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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

Cisco has patched a high-severity flaw that could lead to denial-of-service attacks on its Nexus switch lineup. View the full article

The zero-day vulnerability tracked as CVE-2020-9859 is exploited by the "Uncover" jailbreak tool released last week. View the full article

As anti-racism protests continue across the world in the wake of the death of George Floyd, several brands have spoken out to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement over the last few days. Many brands are delivering strong statements right now (and it will be interesting to see if they are followed by tangible action). In a minimal, text-based ad, Nike inverted its famous 'Just do it' slogan, urging its followers: 'For once, don't do it. Don't turn your back on racism." Sportswear brand Adidas even put its rivalry with Nike aside to share the message (below). Elsewhere, Twitter changed its profile picture to a black version of its logo, as well as opting for a plain-black header photo (below). This echoes the #blackouttuesday movement sweeping across Instagram today, in which countless users have posted a plain-black square in support of Black Lives Matter. Ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's took to Twitter two days after George Floyd's death, sharing a four year-old news post covering the unrest in Ferguson after the death of Michael Brown, in which the brand expressed its support for the Black Lives Matter movement. While it's important for brands to show solidarity, it can be a challenge to avoid looking opportunistic or even tone-deaf – past actions matter, too. Less warmly received was L'Oreal Paris's effort, which saw it proclaim: "Speaking out is worth it". British model and activist Munroe Bergdorf was quick to condemn the post (below), having been dropped from a campaign by the brand after speaking out on racism in 2017. A global audience is quick to speak out when they judge that a brand is failing to deliver an authentic message, as we saw with McDonald's social distancing logo this March. We have seen before that it can be a challenging tone to strike – take a look at these other examples of big brands trying to be woke and failing – while others get it right. Read more: Pop culture creatures become scientific drawings (and we want them all) Lego's comical guide to working from home will brighten your day Cartoons for key workers are a heartwarming delight View the full article

From a brand new iPad Pro to the latest iteration of its 13-inch MacBook Pro, Apple hasn't let these strange times slow down its release cycle. But if you're thinking of buying said MacBook Pro, an unexpected new price hike could make the decision a little harder to stomach. This weekend, Apple quietly doubled the price of a RAM upgrade on the base model of the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Instead of the previous price of $100, jumping from 8GB to 16GB of RAM will now set you back a hefty $200. The MacBook Pro might be one of the best laptops for graphic design, but if you want to get the most out of this particular model, you'll now have to cough up $100 more than you would have a few days ago. Browse MacBooks at Apple.com The 2020 MacBook Pro According to MacRumors, Apple occasionally adjusts pricing as component costs change over time, but what makes this a particularly unusual example is that the machine was only released only a month ago. This could suggest that the issue is somewhat unexpected, such as supply-chain problems. The cost of upgrading the RAM on the high-end 13-inch model remains unchanged – going from 16GB to 32GB still costs $400. For creatives who can't decide which new MacBook Pro to buy, this price hike makes things even trickier, closing the price gap between the base model and high-end model. The base model (with 512GB storage and doubled RAM) now costs $1,699 – just $100 less than the high-end model with exactly the same storage and memory, but a much faster processor. It's now even more tempting to drop $1,799 on the high-end model. While every 2020 MacBook Pro features the much-improved Magic Keyboard, internal improvements (including a brand new 10th generation processor) are saved for the high-end version. With the base model packing the same 8th generation processor as its 2019 predecessor, and the price for extra RAM now twice as high, it's becoming difficult to recommend over the pricier option – especially for creatives using power-intensive software such as Final Cut Pro (don't forget to check out the best laptops for video editing). Whatever the reason for this particular price-hike, Apple certainly has recent form when it comes to mind-bogglingly expensive extras. The Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro came with a not-so-magic price tag, and the less said about Apple's $699 Mac Pro wheels, the better. Still, there's no denying that both the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are brilliant laptops for creatives – check out today's best deals below. Read more: 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 You won't believe what Apple's next MacBook might look like View the full article

Apple has fixed a critical flaw in its Sign in with Apple feature, which could have been abused by attackers to takeover victims' third-party applications. View the full article

Is mastering graphic design at the top of your to-do list for the year? If so, it's never too late to tackle that goal. No matter your level of design expertise, keep your skills sharp with The School of Graphic Design Mastery Bundle, now only $39. As creatives, it's essential to continually be learning to keep up with the latest updates in the industry. Packed with seven in-depth courses and over 350 lessons, this bundle contains everything you need to master graphic design. And our pick of the best tools for graphic designers will complement it perfectly. A course designed for all abilities If you're a beginner, you'll start with the fundamentals of top industry software, such as Adobe Photoshop CC, Illustrator, and InDesign, and move onto design theory, branding, and more. You'll learn what each design platform does, and extensively review topics such as typography, photo manipulations, branding, magazine layout design, and logo design (for more, see our guide to logo design). Real-world exercises are provided, allowing you to practise what you learn as you go. Once you master the basic concepts, you'll jump into more advanced theories and practices. A few topics you'll tackle include: taking a complete look into proper layout design, learning how to brand an entire digital marketing campaign (including social media assets), and diving into Adobe tips and tricks to help speed up your workflow. You'll also be assigned more meticulous projects to complete – such as creating a full photo manipulation project for a large poster ad, or taking on a full logo and branding design project from start to finish. The 40 hours of content will equip you with everything you need to be confident in your graphic design abilities. With courses dedicated to working with clients as a freelancer, in an agency, or on an in-house team, you'll get extensive training on how to showcase your graphic design work. Techniques in creating polished presentations, building your portfolio effectively from scratch, and understanding how to display your designs successfully, will be taught with guided video tutorials. Best yet, you'll have unlimited access to all the content, allowing you to visit each concept or lesson time and time again. The School of Graphic Design Mastery Bundle brings you everything you need to jumpstart your graphic design career or merely brush up on your skills. Usually $1400, you can master design for only $39 (that's 97 per cent off)! Add valuable skills and credibility to your ongoing creative portfolio and conquer your goals today. *Prices subject to change. Software not included. Read more: View the full article

Artists certainly nailed what the world wanted from a toddler-sized Yoda when they created Baby Yoda for The Mandalorian last year. We, and the rest of the galaxy, can't get enough of those endearing eyes, super-long ears and oversized space jacket. But newly-released concept art reveals that the mini-Yoda wasn't always intended to capture our hearts with sheer adorability. In fact, one early mock up of Baby Yoda shows that Disney could have gone in quite a different direction, leading us to believe that in an alternate universe there lies a Baby Yoda who is, in short, TERRIFYING. Let's take a closer look at the design, which definitely wouldn't make our list of top 3D art... Take a moment to soak up those chubby cheeks It was vital the character of Baby Yoda was perfect (see him above) – they were dealing with one of the most iconic characters in film history, after all. And, as John Favreau discloses during the newest episode of Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian (try Disney Plus for free to get involved), getting the final design just right – cute, but not too cute – was a long process that involved viewing hundreds of concept drawings. These drawings swung wildly, one way or the other: too cute or too ugly. And the version below gives the final character a totally different feel. A pretty horrifying one, actually. Just. Not. Okay. Though there are echoes of the final Baby Yoda within this design, the small and rounded eyes, cavernous ears and stomach-turning curly hair are at odds with the enchanting depiction that made it out of the studio. Though the face is squidgier, the toddler actually looks older, and those plump cheeks are not ones we want to squeeze. Unlike the final version, the features don't pull us in and we find ourselves wanting to look away – not a great feeling to have when faced with the coolest small being in the universe. Seeing the different renditions together as above feels like spending time with a bunch of Yoda's siblings – all of which have wildly different personalities. (Including Danny Yo-Vito, according to Twitter user Blanked_Space). Fans everywhere are overwhelmingly appalled at what could have been, with expressions of gratitude pouring in for the appearance of the final render. Judging by the response to Sonic the Hedgehog's design misfire last year, Disney did well to get it right. Read more: 27 top character design tips 9 character designers you need to know The best laptops for 3D modelling in 2020 View the full article

With over 50 Adobe apps available, you'd be forgiven for sometimes struggling to tell them apart. In an attempt to address the issue, Adobe has begun updating its entire brand identity, and the most dramatic change so far is a brand new icon for Adobe Creative Cloud. A far cry from its current red-and-white iteration, the new Creative Cloud icon (below) features the logo atop a bright, colourful gradient which "brings the colours of [Adobe's] product brands" together. Check out the best Creative Cloud Plans if you're ready to get to grips with its many creative apps, from Illustrator to Photoshop. Old (left) vs. new (right) The new splash of colour certainly helps Creative Cloud look a little more, well, creative. As the umbrella that unites Adobe's many apps, it makes sense for it to enjoy a more artistic appearance – since that's what Creative Cloud is all about. The previous icon looks positively corporate in comparison. It isn't just Creative Cloud that's enjoying a new coat of paint. The Adobe logo itself has been given a more subtle makeover, with a slightly different hue of red. In a blog post about the identity refresh, Adobe calls the new colour "warmer and more contemporary". "Warmer and more contemporary" (aka "more red") Across the board, Adobe is tweaking icons for all of its products with the removal of borders (taking them even further into the realm of flat design), and the addition of rounded edges to any icons that were previously square. Both changes are designed "so that the system can flex to accommodate a range of operating systems and devices". When it comes to helping to tell the products apart, Adobe says that as it rolls out more updated icons, it will be "using colour to organise products into categories such as Video & Motion or Photography, to ensure customers can easily find the products they need". As if the Photoshop logo couldn't get any simpler While Creative Cloud undoubtably contains some of the best software for digital art, the sheer amount on offer can sometimes be confusing (check out this unmissable video explaining all 50+ Adobe apps). It's great to see Adobe take some measures to help users differentiate between apps, as well as highlighting the creative aspect of Creative Cloud. Check out today's best Creative Cloud deals below. Read more: Pop culture creatures become scientific drawings (and we want them all) The 6 best laptops for Photoshop in 2020 64 top-class Photoshop tutorials to try View the full article

We've seen all sorts of fantastic creative projects during lockdown, and this series by a Texas-based illustrator is a whimsical delight. 'Unnatural History' takes several fictional creatures from the worlds of film and TV, and transforms them into vintage-style biological studies. From Stranger Things' Demogorgon to everyone's new favourite alien, Baby Yoda, the collection by Chet Phillips features over 20 creatures, complete with latin names and descriptions. As with all of Phillips' work, the series was illustrated using Corel Painter (one of many great photoshop alternatives). Baby (we mean Puer Versionem) Yoda The illustrations are all available to buy via Phillips' Etsy page, either individually or as a beautifully presented box of 10 (including one original sketch). The reviews on Phillips' page are filled praise: "I Love Chet's work," one says. "It allows me to show my love for pop culture in a totally unique way." Straight from the upside-down We love the authentic vintage style of Phillips' illustrations, and can't help wanting them all – it doesn't help our wallet that they look so great as a full set (below). The project is a delightful tribute to fantasy and imagination, not to mention a welcome distraction from these strange times. We want them all. It's a testament to Phillips' skills that these wildly disparate creatures now look like they could all belong to the same (very strange) universe. If a brand new creature is ready to spawn from your own imagination, head straight over to our list of essential character design tips. Read more: Lego's comical guide to working from home will brighten your day Cartoons for key workers are a heartwarming delight Burger King’s genius Social Distancing Whopper will make your eyes water View the full article

Garry Pye has been drawing cartoons all his life. Despite no formal artistic education, he went from hobbyist to full-time animator after discovering Reallusion and their 2D animation software six years ago. I have been drawing cartoons ever since I was old enough to hold a pencil. I am a self-taught artist, illustrator and animator who specialises in creating characters, backgrounds and prop content. I started working as a content developer in my spare time, and this has turned into a full-time business. I now have over 1,400 assets available online, which I sell to animators around the world. From the age of 17, I worked with my father in our family trophy store – for 31 years, in fact. But my true passion was drawing cartoons. And I dreamed of one day being able to do that as my full time job. In this article, I’m going to share with you how Cartoon Animator (formally CrazyTalk Animator) helped me to jump from working in that trophy store to creating a profit-making, successful full-time online business. Garry Pye in his studio Discovering animation Since I was a child, all I’ve ever done is draw – learning from great fantasy artists like Boris Vallejo and Frank Frazetta, and the incredible comic artists of MAD magazine like Mort Drucker and Jack Davis. I mimicked their styles until eventually I developed my own. I always had a fascination with 2D animation, and although I experimented many times with it, I did not have the skills or patience required for traditional frame-by-frame cell animation. Then I came across a piece of software called CrazyTalk Animator, which promised aspiring animators the opportunity to produce professional results without the tedious frame-by-frame work. Discovering this software changed my career. After installing it, in a matter of hours I was making things move. About 3 months later, I was creating funny short animated videos (such as the one below) to entertain my friends. I soon realised this tool could really help businesses of all types to be able to immediately tell a story, or demo their concept for business or education purposes. Building a Business Very quickly, I started to sell my art in Reallusions 2D Marketplace, and have continued to do that for the last 6 years – adding more and more characters, backgrounds and props. Eventually, I opened my own Theme Store on the Reallusion site, and even began representing other artists' work. In my 31-year career working in my family trophy business, I learned many of the skills I would need to turn my hobby into a successful new career. I learned how to operate a business on a day-to-day basis, from marketing and advertising to sales and manufacturing, and also taught myself software skills including Photoshop and CorelDraw. And, of course, customer relations and communications – which in my opinion are the most vital skills for business owner. I look at where I was with CrazyTalk Animator 6 years ago compared with where I am today, and it demonstrates something truly wonderful about this software: it grows with you. The software guides you through those early days of basic animation, so that as your confidence and skills grow, you become more comfortable exploring the more professional tools within, and your animations become more polished as a result. One of Garry Pye's animations Collaborating with developers and becoming a Reallusion community manager As my digital content business grew, my hobby not only became my full-time job, but I also opened my own market store to sell my creations and also help other artists like me to get into world of digital creation. I believe there are many more artists like me out there – talented designers and artists who struggle between work and their passion. That’s why I recently officially became a Reallusion Spokesman and Community Manager. I want to share my true passion with others, and help more artists to succeed. Two Theme Stores: Reallusion Content Store & 2D Marketplace Garry Pye's 'Little Mates' Reallusion offers several different areas on the website for developers to sell and promote their products, from hobbyists to professionals. The first step in becoming a content developer was to sell my characters, props and backgrounds in the 2D Marketplace, a wonderful platform for artists at any skill level. The Marketplace allows you to load any content at no cost, and you make a healthy commission from each sale. Reallusion provides you with the templates you need for marketing, but the look and design of your marketing is entirely in your control. I still load all of my new content to the Marketplace today and it’s a fantastic site for being seen by potential customers. Once my catalogue of content had grown in size, I was invited to join the Reallusion Content Store which has the advantage of being controlled by Reallusion itself, including all marketing, which is extensive. The secret to both the Marketplace and the Content Store was to remain relevant and current, creating and uploading new content on a regular basis so the audience I was building would return to see what new content was on offer. Then I was invited to open my own Theme Store on the Reallusion site, which meant that my store was now featured on the main page, giving me considerable more exposure on the site and once again building on my brand. By this time I had a large following of loyal customers that had been accumulated through each level of the sites platforms, from Marketplace to Content Store and finally to Theme Store, where I now represent other artists and help promote their work. All Stars – My latest series of characters created with Cartoon Animator 4 As well as making standalone characters, I knew from the beginning of my work as a content developer that I wanted to make series of characters as well, so that animators would have a range of characters to choose from, all with the same distinct and recognisable style. For the All Stars I chose a vector style of design, with no black outline, which I felt was more suitable to the needs of media presenters for corporate training videos and slideshows (my target audience for this series). The characters are cartoony, but still based on normal human proportions. Fun, but professional. I would certainly have been able to create the All Stars in CrazyTalk Animator 3, however Cartoon Animator 4 gave me several distinct advantages. The main one was that with CTA4, I am able to add additional layers to the face, meaning that for the first time you could create things like hair that has multiple levels, each of which can either be visible or invisible to change a characters hair style, or even animate the hair sections using the Deform function. Moustaches and facial hair could now be easily turned on or off without having to have them built in to the nose sprite, making sprite selection much easier. In addition, the new G3 360 Degree Heads allow much more natural movement for character animation. I did not incorporate the full arc of movement with these characters heads with The Bendies, which was a design choice. And the option is always there should I choose to expand the characters style and incorporate it later. View the full article

You're here because you want to know what the best smartphone tripods of 2020 are so far, and that's exactly what you'll find right here. Smartphones have made massive inroads into camera tech, and a quality smartphone tripod can really help produce professional-looking images and video. While many of the best camera phones come with optical image stabilisation and help smooth out unwanted camera shake, there will always be times when more stable support is needed. Whether you want to shoot a piece to camera without the arm-outstretched vlogging look, or capture a long exposure photo in low light, it’s a good idea to attach your phone to a tripod. But don't worry, this doesn't mean lugging a tripod the size of the Eiffel tower around (although if that is what you're after, browse our best tripods article). There are plenty of ultra-compact tripods on the market designed specifically for phones. And the best ones are so compact, they can sit on a table top, each tripod leg being around 20cm long, folding down to the size of a 500ml water bottle. Jump down for how to choose the best smartphone tripod The best smartphone tripods available now Our pick of the best smartphone tripods right now is the Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod Kit with universal smartphone clamp. Manfrotto’s PIXI mini tripods have been around for several years and have established a reputation for good quality at a reasonable price. The particular version is a two-part kit comprised of a PIXI Mini tripod and Manfrotto’s Universal Smartphone Clamp. This simple, spring-loaded clamp can accommodate a phone up to 84mm wide – more than enough for even a phablet-sized device like a Galaxy Note 10. The clamp’s grippy jaws hold your phone securely, and the clamp itself attaches to a small ball head atop the PIXI tripod, making it easy to tilt your phone up or down for high or low-angle shots, though only with the phone mounted horizontally. You can also detach the clamp and mount a lightweight interchangeable lens camera to the ball head instead, increasing the tripod’s versatility. And when it’s time to get on the move, fold the tripod’s legs together and they form an ergonomic handle that makes handheld vlogging much more stable and comfortable. Joby’s GorillaPod Mobile Rig looks more like a stick figure than a typical tripod, thanks to its arm-like supports on either side of the phone holder. These can be used to mount compact LED lights or a separate microphone, helping you boost the quality of your footage. The GorillaPod’s extra-flexible legs allow you to instantly bend them to any angle for effortless set-up, and you can even wrap the legs around objects like railings for extra variety in shot compositions and framing. Your phone is held securely in Joby’s GripTight PRO Phone mount. This uses a single locking knob to simultaneously secure your phone and to switch between horizontal and vertical positioning – an option lacking in many clamps - though the do-it-all knob means it’s possible to accidentally release your phone when you only want to rotate it. The clamp is mounted on a tilt hinge for extra framing flexibility, and above the holder is a cold-shoe-type mount ideal for attaching a compact shotgun mic. Next in our roundup of the best smartphone tripods is the Joby GripTight PRO TelePod. The trouble with most mini tripods is that they have to be perched on a table if you need extra height, but that’s not always an option. The TelePod can stand tall thanks to its nifty telescoping centre column, which extends up to 79cm. It’s a clever trick, though the three tripod legs are still as short as those on a typical tabletop tripod, meaning it’s not the most stable phone support when your phone is balancing high up. Alternatively, you can take hold of your phone and use the TelePod as a monopod support to keep your phone level when recording panning shots. Not only that, but the tripod legs can fold together to form a handle, then, with the centre column outstretched, you’ve got a good quality selfie stick. Joby even includes a Bluetooth remote so you can control your iPhone or Android phone’s camera not just when it’s on the end of the selfie stick, but from up to 90 feet away. The supplied phone holder is Joby’s feature-packed GripTight PRO Phone mount that compliments the TelePod well, with its extensive adjustment and quality build. The smaller sibling of the Joby GripTight PRO TelePod, the Joby GorillaPod Mobile Mini is still a great option for a lot of smartphone camera enthusiasts. First of all, weighing at 32 grams, this is not going to slow you down, and with its diminutive size, it take up a lot of room either. It's the cheapest tripod that Joby currently make, but it includes the companies trademark flexible legs, made with several moveable joints. Because of this, you can stand the Joby GorillaPod Mobile Mini up exactly like a mini table-top tripod, or attach it to something with its wrap-around legs. For less than $20/£20, it will come with a phone mount too, so you're good to go from the off. If you're looking for an extremely portable, convenient (yet small) tripod, this is a fantastic option. If you like the sound of the Joby TelePod’s tripod and selfie stick versatility, but are less keen on its hefty price tag, Benro may have the answer with its BK10. It performs the same tripod-to-selfie stick transformation for a fraction of the cost, yet it’s still made by a well-respected tripod brand and feels much better made than the bargain price would suggest. With the telescopic centre column outstretched, your phone can rise up to 91cm off the deck, though as you’d imagine, balancing your phone this high when the tripod’s legs are so short is a bit precarious. You can’t have everything at this price, and Benro’s phone clamp is very basic. It does hold reasonably securely though, and while it won’t rotate between horizontal and vertical orientation, the tripod’s compact ball head will let you do this. Somehow Benro has also managed to throw in a Bluetooth trigger for remote camera control, and its 30-metre range is easily enough for most shooting scenarios. The last, but not least, to feature on our best smartphone tripods 2020 list, is kind of a big deal! Most phone tripods are so small they end up compromised in terms of support, especially when you use a phone tripod for regular shoots. Manfrotto's Compact Light Smart smartphone tripod has no such drawbacks, as it combines a smartphone clamp holder with a full-size travel tripod, just as you’d use for an interchangeable lens camera. This enables a genuinely usable 131cm max shooting height, as each leg of the tripod has four sections so they spread far wider than the single-section legs on a standard tabletop tripod, significantly boosting stability. Naturally this does mean that at 39cm long when packed, this isn’t the most compact phone support out there, but it is very small for a ‘proper’ tripod, and at only 840g, it’s also extremely light for its size. The included phone holder isn’t as fancy as the clamp you get with a Joby GorillaPod Mobile Rig, but it does the job, and the same can be said of the basic ball head, which also allows your phone to rotate through 90-degrees to shoot in portrait mode. Factor the price, which is less than some tricked-up tabletop tripods, and this Manfrotto support certainly gives you a lot for the money. How to choose the best smartphone tripod A phone tripod is only as good as the mechanism it uses to hold your phone. Whereas a traditional camera will have a dedicated tripod mounting point, nowadays you’re lucky if there's a headphone jack on your phone. This means a smartphone tripod will usually be bundled with a mounting clamp that grips your phone, similar to a phone holder for your car. All the tripods on this list come bundled with a phone holder, so they’re ready to use. What’s more, phone tripod manufacturers also recognise that today’s phones are much wider than those from a few years ago, so you should be able to mount even the widest XL/+/Max-sized devices with ease. Read more: The best photo apps and photo-editing software 6 expert smartphone photography tips The best smartphone in 2019: be more creative on the move View the full article

We can safely call this decade a decade of startups. Small and big, local and international, teams of every size and scale pop up each day, offering products to benefit the community. Some of them come and go, while others …View the full article

The Russian spy group, a.k.a. BlackEnergy, is actively compromising Exim mail servers via a critical security vulnerability. View the full article