Rss Bot

Playstation fans itching to get their first glimpse of Sony's new console are having to wait a little longer, with the company deciding to postpone last week's launch in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. This does, at least, mean there's more time to enjoy fan-made concepts, such as this stunning new UI design. Designer Joshua Oluwagbemiga shared his concept (below) to Twitter last week, and it's already proved a huge hit. The super-clean, image-led interface is filled with sharp lines and and smooth transitions, and manages to display a ton of information in a surprisingly minimal aesthetic. A clear UI is an essential aspect of any software, app or website (our website mockup guide is full of brilliant examples) and this one gets it just right. Some of the myriad of information available for each game includes the latest checkpoint reached and trophy earned. One particularly nice touch is how Oluwagbemiga shows the interface in situ, on a TV mounted within a room straight out of an interior design catalogue, making the PS5 look like an essential addition to any aspirational home – perhaps even for non-gamers. Nice work. Oluwagbemiga's design has gone down a treat on Twitter. "I wish Sony cared this much about UI," one user laments, while several others comment that this beautiful interface looks less Sony and more Apple (check out this amazing sale to bag yourself some Apple design on the cheap). Both the PS5 logo and DualSense controller designs both left us a little cold, but we were blown away by recent demo of the console's graphics potential. While Sony was right to delay the launch amid Black Lives Matter protests (find out how creatives are supporting the movement), we can't wait to see what the company has in store when the time comes. Read more: iPhone 12 design finally revealed (and it’s not what we expected) Move over iPad Pro – the new iPad Air could be incredible Sega's new miniature Game Gear console makes zero sense View the full article

Welcome to our guide to the must-have web development tools of 2020 so far. If you regularly write front-end code for web applications, then you probably have your go-to set of tools. A boilerplate that serves as a skeleton, a UI library that helps you make things dynamic and interactive, a build process that might include one or more tools to scaffold out the files and directories you'll need. You might even have a set of CSS and JavaScript utilities that you go back to time and again. Or maybe your tooling is a couple of blank files, your code editor and nothing more (which is absolutely fine, especially if you’re new to the scene). Whatever your toolset looks like, it's always beneficial to take a peek at what's out there and what’s new in front-end tooling. To that end, let's roll out 50 of the most interesting and practical web development tools that you should know about. Most of these are fairly new, having been released at some over the past year, while a few have been around for a little longer and have only started to gain traction during the last 12 months. Whatever the case, you'll most definitely find something in this list you can use in a project soon. We've organised the list into sections, to make it easier to navigate. You can use the links to jump straight to the section you're interested in, or just browse the whole list. Want even more? Here's another list of amazing web design tools, and be sure to check out our list of user testing software tools, too. 01. autoComplete.js Get it here A small library to add auto-complete functionality to a form field. Offers loose and strict search modes, customisable minimum number of characters before offering suggestions, optional callback functions and more. 02. indigo-player Get it here A modular, easy-to- customise JavaScript video player with advertisement support out-of-the-box so you can enable pre-roll, mid-roll or post-roll sponsors for embedded videos. 03. Simple-keyboard Get it here An elegant, responsive virtual keyboard component that offers ready-to-use demos of both mobile- and desktop-style keyboards. The demo keyboards are gorgeous but you can also style one easily to suit your brand. 04. fslightbox.js Get it here A vanilla JavaScript lightbox plugin that can display images, HTML5 video and YouTube embeds in an attractive and usable overlay. Offers React and Vue versions and the ability to upgrade from the free version if you want to get your hands on more features. 05. Rallax.js Get it here Parallax shouldn’t be used heavily but a simple dependency-free solution like this one is a good option. This has good performance and an easy-to-use API for starting effects, stopping, speeding up and the ability to chain .when() methods for queuing actions. 06. FrenchKiss.js Get it here A super-fast internationalisation library with an extensive API. One example customisation it offers is the ability to deal with a language that has multiple pluralisation rules. 07. Moveable Get it here Make any element on the page draggable, resizable, scalable rotatable or even warpable (like the perspective tool in a graphics editor). You can also enable grouping and snap-to-guides functionality. 08. Hotkey Get it here Trigger an action on a specified element by means of a shortcut key, combination of keys or sequence of keys pressed by the user. The documentation has suggestions to ensure good accessibility. 09. Freezeframe.js Get it here Add play/pause functionality to animated GIFs on a page. Trigger play/pause via hover, click, touch event or by an external element that serves as a play/pause button. 10. pagemap Get it here Add a scrollable 'mini map' to long web pages, similar to what you find in the Sublime Text code editor. It’s arguable whether this is more usable than a scrollbar but you could implement this with the scrollbar disabled for a native feel. 11. lax.js Get it here Vanilla JavaScript plugin to add responsive and mobile-friendly. Add play/pause functionality to animated GIFs on a page. Trigger animations, transitions and parallax effects to pages while the user scrolls. Get started with the presets or create custom effects. 12. Project Wallace Get it here This is a CSS analysis tool with a dashboard that lets you track the complexity of your code, including the number of lines of code, amount of selectors, quantity of declarations, specificity, use of !important, performance bottlenecks and more. 13. DebuCSSer Get it here An unobtrusive CSS debugging tool that works as an option for manually adding an outline to one or more elements. Include the script, then hold the CTRL key to outline an element or CTRL-SHIFT to outline all. 14. Animated CSS Burgers Get it here A small library of animated mobile hamburger menus that should satisfy your needs should you require a slightly different menu style in each project. 15. DropCSS Get it here A fast JavaScript module that compares a page's HTML to the CSS, then returns the latter with unused code removed, saving valuable bytes in page load time. For more on unused CSS, see the accompanying box. 16. CSSFX Get it here Yet another useful and unique set of plug-and- play CSS animations and effects. This one includes a wide variety of effects – some require more than a single HTML element but they’re easy to add to a project. 17. CSS Grid Generator Get it here For anyone first getting into the CSS Grid standard, having a visual helper will be a huge boost. This generator is a great way to learn the features and create practical grid code for all your layouts. 18. Darkmode.js Get it here There seems to be a dark mode craze lately. This project lets you add a dark mode toggle to pages, utilising CSS’s mix-blend-mode property to handle the dark/light modes. 19. ARC Toolkit Get it here Chrome extension by the Paciello Group that integrates with DevTools to provide extensive accessibility testing as part of your development and testing workflow. 20. Clarity Dashboard Get it here A user-testing platform from Microsoft. Add a script to your page then replay user sessions to see how users interact with your site or app. 21. GraphQL Editor Get it here This is a useful online editor that enables you to speed up the creation of GraphQL schemas. GraphQL is a popular new technology that serves as a more efficient alternative to using REST. 22. jsonbox.io Get it here Free JSON storage that 22 offers users the ability to store, read and modify JSON data over HTTP APIs using various commands such as GET, POST, PUT and DELETE. 23. Accessibility Insights Get it here A Chrome extension, 23 Edge add-on or native Windows app to run accessibility testing. You can do a quick test for the most common problems or show visual overlays on a page to examine colour contrast, ARIA landmarks and more. 24. Measure Get it here This one is part of Google's new developer hub, providing a one-stop online tool to test your content for vital concerns such as performance, accessibility, best practices and SEO. 25. Chart.xkcd Get it here A quirky JavaScript charting library that generates charts in sketchy or hand-drawn manner in the style of xkcd, the popular web comic. Might be a great option as part of an informal app design. 26. useAnimations Get it here A collection of simple, customisable animated icons that you can plug into projects on mobile or web, offering a React version and the ability to edit the pre-made animations either in Lottie or Adobe After Effects. 27. Strikefree Music Get it here A growing library of audio clips you can use in things like videos and podcasts without fear of being penalised for copyright violations. You can optionally create your own custom beats or randomly select one that's already been created. 28. ZapChart Get it here A neat online tool to build shareable data in chart format. Just plug in the numbers for the x and y axes and this app will generate a bar chart downloadable as PNG or shareable via URL. 29. Optimole Get it here An image optimisation service and CDN for WordPress. Includes features for serving device-appropriate images with lossy or lossless compression, optional lazy loading and lots more. 30. Mixkit Get it here A collection of HD videos and illustrations, filterable by categories and free to use anywhere in commercial and non-commercial projects, without attribution. 31. Static Site Boilerplate Get it here A non-opinionated and feature-rich toolkit for building static sites. Offers automated builds, a local dev server, production-level optimisations (such as code minification and image processing) and has support for a number of modern front-end technologies (Sass, ES6, etc). 32. Base Web Get it here A React-based UI framework with a vast suite of components that range from complex functionality like a payment card component (ie input mask for different credit card types) to low-level features such as FlexGrid and Layer for composing your layouts. 33. Materialize Get it here A responsive front-end framework with a slew of CSS and JavaScript components. Includes components for form features, layouts, mobile-specific and more – all based on Google's Material Design. 34. Scene.js Get it here An extensive API for controlling things like animation timing, transitions and effects. Want some more? 35. Quasar Get it here A Vue-based UI library with components to help build single-page applications, progressive web apps, hybrid mobile apps and desktop apps with no unnecessary bloat. 36. React Simple Img Get it here A lazy-loading image solution for React projects that uses the IntersectionObserver API and the new Priority Hints standard for an elegant image-loading solution. 37. React Animation Get it here An easy-to-use animation library for React that lets you easily add unique pre-built animated effects to page elements based on content changes and loading or enables you to build your own. 38. React Redux Loading Bar Get it here A progressive animated loading indicator bar for React projects, with the ability to add multiple loading bars on a single page that indicate different items loading independently of each other. 39. react-image-magnifiers Get it here A set of responsive React components to magnify and zoom in to high-res images on mobile or desktop, similar to the zoom feature available on shopping sites like Amazon, which enables you to drag while zooming to examine specific parts of an image. 40. RIFM Get it here React component to convert any HTML form input into formatted input. For example, if a user types something in all lower case, you can force upper case (or just about any preferred format) as they type. 41. Remote Development Get it here An extension pack for Visual Studio Code that enables you to use VSCode's full set of features remotely by SSHing into any folder in a container, remote machine or Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL for short). 42. Fabulous Get it here This lets you edit CSS Properties in a sidebar in VSCode. Will display CSS from different sources including CSS-in-JS libraries, .scss files, <style> blocks in the HTML and styles tied to library components (Angular, Svelte, Vue). 43. packtracker.io Get it here A tool that tracks and analyses your webpack bundle on every commit. Helps to avoid oversized assets, npm package overuse and redundant content to ensure better overall app performance. 44. Flutter Get it here Google's UI development toolkit for creating natively compiled apps for web, desktop and mobile. Produces an app for all platforms from a single codebase, offering flexibly UI to boot. 45. Packem Get it here A JavaScript module bundler that purports to be twice as fast as its main competitor, Parcel. Still in alpha at the time of writing but a promising tool that could be your go-to bundler in the coming months. 46. Pika Get it here A multi-featured toolset that includes npm stats, package search, a CDN and Pika Web. The latter lets you add dependencies to a project directly in the browser without webpack, Browserify, etc. 47. Commento Get it here A lightweight, ad-free, privacy-focused commenting system you can embed in your web pages, usable via their cloud service or self-hosted. Includes Akismet spam detection, sticky comments, voting, Markdown support and more. 48. Just Get it here A build task library with an easy-to-use API to compose chained, parallel or nested tasks during your build process. 49. Git History Get it here Easily browse any file's history on GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket. Just select a file URL then replace github.com with github.githistory.xyz and an animated, visual history of the file will display. 50. Sublime Merge Get it here A fast, search-friendly Git client (Mac, Windows, Linux) from the makers of Sublime Text. Offers syntax highlighting, integrated merge tool, side-by-side diffs and more. This content originally appeared in net magazine. Read more: The next big thing in web design: 7 trends you need to know 11 amazing graphical JavaScript frameworks 11 CSS secrets you need to know in 2020 View the full article

How do you visualise the year in your mind's eye? For some it might stretch ahead in a straight line, for others it's a straightforward calendar grid. But for those who see it as a circle, a serious 'wow' moment is coming your way. A circular calendar design has been shared on Reddit, and it's a revelation. The calendar works in a similar way to a clock, with January situated at the top of the circle (where the 12 would be on a conventional clock), and other months following the circle clockwise incrementally. Much like a clock, the longest unit of time is towards the centre of the circle, with the smallest out at the edge, so the year is at the middle, followed by the seasons, the signs of the zodiac, the months and finally the day and date (the moon cycles are also found around the edge). We're so taken by this calendar that we're already busy replacing our current, more traditional design. But if it doesn't float your boat, don't miss our calendar 2020 round up for options to suit all tastes. The way we view the year and how vividly our brains visualise the way the months are laid out can vary wildly from person to person. Even the creator, alexbonair, has a totally different concept of the direction the months should run in, "mine goes counterclockwise as well, but as most people prefer clockwise." If you disagree with alexbonair on direction (we do not), you can always adjust it, as he suggests: "I wrote a VanillaJS script that draws the calendar, based on some input param[e]ters. Year, language, direction and much more is easy changeable." The entire design Just how differently we all see the year is abundantly clear from reading the Reddit comments, which contain a lot of enthusiasm and some wildly different opinions. Livingchair, for example, sees the year as an oval, "Haha it's always fun to see how people imagine the concept of year in their heads. My year is oval shaped, but it goes counterclockwise and summer is on the top-side." However the year might appear in your head, this design concept is a winner. It's clean and functional (and actually presents what has been inside our heads all this time). It's a game-changer, just like this cascading ruler shared on Reddit not long ago. You can't ask for more than that. Except for spaces to write down important dates, but maybe we just need a more traditional calendar to go alongside it. Read more: 6 of the hottest gadgets for designers The 14 best iPad apps for designers Calendar 2020: The best wall calendars and desktop calendars for creatives View the full article

The release of a PoC for the Windows flaw known as "SMBGhost" could set off cyberattack waves, CISA warned. View the full article

The best 4th July sales 2020 are on their way and, just as in previous years, the bargains won't just be happening on the day. In fact, you'll be able to get a host of great savings in the weeks leading up to the 4th July and the week after it. As the US celebrates its independence, retailers from a raft of specialities will lay on savings to make your eyes water. And this is your one-stop shop for all the best 4th July sales – whether you're after a great deal on a new laptop, the latest accessories, a new mattress, 4K monitors or TVs. We've even found some pre-4th July savings already. If you want to browse online, use the quick links below to head to your favourite retailers. In the coming weeks we'll update this post with our pick of the best 4th July sales, and remember – this will be the last big US sale event until Amazon Prime Day 2020, so be sure to make the most of the deals while they last! The best 4th July sales 2020: quick links Adorama – laptops, monitors and more with up to $300 savings Amazon – big savings on home items and appliances Apple – save on your old iPhone with select trade-ins B&H Photo – loads of deals, including $200 off MacBook Pro Best Buy – save up to $250 on Windows laptops Dell – up to $250 off its brilliant range of laptops HP – $400 off HP Pavilion laptop, plus loads more Mattress Firm - get top-rated mattress brands for up to 50% off! Microsoft – save up to $500 on select Surface Pro models Nectar – amazing deals on mattresses, up to $300 savings Tomtops – up to 68% off smart phones, plus a huge range of accessories When do 4th July sales start? Retailers will start slashing prices of their goods mid-June, and in fact many of them will keep sales going until long after the 4th July day. In previous years, savings have been made live up until the end of July, so keep this page bookmarked and we'll be sure to let you know exactly what the best deals are, and when they'll run until. And remember – with Amazon Prime Day being pushed back to maybe September, this year's 4th July sales will probably be even more popular than ever before. Where are the best 4th July sales happening? There will be a lot of retailers from all sorts of backgrounds getting involved in the sales – from clothing to gadgets – but we here at Creative Bloq will be focussing on the more tech side of things (plus mattresses, because we all need a good sleep!) We're going to bring you the latest and best bargains on tablets, laptops, monitors, headphones, and TVs out there. So stay tuned! View the full article

We've seen lots of designers tackle existing logos, from complete redesigns to subtle fixes. This latest effort falls into the latter category – but proves that even the tiniest tweak can make a major difference. One Reddit user wasn't completely happy with the logo for Tripwire Interactive's Maneater, a brand new open-world video game in which the player assumes the role of, you guessed it, a shark. With a tiny bit of Photoshop magic, the shark's mouth has been reversed so that is now about to chomp on the 'MAN' section of the title, making it a much more logical logo for the game (check out our logo design inspiration guide for more innovative examples). It just goes to show that you don't always need a bunch of complex Photoshop actions to make a difference – sometimes a simple 'Flip' will suffice. Many Reddit users prefer the updated version, with several commenting that it makes more sense. Some, however, feel that the original version is more balanced with the jaws pointing the right – since we read from left to right. One user proposed yet another version (below), which several Redditors called "the best option by far". Could this be the ultimate version? For us, shockwave414's attempt (above) could be the ultimate version of the logo. Not only is the appropriate section of the title being 'eaten', but the correct sense balance and movement is created by the jaws pointing to the right. Removing the jaws from the middle also clears up any confusion over the title – this is clearly a logo for Maneater, not Man Eater. Whichever option you prefer, there's no doubt that when it comes to a successful logo, details matter – especially when there's an internet full of designers ready to pounce on any mistakes. One designer recently performed a public service by redesigning some of the most hilariously bad logos in existence. Indeed, if even the tiniest aspect of a logo would benefit from a redesign, it probably isn't going to make our list of the best logos of all time. Read more: New Adobe Creative Cloud logo is much more... creative iPhone 12 design finally revealed (and it’s not what we expected) New Black Mirror Series 6 Netflix poster is terrifying yet genius View the full article

Getting started with email newsletter design isn’t hard if you know what the pros do. In this post, we’ll discuss five essential email newsletter design practices that will make you feel confident about starting your first projects. Unlike web design …View the full article

If you have a creative vision, but can't seem to make it move forward and prosper, keep reading. Craftsman Creative, an online self-improvement platform for creatives of all types, provides courses and coaching for getting into the right mindset and building a successful business. Did you know that success is 80 per cent psychology and 20 per cent skills? Craftsman Creative has been inspiring and coaching creatives to help them build resilient, profitable businesses – so they can focus on the projects they love. Designed for all levels, you'll start your journey with the Craftsman Creative ebook. Best yet, this two-year subscription is now 95 per cent off. Building a business? You'll need to update your design portfolio. Master the courses to grow your mindset This useful guidebook is full of techniques and strategies utilised by creative individuals from all walks of life. You'll learn principles that will change the way you approach your work, learn how to craft your path, and more. Along with a guidebook, you'll also be provided with in-depth courses that cover a variety of creative philosophies and frameworks. The classes will guide you through development techniques that will take your skills up a notch by using the power of the mind. Each lesson will show you things you can do today to maximise your abilities. You'll regain control of your goals, break down creative blocks, learn how to create work that is an extension of yourself, and develop and strategise how to make your work bloom into a successful business. Once you master the courses, you'll move on to one-on-one coaching (specific to your creative life and goals) and learn how to put those newly acquired techniques to work in real-life scenarios. Led by founder and fellow creator Daren Smith, these coaching sessions will help you breakthrough and get the most out of your passions. Your strengths and opportunities will be narrowed down as you're guided through development practices that help take your income to new heights. With unlimited access, you'll be able to view the content time and time again, whenever you need inspiration throughout your subscription period. The Craftsman Creative: 2-Yr Subscription is usually priced at over $2,000, but, for a limited time, you can start training your mind to achieve your goals for only $99 – that's 95 per cent off. Transform your way of thinking and launch a new career in 2020. *Prices subject to change. Read more: The best computer for graphic design in 2020 16 essential tools for graphic designers in 2020 The best art books for 2020 View the full article

As is always the case in the build up to Apple's latest iPhone reveal, rumours about the design are coming from all angles. But thanks to recent supply chain leaks, we've just been given our clearest glimpse yet of the iPhone 12 – all four versions of it. Japanese blog Macotakara has got hold of some plastic dummy units, which both confirm and dispute several of the rumours we've heard in the past few weeks. While we've no doubt the iPhone 12 will knock the iPhone 11 off the top spot of our best camera phones roundup, it might not do so in quite the spectacular fashion we'd hoped. Macotakara's dummy iPhone 12 models Recent rumours had suggested that the higher-end iPhone 12 Pro would include a LiDAR depth sensor for improved AR experiences, but Macotakara's dummy models suggest the Pro will maintain a similar three-lens setup to the current iPhone 11 Pro, with the extra LiDAR sensor nowhere to be seen. Still, we're expecting those three lenses to feature significantly improved autofocus and optical zoom. Browse iPhones at Apple.com Another disappointment is that the infamous notch might not be seeing the significant size reduction we had expected – or any reduction, for that matter. Indeed, the front of the device looks pretty much identical to that of the iPhone 11. The number of lenses remains the same as the iPhone 11 It's not all bad news, though. Fans of smaller phones might finally have reason to rejoice (especially after the disappointingly bulky new iPhone SE). These dummy models appear to confirm the introduction of a tiny, 5.4-inch base model. For creatives on the go, a truly pocketable yet powerful device could be a dream come true. These leaks also support recent rumours that we'll be getting four devices: iPhone 12 (5.4-inch), iPhone 12 Max (6.1-inch), iPhone 12 Pro (6.1-inch) and iPhone 12 Pro Max (6.7-inch). As for the release date of the iPhone 12, according to Bloomberg, supply chain delays could push it back from its traditional September launch, although it's still expected to arrive this year. You don't have to wait to get your hands on an incredible iPhone though – check out today's best deals below. Read more: Move over iPad Pro – the new iPad Air could be incredible Apple's new MacBook Pro has an unexpected problem Forget the Apple iPhone 12, everyone's talking about the iPhone 13 View the full article

Banksy has released a new piece of art, which is inspired by the brutal killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers and comes amidst a wave of global protests. Known for his politically charged street art, Banksy has consistently taken on the issues at the forefront of our society, and this piece contains one of his most powerful statements yet. The painting depicts a vigil with a framed photograph, flowers and a candle, which is setting fire to the American flag that hangs above the scene. Alongside the piece, which was shared on Instagram (below), Bansky wrote, "At first I thought I should just shut up and listen to black people about this issue. But why would I do that? It’s not their problem. It’s mine." Check out our roundup of excellent examples of street art right here. "People of colour are being failed by the system. The white system," Banksy's post continued. "Like a broken pipe flooding the apartment of the people living downstairs. This faulty system is making their life a misery, but it's not their job to fix it. They can't – no-one will let them in the apartment upstairs. "This is a white problem and if white problem don't fix it, someone will have to come upstairs and kick the door in." Banksy's work has recently appeared in a hospital corridor and his own bathroom, but it's currently unclear where this new painting is located. Creatives everywhere are standing together in support of the Black Lives Matter movement right now, and Banksy's voice is a welcome and important addition. Read more: Brands show support for Black Lives Matter Did Banksy just add a face mask to one of his murals? 34 top free graffiti fonts View the full article

A researcher found that phone numbers tied to WhatsApp accounts are indexed publicly on Google Search creating what he claims is a “privacy issue” for users. View the full article

If you're an animator, you are very much aware of the time-consuming and meticulous process of getting from doodle to animation. If you're looking for assistance with your workflow, especially when you're working towards a time-sensitive deadline, now is your chance to get help from the pros. The Complete Cartoon Animator 4 Pro Bundle brings you everything you need to quickly transform your drawings into beautiful animations from the comfort of your home. Plus, it's compatible with both Mac and Windows – see here for the Mac deal and here's the Windows deal. Want to create your own animations? Start out by learning how to draw, plus check out the best CSS animation ideas for inspiration. Bring your drawings to life Formerly known as CrazyTalk Animator, Cartoon Animator 4 PRO is one of the top go-to destinations for indie animators and professional animation studios. Helping to bring your prized drawings to life, this complete bundle arms you with all the right tools to produce high-quality animations in a short amount of time. With a comprehensive training guide included that provides over 50 lectures and 6 hours of content, you'll learn everything you need to master Cartoon Animator 4 PRO and its features – starting from the fundamentals to the most advanced techniques. Named the "easiest way for illustrators to animate" by DigitalArts, this bundle is an all-inclusive destination for getting the job done. Transform all your creations from 2D into full 3D animated characters, generate lip-synced animation from audio, master the Smart IK/FK Motion Editing tools, link SFX to your unique character (or prop) to create disguised effects, and more. This time-saving software will help you seamlessly customise characters with its 2D bone rig editor and it comes complete with a robust motion library to help add elements to your creations. Artists can use their favourite editor platforms – such as Photoshop, Krita, Affinity, Clip Studio Paint, and Photopea – to modify figures, props, and elements and seamlessly animate them in the cartoon software. You'll be able to give life to characters through creating detailed facial movements, adding unique styles that mimic your natural expressions and head movements. Plus, you'll accelerate your animation production. With lifetime access, you can come back and revisit content resources on any image at any time. Usually sold for $200, these bundles have now been price-dropped to only $69.99 – that's 64 per cent off. Bring your drawings to life smoothly and efficiently and kickstart the career of your dreams with the all-encompassing Complete Cartoon Animator 4 Pro Bundle. Shop The Complete Cartoon Animator 4 Pro Mac Bundle here. Shop The Complete Cartoon Animator 4 Pro Windows here. *Prices subject to change. Read more: 8 of the best animated logos 11 top animation tools for digital artists How to make an animated video: Expert advice View the full article

It's been a long six years since Studio Ghibli released its last movie (2014's When Marnie Was There, if you'd forgotten) but fans will be thrilled to hear that a new film is on its way, as soon as winter 2020. And it's an even bigger deal, because it will be the first Ghibli film to be created entirely using 3D-CG. Aya and the Witch, which is set to air on Japanese channel NHK this winter, is based on children's book Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones. Ghibli fans may recognise Jones as the author of 'Howl's Moving Castle', Ghibli's 2004 smash hit animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. In the new production, it'll be his son, Goro Miyazaki, who is in the director's seat (though the elder Miyazaki is still credited as a planner). Feeling inspired? Use our character design tips to create perfect animated characters. Illustration from the original book, Earwig and the Witch Until now, Studio Ghibli has been celebrated for its approach to creating almost entirely hand-drawn animated content, a rarity in the digital age. In fact, only about 10% of its output has used CG technology – and usually has been to save time and money on particularly tricky parts of film. So that Aya and the Witch is an entirely 3D production is a real departure from the norm for Ghibli. Though there may be some purists feeling disappointment over the leap into modernity, we can't wait to see how Ghibli puts its unique stamp and style onto 3D content. And those purists need not worry – the studio will return to its roots for 2023's How Do You Live?. We're also pleased that coronavirus hasn't affected scheduling for Aya and the Witch, which, if true to the book, will be a fantastical adventure story that follows orphan Aya (Earwig) as she is adopted by a terrible witch. Featuring a talking cat and a spooky house with supernatural goings on, it's set to appeal to children and adults alike. This kind of magical adventure is what we all need right now. If you can't wait for the winter for your Ghibli fix, don't forget that the entire Studio Ghibli catalogue is now available to watch on Netflix. It's certainly a good thing we have the time to devote to rewatching it all. Read more: Studio Ghibli Blu-ray case concept just won the internet 11 top animation tools for digital artists How to move from animation to illustration View the full article

If you're feeling like the plot of 2020 is straight out of a dystopian drama, you're not alone. One Madrid-based advertising agency has turned the concept into a reality with a speculative poster campaign that places us all quite literally inside Netflix's next series of Black Mirror. The ingenious poster (below), which has popped up at bus stops across Madrid, features the text: "Black Mirror. 6th season. Live now, everywhere", above a literal mirror. The darkly comic ad couldn't be simpler, and could well make its way into our favourite examples of billboard advertising. Apt The ad works extremely well – not only because the apocalyptic vibe of these strange times seems lifted from one of Charlie Brooker's scripts (here's where to buy a face mask, by the way). The series is also known for its form-pushing experimentalism (such as its recent choose-your-own-adventure-episode), so the idea of the Black Mirror team letting a series play out in reality is somehow strangely believable. Fortunately, there's no need to pinch yourself – Brooker recently told Radio Times he wasn't currently working on a new series of Black Mirror. "At the moment, I don’t know what stomach there would be for stories about societies falling apart," he said. The joke poster, created by Madrid agency Brother, has been a huge hit online. "I need this to be everywhere," one Reddit user commented, "Let people laugh for at least a second." Others rushed to Netflix to check whether a new series had actually dropped: "I got excited and went to Netflix to find it, couldn't find it, Googled the release date, and only then did I realise." We might not be living in a new series of Black Mirror, but it's certainly a new normal. Check out our guide to working from home more productively if you're stuck indoors, and if you fancy unleashing a little creativity, our how to make a face mask guide has you covered. Read more: Netflix concept ads will ruin your day New Apple iPhone design concept is the one we've been waiting for Disney face masks feature most popular characters View the full article

We've seen lots of concepts for future iPhone designs, but every now and then, one comes along that truly captures our imagination. This new concept from a German industrial design student certainly falls into that category – its detachable camera setup is unlike anything we've seen. Louis Berger's concept, named Mosaic, features a huge camera bump which can be removed, and function independently. With its small, square display, this separate device looks a little like an oversized Apple Watch. We've no doubt this concept ever became a reality, it would secure a spot in our round up of the best camera phones money can buy. A modular iPhone might sound unusual, but Berger's polished 3D imagery makes it look truly premium (check out the best 3D modelling software if you're inspired to create a concept of your own). Berger's Mosaic concept While huge camera bumps are often seen as an unfortunate design trade-off as smartphone photography becomes more advanced, Berger's ingenious design seems to take the idea to its logical conclusion – by making the camera bump (or "photo tile") the phone itself. Users can then attach a secondary "screen tile" to the back, either the same tiny size, or a larger one which transforms Mosaic into a traditional smartphone. Confused? Berger's handy illustration (below) explains the radical new concept. The future of the smartphone? Berger's concept imagines a much more versatile device – users could choose between a standard smartphone-sized device for consuming content, and switch to the smaller mode (below) when exercising, for example. It's like having an iPhone and an Apple Watch in one. While we've seen many rumour-based concepts of what the next iPhone might look like (spoiler alert: not that different to the iPhone 11), it's a treat to see designs that hint at what the more distant future could hold – such as this jaw-dropping folding iPhone concept. After all, it's been a while since we've seen Apple drop a product as innovative and brand new as the original iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. But the upcoming Apple Glass could soon change that. Read more: Move over iPad Pro – the new iPad Air could be incredible Apple's new MacBook Pro has an unexpected problem Forget the Apple iPhone 12, everyone's talking about the iPhone 13 View the full article

The last few months has seen a slew of new Apple product announcements, from a brand new iPad Pro to an updated MacBook Pro, via the budget iPhone SE. And if new leaks are to be believed, it's the middle child of the iPad range that could be updated next – bringing it much more in line with the iPad Pro. According to the Chinese website Macotakara, the new iPad Air will finally do away with the current Lightning port, replacing it with the USB-C port currently found in the iPad Pro. This would make it the first iPad outside of the Pro lineup to feature USB-C connectivity. The iPad Air is already a great tablet for creatives (check out the best iPad apps for designers), but the addition of USB-C would offer much more versatility – allowing DSLR cameras or external storage to be connected without the need for extra dongles. This extra convenience, along with the Air's mid-range price, could be a game-changer for digital artists on the go. The current iPad Air was released in 2019 Macotakara's report also supports recent rumours that the new iPad Air could feature an 11-inch display in a design based on the current iPad Pro. We'd love to see the Air borrow the pleasing edge-to-edge display of the newer iPad Pro – and an extra half-inch of screen can only be good news for digital artists. The report also backs up rumours of a new iPad Mini with a slightly larger, 8.5-inch display. The iPad Mini will apparently, however, keep the current Lightning port, suggesting that Apple isn't quite ready to let go of Lightning altogether. Could the next iPad Air resemble the iPad Pro? While Apple will no doubt want to keep some functionality exclusive to the 2020 iPad Pro, we'd love to see some Pro features brought to the Air, such as support for the Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard. By closing the gap between the iPad Air and the iPad Pro, the Air could well hit the sweet spot between functionality and price. And while Macotakara's report doesn't mention release dates, the iPad Air hasn't been refreshed since last March – so our fingers are crossed for an update in 2020. Where to buy an iPad: Best Buy: iPads for up to $100 off, including deals on the Air and Pro Walmart: Hot iPad deals, including savings on the iPad Pro 12.9-inch Amazon.com: Deals on iPads, including the iPad 10.2-inch for under $400 Amazon.co.uk: Money off iPads; save £56 on the iPad Pro 11-inch Currys: A range of iPad deals available, iPads start at £399 Keep reading: Apple's new MacBook Pro has an unexpected problem Forget the Apple iPhone 12, everyone's talking about the iPhone 13 You can now get retro iPhone app icons – and you'll want them all right now View the full article

If you're struggling to be more productive while working from home, you've come to the right place. With 11 top-notch apps designed to make your life easier, The Limited Edition Mac Bundle Ft. Parallels Desktop brings you everything you need to organise and streamline your daily process. Best yet, you can get the complete bundle today for only $59.99. If you'd like to continue expanding your app library, check out our pick of top iPad apps for designers. Manage your data and documents If you use both iOS and Windows, you'll understand the struggles of transferring files back and forth. Parallels Desktop, a state of the art tool providing hardware virtualisation for Macs, brings you a groundbreaking solution for opening Windows programs on your Mac. You'll be able to run thousands of Microsoft based software and even be able to play graphic-intensive games or run CAD programs without having to reboot. Need further assistance with managing your data? iMazing and DeltaWalker Pro are here to help. Both premium programs that help you organize your data and documents seamlessly from PC to Mac – they'll make your life easier by having everything all in one place. If you're struggling with information overload, XMind 8 Pro is for you. With an advanced mapping system included, you'll be able to organize all your notes, presentations, timelines, and more, making your productivity levels rise to new heights. Create and edit If you're looking for editing software that lets you be more productive while collaborating with others, PDF Expert will be your new sidekick. PDF Expert enables you to edit text, links, or images on any PDF easily, with the ability to share the edits with anyone in an instant. If you need help with copy or images that will be placed in different places, TextExpander will save you time with an innovative shortcut algorithm. Just drop the text or image into your collection and create a shortcut to auto-fill content anywhere on your Mac. Need a bit of creative assistance? With Aurora HD, you'll be able to transform your everyday photos into works of art. Named the world's leading HDR photo editor, this software automatically eliminates noise in your photos and lets you share them directly to any social platform. With an app like RapidWeaver 8, you'll even be able to create and edit a website with zero coding experience. Hundreds of features allow you to customise your site and seamlessly be compatible with devices of all types. Keep your data private and safe You'll also have access to online privacy and data recovery apps such as Disk Drill Pro and Windscribe VPN. With outstanding reviews online, these apps will help ease your mind about keeping your data safe and protected while you work or browse the internet. Best yet, there is no limit to the number of devices you can use at a time, allowing for simultaneous protection. Voted one of the best Mac bundles of the year, The Limited Edition Mac Bundle Ft. Parallels Desktop can be yours today for only $59.99 – that's 94 per cent off its original price of over $1000. *Prices subject to change. Read more: The best monitors for MacBook Pro in May 2020 The best mouse for Mac in 2020 The 8 best external hard drives and SSDs for Mac and PC users in 2020 View the full article

Think you're a typography whizz? If so you'll want to try these new quizzes. Created by the I Love Typography blog, they will test your visual memory so you can prove just how knowledgable you are when it comes to fonts. Imagine the bragging rights you'll earn (well, in the design sphere anyway) if you manage a perfect score in both. And if you aren't sure you're quite up to the challenge, you can see it as a much-needed learning opportunity. Because we're all about self-improvement. So, if you're the type(face) that can predict what would go into our futuristic fonts or italic fonts posts before you've even seen them, we suggest you keep reading to find out how you can prove your royal status in the world of fonts. The Font Game The Font Game (an improved version of a previous quiz) shows you a series of 30 letter strings – spelling out the word 'fargo' – and your job is to choose which font has been used in each case. A variety of fonts are covered, from Comic Sans to Showcard Gothic, so your knowledge needs to be wide to do well. That said, this is more of an entry-level quiz (dubbed "somewhat difficult" by I Love Typography) and there are more difficulty levels coming soon ("rather difficult" and "just crazy difficult"), according to the creator. We can't wait. On Twitter, quizheads seem to be averaging somewhere in the 20s, with a few typographical wizards boasting of a perfect score. You can add your own score on the I Love Typography Twitter thread. Glorious Glyphs Glorious Glyphs steps things up a gear. In this quiz, you need to identify the font from a single, you guessed it, glyph. These range from the ancient ampersand (do you know its amazing history, by the way?) to the modern @ sign, but single letters are included, too. So far on the Twitter thread, there are no perfect scores reported on this icon challenge, with users averaging 20/25. Could you be the first to achieve greatness? If this has got you in the mood for a quiz-filled day, you could make things personal by finding out exactly what typeface you are. Or, branch out into logos and spot the errors in these famous logos. You'll be a design master by teatime. Read more: Darkmode: the typeface you didn't know you needed Font design: Top tips to create your own typeface Perfect font pairings View the full article

The 3Doodler Create+ is the newest 3D printing pen from 3Doodler. For those not in the know, 3D printing pens use plastic filament to draw physical designs – like a kind of handheld 3D printer. Fun enough for children to enjoy, they also have more adult creative applications in art and design. 3Doodler 3D printing pens have been around in various guises for a few years now but the latest versions have felt more complete, while retaining their fun nature. We've tested the Create+ and created this comprehensive review to help you make an informed choice. Want to upgrade your 3D kit? Check out our guide to the best 3D modelling software around right now, and the best laptops for 3D modelling, too. 3Doodler Create+: Design and features The stylus of the Create+ (there are other versions for younger users and educational settings) is streamlined and feels not much bigger than a standard felt tip pen. This is a big improvement as older versions felt somewhat unwieldy and were heavy enough to cause some discomfort over longer doodling sessions. It's nicely built, with well placed buttons and a window that shows off the mechanism for feeding filament. When it comes to the kit it's worth noting that the power cable, which needs to be attached (it’s not a charger but a power supply) is a bit on the short side. I'd like to see a longer one, to reduce extension clutter. That said, it fits well and is light, reducing fatigue while drawing in mid air! The 3Doodler Create+ allows for printing/doodling with different materials and each has a different use. PLA is pretty standard and is cheap and easy, whereas ABS is stronger and hardens faster. The third material, FLX, is similar to use as PLA but has a more flexible hardened state. Part of the appeal of this package – other than the completeness of material, stylus and instruction bundled – is the online element. Although it’s hard to quantify something as changeable as a web-based content selection, it's really nice to see 3Doodler using the web to support their users, with many videos, tutorials and schematics, to help users really get the most from their experience. A little hand-holding can go a long way but the real power here is of the inspirational aspect of what can be achieved, from household fixes to 3D costume and jewellery designs. 3D Doodler Create+ review: Performance The 3Doodler lets you draw on a surface in what feels like thick paint but then the fun begins as you can lift the tip into air, creating a lattice or framework. This may not have the precision of a normal printer but is far more interactive and entertaining. Templates exist to help you build different models, using the pen to weld parts together. The Eiffel Tower is an obvious choice for a demo but that doesn't detract from the fun and sense of accomplishment. It's fair to say that this can be testing at first, as the muscle memory isn’t there for most people but perseverance pays off. Should you buy the 3Doodler Create+? This generation of the device is much easier to handle and produces good, fun results, once you put the practice in. The kit comes with more than enough different material to get you up and running, which adds to both enjoyment and value. This article was originally published in 3D World, the world's best-selling magazine for CG artists. Subscribe to 3D World. Read more: Is it possible to turn your iPad into a 3D studio? View the full article

Got some extra time on your hands right now? You're not alone. It's a great opportunity to pick up some new creative skills, but it can be a frustrating business learning things piecemeal from random tutorials and YouTube videos. What's preferable is a well-organised and academically rigorous course. But what if you have no money to pay for one? Well, the good news is that an increasing number of providers are making most, or all, of their courses available for free. In this post, we highlight 10 of the best places to find free online training today, in a wide range of subjects. 01. FutureLearn Future Learn offers courses from top universities, for free FutureLearn is a UK-based digital education platform that’s jointly owned by The Open University and SEEK Ltd, which has over 140 international partners. Most of its short courses are free, although you’ll have to pay for extras such as receiving a certificate. It offers a number of arts and design related courses, such as An Introduction to Coding and Design and Introduction to Content Design, but they aren't grouped into one category, so you'll need to use the site's search tool to find what you're looking for. 02. Coursera Coursera is a world-wide online learning platform founded by Stanford professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller. It partners with universities around the world, as well as companies like Google and IBM, to provide around 1,000 courses for free, and since Covid-19 that has been extended to the whole of its 3,800 courses. Its design courses range from beginner level, such as Fundamentals of Design with CalArts, to advanced fare like 3D Model Creation with Autodesk Fusion 360. There are some great art courses too, particularly the recent additions from New York’s Museum of Modern Art. 03. EDX EDX has a large number of computer science courses and a small selection of arts-based courses Another large-scale provider of online courses, mostly for free, EDX is a non-profit organisation launched by MIT and Harvard University. It offers a large range of computer science courses, mostly focused on specific languages such as HTML5 and CSS, as well as a small number of art-related courses, such as Inspiring and Motivating Arts and Culture Teams. 04. Alison Based in Ireland, Alison is an online education platform mainly focused on workplace skills. It has 14 million registered learners, two million graduates and 1,500 courses available for free. Its creative courses range from short courses in print production and colour theory to a diploma in web design, but again, these don't fall into a single category so you'll need to use the search tool. 05. Google: Digital Marketing Google is offering a free, 40-hour course in digital marketing Want to master the basics of digital marketing? Google is offering a 40-hour, free course that's accredited by the Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe and The Open University. There are 26 modules to explore, all created by Google trainers, and each is packed full of practical exercises and real-world examples to help you turn knowledge into action. 06. Google: Analytics Academy Another free course provided by Google, Analytics Academy helps you learn about Google's own measurement tools so that you can grow your website’s traffic and performance through intelligent data collection and analysis. There are a number of courses on offer, all with self-explanatory titles, from Google Analytics for Beginners to Advanced Google Analytics. 07. Michael Flarup: Icon Design Michael Flarup recently made his course in icon design free Danish designer and speaker Michael Flarup is one of the world’s leading voices in the art of icon design. So his course Designing App Icons, which is spread across 14 video lessons, is well worth taking... not least because in response to the lockdown, he’s generously slashed the price from $49 to completely free! Aimed at anyone interested in becoming a better designer, the course covers deliveries, process and tools involved in app icon design using Photoshop, and how to find your personal visual style. 08. Free Code Camp Free Code Camp delivers exactly what it promises in the title. This not-for-profit organisation based in San Francisco offers a free and easy way to learn to code online. You'll begin with tutorials that introduce you to HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and then progress onto project assignments that put your skills into practice. 09. Open University The Open University has more than 1,000 free courses to choose from Specialised in distance learning, the Open University offers a number of free courses online via its Open Learn platform. There are nearly 1,000 to choose from, and design-related courses include Design Thinking, Designing the User interface, and an Introduction to Interaction Design. You can find the full catalogue of free courses here. 10. Ivy League The Ivy League group of universities in the United States, including Harvard, Princeton and Yale, are one of the most exclusive, and expensive, educational institutions in the world, so you might be surprised to find them at on a list of free resources. But it’s true: these esteemed palaces of learning have made over 400 of their courses free, for anyone to study online, and many of them cover creative topics, from art and design to programming. These courses are all spread across different platforms, but Class Central founder Dhawal Shah has compiled a handy guide to what they are and how to access them. Read more: 22 free ebooks for designers and artists How to get Disney Plus for free The best free blogging platforms in 2020 View the full article

As gamers eagerly await the reveal of the next generation consoles such as Sony's PS5, Sega has snuck in a hardware reveal of its own – but rather than excited, the design of the Game Gear Micro has left us utterly baffled. Announced to coincide with the company's 60th anniversary, the Game Gear Micro is a miniature revival of Sega's 1990 handheld, the Game Gear. And when we say miniature, we mean really, really miniature. The device measures just 80mm x 40mm, and features a 1.15-inch display – small enough to make your iPhone feel gargantuan (check out the best iPhone apps to make use of all those pixels). While mini versions of retro consoles have been a huge hit over the last few years, Sega may have taken things a little too far with the Game Gear Micro. We can't imagine this minuscule device offering a comfortable gaming experience – particularly if any of the in-built games involve reading text. Speaking of in-built games, that's the second bewildering aspect of the new machine. Sega is releasing the Game Gear Micro in not one, but four colours (black, blue, red and yellow), and each edition contains a different four games. The black version for example features Sonic the Hedgehog and OutRun, while if you want to play fantasy classic Shining Force, you'll need the yellow version. To play all sixteen games, you'll need to buy four different Game Gear Micros, at 4,980 yen (around $46) each. Makes sense. Needless to say, Twitter was quick to respond to Sega's announcement. And the main topic of conversation was, of course, the size: Still, there's nothing wrong with a bit of nostalgia, and the Game Gear Micro could prove to be a hit. In Japan, at least – a US or UK release date is yet to be announced. But don't worry, if you feel like taking a walk down memory lane right now, take a look at some of the best retro gaming consoles currently available. Read more: Apple's new MacBook Pro has an unexpected problem Forget the Apple iPhone 12, everyone's talking about the iPhone 13 Baby Yoda was nearly a lot less cute (and a lot more horrifying) View the full article

An attack over the weekend unsuccessfully targeted 1.3 million WordPress websites, in attempts to download their configuration files and harvest database credentials. View the full article

Researchers warn of critical flaws in SAP's Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise software. View the full article

As protests in the US continue over the brutal killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, creatives across the globe are showing solidarity for the Black Lives Matter movement. While some highlight the cause through moving tributes to Floyd, others are harnessing their positions to make positive moves to amplify black people in the creative industries. In this article, we have examples of both – but must emphasise that this is a starting point. Our commitment to cultivate change will ensure we continue to amplify black voices to help make Creative Bloq and the creative industry as a whole a more inclusive space for black communities. We all need to triple our efforts to support black creatives, starting now. Please feel free to get in touch with any suggestions or relevant news – we plan to keep this page regularly updated. Let's start with a list of some very worthy causes that are working right now in this fight. Where you can donate Official George Floyd Memorial Fund Black Lives Matter Minnesota Freedom Fund Show racism the red card (UK) Resourcing racial justice (UK) Black Lives Matter: Portfolio reviews A number of artists and designers have taken to social media to offer support to black artists in the form of portfolio reviews. Black Lives Matter: George Floyd tributes Below are some examples of artists across the world who have responded to the death of George Floyd, producing work in support of Black Lives Matter. View the full article

Google and Qualcomm both addressed significant vulnerabilities in their June updates. View the full article