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Researchers said that a working exploit for CVE-2020-1938 leaked on GitHub makes is a snap to compromise webservers. View the full article

Criminals behind botnets Chalubo, FBot and Moobot attack unpatched vulnerabilities in the commercial DVRs made by LILIN. View the full article

If you're in need of some powerful new hardware but are on a budget, this Dell sale might just provide a solution. The leading computer tech company has reduced a number of its most popular laptops, which includes some really great options for creatives. Topping that list is the power-packed Dell XPS 13. One of the best 2-in-1 laptops money can buy, this incredible deal sees it reduced to just £1,219 – that's a whopping £299 saving! And that price includes a one-year subscription to Dell's premium support, onsite service and free delivery. But you'll need to hurry, this epic offer ends tonight (23 March 2020). The Dell XPS 13 packs a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and Intel Iris Plus Graphics, offering excellent performance with graphically intensive tasks, such as creating complex digital art, editing photos and rendering animations and videos, all while offering a fantastically versatile 2-in-1 design. If the XPS 13 doesn't suit your requirements, don't worry, Dell is running huge savings across a number of its other devices too, with the promise to, as the world continues on a path of uncertainty, keep you connected. You can find details of all current deals over on the Dell website. Not in the UK? Here are the best Dell deals in your area: View the full article

The unpatched Windows zero day flaws are being exploited in "limited, targeted" attacks, according to Microsoft. View the full article

The sky can make or break a photo, so it's important to consider the steps it's going to take to successfully replace it if needed in your photo editing. For a long time, this was a manual, time-consuming job for photographers, requiring a lot of skill, time and expertise. For uncomplicated horizons, this process is less difficult. However, highly detailed tree-filled spaces or city skylines, with lots of gaps to fill, can prove so challenging, it's easier to give up. Until now, that is. The arrival of the AI Sky Replacement filter, a major new tool in Luminar 4, means even the most complex of images can have the sky replaced with ease. This incredible feature can not only automatically identify and separate the sky in the original image, but mask it so effectively that it's almost impossible to notice any areas the mask has missed. Following even the most detailed tree lines to the finest pixels, the AI Sky Replacement tool recognises gaps that a regular selection tool would oversee. And if you do notice any areas that need attention, there are sliders for even further fine-tuning. In order to make sure your replacement sky truly feels part of the original shot, you will need to pay close attention to the image exposure, lighting and colours and then let the tool do the rest. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use the tool effectively, plus some top tips on how to make the final result even more standout. 01. Locate AI Sky Replacement filter To start, select Luminar's Edit panel, which will show icons for the four main filter panels – Essentials, Creative, Portrait and Professional – on the far right of the screen. If you're familiar with Luminar 3 (or earlier versions), these are the equivalent to the previous Luminar preset workspaces. The one you want is the Creative section, which is where the AI Sky Replacement filter lives. 02. Navigate AI Sky Replacement panel Once you've found the correct filter, select Sky Selection within the AI Sky Replacement panel. This is where you can choose a new sky and make any basic adjustments. There are advanced settings for further refinements, however, initial results are usually good enough to not warrant using these. 03. Select a new sky The Sky Selection dropdown menu has multiple replacement sky options, which come inbuilt with Luminar 4. You can select each and see which one provides the right feel for your image. Try not to get carried away with all the options and instead pay close attention to the sky that fits best with your image. 04. Experiment! This powerful tool is super-clever and has a number of options to help you be really creative, so don't be afraid to experiment with it. The night skies in Luminar 4 are particularly special, and can work really well at transforming a regular daytime image in to a magical evening shot. A prime example is image (above), which has had its original overcast sky replaced with 'Galaxy 2' sky – what a difference! 05. Finishing touches If you're almost done but feel like your image could still do with a few tweaks, the sliders in the AI Sky Replacement panel can really help. One to note is the Relight Scene slider, which this progressively applies the replacement sky’s tones and colours to the rest of the image to produce a much more natural blend. The AI Sky Replacement panel Here's a closer look at the AI Sky Replacement panel's features to help you get started: 1. Choose the perfect sky As mentioned earlier, there are variety of options from this drop down menu, but try not to get too carried away. Pick the sky that's right for your scene. And if you can't find it here, you can insert your own sky image here too. 2. Horizon Blending If you're struggling to join the sky with the horizon, or it looks a bit off, help make it a more natural fit by adjusting the Horizon Blending slider. 3. Relight Scene Use the Relight Scene slider to gradually shift the tones and colours of your original photo to match those of the sky you’ve added. 4. Advanced Settings It's unlikely you'll need these often, but handy to know they are there if you do. Options available are adding warmth and atmospheric haze in to images to really make your skies more authentic. 5. Sky Defocus This is a brilliant feature for replacing skies on close-ups or portraits with blurred backgrounds. 6. Edit Mask Useful for subtle blends, i.e. if you wanted to make the sky paler near the horizon, use the Edit Mask button and add a gradient mask. Get the most from AI Sky Replacement: 5 top tips AI Sky Replacement is a powerful tool, but it's no substitute for a photographer's eye. While it can certainly save you time, you will still need to ensure the replacement sky you are choosing fits perfectly, which will often require some tweaks. With that in mind, here are a few ways to get your skies just right, all of which are super-simple in Luminar. 01. Create your own sky library Luminar 4.1 comes packed with a variety of skies to choose from, but it's just as easy to drop in your own and create your very own sky library. So get snapping and start your sky collection today. 02. Add a 'Look' If you need that something extra to really bring your image and new sky together, try giving it a Luminar Look. Simply add an adjustment layer and then pick a Look that suits. 03. Match the lighting Take a close look at the lighting in your original image and try to find a sky that matches it. The sun is a good source to use in this above image as it can be used to determine how the light falls in the rest of the photo. 04. Add a vignette A quick and easy solution to adding a dark sky to a bright scene is to apply a vignetter. This edge-darkening effect will help balance the brightness and bring the image together seamlessly. 05. Use gradients If you're struggling to find the right tone to meet your horizon, use the edit mask button and add a gradient that helps blend the sky to your image more naturally. Get your copy of Skylum Luminar 4 today If you want to give Luminar 4 a go for yourself, you can download a free 14-day trial (for both macOS and Windows) via the Skylum website. If after a couple of weeks you'd like to buy, use discount code CB to get an exclusive $10/£10 discount on the retail price. View the full article

Nike has dropped a text-based ad encouraging people to stay indoors amid the spread of coronavirus. Using plain black text on a plain white background, the ad tells viewers: "If you ever dreamed of playing for millions around the world, now is your chance. Play inside, play for the world". The message looks stark, but the advice is pretty much in line with everyone else: stay indoors. The ad (below) was posted to Nike's social media channels over the weekend. Bespoke versions were also shared by various Nike ambassadors including Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiger Woods. Most feature the celebrity's signature alongside Nike's famous swoosh (one of our best logos of all time). Michael Jordan's version, however, removes the swoosh entirely, replacing it with a basketball-playing silhouette. It's the kind of simple, clear copywriting Wieden + Kennedy are known for, and the message cleverly plays on the the potential aspirations of Nike's followers to give them an unusual message for a sports brand: play inside. On its own, the ad might not seem like a strong effort from the largest sportswear brand in the world – but fortunately, Nike is offering more than just words – accompanying the ad is a new offer for its training app. As well as pledging $15 million to coronavirus response efforts, Nike is giving customers free access to the premium features of its Nike Training Club (NTC) app, joining the ranks of other brands offering free services (from Adobe's two free months of Creative Cloud to Serif pledging to engage 100 creatives with paid work). This is potentially great news for anybody working from home – with gyms closed and commutes shortened from bedroom to living room, it's one way of helping people to stay healthy at home. There's just one problem – the subscription-based service is currently only available in the US. With Nike imploring us to "play for the world", it's a shame that these benefits are only available in one part of the world. The version of the ad posted to Michael Jordan's Twitter page "Optimism and courage are two of the characteristics that define the world of sport," Nike says in its announcement of the now-free features. "We continue to be inspired by the ways people make sport a daily habit, even in the most challenging of times." Hopefully we'll continue to see examples of brands offering support to those whose lives and routines have been upended by the current situation. Related articles: Illustrator gives free drawing lessons to inspire kids stuck at home Illustrators depict their perfect self-isolation scenario The anatomy of Nike's most famous sneaker is weirdly fascinating View the full article

Film-inspired fan art is nothing new. But, as many digital artists will attest, reimagining a movie character in 3D is a huge undertaking. Until now, that is. Headshot plug-in for Character Creator software enables artists to quickly generate human 3D models from 2D images. In this article, digital artist Peter Alexander reveals how to take a photo of Pennywise the clown from hit horror film IT, and easily transform it into a complex 3D model using Headshot, ZBrush and Blender. Alexander’s guide covers everything you need to know go get started, including photo selection and preparation, https://youtu.be/7y5mJNQgqLousing the bake, edit mesh and sculpting tools native to Character Creator 3, manually adjusting Headshot masks in Photoshop, how to fix symmetry using ZBrush, and, finally, a crash-course on creating hair with a third-party Blender add-on called Hair Tool Download a free trial of Headshot plug-in here, and learn how to easily create a fully animatable 3D Pennywise model from just a single 2D image. 01. Finding a reference This image is used strictly for educational purposes. Please respect the copyright of the source images I found a photo of the clown from hit film IT by typing 'Pennywise bust' into Google images. Note this image is being used strictly for educational purposes – please pay attention to and respect the copyright of any source images. In order to fully demonstrate how Headshot works, I made further adjustments to the image, including adding symmetry by duplicating and mirroring the best side, and reducing some of the shadow. 02. Initiating Headshot and matching source image With the photo ready to go, I initiated Headshot. Once it computes the image, switch to the Sculpt Morph tool and Image Matching Tool. At this stage you will push, pull, and exaggerate the shape of the head by using the Bake feature to ‘lock in’ each transformation and reset the morphing limits. 03. Fixing the projection with expressions Approximate the expression of the source photo by using the Facial Expression Editor. Once you have a rough matching of the photo, use the ‘Re-project Photo’ feature under the Image Matching Tools. 04. Adjusting teeth with Edit mesh Use the Edit Mesh tool on the teeth to give them a pointed look. You can also adjust the teeth using the Morph Sliders included in the Headshot Morph 1000+ pack. 05. Editing mask to keep details from source image The red nose is masked by the default masking options. To keep more detail from the source image, I used Photoshop to add white to the masked area of the nose, mouth and eyes. 06. Fixing symmetry for eyes and teeth in ZBrush I sent the character mesh to ZBrush via GoZ function for some modest sculpting, using an app called PureRef to reference the source image at the same time. While in ZBrush, I corrected the symmetry on the eyes and teeth. Starting with the former, move the eyes into the approximate centre of the socket. Mask one of the eyes, and go to click ReSym and Smart ReSym in the Deformation area. You may have to slightly smooth out the eye, then ReSym and Smart ReSym repeatedly Re-import the file back into Character Creator, automatically align the bones to the face, and then delete the eyes and add new ones. Any deformations in the mesh should be fixed. 07. Touch-up and creating normal map in ZBrush To fully clean up the texture and produce normal maps, I subdivided the Basemesh of the full body a few times and hid everything except the Head UV group. Character Creator groups the mesh into the correct UV groups when GoZ’d into ZBrush. In the Texture Map dialog, add the face texture that has been produced by Headshot. Select Polypaint From Texture – from here you can do some light touch-ups and produce a cleaner texture map. To create a normal map, use brushes of your choice to sculpt and add definition around the painted areas that indicate detail. I sculpt around the brows to give increased depth, and notice the cracks in his painted head. When complete, switch to the lowest subdivision and extract a normal map. This can be combined with the provided normal map using an image editor with layer blending capabilities (e.g. Overlay). 08. Creating hair in Blender I created hair for Pennywise with a paid add-on for Blender called 'Hair Tool'. I started by exporting an OBJ file of the Pennywise mesh in T-Pose from Character Creator, and importing it into Blender. In Blender, I selected the skullcap, duplicated the mesh and then separated the two. In Particle edit mode, I combed the hair appropriately using a mouse, then increased the Strand Width to 20 (approximately). I switched interactive grooming off and on when editing settings for the hair. Once satisfied, I selected Particle Hair to Curves, and then Curve Ribbons to Mesh Ribbons. Export Opacity Map from UV settings, and export the Hair Mesh as an OBJ. Now back in Character Creator, import the hair OBJ as an Accessory. To create a hair texture, I searched the Internet by typing 'Copper Hair Texture' into Google. I assigned the red hair texture to Base Color, and the Opacity Map saved from Blender into the Opacity slot. Once happy with the hair setup, it can be saved as a reusable hair item. Here is the hair content I created as an example, you can download it from the description on my Youtube video (above). 09. Animating the Character This character is fully-rigged, and ready to be animated in iClone or any 3D tools. Here is an example of live animating Pennywise by mocap in iClone. You can download a free trial of Reallusion’s Headshot plug-in, and learn more details about how to make good use of this tool from these tutorials. View the full article

According to recent trademark filings, a new logo is on the horizon for car manufacturer Nissan, adding it to the long list of companies eschewing 3D for a flat, minimalist design. Not only has the chrome badge been replaced with a thin, monochromatic version, but the 'Nissan' font is now a straighter sans-serif affair. While Nissan is yet to officially announce the logo, the new design (below) certainly suggests it is moving in a similar direction to other car manufacturers such as BMW by adopting a more minimalist take on its branding. There'll have been no shortage of competition for Nissan to take tips from within the car industry, but if you're looking for logo ideas, check out our guide to finding logo design inspiration. The current logo (left) vs the possible new version (right) It's not surprising to see another car manufacturer join the flat design party. BMW recently revealed a minimalist redesign of its logo, designed with "openness and clarity" in mind. We're fans of Nissan's new, sleek look which, with removal of all colour entirely, is perhaps an even bolder transformation than BMW's. We like how, rather than going full circle, the semicircles encase the two 'N's, emphasising the almost-palindrome of the word Nissan. As well as the new brand logo, a second trademark filing (spotted by MotorTrend) suggests that Nissan will be getting new branding for its Z-car line of sports cars. Launched in 1969, there have been six generations of the Z-car, most recently 2009's Nissan 370Z. While the new Nissan logo looks to the future with its minimalist design, the new 'Z' (below) appears to be a nod to the past. The 'Z' has changed over the six generations of cars, but the new serif 'Z' with its centre strikethrough closely resembles the logo from Nissan's first Z-car, the 1969 240Z. There have been rumours that the new Z-car could feature a retro-inspired design, and the vintage logo suggests this could be the case. The hood emblem from Nissan's first Z-car in 1969 (left) and the new trademark 'Z' (right) Whether the flat design trend will disappear and 3D logos make a triumphant return in a few years is anybody's guess, but right now, the switch to simplicity makes sense – a logo needs to work across websites, social media and various types of digital media as well as a car bonnet. Hopefully Nissan will announce the new logos soon, and tell us more about the driving force behind the redesign. Related articles: The 10 best logos of all time The 7 best car logos of all time BMW reveals the truth behind its logo View the full article

Lego Harry Potter is a big deal, and that's not really surprising. JK Rowling's series of books hold a special place in the hearts of anyone growing up in the Nineties and early 2000s, and continue to be embraced by new generations of fans every year. The first Lego Harry Potter sets appeared in 2001, to coincide with the release of the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Further sets were released in tandem with each subsequent movie, and then more came in 2010-11. Things went quiet for a bit after that, but since 2018, Lego Harry Potter has returned in style, with a run of excellent sets that improve markedly on their predecessors in terms of complexity, design and imaginativeness. Lego has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, evident in our round up of the best Lego sets for adults. And Lego Harry Potter is no exception. In this article, we bring together what we consider to be the best Lego Harry Potter sets of the modern era. We'll explain exactly what's good about each one, as well as some of the flaws, to help you make an informed decision. Whether you're buying for yourself, your children or the Hogwarts fanatic in your life, read on to discover the very best Lego Harry Potter sets available today. You'll need plenty of space and lots of patience to build this large and complex Lego Harry Potter castle If you're a truly passionate Lego Harry Potter fan, and time and money are no object, then there's no real question about it: you're going to want the Lego Harry Potter Castle. We say "time", because it's going to take quite a while for you to build this complex set, with over 6,000 pieces. And we say "money" because, well, it's certainly not cheap. But if you are prepared to invest both, then you'll get a lot back in return. Because this brilliant set, which measures around 60 x 75cm once constructed, really does pack a lot of classic Harry Potter moments into its multiple rooms and passageways. It would take to long to list every single location and scene represented in this Lego Harry Potter castle, but suffice to say The Great Hall is beautifully realised, with nicely designed stained glass windows, flaming torches, and seating able to house a range of students and staff. Elsewhere you'll find Chamber of Secrets, Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom, Dumbledore’s office, Umbrage’s office, the Transfiguration classroom and plenty more besides. Given the huge number of scenes represented, many of these rooms are quite minuscule, and so rather than minifigures (of which there are just four), the set is centred around 27 microfigures, which are tiny enough to pose in multiple places. They're well designed and mostly recognisable, but of course they're not nearly as detailed, or satisfying, as minifigures. Almost everywhere here, Lego's made brilliant use of space, from the devil’s snare behind a rock to the moving staircases, which are actually rotatable. And that's not all: outside the building you also get a Whomping Willow and Hagrid's Hut to add to the value. Please note, though, that this model doesn't actually replicate the entirety of Hogwarts as seen in the movie; it's basically just the front part of it. Lego's aim here has been more about echoing the big scenes rather than anything like an accurate architectural representation of the castle as it appears on screen. Also note that there's a large reliance on stickers to add many of the most important details, such as the door to the room of requirement, and that these can be quite fiddly to apply. Beyond these little niggles, though, this Lego Harry Potter set will provide you with endless pleasure, in terms of both the initial construction and the inevitable series of modifications you'll want to make once you're done. This Lego Harry Potter train and platform set is full of well-observed little details Book-ending the beginning and end of each academic year, the Hogwarts Express chuntering through the countryside is one of the most iconic elements of the Harry Potter movies. And so we're overjoyed that the latest Lego Harry Potter set to represent it is really, really good. The train itself is much more accurate than its predecessors, with much more representative wheels and a nice selection of interior details including fireplace, dials and valves. The carriage is great too; we love that you can remove both the side and the roof, making it very easy to get your minifigures positioned in there. And the platform design is the crowning glory, neatly divided as it is between the muggle and magical portions, with a swinging door to move your characters from platform 9 to platform 9¾. Do be aware, however, that the headlights don't actually light up, as it portrayed on the box (naughty, Lego!). And that although the train does fit perfectly onto any Lego tracks, there aren't actually any tracks supplied with this set. Otherwise, though, this is a brilliantly designed Lego Harry Potter set that ticks all the boxes, and offers truly excellent value for the price. You can actually play Quidditch with this Lego Harry Potter set, after a fashion A lot of Lego Harry Potter sets are more about "display" than "play", but this excellent Quidditch set scores on both counts. That's because the player characters can actually fire Quaffle pieces, and the keeper (who "flies" on a kind of stilt piece) can be manoevered to protect them from the three goal mouths. The set also comes with four towers that represent Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff respectively, with room to fit one of the six minifigures at the top. The Hufflepuff tower doubles as a useable scoreboard, too. And that, along with some accessories such as a very nice Golden Snitch, is basically your lot. You're not getting a full stadium then, or even a second goal piece, but considering the very affordable price, that's a compromise we feel is well worth making. This small but perfectly formed set packs in a lot of cool detail You might think the grittier, rougher sides to the Harry Potter world might not mesh so well with the clean, polished and precise nature of Lego... but this fantastic set will go a long way to changing your mind. Thoughtful design and colour choices means that Lego has brought a real sense of the earthy and rustic to this depiction of Hagrid's hut, in the scene from Prisoner of Azkaban where Buckbeak is due to be executed. This set makes great use of space too. The two sections of hut, which open at the back, are filled with fascinating objects that are easy to both move and remove. And the interior highlight is the fireplace containing a dragon’s egg; a battery-powered lightbrick that brings the fire to life very effectively. Outside the huts, you also get two sections of pumpkin patch, a pole and tether for Buckbeak, and the hippogriff himself, with a head and neck that can be rotated, wings that can move up and down, and studs on his back to place minifigures. All in all, this set might be a bit pricey considering its relatively small size, but it's beautifully put together and really does add up to more than the sum of its parts. This dark and brooding graveyard scene is a great budget buy. The rise of Voldemort in Goblet of Fire is one of the most pivotal scenes in the Harry Potter saga, so it's great that this very affordable set does such a good job of depicting it. Given the price, it's not surprisingly quite basic: no buildings as such, and quite a small number of pieces. But there are some lovely touches, including a Grim Reaper that can be posed to grasp Harry in his clutches, a cool mini version of the TriWizard Cup, and both a baby and an adult version of the chief villain. A very cool action feature allows you to make Voldemort rise from the dead with the pull of a lever. And best of all, unlike other Lego Harry Potter sets, the box art doesn't mislead you by suggesting features that aren't there: in this case, what you see really is what you get. All in all, this is a great budget buy for anyone wishing to recreate one of Harry's darkest hours . There's a real fairy-tale feel to this beautifully depicted Lego Harry Potter scene If the grimness of the Voldemort graveyard scene isn't your thing, perhaps you'd prefer to recreating one of the franchise's most uplifting and fairytale-esque sequences? This beautifully designed set recalls the scene from Goblet of Fire where a flying carriage from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic arrives at Hogwarts. And it's all quite gorgeous, from the ornate carriage, peppered with attractive little details, to the enchanted equines with their posable wings. This set is cleverly designed too, especially the carriage, which opens up at the top to offer what is essentially a second storey, complete with beds and furniture. Our favourite part, though, is the very dapper version of Hagrid, dressed in his Yule Ball costume and ready to win over Madame Maxime. On the negative side, it's a little weird that one of the carriage doors doesn't open, the front harness piece seems a little unfinished, and it might be considered a bit pricey considering the number of pieces. But overall, this is a delightful set that pays brilliant tribute to one of the series' lighter and more uplifting moments. We love the idiosyncratic detail in this Lego Harry Potter set There aren't many particularly memorable vehicles from the Harry Potter series, but the crazy Knight Bus from The Prisoner of Azkaban is very much the exception. And this Lego set does a great job of bringing the surreal three-storey contraption and its associated characters to life (see our full Lego Knight Bus review). At 12 x 15cm, it's not as big as you'd expect from the surprisingly high price. But it is cleverly designed to fit a lot in, from the shrunken head and chandelier, which actually swing as you glide the bus about, to the swing chair and bed, which both fit minifigures. It's cool, too, that the side of the bus is detachable, aiding access, plus you can remove the top layer of the bus altogether. This design isn't flawless by any means: one gripe is that while the conductor fits on the side of the bus, he won't fit through the bus door itself. And overall, this set is pretty darned expensive for what it is. But as a Lego recreation of one of Harry Potter's wackiest scenes, it's does a very good job indeed. Relive one of the series' most powerful scenes with this nicely affordable Lego Harry Potter set We'll be honest, here: the scene in Prisoner of Azkaban where Harry summons his Patronus is one that hits us square in the feels. So we were instantly attracted to this set, and what we love most is the Patronus piece itself. In a (very un-Lego like) transluscent light blue and speckled with glitter, it really stands out and effectively conveys the magical nature of both the apparition and the moment itself This contrasts nicely with the (again, very un-Lego like) weird and creepy take on trees, bringing a vivid sense of darkness and despair into the scene. And so while the shoreline piece is, to our mind, a little too small, we think Lego should be applauded for trying something different here that really works. And overall, given the low price, we think that this set offers superb value. This selection of Lego Harry Potter accessories and minifigures is a great buy at any time of year This Lego Harry Potter advent calendar contains 24 free mini-bags, containing Lego pieces that you can use to assemble Christmas scenes. So to start with there are a lot of accessories, including seating areas, a Christmas tree, cultery, food, snowman, fireplace, and presents. There are also minifigures, a statue pedestal, a Hedwig figure and a micro Hogwarts Express train. Some of the pieces are very small and hard to put together, which might be seen as a bug or a feature, depending on how much you like a challenge. Meanwhile, some collectors might want this set just for the exclusive (at time of writing) items, such as Hermione in her winter outfit and Harry’s acceptance letter to Hogwart's. There's even an exclusive character in the form of a gold figure of Hogwart’s architect. Or maybe you just want something to open each day over the Christmas season, that isn't a disappointingly small square of chocolate. Whatever your reasoning, this is a nice and inexpensive buy for Lego Harry Potter fans. Lego Harry Potter minifigures... gotta catch 'em all. This set offers exactly what it promises: 16 minifigures from the Harry Potter and six from the Fantastic Beasts series. Each comes in a sealed ‘mystery' bag together with one or more accessory elements, plus a collector's leaflet and a unique display base plate. Unfortunately, that does add up to a lot of unnecessary packaging, which doesn't quite mesh with Lego's general focus on environmental responsibility. The Lego Harry Potter minifigures themselves, though, are all very nice, and our favourite inclusion has to be Harry's Invisibility Cloak, which has an iridescent treatment that really shines, both literally and metaphorically. Be warned, though: the set as a whole is very expensive , and so how you feel about the Fantastic Beasts series will probably make a big impact on whether you think this is worth the cost. View the full article

There is an unprecedented increase in remote working happening worldwide, which is growing exponentially daily. We, at Designmodo, work from home for 10 years. Due to global circumstances resulting from COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease), many who are working from home are …View the full article

Disney Plus UK launches tomorrow, and today is your last chance to get it at a bargain price. The streaming service, which is already going down an absolute storm in the US, launches in the UK on 24 March. For anyone spending more time inside, a Disney Plus subscription will be a brilliant, affordable way to keep all the family entertained. (Want to know more about the service? Check out our Disney Plus guide.) To celebrate Disney Plus' early arrival, Disney is currently running an incredible offer, knocking a further £10 off the subscription cost. While that might not seem like a huge deal, the original annual cost of £59.99 was already a bargain, so to be able to get this now for less than £50 makes it a deal not to be missed! We're even considering upgrading to one of the best 4K monitors for the occasion. Disney Plus' available shows and films will include much-loved classics from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and National Geographic, and there's also previously unseen content, including the aforementioned The Mandalorian, and the catchily named High School Musical, The Musical, The Series. Just some of the exclusive goodies on offer For what you get for your money, Disney+ offers much better value than Netflix. With this offer, Disney Plus UK will cost around £4 per month. Users will be able to stream 4K content on four devices at once, and there are no hidden extras. They'll also be able to download their favourite shows or films, to watch offline. To compare, Netflix costs £5.99 per month, but you have to pay more (either £8.99 or £11.99) if you want ultra-HD content, or to be able to stream on one more than screen at a time. With Netflix UK having recently won the rights to Studio Ghibli's content, it seems competition between the two streaming giants is really heating up, and that's before Disney+ has even fully launched. Which will you choose? You can sign up now on the Disney Plus website for more updates. Read more: Aaron Blaise reveals why he quit his dream job at Disney Is this Chinese city logo a blatant Disney copy? Understand Disney's 12 principles of animation View the full article

There is no dearth of cloud identity management platforms but few are as popular as Teamstack. The company came into being when the founders got together to create a solution that was easy and simple. In this TeamStack review, we’ll …View the full article

Hacking contest goes virtual with participants remotely winning $295k in prizes for taking down Adobe Reader Windows 10 and macOS. View the full article

Threatpost editors discuss this week's top news stories from COVID-19 themed malware attacks to Pwn2Own updates. View the full article

With children now stuck at home across the world, parents will be wondering how to keep them busy over the coming weeks. That's why illustrator Rob Biddulph has taken to Twitter to offer a series of draw-along videos for kids. Using the hashtag #DrawWithRob, budding young artists can share their responses to Biddulph's tutorials, which he plans to share every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am GMT on Twitter. We love a good drawing lesson (check out our list of the best how to draw tutorials), and Biddulph's animal designs are a super fun example. From tutorial 2: 'Sausage dog' "[Draw-alongs] are something I have been doing for years at my live events," Biddulph told BBC Breakfast, but with so many kids now stuck at home, "this is something I can do for those parents and those kids." As well as being posted to Twitter, the videos will have a permanent home on the illustrator's website. Below is the first tutorial, 'Gregosaurus'. Biddulph is quick to point at that the draw-along is not a competition. "I've seen thousands [of entries] now, and every single picture is different and charming in its own way." We completely agree – here are some delightful #DrawWithRob examples from Twitter: While the world is a strange place right now, we're seeing lots of heartening examples of community in the world of art online. These include Noel Fielding's online art club and French artists creating a giant collaborative artwork. Visit Biddulph's Twitter page on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for the latest draw-alongs. "All you need," he says, "is a piece of paper and a pencil, and maybe some colouring pencils". And with that, we're off to draw Gregosaurus. Related articles: Drawings of mythical Amabie flood social media Art terms: The ultimate artist's glossary 4 tips for your first year as a freelance illustrator View the full article

If you're a new business owner, you know the frustration of getting your website to the top of Google search. Brand Overflow, a top-rated and industry-leading SEO keyword tool/rank tracker, brings you a lifetime subscription to take your online ranking to the top. Best yet, you'll be able to save an extra 15% this weekend only with code SPRINGSAVE15. Industry research shows that quality keywords are still one of the top-ranking factors when it comes to getting your website seen on online searches. Powered by Google Keyword Planner, Brand Overflow brings you an in-depth analysis of keywords to make your business thrive. It assists you in finding similar keyword terms that directly integrate around your landing pages and enhance it. Conquer A-level link building, target different searches that cater to your industry, improve clickthrough rates to your site on search result pages, plus so much more. With your business growing, you'll want to tell people about it. Why not create a stunning new business card to give a great first impression? Our rundown of the best letterpress business cards are brilliant inspiration. Get a head start on your competitors Not only will you gain insights into the best tools globally for SEO and SERP success, but you'll also receive on-time daily updates for your keyword rankings to see where your brand stands. Easily download all your latest findings with dynamic ranking data filters, shareable reports, and ranking snapshots. With easy to read chart integration, you will be able to view your global and local results all in one place. The 24/7 email and seamless live chat support means you'll have constant assistance whenever any questions arise. You'll soon get a head start on your competitors. Access to Brand Overflow: Lifetime Subscription (100 Keywords) will typically cost you over $1,000. For a limited time, you'll be able to bring your site to the top for only $50.15 with code SPRINGSAVE15 (expires 24 March). With all the content available 24/7, you'll be able to effortlessly climb the search ladder and bring valuable professional and financial growth into 2020. Read more: SEO tricks: 16 ways to outrank your competitiors 13 of the best Google Easter Eggs 17 free resume templates View the full article

Are you looking to upgrade your digital art arsenal? Well, you're in luck as Wacom has launched its spring sale in the US, and it includes some pretty tidy discounts. With offers covering top tablets and accessories, you could get kitted out for the new season at a lower price. To kick things off, Wacom is offering $50 off the Wacom One for its US customers. With a 13.3-inch screen, the ability to connect to Android devices and compatibility with other styluses, this amazing graphics tablet features in our guide to the best drawing tablets of 2020. The usual price of $399.99 is knocked down to $349.99, which is not to be sniffed at. But you'll want to hurry as the deal ends on 22 March. And UK customers don't need to miss out. They can get 10 per cent off the Wacom One, which brings the price down from £359.99 to £323.99 until 29 March. Hardly earth-shattering but nice, nonetheless. Get Creative Cloud Other US offers include up to $200 off the Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 and discounts on the Intuos Pro models, too. You can shop the US sale here. Not in the US? Check out these Wacom deals near you. Read more: The best computer for graphic design in 2020 Graphic design history: 25 landmark design events 16 essential tools for graphic designers View the full article

The botnet exploits a vulnerability discovered last month that can allow threat actors to remotely compromise and control devices. View the full article

Two new patents filed by Apple have revealed brand new features the company is exploring for the Apple Pencil, including a touch bar along the edge of the device. Named "Stylus with a Glass Component" (we have a feeling the name would change), the patent suggests that the current flat edge of the Apple Pencil would be a glass display panel – perhaps like a much smaller version of the touch bar on the MacBook Pro. Extra functionality would no doubt be welcome for the many creatives for whom the Apple Pencil is an essential artistic tool. According to the patent (obtained by AppleInsider), the touch bar "can be used to detect a tap, double tap, triple tap, or another tap gesture by the user. Additionally... the touch sensor can be used to detect a sliding gesture by the user [or] a rolling gesture by the user." For artists, these extra gestures could open up a whole world of new possibilities, such as sliding to adjust the thickness of a brush, perhaps. Using the iPad and Apple Pencil for creativity? Check out our favourite iPad apps for designers. A detail from the "Stylus with a Glass Component" patent Even wilder is the suggestion that the touch bar could also make the Apple Pencil appear transparent, allowing the user to see what's beneath the area the stylus covers – which could be particularly helpful for detailed paintings. It's an intriguing concept, but until we see it in action (and this is just a patent, so it might never happen), it's hard to say how well it will work in practice. While we love the idea of extra functionality, one could argue that the beauty of the Apple Pencil is in its simplicity. Despite the magic going on inside, externally, the Apple Pencil is as almost as uncomplicated as an actual pencil. A screen would certainly change that. A second patent suggests a new kind of haptic feedback for the Apple Pencil, letting it nudge a user's hand towards where an app thinks it should go. Another intriguing idea, although we hope the Apple Pencil is discerning in what it forces us to write or draw. The brand new iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard As these are patents, these are purely ideas that Apple is exploring at the moment – some, all or none of them could see the light of day. Luckily, the current 2nd generation Apple Pencil is still a brilliant device – check out the best Apple Pencil deals for 2020 if you want one. And if you missed the news, Apple revealed a brand new iPad Pro this week with an exciting new keyboard, so there's plenty of new Apple tech to get your teeth into while we wait and see what's next for the Pencil. Related articles: iPad Pro 12.9 review Apple Pencil vs Apple Pencil 2: which should you buy? Is it possible to turn your iPad into a 3D studio? View the full article

Knowing how to do a paintover in Procreate will transform your projects. After all, being able to sculpt a creature on the iPad is all well and good, but if you can’t fully realise that vision in colour, your ideas will remain very limited. Colour, tone and mood are all crucial components for a concept artist presenting their ideas to client. For me, Procreate is the the ideal solution to add life to my sculpt. Using Procreate I have the ability to create and stack layers, work with masks, opacity and hues, and maintain a greater degree of flexibility that would allow me the ability to alter colours or tones as the client desires. In the workflow below I'll show you how I take a simple character sculpt made in Forger and bring it to life with Procreate. This will include a look at colour, texture, and Procreate's brush options. Don't forget, if you want to learn more about Procreate's community-created brushes, check out our guide to the best Procreate brushes, including free and premium options. And if this tutorial has whetted your appetite for creative tools, head on over to our guide to the best iPad apps for designers. Get Procreate here 01. Sculpt in Forger With a little practice, sculpting in Forger is easy and intuitive Sculpting in Forger is very similar to ZBrush (here's our top tips for mastering ZBrush), you can push and pull your forms and remesh at any point. It contains an object outliner and layers, so after a little practice, the interface becomes pretty familiar. Here I’ve imported some of my own stamps to create a layer of detail for the stamp brush, which only operates in drag rectangular mode. To make this work I have to ensure all my stamps have a decent feathering. Achieving this type of detailing is, I believe, a first for any app-based sculpting program – my final model is around 3.5 million polys. 02. Render in Forger Despite its limitations, Forger can handle basic material assignments Rendering in Forger is limited, but you can do some basic material assignments and change the location of the single light source. So I’m rendering out some passes to comp together in Procreate. A single left light, top, bottom and right. I’m also approximating something like an ambient occlusion pass, and assigning a very specular Blinn to the skin surface. 03. Layer in Procreate Start by stacking your images in the layers box Once I have my renders, I can start the paint-over process. First I bring all my images into Procreate and stack them in the layers box. I can now start to make new layers, like a colour pass that has a clipping mask to the basic render below it. This way I can paint the basic colours on top of my render. I also speckle in some variation with a spotty brush of light and dark spots to vary the skin tone. Most of my layers are set to Screen, Soft Light or Lighter Color. 04. Test lighting passes Don't forget to experiment by blending light passes I’m going to try out all my lighting passes, and possibly blend them to give a faked global illumination. During this process I realise that I like the left side light the best, and focus on a concept that utilises this light source most. The other passes are still blended in to a degree, and to do this I set each layer to Screen and turn down the opacity until I am happy with the result. I’m also assigning a colour to my left light as a clipping mask. I rendered the lights all in white, so I simply have to create a fill layer above it and then set that to colour and clipping mask, and it should give me a nice yellow light source to work with. 05. Apply texture detail A paintover is a quick way to add texture impressions I’ve downloaded some nice photo reference of lizard skin and some green eyeballs. I’m importing these images into Procreate on separate layers and then using masks to reveal the sections of texture I want. For something that's just a concept paintover, I'm not fussy about getting it exactly right. I really just want to capture the feel, so this is a nice quick way to add some real-world details to the final image. I’m also using a crosshatched brush to give the fabric of the bandana a little textured feel. 06. Create a background Don't compromise your work with a boring black background Setting any image against black will seem a little boring. With my strong left side light source, it would be nice to play that up a bit more, so using a few of Procreate’s default brushes I can add some cool effects to the background to make it pop a bit more. I use three brushes for this, nebula, grunge and halftone, and layer each one on top of the next to give it a sort of comic-y look, but with the mysterious light from the turtle mutagen. TURTLE POWER! This article originally appeared in issue 254 of 3D World, the world's leading magazine for 3D artists. Buy issue 254 or subscribe here. Related articles: Be the first to try Procreate 5 The 23 best iPad Pro apps to use with the Apple Pencil Procreate tutorial: How to paint like the Old Masters View the full article

Disney Plus UK launches next week, and right now you can get it cheaper than ever before. The streaming service, which is already going down an absolute storm in the US, is set to launch on 24 March (instead of 31 March as initially expected) in the UK. (Want to know more about the service? Check out our Disney Plus guide.) For anyone who may soon be spending more time inside, a Disney Plus subscription will be a brilliant, affordable way to keep all the family entertained. To celebrate Disney Plus' early arrival, Disney is currently running an incredible offer, knocking a further £10 off the subscription cost. While that might not seem like a huge deal, the original annual cost of £59.99 was already a bargain, so to be able to get this now for less than £50 makes it a deal not to be missed! We're even considering upgrading to one of the best 4K monitors for the occasion. Disney Plus' available shows and films will include much-loved classics from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and National Geographic, and there's also previously unseen content, including the aforementioned The Mandalorian, and the catchily named High School Musical, The Musical, The Series. Just some of the exclusive goodies on offer For what you get for your money, Disney+ offers much better value than Netflix. With this offer, Disney Plus UK will cost around £4 per month. Users will be able to stream 4K content on four devices at once, and there are no hidden extras. They'll also be able to download their favourite shows or films, to watch offline. To compare, Netflix costs £5.99 per month, but you have to pay more (either £8.99 or £11.99) if you want ultra-HD content, or to be able to stream on one more than screen at a time. With Netflix UK having recently won the rights to Studio Ghibli's content, it seems competition between the two streaming giants is really heating up, and that's before Disney+ has even fully launched. Which will you choose? You can sign up now on the Disney Plus website for more updates. Read more: Aaron Blaise reveals why he quit his dream job at Disney Is this Chinese city logo a blatant Disney copy? Understand Disney's 12 principles of animation View the full article

As cultural events are cancelled worldwide, some enterprising folks are taking to social media to fill the void. Noel Fielding, co-presenter of the Great British Bake Off, has come up with his own idea to keep the country entertained – a Twitter-based art club. Aimed at everyone (but especially kids, he says), participants are invited to submit their art to his Twitter handle – @noelfielding11 – and so far they've been glorious. If you'd like to up your art skills and submit one yourself, here's our pick of the best how to draw tutorials. And don't forget you can currently get access to free creative software with Adobe's Creative Cloud free for two months offer, and Serif generously giving everyone access to Affinity apps free for 90 days. Responses flooded in to his original tweet (above), covering a plethora of mediums including sculpture (see the cat sculpture above), painting, and a particularly special salami snowflake (yes, an actual nibbled salami). Fielding shared the artwork – all based on the theme of 'love', then comedian Joe Lycett chose a winner. Many of the entrants were children, others adults, and many creations were delightfully-random (as may be expected for fans of Fielding). Below are some of our favourites, starting with the afore-mentioned salami. This rainbow-filled offering is just what we need right now. A portrait of Fielding and Isla's mum. And the winning piece was created by a four-year old. Check out Fielding's Twitter page for more art joy. Want to get involved? The next Art Club is tomorrow 3pm until 5pm. Online content is increasingly reflecting the situation we find ourselves in right now, such as this Google Doodle, and these coronavirus-themed logos. This online art club is a brilliant example of social media-based collaboration, aiming to entertain and inspire, bringing communities together online. And we really hope to see more of it. Read more: 5 tips for presenting your work on social media The ultimate guide to social media for creatives The best art easels right now View the full article

The world is a strange place at the moment, with all of us unsure what the future holds. But what is sure, is in times of crisis the creative community joins forces in the most amazing ways. This week we've seen artists and designers supporting each other in the most amazing ways, from inspirational, thought-provoking new art projects, dedicated artist Slack channels and businesses, both big and small, offering their services for free. Keen to play its part, Serif, makers of popular creative software Affinity Designer (which tops our list of the best iPad apps), Affinity Publisher and Affinity Photo, has announced, as of now, anyone can use its apps free for free months. In addition to that, anyone wishing to purchase the apps after this period can save 50 per cent on the retail price. And that's not all. The company has also pledged to engage more than 100 freelance creatives for work over the next few months. Full details on this have yet to be released, but you can keep up to date with further announcements via the Serif website or Twitter feed. The Serif website says: 'The introduction of the 90-day free trial and deeply discounted pricing is done in the hope that this will make life a little easier for people who rely on creative software to make a living, but may be stuck at home without their usual tools, or for students who might not have access to their Affinity apps on their personal devices.' We have to say, as help goes, this is a cracking offer from Serif. Not only are they helping artists all over the globe from a financial point-of-view, but the added offer of employment for some is a massive bonus at this uncertain time. For more details on this amazing offer and to download the Affinity software, head over to Serif's website. Read more: Affinity 1.8 updates make apps even more tempting 23 best iPad Pro apps to use with Apple Pencil Adobe gives Creative Cloud users 2 months free - here's how to get it View the full article

A poll of Threatpost readers shows that security preparedness is uneven as organizations make an unprecedented transition to remote working. View the full article

As the economic effects of coronavirus are felt across the creative industries, we're seeing more examples of the community coming together in the face of adversity. When illustrator Ben O'Brien put a callout on Twitter (below) for illustrators to join a private Slack channel on Tuesday, he was overwhelmed by the response. Looking for illustration inspiration? Check out our top tutorials for various art techniques. "In 24 hours we have a community of 500+ illustrators from all over the world," Ben O'Brien told Creative Bloq, "and they've already made themselves at home, starting discussions, advising, sharing work, asking questions, doing what a great online community does." From French artists creating a giant collaborative illustration to Adobe offering 2 months free to Creative Cloud users, we're loving these examples of solidarity within the artistic community, from individual artists to large companies. Channels like O'Brien's will no doubt be a huge help to creatives right now. The channel was something O'Brien had been considering for a while. Off the back of his Illustrator's Survey (which recently revealed that illustrators are still grossly underpaid), he realised that artists would benefit from a place to discuss work and life "away from the prying eyes and negative opinions of social media". But recent events have brought the need for community into even sharper focus. "It seemed that a place like that could serve a better purpose in the short-term, giving illustrators a place to support each other with everything going on worldwide with Coronavirus." O'Brien isn't the only one to have started a supportive community on Slack in response to recent events. Fiasco Design co-founder Ben Steers tweeted a similar callout, for agency owners and directors: "This is just the beginning," says O'Brien. Not every discussion is about coronavirus, people are looking for business advice and sharing resources to better their careers. This gives me hope that together we can support each other through this difficult year, but also build a community that moves into the future together." Read more: 4 tips for your first year as a freelance illustrator Illustrator alternatives: 6 of the best 10 top illustration trends for 2020 View the full article