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Even if you're familiar with CSS and building beautiful layouts, you can still discover new CSS properties and features. By using them, you have more influence on how the content behaves on the website, as well as having more freedom in terms of how you apply creative techniques to elements such as photography. In this tutorial, we are going to dig into some lesser-known properties. When experimenting with them, please bear in mind that mentioned features are not supported by all the browsers, so it's worth checking them out on the Can I Use site. Let’s dive into some short and concise examples. Want more CSS inspiration? See this pick of top CSS animation examples, as well as more CSS tricks. Download the source files for this tutorial here What you will need: Your favourite web browser and developer tools – I recommend using Firefox or Google Chrome as they support all the features I use in this tutorial. A code editor. Assets such as images and fonts (you can download them from my repository. Typographical direction There are several CSS properties that help us to enhance how the text is presented on the web. 01. Text-stroke We're familiar with text stroke (outline) from Adobe Illustrator or vector-drawing applications. We can apply the same effect using the text-stroke property. It's good to know you can animate text-stroke with CSS but only the stroke colour – the stroke width isn't. 02. ::first-letter This pseudo-element applies styles to the very first letter of the block-level element. Thanks to that we can introduce effects that are familiar to us from print and paper magazines. 03. Gradient text Finally we can apply gradient to our text without any complicated methods. Let’s find out how can we introduce this eye-catching effect on our website. Content control Thanks to the following properties, we can enjoy greater control over how the text or images will behave depending on whatever size or proportion their container is. 04. Line-clamp The line-clamp property truncates text at a specific number of lines. We need three properties to make it work. The display property needs to be set to -webkit-box or -webkit-inline-box, -webkit-box-orient set to vertical and overflow set to hidden, otherwise the content won’t be clipped. 04. Column-count Thanks to the column-count property, a browser evenly distributes the content in a specified number of columns. 05. Character unit We can limit our text width or height depending on the character unit. As Eric Mayer points out, the ch unit represents the width of the character '0' (zero) in the current font, which is of particular use in combination with monospace fonts. It changes as the font family changes. We can treat it a bit like an x-height but the ch is based on the width of the 0 character instead of x. 06. Word break tag <wbr> Although this tutorial is based around CSS tricks I also want to mention one HTML tag: <wbr>. This is an HTML element that defines a word break opportunity – a position within text where the browser may break a line. In might be handy in some situations – it can be used when a word is pretty long and we're afraid that the browser would break the word in wrong places, for example a telephone number. 07. Object fit If you wonder whether we can control image behaviour depending on the size of the container, I recommend you check out the object-fit property. This one defines how the content of an <img> or <video> should be resized to fit its container. We have four options: fill, contain, cover and scale-down. For instance, with the cover value, the replaced content is sized to maintain its aspect ratio while filling the element's entire content box. Decorative and creative elements While data visualisation libraries like d3.js offer comprehensive charting functionality, for simple pie charts why not try CSS? Let's move on to adding some new elements and colours to our website. 08. Conic-gradient If you have ever wondered whether you could create a pie chart only using CSS, the good news is you actually can! And the solution for this brings us to the conic-gradient function. It creates an image consisting of a gradient with set colour transitions rotated around a central point (rather than radiating from the central point as you'd find with a radial-gradient). 09. Counters To style numbers in a numbered list, we need to play with properties called CSS counters. CSS counters let you adjust the appearance of content based on its location in a document. CSS counters let you adjust the appearance of content based on its location in a document, offering a handy hack for styling numbered lists To use CSS counters: The counters' value can be increased or decreased by counter-increment We can display the value of the counter by using the counter() or counters() function from within a content property 10. Change the Text Selection colour To change the Text Selection colour, ::selection is a pseudo-element that overrides at the browser-level to replace the text highlight colour with a colour you choose. The colour can be seen once you select the content with the cursor. 11. @support Whenever you want to use a CSS property not supported by all browsers, there is a feature query called the @support rule. This enables you to check the browser support for CSS property: value pairs. The code included in the @support block will be rendered only if these conditions are true. If the browser doesn't understand @support, it doesn't generate a given part of the code either. Although some properties may still experience problems with the browsers' compatibility, don't hesitate to play with them. While your browser support may be limited now, these will likely become mainstream practices in the future. It is just a matter of time. If you would like to ensure these effects only load on browsers that can render them, use the @supports rule to wrap the styles. If you would like further inspiration, Jen Simmons and Mozilla launched a Layout Land, a YouTube channel full of videos about web design and development, including tools and techniques, what's new and best practices. Additionally, you can also find out how to test colour contrast and simulate colour blindness using Firefox DevTools. This content originally appeared in net magazine. See more web design content here. Read more: The next big thing in web design: 7 trends you need to know Write HTML code faster The best monospace fonts for coding in 2020 View the full article

If you live in Europe, the Middle East or Africa, you're in luck. Right now, you can save a whopping 39% off individual Creative Cloud subscriptions. For creatives living in the UK, this epic discount equates to a monthly saving of almost £20! The price reduction applies to the complete Adobe Creative Cloud suite, which encompasses over 20 different apps. That includes all the big players – photo editing favourite Photoshop, digital artists' go-to Illustrator, video editing software Premiere Pro, web prototyping tool Adobe XD and motion effects creator After Effects. You'll also be able to explore the new additions to the Adobe family, tablet-based art app Adobe Fresco, and Photoshop on iPad. Just in case you need some extra encouragement, remember that when you buy Adobe's full All Apps package you're also getting 100GB of cloud storage (with the option to upgrade to 10TB) and premium features like Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, and Adobe Spark. The programmes are fully integrated, so you can switch between them (and jump from one device to another) seamlessly. Built-in templates help you jump-start your designs, while step-by-step tutorials will help you sharpen your skills and get up to speed quickly. This deal is valid until 28 May 2020, so if you're in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and want to save big on Adobe's entire suite of creative software, grab it now. If you live outside the United Kingdom, here are the best Adobe CC prices in your area: Related articles: Top-class Photoshop tutorials to hone your skills The 13 best alternatives to Photoshop The best web hosting services for designers View the full article

As certain lockdown restrictions begin to ease across the UK, fast food chains have seen fit to begin reopening restaurants for delivery. Among them is KFC, which has marked the occasion with a tongue-in-cheek ad paying tribute to fans' DIY fried chicken efforts during lockdown. The ad (below) features mobile phone footage of said chicken, set to the familiar strains of everyone's favourite power ballad, All By Myself by Celine Dion. A brief message thanks fans, declaring "we'll take it from from here." Cue cinematic shots of KFC's fried chicken landing in a bucket – all in slow motion, of course. Check out our best laptops for video editing if you fancy making your own masterpiece (with or without fried chicken). The whimsical new ad is in keeping with KFC's online tone, although the brand seems to have changed its tune when it comes to fans' attempts to replicate its chicken. Just last month, KFC took to brutally reviewing homemade efforts on Twitter (below). Call us cynical, but with restaurants reopening, KFC has chosen an opportune moment to start turning on the charm. The ad was cooked up by UK agency Mother London. While it's a fun video, the agency was aware of the challenge of striking the right tone during the coronavirus pandemic (something McDonald's found out the hard way with the backlash to its social distancing logo). “Hopefully it’s going to land at the right time, with the right tone, with the right frame and hopefully will put a smile on people’s faces," the agency told Creative Review. We'd say they've managed to hit the spot with this fun tribute to people's creativity during these strange times. That said, we can't help wondering whether all that homemade chicken would look just as good as KFC's if treated to the same cinematic production values. Just a thought. Related articles: Is this Heinz ketchup puzzle the most infuriating jigsaw ever? KFC shows how NOT to troll your rivals with iPhone tweet KFC’s Valentine’s Day card range is unexpected genius View the full article

If social distancing has left you with a little more time on your hands lately, you may well have found yourself reaching for a puzzle to fill the hours. But there may not be enough hours in the day (or week) to tackle Heinz's latest invention: a 500-piece "ketchup puzzle". By which they mean a puzzle that is completely red. The puzzle was originally limited to 57 sets (playing on Heinz's 57 varieties) as part of a social media giveaway two weeks ago, but thanks to an overwhelming response, Heinz has managed to sauce a few more. The puzzle is now available to buy for $24.99, while stocks last. Check out our best graphic design tools if you fancy designing something (anything) a little more complex. With every piece exactly the same colour, there's only the vaguely different shape to tell each of the 500 pieces apart. We think it might take more than one afternoon to complete – but Heinz is of course in on the joke, proudly proclaiming the puzzle "ridiculously slow". Thankfully though, the product is more than just a joke. Heinz has pledged to donate $10,700 (or 107,000 meals) of the proceeds to food bank network Feeding America, so if you do experience a red mist while trying to solve the puzzle, at least it's all for a good cause. Fans were quick to rejoice when Heinz announced the puzzle. "This is a national treasure and I would share it with my whole family," one Instagram user commented, while another simply declared, "Dreams do come true." We can't imagine how excited they'll be when Heinz announces a brown version. Read more: Coronavirus-Olympics mash-up sparks outrage Clever optical illusion posters will make you double take Sun-Maid tries raisin' its profile with subtle logo tweak View the full article

It's been a tough year for the Olympic Games, with Tokyo 2020 becoming the first in history to be postponed. And now adding insult to injury is a magazine cover which, with a few minor tweaks, has turned the Tokyo 2020 emblem into the structure of coronavirus. The image appears on the cover of the April edition of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan's (FCCP) magazine, Number 1 Shimbun. And while subversive images are mainstay of magazine covers (many of our best print ads will make you double take), the Tokyo 2020 team believe the FCCP has gone too far. The offending design "It is very disappointing to see the games emblem being distorted and associated with the novel coronavirus," Tokyo 2020, spokesman Masa Takaya told insidethegames, "The design is clearly using the design of the Olympic emblem." The cover is the work of British designer Andrew Pothecary, the magazine's art director. According to The Asahi Shimbun, Pothecary refers to the design as a parody, which was intended "to make a powerful statement about the situation in Japan in light of the fact information related to the coronavirus pandemic keeps changing daily." If you ask us, Pothecary's "powerful statement" isn't particularly apparent in the design, which leaves it looking rather crass. We're no strangers to controversial magazine covers, but the most successful efforts tend to get away with said controversy by balancing it with a clear message. Without one, Number 1 Shimbun's cover seems a little flippant – not a great look during a global pandemic. The official Tokyo 2020 emblems were chosen from thousands of submissions Tokyo 2020 has called the cover an infringement on its "legally secured copyright to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic emblem," although it isn't clear whether it is seeking legal action. Interestingly, it seems the FCCP will be addressing the controversy in an online press conference tomorrow. Perhaps we'll even hear an apology then. As well as the unenviable organisational headache caused by the postponement of the games, the marketing and design repercussions have led to some confusing messaging, such as the decision not to design a new logo despite the new 2021 date. NBC then decided to update its own, turning it into a real head-scratcher. Hopefully the games will go ahead as planned next year, putting an end to Tokyo 2020's woes. Read more: New Olympic museum logo is pure design gold Tokyo 2020 Olympic posters are a delightfully eclectic mix Where to find logo design inspiration View the full article

Bootstrap, the most popular front end framework in the world, makes it easier for web designers and developers to quickly develop creative website solutions that work across modern web browsers and different viewports such as big screens and mobile devices. …View the full article

For creatives who have long been working from home, the new world of lockdown has been relatively easy to adapt to. But that doesn't mean it's been without its problems. With everything to deal with from cancelled contracts and lost income to isolation and loneliness, it's not surprising that designers, illustrators and artists have been looking for new places to link up. There are so many virtual communities springing up right now, often on a local or regional basis, that it would be impossible to list them all. But in this post, we've collected together nine online meetups that you may not be aware of. Some are long-running but have recently been made free, while others have been launched specifically in response to the lockdown. All of them offer a place to find like-minded souls and get support, advice and encouragement to help you through the crisis. 01. Just Us Collective This long-running community allows creatives to share inspiration and ideas Set up in 2009 by freelance graphic designer Mark Luke Grant, The Just Us Collective is a non-profit community of illustrators and designers, formed to showcase creative talent and encourage networking and collaboration. They are currently building a community on Slack with past members, and have opened submissions for new ones too. "Since lockdown, a lot of us are talking about what we've been doing to keep occupied," says Grant. "It’s a mixed bag, really: some are still quite busy; we have seen a lot of editorial illustration being commissioned, whereas others have been fairly quiet, taking the time to work on portfolio, passion projects or just taking some time out. We’ve also been talking about ideas to create an online exhibition and actively sharing inspiration and ideas." 02. On the Side Launched last summer by web designer and podcast producer Si Jobling, On The Side is a collaborative community aimed at helping you focus on and finish your side projects. "It's slowly growing traction and has some lovely people who motivate each other with work, life and side projects," he says. "The group has been specifically helpful over the past few months, when many people are lacking capacity, energy or enthusiasm; even uncertainty with their jobs," Jobling adds. "We seem to have bursts of conversations around these things, but tend to come back to our daily, weekly or monthly goals on side projects." 03. DevChat Founded in 2016, DevChat describes itself as "a very friendly group of software developers who come together to solve problems and learn", and currently has more than 19,000 members. There are lots of channels within the main Slack group, with the big ones being #python (1,670+ members), #javascript (3,110+ members), #java (1,250+ members), and #webdev (2,320+ members). "Since the lockdown, we've seen an increased number of new members and messages going up," says DevChat's Mustafa Abdelhai, "as well as an increased interest in working/meeting remotely." And it's not just been about chatting, but also doing. "We've always wanted to organise a community hackathon," adds Abdelhai, "and were more motivated to do it after the lockdown began, to get people to communicate more and have something to do in their new downtime. We had more 250 participants and 19 submitted projects. In general, it is impacting our virtual life positively. Of course, Covid is a horrible thing, but I think we understand and embrace the value of the internet more than ever before because of it." 04. Studio Anorak Slack Channel Studio Anorak invites creatives to meet at 4-6pm GMT every day Studio Anorak is an independent kids' publishing house founded in 2006 by Cathy Olmedillas, formerly of '90s lifestyle bible The Face. At the start of lockdown, Olmedillas decided to set up a Slack channel, where every day from 4-6pm GMT, artists and illustrators can chat about their day, their fears, and share happy thoughts. "I created the group to support the creative community, because although many of us are used to working from home, this forced isolation can make it feel a lot more lonely," says Olmedillas. "We meet every day from 4pm and each day has a theme, which could be anything from 'we love pens', to 'dressing during quarantine times: pyjamas? same dress, day-in day-out?'" The group has also been involved in portfolio reviews and guest appearances, including children's author Chris Haughto, artist Dave Buonaguidi, and a child psychiatrist talking about the effects of lockdown on kids and adults. "Plus we've been sharing kids' vintage books, podcasts, and just generally chatting," adds Olmedillas. "To register, just email us with a link to your portfolio here." 05. Corvid Community for Digital Artists It's not a typo Yes, you read that right, and no: the Corvid Community for Digital Artists is nothing to do with COVID-19. In fact, it was launched over a year ago by The Jacky Winter Group, a global creative production and artist representation studio based in Melbourne, and 'corvid' is another word for crow. "Yeah, we know the name is not ideal at the moment," the group admits, "but we're already in too deep with Google Apps." What is ideal, though, is that while you previously had to pay a monthly subscription to join the group, since March 27 it's been made free. And many visual artists have been taking advantage of the opportunity to network, socialise and get help and guidance. "The discussions at the moment are really varied," says Jeremy Wortsman, director and founder of Jacky Winter and Corvid. "I think what people are enjoying most right now is our advice channel, where everyone is talking openly about pricing and negotiation and other sometimes thorny issues. It's a way for artists we don't represent to get direct access to me and the rest of our agents. It's a great way for us to be able to contribute at this stage, while also a way to demonstrate our skills for our other Corvid offerings: Companion and Consult." 06. Slack channel for agency owners While there are many places for designers, illustrators and artists to meet up online, groups dedicated to company heads are a little thinner on the ground. Back in March, this prompted Ben Steers, the owner of Fiasco Design, to set up a Slack workspace for design agencies owners and directors to share information and resources, as well as new work opportunities for businesses who are struggling with impact of the pandemic. "We’ve currently got more than 250 members," says Steers, "all agency owners or senior management. And it’s turned out to be a really positive space where individuals are able to have open, honest conversations about issues and challenges surrounding subjects such as remote working, team management, furloughing, and redundancies. As well as sharing resources – government policies and support etc – and new business opportunities, it’s a great illustration of the strength of the creative community and the willingness of people to pull together in these exceptional times." If you'd like to get an invite to join the group, contact Steers via his Twitter account. 07. Slack group for illustrators The conversations on Ben the Illustrator's Slack channel are varied and positive Back in March, illustrator Ben O'Brien, aka Ben the Illustrator, asked illustrators to join a private Slack group on Twitter. And as we reported at the time, within 24 hours he had gathered together a big community of illustrators from all over the world. "I set up the group quite early on during the lockdown," says O'Brien now, "because I felt people needed a community to lean on; something focused on their profession to find answers and support from likeminded peers. There was a huge response to my first tweets, and the community has grown to around 650 illustrators as it stands. "Ironically I personally haven't had as much time to use it as I'd hoped, mostly down to family time, home-schooling etc," O'Brien adds. "But I'm pleased to say that's it's growing organically, so no-one needs to direct the conversation, least of all me. The conversations are varied and positive: people looking for help with bureaucratic processes – applying for funding during the pandemic etc; showing and critiquing work; and sharing opportunities. If anyone is interested in joining the group then they just need to send me their email address, either by a DM on Twitter or via email: bentheillustrator@gmail.com." 08. Booooooom! Slack workspace Based in Vancouver, Booooooom is a global arts and culture platform fostering a community of tomorrow’s talent. Back in March, they decided to make their private Slack Community free for all, for the foreseeable future. "For the past couple years the Booooooom Slack has been a place for our paying members to ask for advice, share things that are inspiring them, and get feedback on work," says editor-in-chief Jeff Hamada. "I'd love it if all of this self quarantining and social distancing ended up being the catalyst for an explosion of vibrant creative communities and support networks online. "There have been all kinds of discussions happening on the group since lockdown began," Hamada adds. "A lot of people are obviously sharing their work, but also random creatives links they find. The big discussion I started was about good simple recipes as we're all stuck at home a lot these days. Got so many new ones to try out!" Read more: 9 useful podcast episodes for out-of-work freelancers The 20 best shows on Netflix right now 5 ways NOT to be productive View the full article

Nearly a quarter of endpoints still run Windows 7, even though support and security patches have ended. View the full article

It's been a few years since Apple last released something truly brand new. Sure, we've seen tons of updated phones, tablets, watches and more, but we'd love to see a product as innovative as the very first iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. If new leaks are to be believed, Apple could be gearing up to announce an entirely new gadget as soon as this year. But we can't help but wonder if it's something people actually want. Rumours about Apple glasses have been floating around for years, but now well-reputed Apple leaker Jon Prosser has dropped a video on his Front Page Tech channel (below) with details on everything from the specs to release date and price. We even have a name for the new AR glasses: Apple Glass. Prosser claims to have seen a prototype of Apple Glass, which thankfully is "meant to look like glasses, not intimidating tech". He claims that the glasses will contain a LiDar scanner, like the one found inside the latest iPad Pro (check out the best iPad apps for designers if you've already got your hands on it) – which Apple claims to offer "cutting-edge depth-sensing" for AR. Both lenses will be be able to display information through an interface called Starboard, and will be controllable via gestures and by tapping the frame. According to Prosser, Apple Glass will cost $499 (plus prescription) – which makes them a pricey pair of specs. That price seems even higher considering Prosser's claim that most of the processing will take place on the user's iPhone – making Apple Glass more of a companion device than a standalone product. While the AR capabilities sound impressive, we can't help wondering whether glasses are a wearable too far. The Apple Watch is already a very personal device, but it's also discreet – the same can't be said for something that sits on your nose. While we're pleased to hear that Apple is designing them to look like real glasses, designing a pair that suits everybody sounds a huge challenge – even for Apple. Who can forget the fate of Google Glass? And of course, who can forget the fate of the last high-profile set of of electronic glasses: Google Glass? Revealed to much fanfare in 2012, the glasses were withdrawn in 2015 amid privacy concerns. Prosser claims that Apple's glasses won't contain a camera for privacy reasons, but the failure of Google Glass surely tells us something about the public's appetite for electronic glasses. And if Apple doesn't want us to remember Google's effort, why call them Apple Glass? But hey, we could be proved wrong. The appearance of Apple's AirPods was mercilessly mocked on release, but these days they're practically a fashion accessory. Apple Glass could well become the most popular specs on the street. We might not have to wait long to find out – Prosser says Apple Glass may arrive in 2021, and could even be announced at the end of this year. Related articles: The new Apple tablet rumours everyone's talking about Folding iPhone concept is jaw-droppingly good Is this skateboard with Apple's Mac Pro wheels as ridiculous as it sounds? View the full article

It's a great day for Adobe Creative Cloud users, as Adobe has announced a slew of updates across its software. As well as updates to Photoshop for iPad and Adobe Fresco, its video and audio apps have been given particular attention, with Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, Character Animator, Media Encoder and Premiere Rush all now new and improved. These updates are all focused on improving efficiency and performance, and are the sort of tweaks that might seem small, but can really make a difference to your workflow. Adobe says it has improved stability and performance across these apps, with improved playback, faster export and more frequent releases. As well as these general updates, there's now support for Apple ProRes RAW in Premiere Pro (which made it to our list of the best video editing software) as well as After Effects, Automatic Audio Device Switching, so Adobe apps will automatically recognise when you swap audio devices or plug in headphones – plus new and improved tools in various apps. We've outlined the highlights below. Get Adobe Creative Cloud Adobe Premiere Pro updates This image demonstrates the ProRes RAW source setting in Premiere Pro, including the exposure toggle Adobe Premiere Pro has probably received the biggest overhaul of Adobe's video apps. As well as ProRes RAW support and support for audio files, it now has an improved Pen tool, with better support for Bezier curves, plus hardware encoding on Windows for H.264 and H.265 (HEVC) is available for NVIDIA and AMD GPUs – great news for graphic cards fanatics – and small workflow tweaks such as the option for Effect filters to show attributes that have keyframes or edited properties. Auto Reframe is also now faster. Adobe After Effects updates Animate some cool effects with Tapered Shape Strokes After Effects has some cool new tools, too. You're now more able to freestyle your strokes with Tapered Shape Strokes that enable you to make tapered, rounded, wavy or pointed strokes on shape layers. You can then animate these strokes for fun animations that convey a message. Create new designs in After Effects In a similar vein, the Concentric Shape Repeater enables you to make new parameters in Offset Paths by creating copies of a shape that radiate in or out of your design, giving it a retro feel. Character Animator updates Background characters are now included Character Animator now offers more control over which tracks you can see and modify. There's also a new collection of background puppets (above) available to use for free. If you haven't signed up to Adobe's apps yet, it's worth checking out our Adobe deals page, where we post all the latest discounts in your area. Read more: 13 amazing After Effects plugins After Effects tutorials to sharpen your skills The best Photoshop tutorials View the full article

A host of unpatched security bugs that allow BIAS attacks affects Bluetooth chips from Apple, Intel, Qualcomm, Samsung and others. View the full article

A critical remote code execution flaw in Adobe Character Animator was fixed in an out-of-band Tuesday patch. View the full article

Photoshop for iPad had a tough start back in November, with missing features leading to poor app store reviews. Fortunately, things are coming together for the tablet version of the popular photo editing app, with Adobe's constantly working to bring it in line with the desktop version. And today is no exception, with the iPad app now featuring two highly requested features: Curves, and Apple Pencil pressure sensitivity. Curves allows users to make specific adjustments (such as contrast, exposure, saturation and more) in a non-destructive way. As one of the core features of desktop Photoshop, this will be very welcome addition for any creatives who wish the iPad version had been a little more ahead of the curve (sorry). Still, it isn't quite the full feature – Adobe says numerical inputs (for more precise adjustments) will arrive in a future update. Still, even a basic version of Curves is a huge addition. Photoshop gets HUGE price cut in top Adobe deal Curves in action The other headline feature hitting Photoshop for iPad allows users to adjust pressure sensitivity for Apple Pencil. Many artists felt they had to press too hard to make strokes, so the addition of optimised pressure curves will be welcome news for digital illustrators (and their wrists). If you're still mastering the app, don't forget to check out our best Photoshop tutorials. Adobe Fresco: new features It isn't just Photoshop for iPad that's getting a boost. Adobe Fresco for iPad has also just received a bunch of new features including a new eyedrop colour selector, vector trimming tools and mixer brushes. Photoshop mixer brushes are now compatible with Fresco, adding another level of cross-compatibility between the two apps. Check out Adobe's blog for the full list of updates. Mixer brushes on Adobe Fresco These updates further cement Photoshop and Fresco as an essential pair of tools for any digital artist with an iPad. Adobe recently demonstrated how they can be used together for projects such as turning photos into paintings or watercolours. And with both now available as a 2-for-1 bundle (you can get both for less than $10/£10 per month), there's no better time to get stuck in to Creative Cloud on iPad. Read more: Photoshop gets mega price cut in top Adobe deal Photoshop 2020 review The best alternatives to Photoshop View the full article

Negative space might not sound that exciting, but when used creatively, it can become so much more than just, you know, emptiness. As shown by these brilliantly creative posters from an animal shelter, sometimes negative space can even take on a life of its own. The posters, created for World for All in Mumbai, each contain two images in one. The image is framed by people enjoying a special moment (such as an embrace, or gazing lovingly at a baby), while the empty space between them creates the shape of an animal. Check out our favourite print ads for more ingeniously creative examples. Spot the dog Created by McCann Worldgroup India, the clever print ads contain the slogan 'There's always room for more. Adopt.' And it would appear they were successful, with World For All telling The Dodo that attendance at its annual adoption event rose by over 150% over the previous year after the publication of the ads. The ads were also popular on Reddit. "I didn't realise good ads like this exist!" one user exclaims, "Very wholesome." However, some did wonder whether the ads could be misinterpreted – with the animals seen as coming between these people and their special moments. Not that McCann will mind – World for All's Behance page reels off a list of awards won by the ads. Not all optical illusion ads we've seen are as wholesome as this (we recently filed McDonald's' kissing burgers under 'wish we could unsee'). But don't worry – there's plenty to feel positive about in our list of the best examples of negative space. Related articles: New Olympic museum logo is pure design gold Sun-Maid tries raisin' its profile with subtle logo tweak 6 magnificently minimal logos View the full article

The basics of Cinema 4D are one of the first things to learn if you are new to computer graphics. Having been on the market for around 30 years, Cinema 4D from Maxon has developed into one of the most popular digital content creation applications. Cinema 4D has a reputation for being the 'easy' 3D software. While it definitely has one of the lowest learning curves, it is also one of the most in-depth 3D applications, able to handle practically any task thrown at it on both Windows and Mac. See our roundup of Cinema 4D tutorials to up your skills further, plus our pick of the other top 3D modelling software available right now. Get Cinema 4D Why use Cinema 4D? One of the reasons that Cinema 4D has gained global traction is the relative ease of use with its clear and straightforward interface. For many artists Cinema 4D has an industry-leading Object Manager that allows you to see an object, its relationship to other objects, and what materials and other attributes are applied to it. Cinema 4D has a full feature set including sculpting and modelling workflows, plus a volume modelling system. This is an excellent way for new 3D artists to create models. Cinema 4D also has a full dynamic system, and an advanced deformers system that can work across volume modelling and MoGraph to name but a few. It also has rock-solid reliability when used without third-party plugins, and even then the plugin community for Cinema 4D strives to work hard to create offerings that try to match Cinema 4D's ease of use and reliability. With an integrated external system that can use other machines for external rendering, and a much lower price of entry with the recent release of Cinema 4D R21, Cinema 4D is an application that will continue to last for decades into the future. Here are the first steps to getting used to the software. 01. Get familiar with the UI The interface is super-clean Cinema 4D's user interface is one of the cleanest in the 3D market. Tools are along the left and top of the screen, and the Object Manager shows the visibility of an object along with the materials and various options or 'tags' applied to it. The Object Manager also uses a logical parenting system, which works with practically any element within Cinema 4D. For example, to make a clone of an object, just move it to 'under' a cloner object, then combine with Cinema 4D's procedural modelling tool. 02. Use MoGraph MoGraph is a powerful system The Cinema 4D MoGraph toolset is a deceptively powerful system that allows an artist to create complex cloning and movement effects without any keyframes. Cinema 4D allows any object to have a cloner applied to it, whether it is a series of clones or an individual object. With the new falloff system, which has been introduced since R20, Cinema 4D makes it even easier to create complex animations in seconds, which can be easily manipulated by an artist of any skill level. 03. Try out volume modelling Convert meshes into volumes Maxon has continued to work hard at improving Cinema 4D's modelling toolset. One of the standout features is the volume modelling system which converts meshes into volumes that can be mixed, cut and intersected, and smoothed with a Boolean system, which can make it easy for artists to create complex organic shapes quickly. When re-meshed, volume models can then be edited with other tools within Cinema 4D, such as the sculpting toolset. 04. Utilise Team Render Artists can use up to five machines in their network It could be argued that while many applications offer the same features that Cinema 4D has, they are not as well implemented. A good example is the Team Render system which allows an artist to use up to five machines in their network, whether it is a PC or Mac, to render animations in the background. This is managed either via the render queue from directly within Cinema 4D or via a separate Team Render server application that can run independently. This content originally appeared in issue 255 of 3D World magazine, the world's best-selling magazine for CG artists. Buy issue 255 or subscribe here. Read more: The best laptops for 3D modelling in 2020 How to sell your 3D assets online The 10 best 3D movies of 2020 View the full article

It's been a tough year for sports, with even the Olympics themselves put on hold. But while Tokyo 2020 won't be happening until 2021, there's one Olympic event still due to take place this year: the opening of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum – which has just revealed its brand new logo. Located in southwest Downtown Colorado Springs, the new museum will document the history of Team USA in the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The logo (below), designed by New York-based Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, features four diagonal lines in the same colours as olympic rings – one of the world's most recognisable logos (don't forget to check out our best logos list). The museum's new logo On the museum's website, CEO Christopher Liedel says that the logo was born out of imagining "three flag poles in front of the museum, with the Olympic rings on one flag and the Paralympic agitos on another," and picturing what would look good in between them. We'd say it's very successful on that front – maintaining the instantly recognisable aesthetic of the olympic rings, while turning it into something new, and dare we say iconic, in its own right. The Museum imagined the new logo sitting between the Olympic rings and Paralympic agitos According to Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, the logo "takes its colours from the Olympic rings, its stripes from the American flag, and the diamond silhouette from the building’s façade," while coming together to create "an abstract flame". If we were to read that before seeing the logo, we'd be expecting an absolute mess of different ideas, so it's impressive that the agency was able to combine them within such a simple logo. The new logo in situ If we had one criticism, perhaps it isn't clear at first glance that this is a logo for a museum focused solely on America at the Olympics, rather than the games as a whole. That said, we'd rather see a logo as clean and classy as this than something overtly patriotic. Its refreshing to see such a simple piece of Olympic-themed branding. The postponement of Tokyo 2020 has led to some confusing messaging, from the games keeping their 2020 logo, to NBC's truly baffling logo for next year's coverage. Still, things will be better in four years, right? The Paris 2024 logo has already been mercilessly mocked, so perhaps not. Read more: Tokyo 2020 Olympic posters are a delightfully eclectic mix Where to find logo design inspiration Sun-Maid tries raisin' its profile with subtle logo tweak View the full article

If you live in Europe, the Middle East or Africa, you're in luck. This incredible deal on Adobe's Photography Plan, which knocks a sweet 16% off super-popular apps like Photoshop and Lightroom is available for a few more days. This top deal means that creatives can get access to Adobe's powerful photo editing software for less than £8/€10 per month! These industry standard Adobe apps will allow you explore your creative instincts effortlessly, the only limit is your imagination. Your projects will reflect the limitless possibilities that the precision editing and compositing tools deliver. These tools enable you to create stunning, multilayered designs as you combine images, play with colour and effects, move or remove objects within your images, and even turn photos into paintings or 3D objects. And all this is now available on the move, too, as Photoshop for iPad is also now included in Adobe's Photography Plan. Not sure whether this plan is for you? Take a look at exactly what Adobe's Photography Plan offers: Lightroom CC for desktop and mobile photo editing Lightroom Classic CC for desktop-focused photo editing Photoshop CC on both desktop and iPad to transform your photos Spark Premium to create graphics, web pages and videos Adobe Portfolio to build showcase websites easily Adobe Fonts for all your font needs 20 GB of cloud storage to get you started Not in EMEA regions? Check out our other Adobe Creative Cloud discount post, which we update regularly with all the top offers. If you want access to the entire Adobe Creative Cloud suite, here are the best subscription deals in your area: Read more: How to make a photo collage in Photoshop Photoshop 2020 review The best alternatives to Photoshop View the full article

Login forms are one of the most important user interface elements in mobile applications and websites with a members-only area. Why are they so important? The deal is they are the doors to the world that you have created. Like …View the full article

If isolating in your house isn't enough for you, IKEA has come up with a way for you to take being on your own one step further – by using your furniture to create your own fort. Note: you could invite the family in, if you felt like it. In a bid to encourage people to stay at home, IKEA Russia has released a set of six instruction manuals that'll turn a variety of furniture types into impressive play structures – a pretty fun way to while away a lockdown afternoon. Want more ways to pass an afternoon? Try our collection of how to draw tutorials, or our pick of the best graphic design books. A fort is just one of the six structures you can create Ad agency Instinct teamed up with IKEA to design the instruction sheets, which are in the style of a typical IKEA flat pack guide with simple black-and-white images. Choose from building a wigwam, castle, playhouse, tent, cave or fortress (all of which are branded with the Swedish umlaut-adorned letters ö and Å). Or why not make them all? IKEA recommends using products from its own stores, but does advise that you can sub in alternatives where needed. Most of the furniture included are basics that you'll almost-definitely have, like dining chairs, sofas, cushions and sheets – fort staples, really. Though you might need to do an online order if you want to build an accurate wigwam as you'll require a Tjusig (no, we don't know either – you can see it below in the gallery of guides – click the arrows to see the images). We think it's an inspired piece of marketing that people can get hands-on with, and it'll certainly be more harmonious than the usual flat-pack projects. Brands have approached the lockdown situation in different ways (some more successful than others, eh McDonald's?), but this whimsical, boredom-busting angle is definitely one of the best. IKEA has struck just the right tone with this creative project (see here for more projects to get involved with). And if you do make a fort, share your creations on social media with the hashtag #явдомикеикеа, which loosely translates as #IAmInAnIkeaHouse. Read more: Has branding become boring? The 6 best branding books in 2020 8 brands that rule at social media View the full article

It's no secret that in today's digital world, content is king. Trying to find the right visual assets for your next creative project can take extra hours and money that you don't have. Figuring out where you can use each image and how much they cost can be a job in itself, taking time away from your creative process. Cut that time in half with a lifetime subscription to JumpStory™ Authentic Stock Photography, a one-stop-shop to all things visual. Best yet, it's now 95 per cent off. For more image options, see our pick of the best stock art websites. Content for any project With unlimited access to over 25 million stunning images, illustrations, fonts, vector icons, videos, and so much more, the JumpStory™ Authentic Stock Photography: Lifetime Membership is the ideal destination for supercharging any project in need of eye-catching imagery or video. Using Artificial Intelligence to help you search for the exact asset you need, this membership provides you with an endless amount of content that is available within seconds. You'll be able to crop, adjust sizing, insert text, add a logo, take out a background, and more using any image using the platform's easy to use built-in editor. The membership comes complete with a HighJumper AI tool that will help predict which images will have the most impact on your audience (whether it be for your personal blog, a website, a social media post, and so on). Depending on your industry and goals, you'll get extra help with finding the perfect asset for projects of all sizes. Limitless commercial and personal usage The vast library is updated daily, with new content and boundless file downloads added that will grow your design resource library. The constant stream of new content, in categories of all sorts, will allow you to always have current assets to search through. You'll also be equipped with a smart archive where you can store all your favourite images or upload your own content, and efficiently use the professional AI photo editor. Whether it's for personal or commercial use, there's no limit to the number of downloads or the number of times you can use each image, making it a stress-free hub for all your creative content. This robust membership is typically priced at over $2,000, but, for a limited time, you can get access to thousands of images for only $99.99. Start saying no to expensive photo costs or complex license terms and begin crafting your upcoming projects with JumpStory™ Authentic Stock Photography. Read more: 31 brilliant vector art tutorials Illustrator alternatives: 6 of the best The best laptops for photo editing in 2020 View the full article

Whether you're designing for a local artist or a super-star singer, creating designs to represent musicians can be a rewarding yet challenging job. How do you put across the feeling of a piece of music in a design? How do you begin to approach designing for a song? And how do you promote yourself in an ever-competitive environment? To find out, we spoke to Neil Whitman, who has designed for The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and James Blunt, among others. Read on to discover his top tips. 01. Don't be afraid to experiment "What I love about designing music videos and promos is that there are less restrictions than other design jobs," says Whitman. "The music industry is a vibrant and creative hub and so designers are encouraged to be experimental and come up with fresh ideas that complement the music." And of course, as each project is different, they all require fresh ideas and a fresh approach. Experimentation on one project can help inform the next, but you should never stop learning new skills, says Whitman. "There is always a new technique you can learn so keep experimenting and making stuff. There is a wealth of tutorials online so be creative and focus on an area that you really enjoy." After all, if you don't enjoy it, you won't get very far. Animation, which Whitman specialises in, is especially time-consuming. "Animation can take hours of your life that you will never get back so you’ve really got to love what you do to make your mark," he says. 02. Learn the right software Affinity software can help you complete all sorts of creative briefs Learning the right software is key to any area of design, and designing for music is no different. If you're creating music videos, you'll need to get to grips with 3D software and animating tools, but you'll also need photo editing and design software, which is where Serif's Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo and Affinity Publisher can help. "For photo editing I am a huge fan of Affinity Photo. For a one-off fee it allows me to do picture manipulations and cutting out objects before I start animating without paying a costly monthly subscription," says Whitman. 03. Pin down the idea early Working in the music industry means you'll have clients, just like with any other design job, and depending on what you're creating, you'll also need to develop your own set process for dealing with briefs. For Whitman, each project begins with a song sent over from a record company, which he has to create a visual concept for. "Sometimes they have a vision of what they are looking for or they send over the album artwork to help inspire or steer me. I usually listen to the song multiple times in isolation and jot down ideas, keywords and possible themes as it plays through," he says. "Once familiar with the track, I put together a video treatment document to share my design ideas with management. This document includes a brief synopsis of what will be seen, reference videos, colour palettes and mood boards. "This might seem like a lot of work for one individual video however record companies regularly expect a fast turnaround. Animation is notoriously a lengthy process so it’s extremely important to pin down the idea as soon as possible as you rarely get a second chance to do it over again." 04. Make a showreel If you're mainly designing for print, creating posters and album designs, then you'll want to showcase your work in a portfolio, but if you are mostly working in animation, then creating a showreel is key. Your showreel should be no more than two minutes long, advises Whitman. "Start with your most impressive projects and only use the good bits," he says. "Record companies want to see what you can do for them so all the enthusiasm in the world won’t help unless you can back it up with evidence of how good your designs are. If you're just starting out, that doesn't mean you can't create a showreel. "If you don’t have much work to put in a reel, mock some up or do a freebie for a local band – it’s all good practice," says Whitman. Get 50% off Affinity Designer until 20 June. View the full article

There’s no sugar-coating it: illness sucks, and can dramatically affect your ability to create art. But it doesn’t always make it impossible. In this piece, we look at how various artists have overcome both physical and mental ill health in order to create art, as well as acknowledging that sometimes, you have to stop creating for a while. We also asked our artists for their best tips on how to deal with being unwell, which are below (skip to the tips here). If you're after more art-creation specific advice, then don't miss our piece on the best how to draw tutorials, or our roundup of the best Photoshop tutorials. Dealing with chronic illness “Life isn’t perfect, and I’m frustrated by my limitations, but over time I’m making peace with it,” says Devin Kurtz Devin Kurtz, aka TamberElla, works as an illustrator and background painter at animation production studio Rough Draft in California, despite having suffered from a chronic illness called CVS (cyclic vomiting syndrome) since she was six. “Luckily, I’ve improved a lot over the past five years,” she says. “I hit a low point around 17, and have since prioritised sleep, healthy food and listening to my body. I have good medication, a good specialist and know when I need to get to hospital, so some of the fear element is gone.” Making art remains tough, though. “My condition tends to express itself when I’m under a lot of stress, so all-nighters and pushing myself beyond my limits are out of bounds. To get any personal work done outside of my job, I have to really prioritise the time I feel ‘well’, and use it in a productive way.” It also influences the kind of art she produces. “I think it’s helped me avoid some of the traps people fall into: of feeling they should be creating a certain type of art, rather than what they want to do,” she says. “I make art that makes me happy, full stop.” And her advice to others suffering illness is simple: “Remember that your value as an artist is in no way connected to your productivity. We’re surrounded by influences telling us to ‘put in 110 per cent’, push our limits and encouraging other damaging habits. But remember, you’re taking care of your body not just for the ‘you’ of today, but for the ‘you’ of the future. So take care of yourself first and foremost, and ignore voices telling you you’re being ‘lazy’. You’re being, in fact, incredibly brave.” Experiencing a sudden illness “My employers have all been incredibly understanding with my illness, so I’ve had no complaints there,” says Carmen Sinek Illness came relatively out of the blue for Arizona-based concept artist and illustrator Carmen Sinek. By 2014, she’d carved out a successful career and was working on Magic: The Gathering. But then she suddenly started having seizures caused by a genetic disorder. “It was very jarring,” she recalls. “I couldn’t drive or be at home alone, putting strain on my family. I struggled to recall words. Eventually, it got more difficult to hold multiple concepts together in my head, the way I need to when I’m drawing. My thoughts would sometimes fall apart and disappear while working, and mid-conversation, leaving me suddenly confused.” Sinek increasingly struggled to produce acceptable work and still meet deadlines. “It was thanks to some patient art directors that I hung on as long as I did, but eventually I had to make the call,” she says. And although she considers her career on “pause” rather than “halt”, it’s been tough to get back to creating art. “I can’t imagine a life without making art, but it’s hard to stomach the amount of time it takes to complete a painting now,” she says. “It’s only been a few months since I finally put my nose back to the grindstone, but I’m optimistic I’ll eventually be able to make art that I enjoy and am proud of again.” Like Kurtz, she’s accentuating the positive. “I’d like to eventually return to working in some capacity, but my current goal is to focus on having fun,” she says. “It’s easy to lose passion and wonder for something when you turn it into a career, so this is an opportunity for me to rediscover that.” Being inspired by illness “Self-care, both physical and mental, is one of the best ways to promote mental health,” says Toby Allen For some artists, illness itself can be the inspiration for creating art. Take Toby Allen, a British illustrator at Bear Hug Entertainment, who suffers from anxiety. “It’s manageable on a daily basis,” he says, “but when it heightens it can lead to art block or physical symptoms such as shaky hands, which can make drawing a challenge.” To help himself, and ultimately others, he decided to draw different mental illnesses as fantasy monsters. “The idea originated from a conversation with a friend who wondered what anxiety and bipolar would look like as creatures,” he recalls. “I ran with it and the response was very positive. That gave me the push to create monsters based on other mental illnesses, particularly ones people asked me to represent.” “People from around the world have said my artwork described how they felt when their words couldn’t,” says Shawn Coss Shawn Coss, an Ohio-based artist known for his work on web comic Cyanide and Happiness, took a similar approach. Based on his own experiences with anxiety and depression, as well as his work as an emergency nurse at a mental health hospital, he launched his collection of dark art depictions of mental illnesses, It’s All In Your Head, in 2018, and has just successfully Kickstarted Volume 2. Again, it’s helped both him and others. “I’ve been reached out to by mental health professionals who wanted to use the books in their therapy,” Shawn explains. “Over 100 practices now use my book in their sessions.” His advice to any artist suffering mental health issues is to talk. “Don’t shy away from it, or try to bury it,” he stresses. “Embrace it, understand it, and if it’s too much at times, remember you aren’t weak for seeking help. You’re stronger for reaching out.” Indeed, talking can help with all forms of illness. “Sharing my experiences via social media has been one of the most helpful things I’ve been able to do,” says Carmen. “The support and encouragement I’ve received from the art community has gotten me through a lot of bad days, and made the good ones even better. My fear of being alienated from people I’ve come to know as friends and colleagues has been eased by the amazing people who’ve reached out to me, to make sure I know I’ll always be welcome as a part of the community. Tips for dealing with poor health “I’ve received a lot of fan art and alterations of my ‘monsters’ that fit their own personal experiences,” says Allen 01. Prioritise self-care Put your health above all else, even if that means stepping away from your art. “All humans need to actively engage in self-care, but for those of us with an illness, that need presents itself glaringly and the cost of ignoring it is often devastating,” says Kurtz. 02. Build in breaks If you’re suffering from poor mental health, it’s vital to build some space into your schedule, says Allen. “Taking breaks where possible and allowing yourself time to decompress and not think about art can be beneficial,” he says. “An artistic career, especially freelance, can be a lonely thing, so gathering a support network of friends and fellow artists can counter this.” 03. Seek support “It’s easy to get discouraged in the face of illness and that’s where the support of family and friends really shines,” says Sinek. Social media can be a positive force here, too, especially within the online artist community, which many have found to be very nurturing and supportive. 04. Be realistic “Don’t give up until you’re ready to give up,” says Sinek. “An illness can’t be countered by sheer grit alone. So be kind to yourself if you can’t just fight your way out of it. Do what you need to do, to know that you gave it your best shot. And then forgive yourself if you can’t do more.” 05. See the broader picture If you do have to abandon your art, either temporarily or permanently, don’t see it as the end of your world, but a new beginning. “You’re more than your art,” says Sinek. “It just take you a little while to figure out what else you’ve got in there.” This article originally appeared in issue 186 or ImagineFX, the world's leading magazine for digital artists. Buy issue 186 or subscribe here. View the full article

At first glance, there's nothing particularly unusual about the letter 'g' – you've read it millions of times, and would have no problem writing it from memory, right? There are two standard ways of writing a lowercase 'g', and as a recent study has revealed, hardly anyone is able to spot one version in a lineup, let alone write it down. Most of us are probably used to writing the open tail version (below), but there's also a looped tail version that's more often found in print and digital text. And that's the one that Jon Hopkins University has discovered (in its ingeniously titled study, The Devil is in the g-tails) that only one in 38 people can draw. The other 37 would do well to check out our typography tutorials. The two gs The participants didn't fare much better when it came to identifying the correct 'g' in the lineup below – only seven got it right. It's hardly surprising though, considering just two of the 38 listed it as a letter with multiple lowercase versions at the start of the test. Poor, misunderstood, lowercase 'g'. It's always fun to see people try to draw something from memory (such as these logo memory challenge attempts), so here are some of the incorrect 'g's from the study for your viewing pleasure (below). That said, there's a decent excuse for the inaccuracy. "We learn the shapes of most letters in part because we have to write them in school," cognitive scientist Michael McCloskey explains in the study. "Looptail 'g' is something we're never taught to write, so we may not learn its shape as well." We're not here to judƃe So, as well as offering a fun and fascinating insight into our handwriting habits, the study contributes to our understanding of how letter shapes are learned, and the importance of writing as well as reading. Just because we see something every day, it doesn't mean we're paying super-close attention – as these hilarious car logos drawn from memory will attest. And if you fancy studying various 'g's in more detail, we've got plenty of free fonts for you. Related articles: Kellogg's redesigns Fruit Loops mascot Toucan Sam – and people are NOT happy Sun-Maid tries raisin' its profile with subtle logo tweak This logo contains a delightful hidden surprise View the full article

If you’re looking for ways to make your imagery stand out in the crowd, look no further. Photo editor Luminar 4's revolutionary tools and AI technologies offer unlimited creative options, allowing you to take your photography to new heights. For a start, Luminar 4 removes the often painstaking process of selections and masking, with the software able to automatically identify, mask and blend objects in an image. Then there’s Luminar 4’s amazing AI Sky Replacement and Portrait Enhancer tools, both of which offer the ability to add and create incredible effects with ease. If that wasn’t enough, Luminar 4.2 adds another impressive feature: AI Augmented Sky feature, a tool that can add all manner of objects to an already existing image. From mountains and birds, to clouds and planets, the AI Augmented Sky feature’s tools and capabilities will soon have you hooked. Let’s take a closer look at AI Augmented Sky’s toolset and how it works in practise. AI Augmented Sky controls Click image to enlarge 01. Object selection Here you can pick from a variety of objects for your augmented sky. Want to add a bird or mountain to your backdrop? Simply choose from the drop-down menu and voila! 02. Place Object Once you’ve chosen an object, click here to select and reveal display handles for moving, resizing and rotating as required. 03. Sky effects These controls will help your chosen objects fit your original scene as naturally and effectively as possible. Use Amount to control the transparency of an object, Warmth for the colour balance and Relight to match the object’s lighting to that of the main image. 04. Mask Refinement Luminar 4 does a remarkable job at selecting and fitting images together seamlessly, however the mask refinement tool is available should complex outline masks need any further fine adjustments. 05. Defocus If you’re shooting a close-up that requires the background to be out of focus, the Defocus slider can help ensure the object of interest is super-sharp. 06. Edit Mask Luminar 4 does an amazing job at joining the sky to even the most complex horizon, but if you’ve got some poorly defined detail, this button will allow you to manually mask and tweak the affected areas. 4 simple steps to add objects to a sky Now that you’re accustomed to AI Augmented Sky’s toolset, let’s give them a go. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to add lightning to this nightscape. 01. Open the AI Augmented Sky tool panel Luminar 4 consists of four key workspaces, each of which is displayed via an icon on the right-hand side of the screen. Click the Creative workspace to access the AI Augmented Sky tool. 02. Add lightning Yes, it’s that simple. Choose lightning from Luminar 4’s long drop down list of objects and the AI Augmented Sky tool will add it seamlessly. Luminar 4 also enables you to add your own custom objects – simply choose the ‘Load Custom Image’ option and you’re good to go. 03. Reposition Click image to enlarge If you’re not happy with Luminar 4’s automatic placement of the lightning, you choose a more suitable position using the Place Object button. This allows you to not only reposition as you see fit, but resize, rotate and even adjust brightness and warmth for a more authentic fit. 04. Finishing touches Teaming up Luminar 4 tool’s can create truly show-stopping results. The combined power and feature set of its AI Augmented Sky tool and Smart Contrast can work wonders for adding those extra finishing touches. The Smart Contrast slider can enhance your new sky by preserving details and tones while still giving the final image that ‘edge’. To access this tool you’ll need to head to the Light panel in Luminar 4’s Essentials workspace. How to get a copy of Skylum Luminar 4 Want to give Luminar 4 a try? You can now download a free seven-day trial, for both macOS and Windows, from the Skylum website. And if you decide to go ahead and buy Luminar 4, you can use the exclusive discount code CB to save £10/$10 on the full purchase price. View the full article

2020 has been a strange one, to say the least. But that hasn't stopped Apple releasing all manner of new products, including a new iPad Pro. But right now, the Pro isn't the only iPad on Apple fans' minds. Until recently, iPad Mini fans would be forgiven for thinking that Apple had forgotten about them. The iPad Mini 4 languished without an update for years until 2019 saw the unexpected arrival of a new model – albeit with just a few internal tweaks. But if new leaks are to be believed, the tiny tablet could soon be in line for a much bigger upgrade. According to MacRumours, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revealed in a note to investors that Apple is currently working on two new iPads: a 10.8-inch model, and an 8.5 to 9-inch model. And while this is the only information currently available, it suggests big change could be afoot for the iPad Mini in particular, and it could be great news for tablet-toting creatives (check out our best drawing apps for iPad if that's you). Apple sale: 13-inch MacBook Pro gets whopping $300 price cut While there may have been five iterations of the iPad Mini so far, the screen size has stayed put at 7.9 inches throughout. But talk of a 8.5 to 9-inch model could suggests a brand new display size for the iPad Mini – the biggest change since the device first appeared in 2012. For digital artists who prefer the portability of the Mini, an extra inch-or-so of screen size could make a huge difference. The iPad Mini received a modest update last year So how will Apple achieve the larger display? We'd say there are two obvious options – either the iPad itself gets bigger (which would seem counterproductive for a 'mini' device), or the bezels around the display are reduced. If that happens, perhaps we'll even see an iPad Mini with a similar edge-to-edge display to the iPad Pro. Now we're talking. The prospect of an iPad Mini Pro (or is that iPad Pro Mini?) could be truly exciting for creatives – if we saw features such as Apple Pencil 2 support and the smooth ProMotion refresh rate inside much more portable package, it could end up being a dream device for digital artists on the go. We love the portability of the current Mini (read our iPad Mini review) but find the display a little small for drawing. A Pro-like design could provide the best of both worlds. And now for the bad news: according to Kuo, this potentially perfect device won't be with us until the first half of 2021. But don't worry, you've still got plenty of iPad options until then. With its Magic Keyboard and trackpad support, the 2020 iPad Pro is practically a MacBook replacement. And if convenience is key, the iPad Mini 5 is still a hugely powerful and portable machine. Check out today's best iPad deals below, or browse the full iPad range at Apple. Related articles: Folding iPhone concept is jaw-droppingly good Is this skateboard with Apple's Mac Pro wheels as ridiculous as it sounds? The 14 best iPad apps for designers View the full article