 10 update that's rolling out addresses insecure Wi-Fi hotspots with new user notifications. View the full article

From cartoons to crochet, stop-motion to 3D models, the new issue of Computer Arts reveals the secrets to strong character design, with the insight of the talented cover artist Julian Glander, Elenor Kopka, Jeron Braxton and Philippa Rice. We explore the tips and tricks to better implement communication and storytelling in creative projects, look at how techniques and trends in character design have changed over the last 15 years, and pick out the standout talents of that period. And, for our men's fitness-style magazine cover, we've partnered up with illustrator Julian Glander and our cover treatment pals at Celloglas to achieve a beautiful colour palette that fits perfectly with the fluted foil CA logo and a soft touch finish. Buy Computer Arts issue 293 now Bulk up on big ideas and get buff at character design Talking of covers, we've announced our sixth annual cover competition! If you're a student or a recent graduate, head over here to find out more, and be in with a chance of winning an £800 commission to create our cover. We also speak to the wayfinding and graphic design legend Lance Wyman about branding Mexico City, collecting war masks and the power of meditation. Elsewhere, we delve into the benefits of embracing, and learning from, your mistakes – with a whole raft of creative professionals dishing the dirt on the the biggest blunders they've made, and why they wouldn't change a thing about them. Save up 59% on a print and digital subscription now We also head over the pond to take the pulse of US design studio COLLINS, and sit down with NB Studio and find out how it created a D&AD shortlisted packaging project that turns into a jet pack! Flick through some of the page below... Computer Arts is the world's best-selling design magazine, bursting at the seams with insight, inspiration, interviews and all the best new design projects. For all this delivered direct to your door each month, subscribe to Computer Arts. Right now you can save up to 70 per cent off the cover price. Related articles: Win a commission to design the cover of Computer Arts 5 huge illustration trends for 2019 12 top learning resources for illustrators View the full article

You're reading Free Bootstrap Themes and Templates, 2019 Updated, originally posted on Designmodo. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow on Twitter, Facebook! It is no secret that free bootstrap themes and templates are the first options when it comes to creating a presence online. There are several reasons for that. First, most designers are used to this boilerplate. It has been with … View the full article

Want to become an app developer? Get started with Hacksaw Academy. A lifetime subscription to this training tool is only $19.99. Among the sea of generic coding videos that populate the Internet, Hacksaw Academy stands out from the pack. Rather than teach you generic, overly complex coding styles, Hacksaw Academy is an interactive elearning platform that helps you build real tech skills which will get you employed. The best VPN service 2019 The platform offers bite-sized, easily digestible programming projects that help you master essential coding tools, such as HTML and JavaScript. You'll learn how to create important things like landing pages and portfolios, and these hands-on projects are perfect training for what you'll design when you're a developer. Get Hacksaw Academy: Lifetime Subscription for only $19.99. Related articles: The best code editors The future of web design Agile development: How to use it in your web workflow View the full article

Making people listen to your brand is arguably harder than ever. People are overwhelmed with a cascade of content via social media, which means that well-meaning messages can sometimes get muscled out by companies with more budget and clout. However, with craft and careful consideration of what your brand means, there are still lots of ways to get your point across without compromising your integrity. We’ve seen creators from all corners of the design universe share their advice at this week’s D&AD Festival. They had plenty to say about how they connected with their audiences with both straightforward and experimental designs in a way that stayed true to their brand. Here’s what we learnt... 01. Don't be afraid to be human If you’re locked away in a studio or office all day, it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that your brand is talking to people, not online algorithms. So it makes sense that a brand should communicate in a human way. For Susan Hoffman, the executive creative director at Wieden+Kennedy, forgetting this is a fatal error, “without humanity, our creative voices are drowning". Of course, what being 'human' means is a huge topic. But in terms of branding, the team at Wieden+Kennedy have cracked it because, as Hoffman puts it, "they let weirdos do their job". This off-the-wall approach has resulted in some fantastically bizarre campaigns, such as the smooth-talking goofiness of the Old Spice ads (above), and an overhaul of the KFC identity that saw Colonel Sanders crowned the 'world’s sexiest chicken salesman' by People magazine. This isn’t weirdness for weirdness sake though, and Wieden+Kennedy keeps the important things in its cross hairs at all times. “The work comes first,” adds Hoffman. "We like to make people feel something." After all, if all you’re focused on is the hard-sell, how do you forge a human connection? When it comes to the balance of profit and creativity, Hoffman reveals that, "you can be driven by one or the other, but not both". 02. Respect the needs of your audience It might sound obvious, but knowing the needs of your audience will direct the tone of your brand’s voice. What isn’t so straightforward though is the way that their needs will translate to your communications. For Henry Firth and Ian Theasby, AKA plant-based cooking duo Bosh!, a certain word at the heart of their whole operation was off the table when it came to setting up the voice for their recipe videos and online content. "We didn’t shout about veganism", says Firth, having found out the hard way that it could irk potential customers, including family and friends. In fact they steered clear of the word vegan entirely to begin with, and relied on the fact that their recipes just happened to not include animal products. The reason behind this, Theasby argues, was that: "people going vegan didn’t want to change who they are". By showing good food instead of telling people about its vegan credentials, the brand could tap into the market of 23 million flexitarians in the UK in a welcoming way. 03. Focus on good design, not profit Okay, this is always going to be a hard one to sell to cash-conscious clients. However the benefits of good design have a direct impact on your brand, and therefore its revenue. For Mark Adams, the managing director at furniture company Vitsœ, good design also generates a brand’s most valuable asset: trust. At the core of Vitsœ’s work are Dieter Ram’s 10 principles of good design. The renowned and forthright German designer created furniture for the company in the '60s, and his approach is still felt today. During his talk on the importance of good design, Adams highlighted that between 50 and 60 per cent of Vitsœ’s customers are returning clients, purely because its products are so well made that they have embodied trust. Not only that, but according to Adams, Vitsœ undersells to its customers. You won’t see any seasonal or Black Friday displays in the Vitsœ shop window. The effect of this is that it reinforces the honesty present in the brand. Shoppers understand that they’re getting the best and fairest price possible all year round for a product that is built to last. Related articles: Build a better personal brand Liquid Death is 2019's stupidest branding Google's new gaming logo is cleverly off-brand View the full article

Adobe Fuse has recently been added to Adobe's Creative Cloud suite, and it's shaking up the world of character design. Creating new characters can be a tricky task for any 3D artist, and it’s even harder when the artist is new to CGI creation. While downloading basic models from stock sites can certainly be a good starting point, Adobe Fuse helps when you need something more bespoke. Adobe Fuse enables artists to create bespoke humanoid models, and clothe them using the array of clothing presets that come with the software. Adobe Fuse is primarily designed to work with Adobe Photoshop’s 3D system. Get Adobe Creative Cloud now What is Adobe Fuse? This often-underused system allows a 3D model to be part of a normal ‘2D’ Photoshop file. The model can be posed directly within Photoshop thanks to a wide array of poses and animations that can be stopped at the desired point for a still. Adobe Fuse files can be exported as OBJ models with their associated textures for rigging in 3D applications. They can also be uploaded to Adobe’s Mixamo service, where rigging and animation can be managed on the fly for the creation of an animated FBX or OBJ file. At first glance the current options in Fuse are limited (it is still classed as Beta software by Adobe). However, the wide range of customisation points for modifying the body, along with detailed control of elements such as eye detail and skin effects, make the creation of many unique characters very easy. This makes Fuse an ideal solution for a wide range of character uses. We've put together a step-by-step guide to creating a character with Adobe Fuse. Let's see what it can do. Click on the icon at the top-right of the image to enlarge it. 01. Create a character Fuse allows the user to choose each body part then blends elements together Starting with the head, Adobe Fuse allows the artist to choose the major body parts. Although there are distinct body parts for each figure, the four main constituent parts (head, torso, legs and arms) can be assembled together in whatever order the artist desires. Adobe Fuse will do its best to create a blend between the elements. Fuse follows normal 3D application conventions in terms of its UI, making it easy to move around and zoom in on the figure. 02. Customise the Adobe fuse figure Use the slider on the right-hand side to customise the figure Customising the figure can be done using a couple of methods. On the right-hand side of the UI are a range of sliders that control a wide variety of points on the model. The more intuitive method involves moving the mouse over an element and clickdragging it. Responsiveness is quick no matter what computer hardware Fuse is running on, and the appropriate slider is highlighted in the UI when selected. 03. Add clothing Change colours and tweak the underlying body model Clothing is the one area where Adobe Fuse could definitely do with more options. Still, colours can be changed and if the artist wants to tweak a feature on the underlying body model, any selected clothing will re-proportion itself to accommodate the change on the fly. Skin and hair can also be aged and changed, with convincing wrinkles and wear and tear on the skin. Eye colour and even cataracts can be added to the eye to denote age. 04. Integrate with Photoshop Move, scale and relight the model within Photoshop By exporting the Adobe Fuse model to a Creative Cloud Library, the character can be easily added to Photoshop. The model can be relit, moved and scaled within Photoshop, and works as a normal layer. Poses to the model can be easily added from hundreds of options from the Properties palette, and facial expressions can be modified as well. This allows a large range of options to be integrated into any Photoshop document. 05. Work with other 3D applications Fuse provides the base model to import to other applications Fuse can provide a base model that can be exported as an OBJ file with all the necessary textures (up to 4K). This file can then be imported into a 3D application for rigging for animation, or just to be used as a still. Textures are applied as generic UVs which means they could be further enhanced with texture work within the 3D application, or via texture-painting applications such as Allegorithmic’s Substance Painter. 06. Process with Mixamo Process your character through the Mixamo service Adobe Fuse characters can be processed through the Mixamo animation service. Fuse models are exported to Mixamo directly through the ’Send to Mixamo’ button on the UI, and after the model is uploaded, it is automatically rigged and can then have one of the hundreds of free-to-use motion samples applied to it. These can then be downloaded as an FBX or similar file to be used in any Digital Content Creation software. This article was originally published in issue 245 of 3D World, the world's best-selling magazine for CG artists. Buy issue 245 or subscribe to 3D World. Related articles: How to create water simulations 24 free 3D models The hottest new tools for 3D artists this spring View the full article

A new way of tracking mobile users creates a globally unique device fingerprint that browsers and other protections can't stop. View the full article

As promised, developer SandboxEscaper has dropped exploit code for four more bugs, on the heels of releasing a Windows zero-day yesterday. View the full article

Justice League is the original superhero team, created in 1960 as the Justice League of America and providing the impetus for Marvel's Stan Lee to develop his own superhero gang, the Fantastic Four. It's getting on for 60 years old now, and with an eye on this anniversary DC has just unveiled a brand new logo design for its Justice League comic. What's the deal with that star? Image: DC. Just as the line-up of the Justice League has changed over time – the current roster is comprised of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl – so the logo itself has been redesigned and modified, most recently in 2016. This one, however, harks back to the style of the original 1960 logo. How to create a comic page Over the years the Justice League logo has featured a signature star – in fact the original version had a load of them, perhaps a few too many – and while it's been missing in recent incarnations, for this latest version it's back, along with clean lines and just a hint of depth. The original Justice League logo from 1960. So many stars. Image: DC, cover art by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson. There's a slight weirdness to it that you might not immediately be able to put your finger on, however, and it's this: while the Justice League wordmark is slanted at a jaunty angle, the star itself isn't. Not only that, one of the vertices runs parallel to the angle of the text; it's clearly a deliberate design decision, but it does look a little bit odd. Maybe that's the idea; it certainly catches the eye. As well as marking the Justice League's 60th birthday a little early, this new logo marks the beginning of DC's Year of the Villain event, and it gets its first outing on the front cover of Justice League #25. In this extra-sized anniversary issue, Lex Luthor makes the world an offer: reject the Justice League and follow his plans to save humanity, because justice isn't getting the job done. The new logo makes its debut on the cover of Justice League #23. Image: DC, cover art by Jorge Jiménez and Alejandro Sánchez The new issue goes on sale in stores and online on 5 June; you can find out more over at DC Comics. Related articles: How to colour comics 14 imaginative web comics to inspire you How to combine 3D and comic art in ZBrush View the full article

Most creatives don't realise you can make money on Pinterest. Many consider it a floaty sort of place where you can look at interiors, recipes and wedding crafts, and while you can do all those things, Pinterest is actually a very powerful tool. Pinterest is used by 250 million people per month, and 84 per cent of users use it when they're trying to decide what to buy. That means that as a designer, illustrator or artist, it's the ideal place to promote yourself and anything you're trying to sell – whether that's your services or your products. (If you're looking to sell more online, then you can also check out our inspiring list of ecommerce websites.) But how can you best use Pinterest? How can you get more followers? How many boards should you have on the platform? And how can you transform your pins into cold hard cash? To find out, we spoke to those who are currently making money from Pinterest to discover the secrets to their success. If you'd like to swot up on making the most of Instagram too, see our guide to how to make money on Instagram, as well as how to change the font in your Instagram bio. 01. Think Pinterest when creating images It may be worth making bespoke images for Pinterest, like these ones by Vicki Psarias Award-winning blogger and author, Vicki Psarias has been using Pinterest since 2012. The platform is the second biggest referrer to her blog after search traffic, and an average of one million unique users visit her Pinterest page every month. Psarias makes sure that she thinks about Pinterest when she's creating images for her blog – something that many overlook. "Now I have bespoke Pinnable images on almost every blog post in addition to editorial images," she says. What sort of images do well on Pinterest? Long and thin images tend to stand out, but apart from that, Pinterest works like any other platform. "I think the fact I opt for high res, eye-catching, beautiful images definitely appeals," says Psarias. Don't forget that you can also pin videos, Psarias pins directly from YouTube. 02. Curate carefully Just some of Mr Cup's Pinterest boards It's easy to just keep clicking 'pin', but the most successful Pinterest users curate their boards carefully. Psarias advises having "100 boards maximum with a minimum of 40 pins per board." She also recommends using a mix of different image styles, for example, "a mix of Pinnable images ie. text over an image, and editorial images without text too, so as to appeal to all pinners." Fabien Barral, aka Mr Cup, agrees that curation is key. He's been using Pinterest to promote his products since 2010, and has over 55,000 followers, meaning that Pinterest is now making him money. He prefers boards that have a theme. "I like people who are creatives with their boards, ordering by colours, or texture," he says. His own boards include colour, wine, wood blocks and nice to meet you – where he visits studios. He often links to his blog, which links up nicely to his shop. When it comes to what to post, Psarias recommends going with your gut. "Pin what you like," she adds. "It sounds simple but as with SEO, a like-minded audience will find you so don't worry if you think you're the only person in the world who wants to dedicate a board to glitter make up." It's also a good idea to offer your audience some content they can learn from. Psarias suggests blogging tips, how-tos, tutorials and quick recipes, and artists could also include WIP shots and quick process videos. 03. Switch to a business profile If you're using a personal Pinterest account, then switching to a business one is probably the easiest way to help you understand the platform and your place on it. Find out how to get a business account here. Once you have a business account, you can see your posts' impressions, and gain insight into your audience – finding out key metrics such as their average age and where they're based. If you have business accounts on other platforms (learn how to switch to a business account on Instagram here) you can then compare this data with them, and tailor your posts accordingly. 04. Pin other people's content Psarias' boards contain roughly 40 per cent of her own content, and the rest is other people's "Pinterest isn't interactive in the same way Instagram, Facebook or Twitter is," says Psarias. "There isn't a conversation happening there and in many ways it offers you a chance to rest from that." That doesn't mean that you shouldn't pin content from other people, though. "Do some research and follow accounts which catch your eye (with both large and small followings) and dedicate some time to pinning others' content as well as your own," says Psarias, who likes to balance her page with 60 per cent of other people's content, and 40 per cent her own. "Join group boards too with large audiences too (they'll mention how in their bios) and that way your own pins, which redirect to your blog/site, will get seen by more than just those who follow you." 05. Post regularly Like with most platforms, the more you post, the more you'll get out of the platform. Psarias posts daily. Barral posts: "When I have a new project going on, or I see a picture I like and it fits one of my boards and I do not want to lose it." Try to set yourself a schedule and stick to it. If you want to schedule pins, Psarias recommends paid-for service Tailwind, which also works with Instagram. 05. Include keywords in your bio and descriptions Anagrama's bio includes various keywords If you think of Pinterest as a sort of Google for images, then it makes sense that including the right keywords will lead to more people finding your boards. To do this you can think about what sort of words people might be using to search for your content, e.g. letterpress business card, and add those words into key areas of your Pinterest profile. If you'd like to do more in-depth keyword research, you can also use tools such as Google Trends to investigate further. Where should you add these keywords? First of all, you can optimise your bio so that people will find it, and know exactly who you are when they land on your page. Think about who might be looking at your boards, and try and curate appropriately. If you sell one thing in particular e.g. cactus prints, then include that in your bio. You can also add keywords in the alt text of your image, in the description of your image as well as your boards. Instead of just having a board called 'design', go for something more specific – 'lino print design', for example. 06. Focus on building a following Like most platforms, making money on Pinterest can take time. Focus first on building a following and a bespoke selection of boards that are visually appealing, and make sure that you include a link to your site where possible – as well as in your bio. "Do not try to make money out of it, be yourself and touch people with your personality and money will come," says Barral. "Share your world, and your creations, as everything is linked." Read more: How to hack the Instagram algorithm How to nail your social media strategy The best infographics View the full article