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Iconic comic book artist Jim Lee has embarked on his own lockdown challenge in order to raise money for comic book stores financially hit by the coronavirus outbreak. Lee, who is currently chief creative officer at DC Comics, decided to draw one sketch a day for a total of 60 days and auction them off on eBay. He is currently 23 days in, and it's safe to say it's been a big hit. Featuring big players in the comic book world such as The Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man, the illustrations have been snapped up – with auction winners also given the chance to choose the subject of the next piece of art. If you'd like to try some new comics, check out our selection of the best web comics around. Need a new device to read them on? Here are the best iPad deals right now. As well as sketches based on his own WildC.A.T.S. super team, Lee's creations draw inspiration from across the comic book realm: currently up for grabs is Cyborg (see above). The project has even attracted other comic book artists to join in – a total of 15 so far, including Bryan Hitch, Tony Daniel and Joe Bennett. So, although you may have missed your chance to get your hands on gems such as Wolverine by Art Adams, and Lee's own Batman: Gotham by gaslight, there's plenty more to look forward to as the project isn't even halfway through. As Lee explains in his above tweet, which accompanies his second sketch of the series, the auction proceeds will be donated to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc). The foundation, which was set up to provide relief to independent bookshops facing financial strife due to Covid-19, has now established a 'Comicbook United Fund'. This fund is supported by DC and Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group and will provide financial relief to comic book stores and their employees. Comic book fans have been widely positive about the project (see above), with most, expressing their enthusiasm for the artwork and mission. But some voices on Twitter claim the efforts to be no more than a 'Band-Aid' for a struggling industry badly hit by the outbreak of Covid-19. Whether that's true or not, there's some serious money being made here. The below image gives an idea of the kind of bids being made on the artwork on sale (a staggering $12,323 with almost three full days to go): Bidding for Zatanna by Jeff Scott Campbell The creative community has tremendous power to help each other at this time, as these crowdfunding projects for freelancers confirm, and the creativity being shown is excellent news for the world art and design, too. Head to Jim Lee's Twitter feed to feast on more. Read more: Top Marvel concept artist shares 6 tips for success 4 lessons from the greatest illustrators ever Illustrator alternatives: 6 of the best View the full article

We do enjoy a little bit of brand warfare here at Creative Bloq – it can often lead to some truly witty creative work. The most frequent battles seem to involve fast food giants (such as McDonald's and Burger King) and while chicken might be its thing, KFC is prone to the odd bit of online beef. Its latest victim: Iceland (the supermarket, not the country). When Iceland ran an ad on Instagram Stories showing off its range of "stay home" takeaway alternatives with the line "Missing KFC?", it was spotted by none other than the admin of KFC's Twitter account. Cue an iPhone screenshot. If, like KFC's Twitter admin, you're currently working from a phone, maybe it's time to look at our list of the best laptops for graphic design. Along with the screenshot, KFC tweeted the comeback: "This is why my mum goes to Tesco" (see below). KFC fans applauded the response on Twitter, calling it a "biblical tweet", and KFC "the best Twitter account going". But while we've often appreciated KFC's forthright voice on social media, we're not sure this was one of its best-executed attacks. Here are three things we can learn from this particular tweet: 01. Get the joke right If KFC wanted to parody Iceland's famous slogan, they could have at least got the words right. It's "That's why mums go to Iceland" rather than "That's why my mum goes to..." Details matter. 02. Don't do brand management from your iPhone This one is inexcusable. We did not need to know that KFCs Twitter admin has allowed their iPhone battery to drop below halfway. That's too much information – even in this lockdown age of Zoom calls in messy bedrooms. And if there wasn't a charger nearby, a simple crop could have stopped them from sharing their private charging habits with the world. 03. Don't be mean Sure, if Iceland had been dissing KFC, then a "biblical" comeback may have been warranted. But if anything, wasn't the frozen food chain actually being quite... nice? At the time, KFC 'restaurants' were closed across the country (some have since reopened for delivery), so it's quite reasonable to assume that people were missing their KFC – and Iceland is simply acknowledging that it's something worth missing (while admittedly flogging its own version). Yes, yes, perhaps we have just as much time on our hands as KFC's social media admin. Perhaps we can forgive them for a slightly shoddy tweet during these strange times. We're just looking forward to when the burger wars return to their heady, high-budget heights. If you too are dreaming of different days, why not reminisce about this February's battle of the mouldy burgers? Related articles: McDonald's apologises after tasteless logo change McDonald's posters go viral for all the wrong reasons KFC’s Valentine’s Day card range is unexpected genius View the full article

Exercising under lockdown has its challenges, and depending on where you are in the world, you may be having to seriously adapt your normal exercise routine. For those who aren't allowed to stray too far from home, you may find that your walking, jogging and cycling routines are becoming a little boring. So why not grab a pair of headphones and use the time to experience those classic novels you never got round to reading? Audiobooks aren't just for exercise, either, they're also the perfect accompaniment to doing household chores or even mindful activities such as jigsaws. Or, you can always sit in quiet contemplation and lose yourself completely in an audiobook (see our free online resources if you need more ideas for what to do at home). How to download audiobooks for free There are three main places where you can get audiobooks for free legally. Firstly, there’s Librivox, a group of worldwide volunteers who record audio recordings of works that are out of copyright. These are then placed in the public domain, so they’re all completely free for anyone to enjoy. The only drawback is that the readers are enthusiastic amateurs rather than professionals, although the examples we’ve included here are all pretty decent quality. The second way you can listen to audiobooks without charge is by taking out a free trial to an online audio library like Audible, Kobo or Scribd. The advantage of this is that these services contain audio versions of both modern and classic books, read by top professionals. The downside is that you’ll only get one free audiobook per free trial, and then you’ll start paying. The third method of enjoying free audiobooks is by streaming them via Audible’s new service, Audible Stories. There’s a good mix of classic and modern books on this service, you can start listening immediately, without even having to sign up, and there's no limit to the number of audiobooks you can enjoy. However, you can’t download these audiobooks, only stream them, which may be a problem, depending on your internet connection. In this post, we’ve gathered together 10 amazing novels that appear on most or all of these platforms; some even read by A-list actors. Classics in the true sense of the word, these novels continue to inspire spin-off TV and movies today, but if you’ve not experienced the originals, you’re really missing out. So take the plunge today, and get downloading... 01. Little Women Greta Gerwig's recent movie adaptation has brought Little Women back into the spotlight Download from Audible (free trial) - narrated by Laura Dern Download from Librivox for free Download from Scribd (free trial) Download from Kobo (free trial) Louisa May Alcott’s family saga Little Women may have been written in 1868, but its influence still reverberates around the world today. Indeed, when Greta Gerwig’s movie was launched earlier this year, it was striking how many women around the world spoke of reading it as a key memory from their childhood. If that doesn’t include you (and believe us, this is a book for all genders), we’d urge you to find out what all the fuss is about. You’ll soon fall in love with the March sisters, who experience hard times while their father is away at war, testing the bonds between them. 02. The Invisible Man Download from Audible (free trial) Download from Librivox for free Download from Scribd (free trial) Download from Kobo (free trial) There have been lots of TV, comic and movie adaptations inspired by The Invisible Man, including the 2020 thriller that hit cinemas earlier this year. Yet none save the 1933 black and white movie actually follow the original story by HG Wells, so if you haven’t read that yet then you’re in for a real treat. Published in 1897, this dark and punchy tale follows an optics scientist who turns himself invisible and then, despite his best efforts, can’t figure out how to reverse the experiment. Gripping from start to finish, this chilling novel helped established Wells as "the father of science fiction". 03. Pride & Prejudice Stream on Audible Stories for free Download from Audible (free trial) - narrated by Rosamund Pike Download from LibriVox for free Download from Kobo (free trial) Download from Scribd (free trial) Pride and Prejudice is a romantic novel of manners written by Jane Austen in 1813 that still captivates audiences around the world today. Why? In part because, rather than being either pure fluffy romance or misery porn, there’s an underlying realism at its beating heart that reflects social relationships. And while society may have changed over the years, the challenges and trials faced by the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, remain compelling. This is a beautifully written story embracing universal themes; one which continues to entrance readers across the globe. 04. Dracula Enjoyed the latest BBC adaptation of Dracula, now available on Netflix? Then check out the audiobook of the original too Download from Audible (free trial) - narrated by Alan Cumming & Tim Curry Download from Librivox for free Download from Scribd (free trial) Download from Kobo (free trial) A century before Buffy and Twilight captured the hearts of emo kids everywhere, Irish author Bram Stoker’s novel first popularised vampires within the world of literature. But in all that time, and despite spawning generations of questionable genre fare, this 1897 novel has never ceased to be a must-read. The story tells the tale of Count Dracula's attempt to move from Transylvania to England to find new blood and spread the undead curse, and of the battle between Dracula and a group led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing. It’s told not as a straight narrative, but as a series of letters, diary entries, newspaper articles, and ships' log entries; but once you get used to that, you’ll soon be hooked. 05. Jane Eyre Stream from Audible Stories for free Download from Audible (free trial) - narrated by Thandie Newton Download from Librivox for free Download from Kobo (free trial) - narrated by Penelope Wilton Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre might be an academic staple now, but on its publication in 1847, it was very controversial, due to its intimate, first person narrative. From the first line to the last ("Reader, I married him"), the book's main character addresses us personally and intensely, and the potency of the effect remains strong even today, especially in audiobook form. Packed with twists and turns, emotion and tragedy, this romantic, but not sentimental story really packs a punch with a modern-day audience. 06. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Download from Audible (free trial) - narrated by Miriam Margolyes Download from Librivox for free Download from Storynory for free Download from Kobo (free trial) - narrated by Sally Field Download from Scribd (free trial) Yes, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a children’s book. But if you’re looking for the ultimate escapism during lockdown, then you can’t do better than this weird and anarchic tale of a young girl’s nightmarish trip down a rabbit hole to a magical land. If you haven’t glanced at it since your own childhood, you’ve probably forgotten how brilliantly and wittily written it is, and how mindbogglingly surreal it gets in places. What's more, some of the social and political metaphors that passed over your head back then will probably gain new meaning now you're all grown-up. 07. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Kobo's audiobook of F Scott Fitzgerald's classic story is available as part of a free trial Stream on Audible Stories for free Download from Audible (free trial) Download from LibriVox for free Download from Kobo (free trial) Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and first published in 1992, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button tells the story of a man who ages in reverse: born with the appearance of an 80-year-old man, he then spends his life looking younger and younger. If the 2008 movie starring Brad Pitt went on too long for you, then good news: the original is actually a short story. And it’s a brilliant one, too, effortlessly pulling you into the character's mysterious world, and making you empathise with his struggle as the ultimate outsider from society. 08. Around the World in 80 Days Download from Audible (free trial) - narrated by Andrew Sachs Download from Librivox for free Download from Kobo (free trial) - narrated by Andrew Sachs Download from Scribd (free trial) - narrated by Andrew Sachs Written by Jules Verne in 1872, this classic tale sees Phileas Fogg of London and his French valet attempt to circumnavigate the world in 80 days for a big-money bet. It’s quite simply a rollicking adventure featuring well-crafted characters and a ton of excitement. While times may have changed, there’s a grand vision and an underlying humanity to this story that makes it as enticing and entertaining as when it was first published. 09. Les Miserables The audiobook of Les Miserables is a very different experience to the musical movie featuring Anne Hathaway Stream on Audible Stories for free Download from Audible (free trial) Download from LibriVox Download from Kobo (free trial) Download from Scribd (free trial) Long before it became a hit musical, or was turned into a film, Les Miserables was a much-loved historical novel by Victor Hugo. Published in 1862, it follows the lives and interactions of several characters in the period culminating in the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris. Pulling in multiple themes, from politics and moral philosophy to architecture and urban design, this isn’t a light read, nor a particularly happy one, but you will find it a profound experience you won’t regret, and will never forget. 10. The Jungle Book Stream on Audible Stories for free Download from Audible (free trial) - narrated by Bill Bailey and Richard E Grant Download from Librivox for free Download from Kobo (free trial) Download from Scribd (free trial) Written in 1894 by English author Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book is a collection of children’s stories set in a forest in India. Telling the tales of a series of animals, including Shere Khan the tiger, Baloo the bear, and Mowgli, a boy raised in the jungle by wolves, it may have inspired the Disney adaptations, but only broadly: it’s very much its own set of stories. Charming, entertaining and often thrilling, this is a must-read for audiences of all ages. Read more: The 12 best drawing books The best children's books of all time The 20 best shows on Netflix right now View the full article

Now patched flaw allowed attacker to take over an organization’s entire roster of Microsoft Teams accounts. View the full article

If you want to know where to buy a face mask, you're in the right place. Face masks are selling out quickly around the world, so we've put together this list of online retailers that still have face masks in stock. Bear in mind that the face masks in this article aren't medical: they won't protect you from getting COVID-19. However the general advice is that wearing a cloth or homemade face mask can help protect other people, if you're carrying the virus without realising it, for example. And that's where we can help – you'll find an up-to-date list of where to buy face masks below. Should you wear a face mask? Official advice on whether you should wear a face mask while out in public differs from country to country. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US recommends wearing a face mask if you are in a place where it's hard to maintain social distancing – in the supermarket, for example. Some states such as New York are even making it mandatory to wear face masks in public when social distancing isn't possible (different rules apply in different places, see CNN's full list of states here). With medical masks in really short supply right now, at time of writing, the UK government is currently discouraging people from wearing them, instead recommending the use of scarves, buffs or homemade face coverings if you need to leave the house. Elsewhere, earlier in the week Germany announced it will be compulsory to wear face masks in most states while on public transport or out shopping from Monday. All this makes the question of where to buy a face mask even more pressing. Where to buy a face mask: quick links Etsy.co.uk – artist face masks from just £3.99 Buff – stylish face coverings at low prices Ebay.co.uk – washable face masks at a bargain price Etsy.com – patterned face masks for as a little at $4 Caraa Cares – 5 face masks for just $25 Los Angeles Apparel - 3 adjustable face masks for only $30 Sock Cares – funky face masks for only $12 Luckily, there are plenty of places to buy non-medical, handmade face masks online, but it can feel a little overwhelming trying to choose the right face mask for you. What exactly should you be looking for? First of all, consider what type of face mask you want to buy: some are more like bandanas, some are glorified scarves or T-shirts and others are more like the sort of eye mask you might get in a posh spa – but for your mouth and nose. When making your face mask choice, remember that cool features are no good if your face mask isn't functional. It's especially important to ensure that your mask covers your mouth and nose safely, with no gaps, so check the sizing of the mask before you buy it. You also don't want to be touching the mask all the time, so you need one that will stay in place. And as we're a design site, it'd be rude for us not to mention style considerations. While a face mask isn't a fashion accessory, having one that is aesthetically pleasing can be, well, pleasing, both for you and those around you. How to work from home more productively Also consider comfort – some masks can be uncomfortable around your ears, depending on the material they are made of and how they are fastened – elastic in particular can cause problems if it is too tight, but also think about how long you're likely to be wearing your face mask for. The best face masks are also reusable and washable, and many of them come in packs of more than one so you can always have one clean and ready to use. Read on for our best face mask options. And if you're feeling inspired to give creating your own face mask a go, then also see our guide to making your own face mask, at the end of this list (jump to how to make a face mask here). Where to buy a face mask: US Where to buy a face mask: UK How to make a face mask at home Making your own face mask is a viable alternative to purchasing a cloth one if you are a keen sewer – and even if you're not, it's a good chance to learn. Below are a few steps to follow to ensure you make the best mask possible. Note that the same as above applies, we are not saying that these face masks will necessarily protect you and other people, and the recommended hand washing and social distancing measures should still be followed: Find the right fabric: You can buy fabric on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk . You won't need a huge amount per face mask – the CDC recommends 10 x 6-inches per mask, or 25.4 x 15.24cm. Some pre-cut fabric squares will be big enough for this Find a pattern you like: The CDC has a pattern for making your own face masks here, and includes options to making bandanas and a quick T-shirt face covering. There are also plenty of alternative patterns about, including this one from Trend Patterns (video below). Consider adapting the pattern: You may want to adapt the pattern to better suit you or whoever you're making the mask for. Consider using wire to make the mask stiffer, and how comfortable and effective the elastic, string, ribbon or twine you're using will be. Read more: Free online resources for creatives stuck at home The best office chair right now The best streaming services right now View the full article

The free online conference, scheduled for April 28-30, will feature top security researchers from across the industry. View the full article

Sindhi-language characters can crash iPhones and other iOS/macOS devices if a victim views texts, Twitter posts or messages within various apps containing them. View the full article

During these strange times, it feels customary to mention these strange times at the start of an article. But it's the unavoidable context behind much of what's happening both in the real world and online right now – including the arrival of a new website that will self destruct when people stop posting messages to it. thiswebsitewillselfdestruct.com, created by artist Femme Android, features a single page with a message: "I’m a website. I’ll be gone soon, and that’s okay. If I go 24 hours without receiving a message, I’ll permanently self-destruct". Users can write an anonymous message in a box below, or select 'Read a message' to read a random message from someone else. That's about it – it's delightfully simple piece of web design (check out our best web design tools if you're thinking of creating your own). This is the message that greets you when visiting the page Oh, and there's timer. Counting down from 86,399 seconds, it refreshes every time a new message is added. If it hits zero, everything gets wiped from the site's database. But with new messages refreshing the countdown every few seconds, the page seems safe for now. An example message from the website The only instruction in the site's introduction is to "feel free to say what's on your mind – it's been a rough month," and the anonymous messages range from hilarious to heartbreaking (and everything in-between). For example, in the last five minutes we've learned that one stranger is "in love with Gordon and will some day will marry him", while another "really misses chicken nuggets right now". Perhaps the most common theme is missing friends and loved ones during this period of lockdown. The website was created as a project for Ludlum Dare, an online event "where games are made from scratch in a weekend". According to Femme Android (above), it has already received over 80,000 messages, which have been read by 6.5 million people. As many people have said in their messages, we hope the page doesn't self-destruct any time soon. Check out the site and leave your own message here. Related articles: Funny A-Z of quarantine life is unexpectedly good How not to live in creative isolation Iconic logos reimagined for the age of coronavirus View the full article

You might not be aware that it's possible to make your own stylus for your iPad or tablet, but we're here to tell you that it's a thing. Now, we're not saying that this DIY stylus is going to be better than a bonafide Apple Pencil or another legitimate stylus made for your tablet, but in times like these, you've got to improvise, right? All you'll need to create your very own stylus is a pen – a biro or ballpoint, one that you can take the ink cartridge out of – a cotton bud or Q-tip or cotton wool, some tin or aluminium foil and some tape. Below, we've listed two options to create your own stylus – one using a cotton bud/Q-tip, and the other using cotton wool. The first version is probably easiest, but if you decide to go for the second one because you don't have any cotton buds, it works best if you have a metal-cased pen or a pen with a metal tip (skip straight to the cotton wool method). Note that we are absolutely not responsible for any damage that you incur to either your pen, cotton wool, tablet, or yourself. So go steady and watch those fingers, and that tablet, and keep your homemade stylus away from the internal plugs of your tablet. If you'd rather have something a little less homemade, then see our picks for the best iPad stylus and best Android stylus. It's certainly cheaper than an Apple Pencil Make your own stylus using a cotton bud or Q-tip 01. Prepare your materials Get rid to create your stylus Remove the ink cartridge from your pen, leaving a hole where the pen nib would be. Take your cotton bud and cut diagonally about 100mm from the end of one of the buds with a pair of scissors or a craft knife (carefully). 02. Insert cotton bud tip into pen Insert the cotton bud where the nib of the pen would normally be With your ink cartridge removed from the pen, push the cotton bud into the tip of the pen where the nib normally sits. This can be tricky, so you may need to play around with the size of the remaining stem of the bud. 03. Reassemble the pen and wrap in foil We're still talking about making a stylus, promise Once secure, screw the pen back together. Wrap the tin or aluminium foil around the pen making sure the foil is making contact with the cotton bud tip. Use some tape to secure the foil. 04. Dampen the tip of your stylus Now you need to dampen the tip a little to make the pen conductive. Dip the tip in water and squeeze off the excess, you only need the tip to be damp, not soggy, and you don't want to get water on your tablet. And there you have it, your very own stylus! If it stops working and is dry to the touch, you can try dampening it again. Make your own stylus using cotton wool 01. Dismantle your pen and cover the casing in foil Gather your stylus ingredients Start by dismantling your pen. If the case of your pen isn’t metal, then cover the casing in tin foil, and secure with tape. Tear off a small piece of cotton wool and feed it through the pen nib hole. With the cotton wool poking through the hole, push the ink cartridge back into the tip of the pen – this will help secure the cotton wool. You may need to experiment with the amount of cotton wool you’re using, too much and you won’t be able to push the nib back in, too little and the pen nib won’t be covered and will break through the cotton wool. 02. Reassemble the pen Put it back together and you're done! Reassemble the pen, screwing the top back on and then the bottom. It’s better to have the tip of the pen fully secure and leave a gap at the bottom, otherwise the cotton wool causes a bit of an obstruction. You can always trim the cartridge if it's poking out of the bottom and the pen won't screw back together. Shape the cotton wool nib with scissors, dampen the tip with a small amount of water (not too much), and start using your very own stylus. If it stops working at any point and the tip is dry, you can dampen it again to revive it. Did this technique work for you? Share your homemade stylus creations with us via Twitter or Facebook. If you'd rather leave stylus making to the experts, see today's best deals below. Read more: The best tablets with a stylus for drawing and note-taking Forget the iPad Pro, everyone's talking about the iPad Air Draw Disney characters for FREE with these pro classes View the full article

While Disney Parks remain closed worldwide, Disney animators are passing their skills on to creatives at home. This series of online tutorials gives you the chance to flex your artistic muscles and bring some Disney magic into your own home, by learning to sketch a host of Disney characters. With creatives everywhere on the hunt for new skills to add to their creative arsenal, this is a pretty satisfying project to get your teeth into. Plus, you'll be a hero to the small people in your life when you can nonchalantly whip up a convincing sketch of Mickey Mouse and the all-important Princess Elsa. Want to add more Disney to your lockdown life? Try Disney Plus for free for seven days. And if you'd like more drawing tutorials, check out our post on how to draw. You can try three versions of Mickey Mouse The tutorials take you through the process of creating well-known characters from Disney's animation history, in a thorough and technical way that is also straight-forward enough for the whole family to join in. You can even try out three different versions of Mickey Mouse: a contemporary Mickey (see the video below), as well as a 1920s version and a 'pie-eyed' Mickey from a 2013 TV series. As well as being a fun sketching exercise, this is an interesting comparison of how artists from different eras approached the same character. If the world's most famous mouse isn't your bag, there are also a bunch of characters to choose from, including Buzz Lightyear, Winnie the Pooh and Tinkerbell. And for Frozen fans, the guest appearance of the voice of Olaf's (Josh Gad) is a nice touch in a tutorial neatly titled 'Do you want to draw a snowman?' (below). The Animation Academy is a much-loved part of the Disney Park experience, and these tutorials are going down a storm online, with artists and budding artists sharing their own creations on Twitter. You can join the fun by using the hashtag #drawwithdisneyanimation. From Instagram quarantine art clubs to lessons from online illustrators, watching the creative community come together to share their work online is one bright side of lockdown. We hope the skill-sharing and project-supporting vibe is a trend that continues when normal life resumes. Try Disney Plus for free for seven days For a full list of tutorials, see the Disney Parks website, or go to the Disney Animation Twitter feed. And if you need to stock up on art materials, check out today's best deals below: Read more: Pencil shading techniques: 5 expert tips The best pencils for colouring, drawing and sketching Pencil drawing techniques: Pro tips to sharpen your skills View the full article

ImagineFX is the world’s number one magazine for digital artists. Featuring everything from inspirational workshops from leading fantasy and sci-fi artists and interviews, to community news and in-depth product reviews, it’s not hard to see why creatives dream of being featured in this world-class publication. If you’re one such creative, we’ve got good news, that dream could soon become a reality. In association with Corel® Painter®, ImagineFX will showcase a selection of work submitted by digital artists across the globe each month, from now until December 2020. Every issue, the editorial team will pick an Artist of the Month, from which an overall Artist of the Year will be chosen at the end of the year. The winner will then be celebrated at Vertex, the world-class conference for 2D and 3D artists, in February 2021. Achieve digital painting perfection If this sounds like the kind of project you want to get involved with, you’re going to need some quality digital art software to develop your artwork. And Corel Painter provides all the tools you could ever possibly need. The slickest version of the software to date includes Painter 2020's New Brush Accelerator™ tool. The impressive feature assesses a user's individual system and then applies optimal performance settings, allowing artists to paint up to 20-times faster. Unleash your creativity with 900+ included brushes and create with Painter’s revered traditional media and unique digital art brushes that bring that extra special something to your artwork. Want to give it a try? Corel Painter 2020 is available on a free 30-day, fully functional trial (for both Mac and Windows), with no strings attached or obligation to buy. So what are you waiting for? Download Corel Painter 2020 today and get on your way to becoming ImagineFX Artist of the Year. How to enter 01. Submit your work to ImagineFX to be featured in its FXPose showcase section. To do so, please send the following to fxpose@imaginefx.com: Your full (real) name, location, website A list of software you use A little info for your biog section (no more than 50 words) A photo of yourself 5 high-res (ideally 300 dpi) images of your work, with signatures and watermarks removed The title and a 30-word caption for each Please also outline any relevant copyright information 02. From these submissions, ImagineFX will choose its Artist of the Month for each issue. 03. This is an ongoing submission, with a final deadline of 31 Dec 2020. 04. The ImagineFX team will choose its Artist of the Year from each Artist of the Month winner. This will be announced at Vertex 2021 (25th-26th Feb) and in the February issue of ImagineFX. Terms and conditions In consideration for Future promoting you and/or the Material as agreed, you grant Future and its licensees a non-exclusive licence to use the Material in print and digital publications, and on associated websites, (including related, branded social media pages). **Any re-use of the Material in the formats set out above shall be in the same context for which the Material was originally supplied. You further agree that if you are chosen as 'Artist of the month' and subsequently selected as 'Artist of the year' your name and the Material may be used in association with Artist of the Year announcements at Future events and for promotional purposes on all media relating to such at Future events. View the full article

A Banksy mural in the mysterious street artist's native Bristol has received a rather topical makeover over the past few days, as spotted by various Twitter users. Girl With A Pierced Eardrum, on Albion Docks in Hanover Place, is now sporting a surgical face mask – presumably to protect her from the spread of coronavirus. Masks might be in short supply right now (take a look at our guide to where to buy a face mask), but the Girl With a Pierced Eardrum is clearly in the know. It's not clear when the mask was added, but photos began appearing on Twitter yesterday (below). It's also not clear whether Banksy is responsible for the update, or another would-be vigilante artist. But a recent update from Banksy himself suggests the face mask might not be his doing. In a post shared to Instagram last week, Banksy revealed that he had been "working from home" (much to his wife's chagrin – we didn't blame her). A series of photos (below) showed a mischievous pack of his signature painted rats wreaking havoc in his own bathroom. If Banksy is resorting to using his own home as a canvas during lockdown, we assume he isn't then roaming the streets adding masks to his existing artworks. Girl With a Pierced Eardrum, which first appeared in 2014, is a parody of 1655's Girl with a Pearl Earring, by Johannes Vermeer – in place of said pearl earring is a security alarm. Some Twitter users have expressed concern that the 2014 work could have been damaged by the addition of the mask. This wouldn't mark the first time the artist's work has been vandalised (his recent Valentine's Day piece was destroyed in mere days). Hopefully, like coronavirus itself, Girl With a Pierced Eardrum's mask is only temporary. No doubt we'll find out soon enough whether the artwork has been preserved underneath – it'll probably be unmasked long before Banksy is. Related articles Street art: 45 incredible examples to inspire you New Banksy artwork discovered in Birmingham 34 top free graffiti fonts View the full article

While the prospect of a built-in trackpad, backlit keys and floating design all caught our attention when the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro was announced last month, what really turned our heads was the price. At $299 and $349 for the 11 and 12.9-inch versions respectively, the cost is, if not magic, certainly out of this world. But one Twitter user has found an unexpected use for the keyboard which could make it a more enticing proposition for digital artists. The Magic Keyboard only began shipping last week but @TwoLivesLeft, clearly already bored with the basic laptop-style configuration, decided to flip it over onto its back. And lo and behold, he discovered (below) that the Magic Keyboard transforms into something completely different: an artists' easel. Handy for Apple Pencil-wielding creatives (check out our best iPad Pro apps for designers if that's you). Apple probably never intended the keyboard to be used this way, but we're all for a bit of creative improvisation. Does the extra viewing angle justify the price? Probably not. Not only does it look a little daft with the keys sticking up towards high heaven, but the angle appears pretty similar to one of the options you'd get from a Smart Folio (below) for a third of the price. That said, if you were already planning on buying the Magic Keyboard for the typing and trackpad experience, and are also prone to a bit of digital illustration, then this little hack might make the price a little more palatable. A similar effect for a smaller price If you'd prefer the real thing (ie. an easel that isn't an easel by accident), our best easels guide has options for every skill level and budget. Spoiler alert: they're all cheaper than the Magic Keyboard. And if you do fancy giving digital art a go, you can find the best iPad Pro and Apple Pencil deals below. Related articles: Forget the iPad Pro, everyone’s talking about the new iPad Air Apple's new iPhone SE has one BIG problem iPad Pro 2020: All there is to know about Apple's new tablet View the full article

Welcome to our guide on how to manage React form state with Formik. Form elements hold their values in their own internal state – at odds with React's state-driven approach. To make the two work together, we need a more involved solution, such as using controlled components for each field. But there are many more aspects to creating a form than just capturing data. We need to check the formatting is correct, all required fields have been set and that everything was sent successfully when submitted. That leads to a lot of complicated logic that can build up fast. This is where Formik can help. For more resources to help improve your web design skills, check out our rundown of web design tools. Download the source files What is Formik? Formik is a lightweight library that handles these problems. By wrapping a form with the supplied components, we get a lot of this behaviour for free. All we need to supply is the code to handle what makes our form unique. To help us explore what Formik can do, we will be building a small voting application. The user can enter their name and vote on one of the supplied options. If everything is fine, the form will submit but, if not, the user receives an error message. This content originally appeared in net magazine. Read more of our web design articles here. Read more: How to test React sites and apps 6 huge web design trends for 2020 Master minimalism in web design View the full article

It's a tough time for freelancers at the moment. In this uncertain global climate budgets are being cut and projects cancelled, and work that you may have been counting on might suddenly disappear. And while it's almost certainly a temporary state of affairs, if you want to ride it out then it would help to give your portfolio an update to paint yourself in the best possible light. We've found some of the best recent freelance portfolios from around the web to inspire you; all of them do a great job of showing off their owners' abilities and recent work, but they also go the extra mile to delight and intrigue visitors. Read on for some essential portfolio inspiration (also see our other portfolio examples if you just can't get enough). Tweak your portfolio for 2020 01. Ilithya Ilithya's right in your face with a swooping 3D scene Ilithya is a creative developer, designer and digital artist based in Hamburg, with a strong line in 3D and generative art that you can't miss if you visit her portfolio site. It opens with an eye-catching scene that features a block of 3D text floating within a constellation of cubes and toruses, all rendered in pearlescent tones and with the camera in constant motion – you can also use the mouse to zoom in and out of the scene to increase the dizzying effect. If that doesn't entice you to explore further and check out her code art and installations, we don't know what will. 02. Stef Ivanov We don't know why Stef Ivanov has a halo of bees, but we're glad he does Freelance UX and UI designer Stef Ivanov has worked for more than 100 companies over the course of a 13-year career, and there's a great selection of his work on show in his portfolio. What caught our attention, though, is the splash page, featuring a simple block of introductory text and a beautifully cross-hatched pen-and-ink portrait of Stef with, for reasons that aren't entirely clear, an animated halo of bees buzzing around his head. While it's important to show off your work in your portfolio, little extra touches like this are a fantastic way to show off your personality and pique visitors' interest. 03. Angela Milosevic Angela Milosevic has stunning typography and much more besides We love a strong typographic layout, and Angela Milosevic's new portfolio site presses all the right buttons for us. It mostly uses Ogg, a calligraphy-inspired serif typeface whose italic form slants at an extreme angle; Milosevic makes the most of it by using the Roman form in all-caps for much of her body copy, and the Slant form in lower case, mostly for links. It's not all Ogg; she also uses Attila Sans Sharp – again in all-caps – for body copy across her portfolio pages. And there are some fabulous extra touches across her site, such as the popup images that follow the pointer (and leave a smear trail) as you mouse over work links, and the floating eye that appears if you leave the site idle for too long. 04. Yoichi Kobayashi We don't normally care for flaming skulls, but this one has class Japanese developer Yoichi Kobayashi has been working on the web since 2006, and for the latest version of his portfolio site he didn't want it to be just a portfolio; instead he says that he explored is own identity and tried to express it as much as possible using web technology. The result is a stunning site that opens with an animated flaming 3D skull, with floating petals wafting up the screen and a gently undulating smoky background. That may sound like horrible overkill, but it works really well thanks to a restrained palette of blacks and golden tones. Kobayashi employs the flame effect again as you scroll down through his portfolio, using it as a wipe to bring in and fade out rippling thumbnails of each of his featured works. He says that he's proud to have been able to reflect his personality and physicality on this site; colour us impressed. 05. Erika Senft Miller Drift around Erika Senft Miller's meandering portfolio Erika Senft Miller is a multi-sensory artist specialising in site-specific performance projects, and her portfolio site is one that encourages exploration. It's presented as a lined page that you can scroll around by dragging with the mouse; you'll notice that as you move the pointer, the lines that make up the page deform around it, and when you come to a portfolio item – represented as a slowly morphing coloured blob that expands as you mouse over it – that too causes the lines to deform. Each portfolio page follows the same principle; you drag your way around to discover the story of the project, but rather than simply scroll down or across, you follow a more meandering path. It's a delightful way to engage visitors and encourage them to explore Miller's work. 06. Nathan Taylor Nathan Taylor's site is like a Fisher-Price activity centre for grown-ups. Another portfolio site that encourages exploration is Nathan Taylor's. A freelance interactive designer and developer based in Tokyo, he loves to make things that are a bit different and he's built a site that's a veritable toybox of cool web technologies, animation and microinteractions; each panel of the packed single-pager has something exciting going on. Naturally there are a good few projects to click through to, but it's the fun extras that really make this site worth a visit. Our favourite bit is a working synthesiser and sequencer that you can play around with to make your own tunes; give those knobs a twiddle and see what sounds you can get out of it! Related articles: 7 free portfolio hosting options for designers How to refine your design portfolio 7 things no one wants to see in your portfolio (and what to include instead) View the full article

While the spread of coronavirus has stopped countless aspects of life in their tracks, it hasn't stopped Apple from releasing all manner of new products in 2020. And if new rumours are anything to go by, the middle child of the iPad range could be next to see an update this year. According to China Times, the iPad Air will be getting an 11-inch display (a whole half inch more than the current 10.5-inch model), and enter production between July and September this year. How Apple will achieve the bigger screen, China Times doesn't say – but it could well mean a reduction in the size of the bezels, and maybe even an edge-to-edge display like the new iPad Pro. A bigger screen can only be good news for creatives (check out our best iPad apps for designers for inspiration on how to make use of all those pixels). The current iPad Air, released in 2019 These aren't the only rumours to emerge about an 11-inch iPad Air. Last month, Twitter user @L0vetodream (known to have leaked previous forthcoming Apple releases) suggested (below) that a new iPad Air could boast a Mini LED display as well as touch ID beneath the screen. These are two spectacular features that even the current iPad Pro isn't sporting – would Apple really release an Air that's more pro than the Pro? If Cult of Mac is to be believed, though, Apple's first LED iPad won't be ready until 2021. That means the LED iPad Air with under-display Touch ID is probably a slightly more distant fantasy than the 11-inch version rumoured by China Times. Sounds like we might have to just make do with the slightly bigger screen in 2020. We're big fans of the iPad Air – it's a great budget alternative to the iPad Pro (check out our review of the 2019 iPad Air), but there are still some more features we'd like to see, such as support for the second generation Apple Pencil. Time will tell what features Apple sees fit to give the iPad Pro's smaller and cheaper sibling, but we're sure it'll continue to be a great, budget tablet for creatives. Check out the best deals on the current model below. Related articles: Apple’s new Mac Pro Wheels Kit is utterly mind-boggling Apple's new iPhone SE has one BIG problem iPad Pro 2020: All there is to know about Apple's new tablet View the full article

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To download the accompanying files for 3D World issue 260, simply click this link and a zip file will automatically download the content to your Mac or PC. If you've missed this issue or other editions of 3D World start a subscription. If you have any problems downloading this content, please email: rob.redman@futurenet.com Read more The best cities for 3D artists OctaneRender: A beginner's guide 3D art: 27 stunning examples to inspire you View the full article

While the next generation of gaming consoles promises all sorts of advancements in hardware and processing power, there's one area where everything we've seen so far has left us underwhelmed: design. From the anticlimactic PS5 logo to the fridge-freezer shape of the Xbox Series X, it seems the class of 2020 won't be a pretty one. And if a newly leaked logo for the Xbox Series X is the real thing, the disappointing design trend isn't about to end. A trademark filing, found by Reddit users this morning, shows the new logo as well as a handy description: "The word SERIES in a vertical formation to the right of which appears a stylised letter X". There are no flourishes, no fun – it's a rather utilitarian affair, far too dull to get anywhere near our best logos list. The new logo does not Xceed our Xpectations Reddit users are divided, with some finding it "mean, sharp and clean", and others preferring the previous, spherical design (below) One issue we have with the new logo is that word 'SERIES' appears to have been slapped next to the 'X' as an afterthought – but there might be an explanation. Old (left) vs. new (right) "The fact 'series' is placed and sized as it is pretty much confirms some other letter," one Redditor suggests, while another adds: "Series S logo is coming'. According to Trusted Reviews, a second, budget version of the upcoming console might also be announced shortly, named the Xbox Series S. If that 'SERIES' is designed to work across multiple logos, perhaps it makes a little more sense that it sits next to the 'X' without any kind of meaningful (read: interesting) interaction. Arguably more exciting than the logo itself is the dizzying array of products the trademark filing suggests it might appear on: Games consoles (obviously)! Jewellery! Fanny packs! (Bum bags to us Brits) Lighting fixtures! Yo-yos! While Microsoft is no doubt trying to cover all bases in the listing, there could be a whole host of left-field Xbox merchandise coming our way over the next few years. If this does turn out to be the real Xbox logo, we'll be interested to see whether designers react with as much vitriol as they did to the PS5 logo. Microsoft's new console has already taken its fair share of heat, with many suggesting it wouldn't look out of place in the kitchen. But while the launch of both consoles this winter is an exciting prospect, what we really want to know is – when is that Xbox yo-yo arriving? 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

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Photoshop for iPad had a bit of a bumpy start back in November, with creatives complaining that the tablet-specific app was lacking several key features of the desktop version. Thankfully, Adobe is continuing to enhance the app with software updates every month, and now it is improving another key aspect – the price. Adobe has decided to bundle Photoshop for iPad, and Adobe Fresco Premium (its painting and drawing app), for $9.99 per month. While not an outright price reduction to either app on its own, it's a tidy 50% discount for anyone who wants both, which were previously $9.99 per month each. The bundle isn't exactly a head-turner for existing Creative Cloud users (The Photoshop and All Apps plans already include both iOS apps), but it's a great deal for creatives who are only interested in the standalone iPad versions. Don't forget to check out our best iPad apps for designers for more essentials. Want the whole of Adobe Creative Cloud for almost half price? This amazing deal ends tomorrow (EMEA only) The bundle is great news for creatives working exclusively on an iPad In a blog post about the new bundle, Adobe waxes lyrical about how both apps work together. "Like peanut butter and jelly," it says, "cookies and milk, or sand and surf, some things are just better together." Beautiful. Adobe then provides two tutorials on how to use both apps together: how transform your photo into a painting (using Adobe Fresco's live brushes), and how to add watercolour splashes to a design (which Adobe describes as a "hot trend"). Things are looking up for Photoshop for iPad Giving users two apps for the monthly price of one is a generous move from Adobe, and the addition of Fresco's thousands of additional brushes should make Photoshop for iPad a more enticing proposition for creatives. While we were a little underwhelmed in our initial Photoshop for iPad review), this bundle, along with recent updates adding new features such as object selection and Adobe Fonts support, are moving the Creative Cloud experience on iPad in the right direction. And with Illustrator for iPad around the corner, it could be about to get even better. Better get on that almost-half-price Creative Cloud deal before it ends tomorrow, then (EMEA only). Related articles: Unmissable video explains all 50+ Adobe apps Top-class Photoshop tutorials to hone your skills The 13 best alternatives to Photoshop View the full article

Before you think about where to buy a face mask, you need to consider whether you need to wear one. Advice in this area is a little conflicting – and that's an understatement. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that you wear a face mask if you are coughing or sneezing, or if you are looking after a person with COVID-19. However, the CDC, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, recommends wearing a face mask if you are in an area where it's hard to maintain social distancing – in the supermarket, for example. Check the latest advice for your area if you're still not sure. If you decide you do want a wear a face mask, then there are plenty of places to buy them. And creatives have come into their own by making all sorts of ingenious cloth face masks with different fastenings, features and designs. Those cool features are no good if your face mask isn't functional, however. It's especially important to ensure that your face mask covers your mouth and nose safely, with no gaps, so check the sizing of the mask before you buy it. How to work from home more productively Also consider comfort – some masks can be uncomfortable around your ears, depending on the material they are made of. The best face masks are also reusable and washable. And then of course, there are style considerations. That's where creatives have got a little, well, creative. Read on for our best face mask options. And if you're feeling inspired to give creating your own face mask a go, then also see our guide to making your own face mask, at the end of this list (jump to how to make a face mask here). Where to buy a face mask: US Where to buy a face mask: UK How to make your own face mask Making your own face mask is a viable alternative to purchasing a cloth one if you are a keen sewer – and even if you're not, it's a good chance to learn. Below are a few steps to follow to ensure you make the best mask possible. Note that the same as above applies, we are not saying that these face masks will necessarily protect you and other people, and the recommended hand washing and social distancing measures should still be followed: Find the right fabric: You can buy fabric on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk . You won't need a huge amount per face mask – the CDC recommends 10 x 6-inches per mask, or 25.4 x 15.24cm. Some pre-cut fabric squares will be big enough for this Find a pattern you like: The CDC has a pattern for making your own face masks here, and includes options to making bandanas and a quick T-shirt face covering. There are also plenty of alternative patterns about, including this one from Trend Patterns (video below). Consider adapting the pattern: You may want to adapt the pattern to better suit you or whoever you're making the mask for. Consider using wire to make the mask stiffer, and how comfortable and effective the elastic, string, ribbon or twine you're using will be. Read more: Free online resources for creatives stuck at home The best office chair right now The best streaming services right now View the full article

Video conferencing is nothing new, and certainly not for those working in the creative industry. But the last couple of months have transformed it from an optional tool to one that's essential, helping to keep businesses running as much of the world's workforce works from home. There are lots of great video conferencing tools available, many of which are helpfully built-in to our everyday devices. But have you ever stopped to consider whether your default video conferencing tool is really the best one for your needs? Here, we bring together the seven best video conferencing tools around right now (in no particular order), and highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each. Each of them has either a free version or a free trial so you can give them a go before committing to buy. If you need to record your video calls, don't miss our round up of the best video editing software to help you give it that polished, professional look. 01. Zoom Zoom use has exploded around the world since lockdown began Pros: Up to 100 people free; customisable backgrounds Cons: Free meeting only 40 minutes; security issues Downloads and use of Zoom have exploded since lockdown began, from everyone to friends catching up to governments holding cabinet meetings. It’s not entirely obvious why, because most of its features are matched or exceeded by other apps, including those on this list. But anecdotal evidence suggests that people simply find Zoom easy to use, robust and dependable. That’s difficult to measure scientifically right now, with broadband speeds and connectivity being such a postcode lottery from day to day, but there’s something to be said for the wisdom of crowds. The free version of Zoom allows you to invite up to 100 people to your meeting, and up to 49 can appear on screen, which is not to be sniffed at. Attendees can join via the app, their web browser or a traditional phone call. You can hold unlimited meetings, with video up to 720p quality; you can record your meetings locally; and there’s 24/7 online support. If you want to add a touch of colour and fun to your meetings, you can also add Zoom backgrounds, which are becoming something of a cultural trend right now. There are, however, two big issues with Zoom. The first is that under the free plan, meetings can only last a maximum of 40 minutes. (That, of course, might be seen as a benefit rather than a drawback, preventing lengthy meetings eating into your day). The second is the number of security issues associated with Zoom, most notably the problem of ‘Zoom bombing’, where uninvited trolls disrupt meetings, often using obscenity and racist language. In recent weeks, Zoom has been scrambling to tighten up these security issues, and introduced new measures such as introducing password-protect entry to meetings. However, their efforts haven’t come soon enough to prevent many governments and large companies from banning its use. 02. Skype Meet Now Skype Meet Now lets you videoconference with up to 50 people, for free Pros: Unlimited meeting time; blur backgrounds Cons: Only 50 people under free plan One of the original video chat apps, Microsoft’s Skype is still going strong, and the main benefit of using the platform for videoconferencing, to be frank, is that most invitees will be familiar with it. But that’s not all it has going for it. Skype Meet Now offers some excellent video conferencing features, even in its free tier. These include group calls to up to 50 people, screen sharing options, and most notably, the ability to automatically blur backgrounds. You can also record calls, and add live subtitles to conversations. Attendees can access Skype via the web browser, or the dedicated desktop and mobile apps. Also note that if you’re an Office 365 user, then you’ll also get access to Skype for Business, which allows you to invite up to 250 people, includes 24/7 phone support, and has some nice integrations with the Office 365 suite. 03. Google Hangouts Google Hangouts makes video chatting super-easy Pros: Easy to use; free Cons: Light on features; only 10 people One of the companies to recently ban Zoom use internally has been Google, and that’s not hugely surprising, because it has its own platforms for videoconferencing already. For starters, you can conduct video calls with up to 10 people via it's own free IM platform, Google Hangouts. Nicely integrated into all the other main Google apps, such as Gmail and Google Calendar, Hangouts is very easy and intuitive to use, which means you can set up a meeting and start chatting to people with just a few clicks, either in your web browser or via the Android, iOS or Chrome apps. It doesn’t have many advanced features, but on the plus side, this keeps the interface really simple and easy to use. 04. Google Hangouts Meet Google Hangouts Meet offers pro features at a low price Pros: Up to 100 people; invitees can phone in or Skype Cons: Not free; lacks some advanced features If you like Google Hangouts but want some more advanced videoconferencing features, then Google also offers Google Hangouts Meet for users of G Suite for Business. The latter is a paid-for service, starting at $5/£3.30 per user per month. With Google Hangouts Meet, you can invite up to 100 people, record meetings, share your screen and stream HD video. Enterprise customers can record meetings to Google Drive and enable live-stream viewing to up to 100,000 viewers. Attendees can access your meeting via the web app, a special phone number, or even via rival services such as Skype for Business. If you want try Google Hangouts Meet before committing, there's a free 14-day trial for G Suite for Business. And depending on the features you’re looking for, you may find it a cheaper option than the other paid-for tools on this list. 05. GoToMeeting GoToMeeting is packed with professional videoconferencing features Pros: Business-oriented; advanced features Cons: Not cheap; can’t record on Starter Plan While some apps, such as Skype and Google Hangouts, are broadly aimed at anyone wanting to organise a group chat, GoToMeeting is laser-focused on being a ‘serious’ tool for business. Supporting between 150 and 3,000 invitees, depending on your pricing plan, this service is packed with features to make your meetings organised and professional. These include HD video, screen sharing, automatic transcription, unlimited cloud recording, whiteboard capabilities, support for note taking and 24/7 phone support. Hosts can launch meetings via their smartphones, and can even hand over control to another participant. Participants can join meetings via their browser, apps for Android, iOS or Windows Phone, or a phone call. Starting at £9.50 a month, there’s no free version of GoToMeeting, but there is a free trial. 06. Bluejeans Bluejeans has some advanced features around audio and meeting organisation Pros: Unique Dolby feature; annotation features Cons: Can’t blur out backgrounds; not cheap Starting at $9.99 a month, Bluejeans is another high-end videoconferencing service aimed squarely at business users. It’s both easy to set up meetings, and to scale them with the level of complexity that meets your needs. For example, hosts can create up to 20 breakout sessions, to arrange collaborations on subtasks, and meeting recordings can be divided into chapters, with segment highlights and task assignment attached accordingly. Also, you can not only share your screen but annotate it like a whiteboard. Uniquely, the service supports directional audio for Dolby Sound-enabled rooms. Ecryption-only access is available for improved security, and phone support is available 24/7. Meetings can be accessed via web browsers, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android, and you can host from 50-100 participants, depending on your pricing plan. There’s no free version of Bluejeans, but it is easy to set up a seven-day free trial. 07. Cisco Webex Meetings Cisco Webex is surprisingly powerful, even in its free tier Pros: Professional feel; 100 people free Cons: Less well known than other platforms Cisco is a major name in enterprise software, and its tools are usually very expensive. So it’s perhaps surprising that its premium quality video conferencing software, Cisco Webex, comes with a free tier. Especially as it’s one that will suit most people’s needs, enabling you to hold video meetings in HD with up to 100 people, share your screen, and even set up private chat rooms. Meetings can be accessed via the desktop apps or the iOS and Android apps, there’s no limit to meeting length, and you can make MP4 recordings of your meetings (1GB of cloud storage is provided with the free plan). You can access meetings via your web browser, desktop apps, iOS and Android apps, or via a phone call. In short, there’s not really anything we don’t like about Cisco Webex Meetings. The only thing that might potentially count against it is that many will be unfamiliar with it. Read more: The best video editing apps in 2020 The best project management software for designers Free online resources for creatives stuck at home View the full article

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