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Memorial Day 2020 is just hours away, but we're already seeing some incredible Memorial Day deals roll in. So if you've been wanting to get some quality creative kit for less, now's the time to buy. Here we've compiled the very best MemorialDay deals on the best hardware, including laptops, tablets and monitors, all available now. If you want to browse around the shops, use the quick links below to head to your favourite retailers. Otherwise, scroll down for our pick of the best pre Memorial Day sales, which we will update as and when new offers arrive. This will be the last big US sale event until Amazon Prime Day 2020, so be sure to make the most of the deals while they last! Memorial Day 2020: the best deals at a glance Lenovo – Massive savings on laptops: up to $800 savings! Dell – up to $250 off its brilliant XPS range of laptops Best Buy – save up to $250 on TVs, laptops, appliances and more HP – weekly deals on laptops, desktops, monitors and more B&H Photo – deals on laptops for creatives, with up to $300 off Tomtops – up to 52% off a huge range of accessories Huion – great entry level graphic tablets for all abilities Adorama – laptops, monitors and more with up to $300 savings Memorial Day 2020: The best deals around When is Memorial Day 2020? As well as being the unofficial start to summer, Memorial Day has been an American federal holiday that falls on the last Monday in May since the 19th century. It is a day that honours everyone who died while serving in the US military. This year Memorial Day is on Monday 25 May. When do the Memorial Day 2020 sales start? Many Memorial Day sales begin a whole week before the bank holiday, some won't begin in earnest until the weekend before. However, if you bookmark this page, we will be updating all the sales that we find from now until the end of the sales, usually at midnight on Memorial Day. It is the biggest sales event until Amazon Prime, so it's the perfect time to snap up a great saving if you don't want to wait until later this year. Related articles: Apple sale: 13-inch MacBook Pro gets a HUGE $400 price cut Shocking new iPhone 12 leaks suggest big design changes Create stunning designs with the big design graphic bundle View the full article

On the hunt for some Apple kit? You're in the right place. With Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro 2020 released earlier this month, we're now seeing some great deals on last year's version of the awesome laptop. The best deal right now is from B&H Photo, where it has the 256GB 13-inch MacBook Pro reduced to $1,199 – an impressive $300 off. A slightly lower priced deal is on 2019's 128GB model of the 13-inch MacBook Pro on sale for $1,149. That's an impressive $150 saving, and currently the lowest price around. The MacBook Pro is one of the most powerful laptops, something that makes it a favourite for creatives. It's 13.3-inch Retina display allows you to see and show off design work in all its glory, and the 8th Gen Intel Core processor can handle even the most complex of creative tasks. Over at B&H Photo there are also some great discounts on iPads. The best deal sees a late 2018 11-inch iPad Pro on sale for just $799 (a $150 saving). These deals are only on until stocks lasts, so don't delay. Also, if you love a good deal, be sure to bookmark our Amazon Prime Day 2020 hub, where we hope to see even more great Apple offers. Browse MacBooks and iPads at Apple.com MacBook deals: iPad deal: Outside the US? Here are the best offers on these and similar devices in your area: View the full article

The fast-moving botnet has added an exploit for an unpatched bug in an unsupported version of the security gateway. View the full article

If you're looking for the best Apple Pencil alternatives, you're in the right place. Perhaps the price of the Apple Pencil is off-putting, or you simply don't want to get another Apple product? Well, whatever your reason, there are plenty of well-designed, technically amazing digital styluses out there at a range of prices. Often, it feels like there are almost too many, and trawling through the internet for different reviews and retailers' sites can be time-consuming and frustrating. Well, we've made it easy for you by doing the legwork and picking the very best Apple Pencil alternatives available. Whether you want the best technical alternative, the best bargain, or the best designed, we've got it all in this buyer's guide. Of course, just because you're looking for an alternative to the Apple Pencil doesn't mean that you won't be interested in any deals that come up on those styluses. We've also got all the best cheap apple pencil deals, and there's bound to be extra deals of all sorts coming up for Amazon Prime Day, so be sure to bookmark that page. But for now, here are the best Apple Pencil alternatives right now. The best Apple Pencil alternatives This is our top Apple Pencil alternative pick. If there's a quality stylus out there that can compete with Apple Pencil's precision and durable build, it's Wacom's Bamboo Sketch. It's beautifully weighted, comfortable to hold for prolonged periods of time, and in its jet black exudes class. But really, it's the pressure sensitivity that makes it stand out. It excels in drawing and sketching, and will capture quick, gestural strokes beautifully. With the two bluetooth-enabled shortcut buttons handily fitted on its side, there are loads of possibilities to customise how you use the pen as well. And, this not being an Apple Pencil, deals are far more likely to come up. This stylus is the only Apple-approved pen in the list, and an affordable option to boot. The grey and orange design suggests a durable, solid stylus, and that's exactly what it is – it'll last up to seven hours of continuous use, and its quick recharge means you'll have 30 minutes of use from just two minutes charge. Of course, as it's Apple-affiliated, it works like a dream on iPads and with all Apple apps. It's especially good for digital artists who dart around the digital page a lot as its palm-rejection tech will ensure no mark mistakes. Combine that with the tilt support that will allow you to use different shading in your work, and you've got a top Apple Pencil alternative. The Adonit Jot Pro 3 is a beautifully designed stylus for a great price. At the cheaper end of the range, Adonit has still put a lot of time into the finer details of the pen – there's a inbuilt clip so you can carry it around safely, a magnetic lid to protect the disk nib, and the quality aluminium build feels good in the hand. This might not be for the artists though, as it's not pressure sensitive. But it will work on any touch screen device, and as it's a passive stylus there's no batteries or charging required. It comes in four colours: silver, black, pink rose and blue, but whatever colour you opt for, it'll look and feel great to use. Another top quality passive pen that doesn't need batteries or bluetooth to work, the Hahakee iPad Stylus actually works for pretty much all tablets, even though it's advertised as iPad-specific. For the $30/£30 asking price, you'll get the stylus and three replaceable thin tips, and with its simple on/off button located on the pen, you'll be good to go straight out the box. Perfect for note taking, and sketching, this stylus also has an inbuilt clip to easily carry it around and will last you 40 hours of drawing time. While Wacom's Fineline stylus is well suited for detailed writing, with its fine tip, responsive pressure sensitivity, and ergonomic design, it's also one for the creatives too. The stylus connects wirelessly via Bluetooth and has a 1.9mm nib that offers 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity in compatible apps. For context, the Fineline's bigger brother, the Bamboo Sketch, has 2,048, but is also considerably more expensive. Like the Sketch, the Fineline is also compatible with palm-rejection apps. The stylus responds quickly and smoothly, and is extremely comfortable in hand. For those that like a little weight to their stylus, this might be right for you as it comes in at 20g. On its clean, sleek shaft there's a single button to switch on and off, and with Wacom’s free Bamboo Paper app, you can customise the button to do different tasks. Read more: The best Memorial Day 2020 deals 5 ways a stylus will boost your productivity The best tablets with a stylus for drawing and note-taking in 2020 View the full article

Spot the difference. The original logo (left), next to the new one (right) Sun-Maid, the raisin brand, has had a refresh. It's a brand tinged with nostalgia for many an adult who remembers it as a key lunchbox staple of their youth. So it's no wonder that this rebrand aimed to build on the well-known packaging and logo, tweaking it to modernise rather than completely overhauling the design. The logo, in fact, has hardly changed at all (perhaps unsurprising given it's arguably as recognisable as some of the best logos of all time). But the packaging redesign is more noticeable, with the well-known but dated graphics streamlined and simplified to appeal to a millennial audience. Click on the icon at the top-right to enlarge the images. What has design agency quench changed with the new logo? Well, Sun-Maid's mascot (who is called Lorraine, FYI) has been given a bit more 'space and depth' on the packages, with more prominence given to the sun rays surrounding the illustration. The way the sun now pushes out makes the image 'pop' (according to the press release). Plus, the rays have been switched from white to yellow, which simplifies the image and draws the eye in better than before. The wordmark has been made a little bigger on the above flat image, but there are more changes on the packaging (below). The previous red box design (left) next to the refreshed version (right) A hint of a drop shadow has been applied to the formerly flat wordmark when viewed on the packaging, to bring it in line with the rest of the lettering. This is an unusual shift in the era of totally flat design, and perhaps an unnecessary one when the rest of the graphics are so clean. When looking at the raisin boxes side-by-side, there's also more depth of colour, with the grapes and sun appearing more vibrant than before, and a supercharged, but still signature, red. The brand's credentials are also now front and centre with new tag lines 'timeless & trusted' and 'since 1912': a statement of heritage amidst modernisation. The old mango packaging (left), next to the new (right) The packaging design has generally been simplified, with elements that were previously muddled together now spaced out. The angled banners, which were slightly confusing for the eye before, are gone, with modern, flat typeface labelling the product next to an updated image. Talking of typeface, we have to note the inclusion of a new, rounded typeface that feels a little off when paired with the Sun-Maid wordmark type and logo (perhaps Sun-Maid should check out these examples of perfect font pairings). The shadowed sun ray pattern across the packet is also no more, leaving a flat red background in its place. See below for the entire range to compare with the best packaging design out there. The entire new range of Sun-Maid products Updating a brand steeped in heritage can provoke different redesign responses, as the Reebok rebrand last year, and the public's response to a logo refresh can be brutal as the LA Rams found out in March... and again this week. So though Sun-Maid's approach has been cautious, we think it is a winner that keeps well-known elements, whilst removing the clutter. Read more: 6 magnificently minimal logos Enter the Brand Impact Awards 2020 The 6 best branding books in 2020 View the full article

Look, we're all making questionable decisions at the moment (most often in our case involving repeat visits to the fridge) – there's just a lot going through everybody's minds right now. At least, that seems to be the only possible explanation for Kellogg's Froot Loops' decision to redesign its beloved mascot, Toucan Sam, into something entirely unrecognisable and, quite frankly, terrifying. The breakfast cereal brand took to Instagram this week (below) to reveal Toucan Sam's new look, and the reception was less than warm. The thousands of comments are all along the general lines of, "NOPE," "NO," "PLEASE," and "STOP". We have a feeling Kellogg's didn't read our guide to character design before going into this. So what exactly has Kellogg's done to its poor, innocent Froot Loops mascot? For a start it has removed an entire dimension. Gone is the 3D design, replaced by a rudimentary 2D cartoon. For some reason, he now has an abnormally large eye. There's also a headache-inducing, psychedelic beak, along with a mouth that simply doesn't fit. The whole nightmare makes us feel a mixture of scared and trippy (and the huge eye suggests Sam's feeling it too). To add insult to injury, we'd say the old Toucan Sam is... fine? He certainly looks more friendly than frightening (which we'd say is important for a children's breakfast cereal mascot). And perhaps the greatest design crime here is that the new Sam is completely unrecognisable. Old Sam has appeared in countless TV adverts and could easily be spotted on a busy supermarket shelf. One positive outcome is that some illustrators have taken it upon themselves to provide their own takes on Toucan Sam (below), which manage to maintain the original, recognisable design while adopting the flatter style it seems Froot Loops' designers were going for. With such a fierce backlash, perhaps we'll see Kellogg's backtrack on the new design (who can forget the infamous movie version of Sonic the Hedgehog and its subsequent redesign?). If it doesn't, only time will tell whether the new Toucan Sam affects Fruit Loops sales – he might look scary, but we'd hate him to see him become a cereal killer. Read more: Spot the dull superheroes in these optical illusion posters Modern tech gets a retro makeover in spoof ads Facebook dark mode for desktop is (properly) here View the full article

The Brand Impact Awards celebrates the very best in branding produced around the world, with the seventh annual show taking place in Fabric, London this September. There's still time to enter, but only if you're quick! Entries close on 29 May at 6pm BST. Presented by Creative Bloq, this year the Brand Impact Awards has a new look yet again, combining acid yellow and pale and dark grey backgrounds for a striking backdrop to frame all the world-class branding that will feature this year. And if this year's entries are anything like last year's – which included Best in Show winner Superunion's BBC 2 branding – there will be a range of industry-leading branding projects spread over the BIA's 24 categories. Submit your best branding now If you missed last year’s celebrations, here’s a brief look at the awards (and drinks) that were dished out. Who should enter the Brand Impact Awards? Entries are welcome from design studios, consultancies, branding agencies, ad agencies, in-house design teams and brand owners, and work can be branding programmes and branded campaigns commissioned nationally or internationally. The list of previous category winners is a who’s who of creative talent, and in previous years best-of-show winners have included Superunion, Johnson Banks and Rose. It doesn’t matter if the work comes from a massive agency or a small studio, just as long as it catches the eyes of the judges. How are the BIAs judged? Entries are judged on their originality, how well they serve their original brief and consistency – specifically consistent quality of idea and execution across two or more brand touchpoints. They are also judged in context of their market sector – product design is not lumped in with sports, just as self-branding is judged exclusively from fashion. And lastly, campaigns that extend or enhance existing brands are accepted, unlike with many other award schemes. To find out more about this year’s Brand Impact Awards and the awards ceremony, plus all the categories, how to enter, and to see last year’s winners, head over to the Brand Impact Awards 2020 website. Read more: Folding iPhone concept is jaw-droppingly good This logo contains a delightful hidden surprise Is this skateboard with Apple's Mac Pro wheels as ridiculous as it sounds? View the full article

With every new generation of gaming, we find ourselves thinking, "Nope, this is it, graphics can't possibly get any better than this." And then, a few years later, along come new consoles with new graphics that somehow look even more real than before. Which, if the new demo of Epic Games' Unreal 5 Engine is anything to go by, is exactly what's about to happen. Again. The demo (below), running on as-yet un-announced Playstation 5 hardware, dropped yesterday, and offers our first glimpse of what the machine will be capable of. Spoiler alert: it looks pretty incredible. From the photo-realistic cliffs to the sweeping, cinematic lighting, it makes the PS4's graphics look positively prehistoric. If you're inspired to create your own 3D worlds, check out our best 3D modelling software. Like us, most YouTubers have been blown away by the visuals. "I‘m literally speechless," one user comments, "This looks so real it could be a movie". We couldn't agree more. Rather than an upcoming game, the demo (catchily titled Lumen in the Land of Nanite) was created specifically to show off Epic's new engine, which will eventually become publicly available for developers to use to create incredible 3D worlds. But if there's one takeaway word from the demo, rather than 'incredible', it appears to be 'triangles'. According to Epic, the new engine allows developers to render 3D objects with literally billions of said triangles, and create "as much geometric detail as the eye can see". Epic calls these triangles Nanites, while its new, reactive lighting system is called Lumen. (So that's why the demo is called Lumen in the Land of Nanite). Nanites will mean that 3D artists can import "film-quality source art" directly into the engine, without worrying about restrictions such as polygon count budgets. And Lumen technology means lighting inside the Unreal Editor looks the same as it will on the console, "erasing the need to wait for lightmap bakes to finish and to author light map UVs", offering a massive time saving. All in all, the new engine represents a quantum leap for 3D artists and game developers as well as gamers. And the good news doesn't end there – not only is Epic working on forward compatibility (so work created on UE4 can jump to UE5 when it's available), but it's also waiving royalties on the first $1 million of in game revenue for developers. The only bad news is that the Unreal 5 engine won't be with developers until late 2021. Until then, we'll be watching Lumen in the Land of Nanite on repeat – because as far as we're concerned, this is it, graphics can't possibly get any better than this. Related articles New PlayStation ad has a gruesome surprise Designer unmasks the secret of the new PS5 logo The PS5 logo we all wanted is here View the full article

Hand exercises often get overlooked. We're all used to the idea that other parts of our body need regular movement to keep them nice and healthy, but we often forget our wrists, hands and fingers when designing exercise routines. But hands that spend all day doing repetitive movements such as typing or drawing can benefit from just a few hand exercises, which only take a few minutes. Just make sure that you wash your hands before and afterwards. For other exercises for those sitting all day, see our desk exercises, and avoid back problems by making sure you've got the best office chair you can afford. To help keep your paws in tip-top shape, comic artist Kaitlin Bruder has put together the infographic below, detailing a number of hand and wrist stretches that she does regularly, especially when she's drawing or has been on her phone of computer for a while. Click the infographic to enlarge it Kaitlin recommends these exercises for before and after heavy or repetitive hand, wrist or arm activity; "As a baseline i usually do ‘em when I wake up and before I sleep and then as needed through the day," she explains. If you find these exercises useful and need a more permanent reminder of them, Kaitlin has put them on Redbubble for you to buy them as a poster or a T-shirt, so there's no excuse for having ruined hands. If this has inspired you to put together your own data visualisation, take a look at our roundup of the best infographic makers around. Related articles: The best desks available now The best mindfulness apps How to make a face mask View the full article

An avalanche of iPhone 12 leaks has got everyone talking this week, and the specs for the new models are pretty exciting, to say the least. But one noticeable omission from Apple's proposed plans is the intention to follow in the footsteps of its rivals and release a foldable phone. YouTube account iOS beta news wondered what that might look like, and created a sleek concept video to give us an idea of a foldable iPhone 12 design. Enter, the iPhone Flip. The concept applies the leaked iPhone 12 design specs (including that super-charged new camera that will definitely make this phone one of the best camera phones) to the real-life Samsung Galaxy Z flip or the rebooted Motorola Razr. Check out the video below. iOS beta news' video shows the handset closing into a tidy little square, with the hinge sitting on the horizontal, just like the Samsung Galaxy Z. But unlike the Z, there is no crease present on the screen. We're not quite sure how that would work, to be honest, but we're happy to glide over it in much the same way the video glides over showing us the screen in a half-folded state. A new camera is on the back of the handset, with a pin-hole mounted lens rather than the usual notch, and below it (or on the front when the phone is folded) is a secondary screen – for notifications, the time and so forth. This means you wouldn't have to flip open your iPhone to find out if you had a new message, for example. The concept iPhone Flip (left) next to the Samsung Galaxy Z (right) Samsung, Motorola and Nokia are a few of the brands that have already brought the flip phone out of the vault. In fact, YouTube user SkullCandy091 points out that Apple is often somewhat late to the party with certain new features, and "it'll take three years before they catch up and make a folding phone. The same thing happened with Face ID and swipe keyboard." But are foldable smartphones here to stay? Some commenters on the video seem to think they're a novelty that don't stand up to current user needs, which may be why Apple hasn't leapt at the idea. It is true that they aren't all that convenient – now that we perform most of our daily tasks on our phones, do we really want to be opening and closing them all the time? And, although the best flip phones certainly have their uses, and do have good capability – especially as a second phone – they come with some inherent design flaws (namely, fragile hinges) that mean the handsets can't yet house all the high-tech features users want from their phones nowadays. Perhaps Apple is waiting for the technology to create something as truly special as this concept model, or maybe it predicts the new rise of the flip phone will swiftly, well, flip away. Read more: Is this skateboard with Apple's Mac Pro wheels as ridiculous as it sounds? The best Apple Watch apps in 2020 The 14 best iPad apps for designers View the full article

When it comes to Apple's recently released Mac Pro wheels, it's fair to say we've made our feelings known – specifically about the price. At $100 each, or $699 for four (which makes perfect sense, right?), they add an eye-watering extra cost to an already eye-wateringly expensive machine. Well, don't dry your eyes just yet – someone has managed to find perhaps the most ridiculous use yet for the wheels, and it doesn't even involve the Mac Pro. (By the way, none of our current best computers for graphic design require wheels. Just saying). Say hello to the world's most expensive skateboard wheels. That's right, Braille Skateboarding has shared a video (below) in which said wheels (of fortune) are attached to a skateboard and then... skated on. With little success. To be fair, the skaters do manage to pull off a kickflip at one point, but other than that, the results are something akin to our first go on Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2 – underwhelming. At first, the wheels naturally pivot in various directions (leading to several falls), but even after some extra drilling to hold them in place, their weight ends up bending the rest of the board. In short, it doesn't really work. We have several questions, most of them being: why? Do we really live in a world where YouTubers will happily drop $699 on a set of computer wheels in order to create a below-par skateboard? It seems the answer is yes. But hey, who are we to judge? Braille Skateboarding currently has over 4.6M subscribers, so it clearly understands what its followers want (even if we don't). Believe it or not, the Braille Skateboarding team aren't the first YouTubers to use the wheels to make a skateboard. Unbox Therapy did something similar (above), albeit using part of the Mac Pro's body for the board. Not only was this even more expensive, but it was less successful (thanks again to the multi-directional wheels). What a time to be alive. Perhaps putting the wheels to such ineffective use is an apt, but expensive method of mocking the ridiculousness of Apple's 'invention'. As one YouTuber comments, "biggest waste of $700 for our entertainment". And we can't see Apple changing its ways any time soon – as the recent Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro showed, the company is on a roll when it comes to wildly expensive accessories. Looking for pro power at a more affordable price? Check out our best MacBook Pro deals below. No wheels required. Related articles: Apple's bendable MacBook will blow your mind Have we all been charging our MacBooks wrong? The best MacBook Pro alternatives for designers View the full article

If you're looking for a little distraction during these strange times, it doesn't come much better than a small, furry animal. Everyone has their favourite, but if dachshunds are your thing, you're in luck – there's new lifestyle brand in town dedicated to all things sausage dog, and its logo is bound to raise a smile – even if you're a cat person. Witzig, created by NY-based brand design studio ThoughtMatter and pet care coalition Kinship, is an online community just for dachshund fans. It's essentially a dachshund-themed shop and a dachshund-themed blog in one, but it features some truly adorable design work. Our favourite element has to be the Witzig logo itself (below), which contains a hidden dog. Perhaps we'll have to add that as an essential criteria for entering our best logos list. Spot the dog Along with the lovely logo, Witzig also contains some delightful illustrations. "We used an expressive illustration style that showed dachshund owners as reflections of their pets, including long legs, short legs, odd hair, and more," says ThoughtMatter's design director Sam Barbagiovanni. Whether dog owners actually resemble their pets is a research project we'd love to see, but for now we'll make do with these characterful depictions below. One of ThoughtMatter's delightful illustrations Is it a bit niche? Probably. But hey, fair play to ThoughtMatter and Kinship for spotting a sausage-shaped gap in the market and going for it. Next time we find ourselves in need of a dachshund-shaped vintage Japanese letter holder, we'll know exactly where to go. In fairness, the shop's items intended for the dogs themselves are perhaps a little more useful, such as food and harnesses. Some of the items available from Witzig's shop But even for those without a dog, or (heaven-forbid) a dog that isn't a dachshund, Witzig (which means 'witty' in German) is worth a visit. In the dog-eat-dog world of branding (and rebranding), it's nice to see something that was clearly a lot fun to make from scratch. “This project allowed us to really build a new and exciting brand from nothing,” says managing director Jesse McGuire. It made us smile – and that's exactly what we need right now. Related articles: This Penguin book cover generator is way more fun than it should be How to draw a dog Spot the dull superheroes in these optical illusion posters View the full article

If the flurry of lockdown creativity hasn't resulted in you writing your first novel (after all, we all have one in us), don't worry because you can fake it 'til you make it with this fun (unofficial) Penguin Cover Generator tool. Maybe seeing your finished novel will be all you need to get to writing the contents of the actual book, or perhaps simply seeing that prestigious cover will simply be a well-earned boost to your ego. Either way, it's super-easy to achieve with a few clicks and a minimal amount of imagination (or however much you're willing to dedicate to it, really). If you're in the mood for more book-related inspiration, here's our pick of the best web comics. Simply add your title and author name All you need is Nicholas Love's Penguin Cover Generator tool (which can be found here), an idea for a title (creative plot and character ideas are an optional extra that won't be included) and a picture. Upload the image, enter the title and the 'author' name, then fiddle with the size and dimensions until you're happy. Voila, you're a published author! Sort of. This process is familiar to our very own Daniel Piper, who created his own cover and uploaded it to Instagram recently. Cue much amusement, and some confusion from followers wanting to preorder the fictional book. If you don't fancy adding your own name to a novel, it's also a great way to reframe an existing book, as this Simpson-themed account proves: Or, it can simply be used as a witty meme format: So, whatever purpose you have for using it: personal satisfaction, meme-making or fooling others, this tool is a fun and creative – and perhaps inspirational – way to fill a few minutes. Or if you want to get your teeth into a creative project (here are some more of those), why not create a whole series? Then get to turning those mock-ups into a reality. Or don't. Read more: 4 lessons from the greatest illustrators ever 33 must-read graphic design books Illustrator alternatives: 6 of the best View the full article

We've seen loads of examples of the creative community coming together during these strange times, with online resources popping up left, right and centre to keep people inspired at home. And now, Affinity is offering not one, but 31 creative sessions as part of its Lockdown 2020 series. At 4pm every day in May, a new creative video is being dropped on Affinity's official YouTube channel, featuring insights and tutorials from artists, illustrators, designers, photographers and more. Naturally, they'll all be exploring how Affinity products fit into their creative workflows. And if you're an Adobe user, they might even tempt you to consider jumping ship – Affinity Photo is certainly one of our favourite Photoshop alternatives. The topics covered range from the broad (such as Ash Hewson's overview of the entire Affinity Suite, below) to the specific (How to create a vector skull, anyone?), meaning Affinity users of any ability will probably find a few videos for them. Its lineup of over thirty creatives (below) almost gives Affinity Lockdown 2020 something of a festival feel, and the videos are certainly offering a ray of sunshine to creatives stuck at home. "This is great!" one user comments, "I hope Affinity Creative Sessions continues as a thing past May. Nothing sells design software more than watching other professionals use it." A festival, without the mud or the crowds Affinity Lockdown 2020 isn't the company's only lockdown offering. It recently offered Affinity apps free for 3 months to all, as well as pledging to engage 100 artists with paid work amid the coronavirus pandemic. If you're looking for more inspiration during these strange times, take a look at our guide to the best free resources for creatives stuck at home. Related articles: Illustrator gives free drawing lessons to inspire kids Finesse your designs with this Photoshop Brush bundle The best digital art software for creatives in 2020 View the full article

As designers, we are often searching for that special way to add a finishing touch to a project. If you're a graphic designer, that may mean adding extra texture or a pop of color to your image. This High-Resolution Backgrounds Bundle brings you everything you need to add awesome elements to your latest designs or photos. Powered by creative bundle experts, Eldamar Studio, this extensive background bundle has over 7,500 hi-res HD backgrounds of all sorts, shapes, and sizes. You'll soon be on your way to finding the perfect extra component to add to your current designs or be inspired to create new works of art. If you need other options, see our pick of the best places to find stock art. And for more brilliant resources, here are the best tools for graphic designers around. Creative assets for personal and professional use Add new creative flair into your designs with a massive array of high-quality backgrounds and artistic textures. At 5,000p and 300dpi, each element is compatible with design and photography platforms such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and more. You'll get over 2,000 blurred backgrounds, over 1,000 gradient backgrounds, hundreds of polygon backgrounds, and more. Niche backgrounds in categories such as retro, abstract, vintage, grunge, and galaxy also come with the bundle, giving you endless options for the visual look you are seeking. Plus, each asset is customizable and available for usage on both digital and print mediums. You'll be able to search various themes, color swatches, and textures, allowing for versatile project assets to add to your current image library. Whether your next creative undertaking is personal or professional, you'll be equipped with a collection of elements to help add the finishing touch to your image. With a commercial license included and lifetime access available on all the backgrounds, you will never have to worry about usage rights or time-related issues for any of the assets. Compatible on Mac and PC, you'll be able to use each element over and over again and on any device. The possibilities are endless. While the 7,700+ High-Resolution Backgrounds Bundle is usually priced at $69, you can now add thousands of backgrounds to your collection for only $39. Bring new elements into your work and achieve your ultimate vision with thousands of unique design elements. Read more: Find free vector art online: the 20 best sites The best monitors for photo editing in 2020 31 brilliant vector art tutorials View the full article

Surviving as a freelancer is challenging enough at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic. For many of us who've lost work and clients, the focus right now is on pivoting and finding new ways to earn money, but that's by no means easy. And being stuck at home makes things even harder, both practically and emotionally. At times like these, a friendly voice on a podcast can really help guide you, and put things in perspective. So here we've brought together nine recent episodes from our favourite freelance podcasts, all recorded during the lockdown era, and all dealing with the challenges that have come in its wake. You won't find a 'magic bullet' in any of these discussions that will restore your client base and income overnight. But what you will find is some helpful ideas and suggestions for making the best use of your new free time, and planning realistically for an uncertain future. For more helpful resources to help you keep your creative business on track, pandemic or not, see these brilliant ebooks or the best graphic design books. 01. Freelance Party Broadcast: How You Can Use Lockdown To Work On Your Business Alison Grade explains how to do a skills audit during lockdown Release date: 21 April Episode length: 27 minutes 21 seconds Short of time? Skip to 6 minutes 5 seconds Freelance Party Broadcast is a regular podcast brought to you by Freelance Corner, an online platform for UK freelancers. In this episode, hosts Faye and Jess chat with Alison Grade, author of The Freelance Bible, about how out-of-work freelancers can use the lockdown period to work on their businesses. Grade offers some great advice about doing a skills audit so you can reinvent yourself, position yourself differently and find better and more rewarding work when society emerges from lockdown. 02. The Fizzle Show: Locked Down with an Uncertain Future: How Entrepreneurs Are Surviving Release date: 14 April Episode length: 72 minutes 32 seconds Short of time?: Skip to 21 minutes 40 seconds Founded in 2013, Fizzle offers training, community and resources for freelancers, creatives and entrepreneurs. In this episode of its weekly podcast, Corbett Barr chats to Justin Jackson from Transistor.fm about how freelancers and entrepreneurs are surviving the lockdown, and what we can all be doing to make it through, both economically and psychologically. The two discuss how they have each navigated financial crises in the past, and what lessons they can draw from these experiences, at the same time as recognising the ways in which this current crisis offers wholly unique challenges. 03. The Freelancers’ Show: What Do You Do In An Unexpected Downturn? Petra Manos discusses how she's reacted to the loss of clients Release date: April 21 Episode length: 43 minutes 42 seconds Short of time?: Skip to 6 minutes 0 seconds With online retail becoming so much more important under lockdown, you’d think ecommerce specialists would be the last to lose work. But Petra Manos’ clients include hotels, beauty parlours and party suppliers, so she’s been suffering along with everybody else. In this episode of The Freelancers’ Show, a weekly discussion-based podcast, she talks about how she’s refocused her efforts onto content marketing during lockdown, and the panel discuss ideas for dealing with unexpected slowdowns in work. 04. The Daily Creative: Taking Time to Invest in Yourself Release date: 30 March Episode length: 16 minutes 35 seconds Short of time?: Skip to 6 minutes Hosted by Todd Henry, the Daily Creative podcast offers a quick daily idea, tip, or strategy to help you be better at what you do each day. In this episode, he notes that many of us suddenly have more time on our hands, which we could use to, as he puts it, "invest in ourselves and to plant seeds that will produce a harvest later". However, he argues, this is not going to happen unless we’re disciplined and thorough, and he explains how going into "monk mode" can make the difference between squandering our free time and making valuable use of it. 05. Creative Pep Talk: The Powerful Thing You Can Do When All Seems Lost Andy J. Pizza shares his motivational thoughts in this special episode Release date: 25 March Episode length: 1 hour 18 minutes Short of time?: Skip to 52 minutes 47 seconds Feeling down and like you don’t have the energy to be creative? Then maybe you need a motivational pep talk. And Andy J. Pizza, an illustrator for the likes of The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Nickelodeon, is ready to give you one in this episode of his weekly inspirational podcast. His lengthy monologue is highly personal, and doesn’t include anything approaching practical information. But it does feature a lot of insightful thoughts about how to find the "inner you" that you may have lost over the years, and light your creative spirit on fire again. 06. Beyond The Status Quo Podcast: How to Handle Losing Clients Release date: 20 April Episode length: 17 minutes 36 seconds Short of time?: Skip to 2 minutes 40 seconds In her weekly Beyond The Status Quo Podcast, Avani Miriyala offers short blasts of cheery, positive thinking for dream-chasing freelancers and entrepreneurs. But she’s not afraid to acknowledge the real challenges of achieving your goals, and in this episode she candidly discusses the impact losing a big client has had on her. She goes on to explain how she turned this around, and outlines four ways you can transform losing a client from a knockback into an opportunity. 07. DIFTK: When You've Just Left Your Job To Go Freelance, In The Middle Of A Global Crisis. Eek! Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland offer helpful advice on pivoting Release date: 1 May Episode length: 19 minutes Short of time?: Skip to 6 minutes 37 seconds Doing It For The Kids is a podcast for freelance parents trying to make flexible working work. In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland respond to a question from photographer Hannah Brooke, who left her job to go freelance just as the pandemic was kicking off. They offer some helpful advice about pivoting, sending out the right messages to clients, and being well placed to take on new work when the lockdown ends. Although this is specific advice for a single freelancer in a specific situation, it’s likely you’ll find much wisdom here that applies to your own freelancing challenges. 08. Deliberate Freelancer: Pivoting And Finding Resilience Release date: 30 April Episode length: 33 minutes 48 seconds Short of time?: Skip to 21 minutes 20 seconds If all your usual clients aren’t hiring during lockdown, it’s time to start thinking about pivoting. But how do you actually go about that? In this episode of Deliberate Freelancer, a podcast aimed at helping freelancers build a successful business, Melanie Padgett Powers explains how she recently did so herself. Her process began with answering questions such as 'What new skills can I learn?', 'What am I really good at but haven’t been doing because I don’t love it?' and 'What do my clients need right now?' 09. Freelance Pod: Imposter Syndrome, Social Media and Getting Through A Pandemic Lockdown Suchandrika Chakrabarti discusses the challenge of imposter syndrome Release date: 30 April Episode length: 29 minutes 50 seconds Short of time?: Skip to 2 minutes 29 seconds Freelance Pod is an award-winning podcast sharing stories of news, creativity and the internet. In this episode, host Suchandrika Chakrabarti interviews author and psychologist Dr. Richard Orbé-Austin. The two discuss how imposter syndrome is becoming particularly problematic during the pandemic lockdown, and practical ways to rise above it and build your inner confidence. Read more: 10 free audiobooks to download today 5 ways NOT to be productive 10 brilliant ebooks that won't cost you a penny View the full article

Mindfulness is a proven way to manage anxiety and stress better, and there’s never been a better time to try it. One of the easiest ways to practise mindfulness is digital colouring, and Adobe has teamed up with three amazing creatives to help you get started. Leading artists Hazel Mead, Martina Martian and Octavia Bromell have crafted nine beautiful templates for you to download today, totally free, courtesy of Adobe. Each template is unique and embraces the artist’s individual style. Check them out below, and once you’ve downloaded your favourites, you can open them up in either Adobe Fresco or Photoshop on iPad, and start colouring. (If you’re not sure how to get started, watch the short video at the end of this post to find out how to download the artists’ creations and get them set up in your chosen app.) 3 free colouring templates from Hazel Mead Digital illustrator Hazel Mead uses her playful approach and sense of humour to voice her beliefs and illustrate tough topics. In characteristic style, she’s created three brilliant colouring templates for you to download, each inspired by the theme of boredom. Download Hazel’s templates here 01. Boredom Bingo Summing up the frustration and sense of the surreal we’re all feeling right now, Hazel Mead’s Boredom Bingo is perfect for intricate digital colouring. 02. A Reading List Who wouldn’t love a reading room like this? Hazel Mead’s beguiling bookshelf scene is ideal for a restful session of digital colouring. 03. Greek Gods at Play Even the gods get bored, and this punchy illustration by Hazel Mead offers a fun and original scene for digital colouring enjoyment. 3 free colouring templates from Martina Martian Known for her beautiful and distinctive approach to illustrated quotes, Martina Martian’s art typically explores themes of empowerment and positivity. She’s created three uplifting and inspiring templates for Adobe’s campaign that will fill you with good vibes and an upbeat attitude. Download Martina’s templates here 04. Create for Creation’s Sake Art and creativity aren’t just about the finished product. It’s the process itself that’s most valuable; a sentiment elegantly depicted in this design by Martina Martian. 05. It’s Okay to Slow Down Try to do too much creatively, and you’ll soon burn out. Instead, follow Martina’s advice, as charmingly illustrated in this lovely design. 06. One Day at a Time No one knows what the future holds, least of all right now, so Martina’s artful and uplifting design is right on point. 3 free colouring templates from Octavia Bromell Octavia Bromell is an artist and mental health advocate who’s best known online as Tink. She herself finds release from anxiety through illustration, which combines analogue and digital and often feature houses and plants. Octavia has crafted three charming templates for Adobe’s campaign, which all focus on finding value in the little things. Download Octavia’s templates here 07. Diver This diving scene from Octavia is full of alluring undersea creatures, giving you free rein to play with colours creatively. 08. Cosy House This lovely house and garden scene celebrates the joys of everyday life, in Octavia’s inimitable style. 09. House Plants This funky collection of house plants is appealingly crafted for some mindful and uplifting colouring. How to use the templates Get more colouring templates at Adobe Stock! Once you’re done, you can share your creations with the community via the #colourwithadobe hashtag. And if you’re looking for further inspiration Adobe Stock has you covered, with plenty more great colouring templates to choose from: just search for ‘coloring pages’. Not joined Adobe Stock yet? You can get a 30-day free trial with no commitment needed, and you’ll even get 10 images free! View the full article

Important-rated EoP flaws made up the bulk of the CVEs; SharePoint continued its critical run with four worrying bugs. View the full article

Severe CSRF to XSS bugs open the door to code execution and complete website compromise. View the full article

Adobe patched 36 flaws, including critical vulnerabilities in Acrobat and Reader and its DNG Software Development Kit. View the full article

ESPN has revealed its Monday Night Football schedule for September onwards, and in the process reignited one of the most heated design debates of the year. While the main question on fans' lips is whether the NFL will even go ahead in September, ESPN's new graphic (below) has also reminded some fans just how unhappy they are with LA Rams' new logo. When the new logo was revealed in March, it was met with a barrage of ridicule. Some said it looked like a cheap morning news logo, others thought it resembled the Internet Explorer logo. And while the ESPN graphic features dozens of other team logos, it's LA Rams' that's drawing heat (again). Spoiler alert: it won't be entering our list of the best logos any time soon. Spot the unpopular logo By far the most common complaint is that it could be confused with another logo (thereby breaking one of our golden rules of logo design). And not just another logo, but a logo for another team. While the horn protruding from the 'A' looks silly enough as it is (can anyone else see a croissant?), it also rather resembles a giant 'C'. And with that, it could well be a logo for rival team LA Chargers. Probably not what LA Rams was intending. The previous logo (below) didn't feature the letters 'LA', instead focusing solely on the ram itself. "I'm sure it will be a surprise," LA Rams' chief operating officer Kevin Demoff told ESPN, "but lots of things are and I think it's a change that our fans will come to know and love over time." We won't hold our breath. The previous version of LA Rams' logo It almost goes without saying that a petition to scrap the logo has been set up – and in case you weren't sure how seriously fans take the logo of their beloved team, it describes the rebrand as "a dagger to the heart to a lot of die hard Rams fans". Yikes. At present, over 10,000 people agree. The debacle brings to mind Leeds United's similar logo in 2018 – its updated club crest became one of the most hated redesigns of all time and was duly scrapped. But if ESPN's new schedule graphic is anything to go by, it seems LA Chargers' (sorry, Rams') new logo is here to stay – twisting the "dagger" for many unhappy fans. Related articles: We love the new Cadbury logo – but is there a problem? Leaked Xbox Series X logo has zero personality 6 magnificently minimal logos View the full article

The best laptops for 3D modelling might not be immediately obvious. Although PC hardware isn’t particularly complicated, it’s easy to overlook how the mountain of acronyms, code words and limitless combinations of different products could be seriously daunting for designers who aren’t technical experts. Prospective buyers have to dedicate time into researching whether or not a computer that catches their eye is any good with the software they use, and not every laptop is great at 3D. Until now, the design industry has lacked a single simple branding, intended to let buyers know that a laptop has a specification that guarantees great performance in creative software. That’s why Nvidia has stepped in with RTX Studio, a labelling and set of base specifications that guarantees great performance and an all-round experience when it comes to animation, graphic design, video and photo editing software. Nvidia has set the performance bar quite high. An RTX Studio laptop has to have a minimum of an Intel Core i7, 16GB of system memory, and a 512GB SSD. Minimum graphics requirements are a GeForce RTX 2060, Quadro RTX 3000 or higher, or a Titan RTX. It covers the display resolution as well, which can be no less than 1080p or 4K. With that in mind, here are what we think are the best laptops for 3D modelling right now. For other creative options, see our best laptops for graphic design and the best monitors to go with them. The Acer Concept D7 has some impressive specs: an Intel Core i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q with 32GB of memory and 1TB PCIe SSD. Its colour coverage is fantastic, as has 100% Adobe RGB, something that makes a big difference when you're creating 3D work. It's also speedy, and has 2,944 shaders, 46 ray tracing cores and 368 Tensor Cores. Overall, it's a solid machine that works well for 3D work, and is good value for the specs you get. Some may find it a tad on the ugly side, though. Read our full Acer ConceptD 7 review. The specs of this six-core Intel Core i7-9750H with a GeFore RTX 2080 graphics card make it highly capable of high-end 3D modelling, as well as gaming. This laptop stands out because of the bright images its advanced 4K HDR AMOLED display show. There's also plenty of ports to be getting on with – an ethernet port plus three USB-A and USB-C ports, as well as an SD card reader. Again, this laptop isn't the prettiest, and some will find it on the brash side, but overall, it's a decent option for 3D modelling, although it can get noisy. Read our full Gigabyte Aero 15x review. The Razer Blade Advanced Model feels squarely aimed at creatives. The design is stark, minimal and pretty good-looking, and the internal specs aren't to be scoffed at either. The touch-sensitive screen is another selling point, it's colour accurate with 100% DCI-P3 coverage. The range of configurations is a little confusing, so make sure you double check exactly what you're looking for before you buy. The Razer Blade is superior to the other models in that it was silent while we were doing our 3D tests, it was also 10 per cent faster than the laptops above. Overall, it looks great, and sounds great, but it is more expensive than other similar laptops with the same amount of storage. Read our full Razer Blade Advanced Model review. Read more: The most powerful laptops The best data recovery software The best USB-C monitors View the full article

Last week, Microsoft unveiled a range of new Surface products, which means there's now some great deals surfacing (sorry) on the older but still brilliant models. The best one we've seen so far is this deal from Best Buy, which knocks a whopping $260 off a Surface Pro 7 and black Type Cover. That means this powerful combo can now be yours for just $699! The Surface Pro 7 has become a hugely popular option for creatives in recent years. Its power and stylish and super-portable design of the Surface Pro has earned it a firm spot in our pick of the best tablets with a stylus. Being able to run the full-fat version of Windows means it can also run popular creative software programs, like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, with ease. Apple sale: 13-inch MacBook Pro gets a HUGE $400 price cut We're not sure how long this great deal will last, so if you've been thinking about investing in a Surface Pro 7, now's the time to buy. And if you're still on the look out for fantastic deals, stay up to date with all announcements for the upcoming Amazon Prime Day. There's savings across the pond in the UK too, albeit more modest. Here is the best deal on the Surface Pro 7 in the UK right now: Not in the UK or US? You can still take advantage of some great Surface Pro 7 deals. Here are the best prices in your area: View the full article

Over the past two years, it's been my pleasure to edit one of my favourite magazines – the design and illustration title Computer Arts. For the past quarter century, it's inspired countless creatives to go freelance, to start up their own design events, and to pursue passionate careers in the creative industry. And yet, faced with the strains of faltering international distribution, reduced footfall at the newsstand, and a lack of advertising revenue, this month's issue of Computer Arts is the last. Although CA will no longer be able to champion vital new talent on the rise, or showcase the very best projects that the industry has to offer, its spirit will certainly live on in the industry-renowned Brand Impact Awards, currently set to celebrate the best branding in the world – and its seventh consecutive year – this 10 September 2020. Uniquely, the BIAs is the only branding-specific awards scheme that hones in to the craft of great brand creation, and with over 20 categories to enter, it's yearly entrants and winners reflect a comprehensive look at what's best in branding. Head over to the BIA site and get the most up-to-date information for this year's event. The very last issue if Computer Arts is currently on sale, until the end of May, but if you're feeling nostalgic, or just want its unique blend of creative content, you can order print back issues, or buy digital editions on your preferred platform. And of course, the passion for creative content and great design still lives on in Creative Bloq, so be sure to sign up to our newsletter (in the box on your right) to get your weekly creative fix. Related articles: Great savings when you subscribe to your favourite mags This is what Banksy working from home looks like 5 innovative ways creative agencies are coping with the lockdown View the full article

If you live in Europe, the Middle East or Africa, you're in luck. Photoshop has never been more affordable than with this incredible deal on Adobe's Photography Plan, which knocks a sweet 16% off super-popular apps like Photoshop for iPad and desktop, and Lightroom. That's means access to all this powerful photo editing software for less than £8/€10 per month! These powerful Adobe apps mean there need be no end to your creativity. Your projects will reflect the limitless possibilities that the precision editing and compositing tools deliver. These tools enable you to create stunning, multilayered artwork by combining images, play with colour and effects to elevate your images, move or remove objects within your images, and even turn photos into paintings or 3D objects. 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