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In this tutorial we will take a look at ways of changing the CSS styles of elements, as well as seemingly styling their parents, depending on the number of elements. We will also see how to change the layout of elements based on their quantity, in order to create a more adaptive website layout that makes better use of space. CSS tricks to revolutionise your web layouts Lastly we will cover the use of CSS counters to display an element's index within a set inside it, as well as displaying the total count inside the parent. All of this will be achieved with pure CSS only, without the need for JavaScript or frameworks, leading to simple and more efficient code. Single element selectors CSS3 only has a single pair of selectors that can determine the quantity of elements, namely the :only-child and :only-of-type selectors. Having said this, they are really only able to determine whether an element is on its own or has siblings. The :only-child selector matches elements that are the only child of their parent, while :only-of-type matches elements that are the only ones of their type. Unfortunately, that's as far as single selectors go but there are a few other selectors that can target elements based on their order in a set of similar elements. These are :nth-child, :nth-of-type, nth-last-child and nth-last-of-type, which are typically used to target elements based on their order in a set of similar elements. The :nth-last-child and nth-last-of-type selectors are used to determine the order of elements counting backwards from the last element to the first. Combining these with other selectors enables us to build more complex chains that target specific elements based on their quantity. Quantity-specific selector chains Selector :first-of-type:nth-last-of-type(3) and the general sibling combinator ~ can be combined to target the first of three and all its siblings, hence all in a set of three Of the four aforementioned selectors, the main one we will be using in this tutorial is nth-last-of-type. The difference between this and the nth-last-child selector is that the latter includes all the elements' siblings in the set, while the former only includes elements of the same HTML type and is therefore more selective. For the remainder of this tutorial we will use the -of-type selectors, however the -child variants are equally valid. The nth-last-of-type can be used along with the more popular first-of-type selectors to create a chain that targets the first element in a set of a desired quantity. For example, we can use :first-of-type:nth-last-of-type(3) to target elements that are both the first and the third from the end of their type or, in other words, the first of a set of three. We can then extend this with the general sibling combinator ~ to select all siblings that follow the first of a set of three. Combining these two selector chains, we can create a complex selector that targets elements that are the first of three and all elements of the same type that follow it, thereby selecting all elements in a set of three. This selector chain not only works for a specific number of elements but can even be modified to target a range of quantities. Selectors nth-last-of-type(n+2) and :nth-last-of-type(-n+2) can be used to target elements in sets of more than and less than two respectively If we want to target elements in a set with a quantity more than or less than a particular value m, we can use the chain with the (n+m) and (-n+m) techniques respectively. For instance, to target all elements in a set of two or more elements we can use: Similarly, we can target all elements in a set of two or less elements using: As you can see this is a powerful selector chain that enables us to achieve very interesting and useful things without the need for JavaScript or other frameworks. It is especially useful when it comes to creating adaptive layouts that change based on the number of elements. Dynamic, quantity-specific layouts For an even number of elements grid layouts look great, but not so much for odd numbers Let's say we want to display a group of boxes that show the results of a search or an API call in a two-column, grid layout. The problem lies in the fact that the results come from an external source and we have no way of knowing the number of results that will be returned, therefore we don't know how many boxes will be created. While the grid looks great for an even number of boxes, when applied to an odd number the last box sits on a row alone and looks… well, kind of odd. This is especially problematic when using flexbox items with flex-grow applied to them as it causes the last element to grow into the empty space on the row, thereby taking up the full width. One way of preventing this could be to make the first of an odd number of boxes take up a full row by applying a width of 100% to first boxes that are also an odd number of boxes from the end, using :first-child:nth-last-of-type(odd). This provides a better layout as it gives the first and therefore most relevant or recent result more significance than the last one. We can even add a special case for when the quantity is divisible by three using :first-child :nth-last-of-type(3n) to transform the grid into a three-column layout by applying a width of 33% to first boxes in a set with a quantity divisible by three and all boxes that follow it. Conclusion Layouts can be changed based on the number of elements just by using CSS selector chains As we have seen, CSS selectors can be chained together in a variety of interesting ways in order to apply styles and adaptive layouts that change based on the quantity of elements. The selector chains can also be used to seemingly apply styles to the parent of a set of elements of a certain quantity, by using ::before or ::after pseudo-elements that are positioned to take up the full size of the parent. Combined with CSS counters, these pseudo-elements can be used to display the total number of descendants in a parent element, as well as text that changes depending on the quantity of descendants. These techniques offer a valuable way of creating dynamic, quantity based styles and layouts that are useful when handling an unknown number of elements, which is often the case when dealing with APIs. This article was originally published in issue 308 of net, the world's best-selling magazine for web designers and developers. Buy issue 308 here or subscribe here. Related articles: 5 tips for super-fast CSS Create a responsive layout with CSS Grid Understanding the CSS display property View the full article

The career path of a coder is proving to be more and more lucrative, as demand for coders is sky high and will likely continue to grow. If you want to join this industry, check out The Interactive Coding Bootcamp. Industry leaders offer expert instruction so you can learn only from the best, and real-world projects give you hands-on experience that will prepare you for your future job. With 400 lessons in HTML, CSS, and Javascript, with this course, you'll master the basics of these important programming languages, then dive deep into the world of full-stack development. Build everything from a tic-tac-toe game to an expense tracker, and learn how to create features you might find on popular social media platforms. By the end of the bootcamp, you'll be launching websites and building apps. The Interactive Coding Bootcamp is yours for only $39. Related articles: How to use an HTML boilerplate 16 amazing HTML examples Nail your HTML with this cheat sheet View the full article

You're reading How to be a Great Design Mentor and Where to Find one for Yourself, originally posted on Designmodo. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow on Twitter, Facebook, Google+! There has been a lot more discussion online about mentorship among the designer community. Being a mentor boils down to being a trusted advisor who is readily available to provide support and advice that’s best suited to the mentored individual. … View the full article

Instagram has long since passed the point of being a place to browse heavily filtered shots of beaming selfies, soft-focus flat whites and avocado toast, although there's still plenty of that to be had. With users numbering in the hundreds of millions, Insta is a popular target for brands to express themselves visually. But unless you're Kylie Jenner or Cristiano Ronaldo, going viral on Instagram is easier said than done. People are often skeptical of brands on social media, and the vast majority of the most-liked Insta pictures of all time relate to celebrities having babies or getting engaged, or big news from superstar sporting legends. For most of us, achieving Instagram likes in the millions for a branded post may seem out of reach – but that's not to say there isn't room for improvement. Read on to discover five lessons to be learned from some of the most successful branded Insta posts... 01. Get an influencer endorsement For two months in 2016, the most-liked Instagram post was an advert for Coca-Cola (above). Granted, it was posted by global superstar Selena Gomez, who comes with over 140 million followers attached – but it's still an advert, and carefully art directed as such. It has almost 7 million likes to date. The shot was taken by noted fashion photographer Guy Aroch, and features Gomez sipping from a Coke bottle with some of her lyrics on the label. "When we compose a shot like this, it feels real and authentic as well as complementary to the symmetrical Coke bottle," James Sommerville, Coke's VP of global design said at the time. Of course, while the art direction is impeccable and Gomez looks... like Gomez, those factors pale into insignificance next to the value of leveraging a savvy celebrity endorsement in the first place. Sure, Selena Gomez may be a little out of reach for the average brand campaign, but the lesson here is to find an influencer who resonates with your target market. 02. Have a witty take on current events As a brand, LEGO is incredibly smart about turning product placement and advertising into entertainment in its own right – just look at the success of the LEGO Movie franchise for evidence. Its Instagram feed is no different, packed with pop culture references and witty takes on current events, all expressed through those distinctive plastic bricks. So when millions around the world were talking about the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, you bet LEGO had a piece of the action – including a highly impressive life-sized carriage made from LEGO bricks, and a quirky little animation (above) of the happy couple, which to date has garnered over 150,000 views. 03. Actually stand for something At its core, the Airbnb brand is all about experiencing new places in a more authentic way – living like a local. Accordingly, its Instagram feed is primarily used to inspire and entice followers to explore and travel more, using user-generated photos to sell the Airbnb experience. Its 2017 #WeAccept campaign, however, embraced a deeper, very topical message, expressing the brand's acceptance and welcoming spirit for those from all manner of backgrounds. While many brands prefer to shy away from anything too political in case of backlash, Airbnb nailed its colours to the mast. The campaign stated that anyone should be welcome in an Airbnb, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality or beliefs – and shared 12 diverse people's stories. Against a backdrop of widespread discussion of immigration, particularly in the States, this stance definitely resonated, with over 100,000 views of the launch video, and between 4,000 and 15,000 likes for each story. 04. Provide a compelling experience A brand like GoPro is something of a gift when it comes to engaging, immersive video content to post to a platform like Instagram – and it doesn't disappoint. Like Airbnb, the account takes full advantage of user-generated content to show off all manner of experiences and adventures. You'll struggle to find a product photo here – it's all about showing, not telling; a lesson many brands could apply. Their 'photo of the day' and 'video of the day' contests keep content rolling in, and enable GoPro to keep a finger on the pulse of how people are using their cameras, and what they're passionate about. That distinctive first-person perspective makes it truly immersive and compelling, as well as unmistakably 'GoPro' in flavour. One particularly successful recent post (above) shows high-adrenaline highlights from the winning run at the UCI Cycling DH World Cup 2018 – with over 650,000 views of the suspension-shaking ride to date. 05. Build up anticipation before a launch One of the most popular brands on Instagram, with almost 80 million followers – just over half of those commanded by the mighty Selena Gomez – Nike has a reputation for creative, unique takes on its Insta posts, including product launches. By way of example, the post to announce the new Nike Epic React shoe came in two parts to build anticipation – the first, posted on 22 January 2018, a month before the official launch date – featured a conceptual, stylised image (above) designed primarily to entice and intrigue: "The inspiration for a running innovation that feels like this (without actually looking like this)." In the image, the 'shoe' was a mannequin foot cushioned by three layers of foam, a pillow and some heavy-duty springs, all duct-taped together. It definitely caught the eye, and garnered almost half a million likes. This set the stage for the official concept video the following day, which to date has clocked up over 6.5 million views. Proof that when you do talk about your products on your branded Insta feed, if you do it thoughtfully and conceptually – rather than just doing the hard sell – you can still engage and excite people. Related articles: 8 tools for creating better social graphics 5 great Instagram Stories templates for designers 5 clever Instagram layouts you must see View the full article

Facebook failed to fully sanitize error data returned by a public facing web app. View the full article

A Windows task scheduler API function does not check permissions - so any potential local bad actor can alter them to gain elevated privileges. View the full article

Web design books made from dead trees, eh? Things from the past! Haven't you heard we've got that spangly new internet thing now? While you can find a whole world of information online, web design books show no signs of waning in popularity. When you've been glued to a screen all day, it can be great to sit back in a comfy chair with a fantastic web design book that can educate and illuminate. The finest examples provide advice and insight in a manner that few single-shot website articles can compete with. Here leading designers, developers and web industry folk reveal their favourite web design books. The resulting selection is a collection of the very best insight into cutting-edge design and development techniques, inspirational texts, and beautiful volumes to admire. Also read: 30 books every graphic designers should read 01. Technically Wrong Buy it now Sara Wachter-Boettcher's Technically Wrong explores the (often invisible) biases, that shape the design and engineering of our software. "Technology designed without considering the ways it can affect people from a multitude of backgrounds can sometimes have devastating consequences, as the book explores," says Inayaili de León Persson. "Reading it has reinforced the idea that, as designers, we must actively strive to create products that are inclusive and truly consider the impact they will have on society. Since I read it, I always try to keep that in mind, in meetings, workshops, conversations, and to be vocal about those issues." 02. Make it Now Buy it now Anthony Burrill’s Make it Now is a a beautiful compilation of his work, stretching from his student projects right through his career. "It’s a great inspiration to find your own voice," says Fore Design's Dan Perrera. "He has a wonderful writing style – short sentences that get right to the point – which made the book a real pleasure to read. Most importantly though, it was a real motivator to bust through my doubts and get started on a project – now." 03. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck Buy it now In The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life, blogger Mark Manson offers a self-help guide with a difference, suggesting we don't need to be 'positive' all the time. It's a favourite of Sush Kelly, who despite being a designer and developer, doesn't often read technical books. "I’ve had as many 'a-ha' moments reading it as I would when reading a book on something like CSS Grid," he says. "With the constant stream of information from social, it’s easy to compare yourself with the prominent designers and developers you see. Not everyone can be exceptional: once you accept this and set your goals appropriately, life becomes much more satisfying. We have a limited amount of fucks to give in life; this book has helped me start to choose them wisely!" 04. The User Experience Team of One Buy it now The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide by Leah Buley offers techniques and approaches to help you tackle UX when you don't have much time or many resources. "Like many other designers, I’ve had frustrations convincing certain clients of the value of UX resources and time on projects," comments JH's Warren Challenger. "This book reminded me that I’m not alone in this fight: larger projects and budgets suffer in the same way. In the book, the author talks you through exercises and teaches you only to do what you need to complete your goals. You can achieve a lot when you remove the formal process: be more flexible and cut to the chase." 05. Adaptive Web Design Buy it now Aaron Gustafson's Adaptive Web Design helps you understand the history, mechanisms and practical application of progressive enhancement. Jeffrey Zeldman heartily recommends it: "Coined by Steven Champeon of the Web Standards Project in the early 2000s, 'progressive enhancement' is the key idea behind standards-based web design. Both a method and a philosophy, it yields experiences that are accessible to all. Through mastery of progressive enhancement, we stop designing for browsers and start designing for people. No one has done a better, clearer, or more thorough job of illuminating progressive enhancement in all its richness than Gustafson… nor is anyone likely to." 06. Inside the Nudge Unit Buy it now Inside the Nudge Unit by David Halpern explains how a team of behavioural economists set up the government’s Behavioural Insights Team, with the aim of helping people ‘better choices for themselves’. "I read this book at an important time; I was thinking a lot about psychology and design and how both seemed to be siloed," says BehaviourStudio founder Lauren Kelly. "Reading this book solidified my ideas that behavioural insight should – and could – be brought into the design process." 07. Adapt Buy it now The premise behind this book is that everything we know about solving problems is wrong, and we should instead learn to rapidly experiment and adapt. Although not directly related to the web industry, Adapt: Why Success Always Starts with Failure's general themes can be beneficial to all. "Harford provides examples of how trial and error can be a more effective way to solve complex problems, and how trials can be structured to produce the best results," explains social software consultant and writer Suw Charman-Anderson. Illustrated with examples such as the development of the Spitfire, and the financial crisis, Harford explores what environments encourage innovation and how that innovation can then be adopted and expanded." 08. CSS3 for Web Designers Buy it now Dan Cederholm's book aims to show how CSS3 is a "universe of creative possibilities", providing insight into web fonts, advanced selectors and the many visual enhancements the technology can bring to web pages. A second, updated edition was published in 2015. Eric Meyer, An Event Apart partner and co-founder, says: "With Dan you know you're getting great visual design with a fun theme, wrapped around great technical information. This book delivers big time." 09. Design is a Job Buy it now Design isn't all about visuals, aesthetics, usability and crafting something beautiful. It's also about all the things that surround that, enabling you to build a business. Mike Monteiro's aim in this volume is to help you do that part of your job better, learning how to deal with clients and contracts. It's ideal for designers looking to set up shop – or even those who have been running a business for a while. "It’s basically a compilation of every wrong decision I've ever made in my decade of running a business, but it was also a major confidence-booster," says Fore Design co-owner Amy Parker. "I've learned all the lessons of what not to do that Mike outlines in the book and figured out what to do instead." "After Mike's brilliant 'Fuck You. Pay Me' talk at Creative Mornings, it was a no-brainer to buy his book on the topics of contracts, selling design and dealing with clients – this is a must read," adds creative director Mark Collins. 10. The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding Buy it now The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding by Al Ries and Laura Ries is one of the most influential books in Cheers Creative's Dana James Mwangi's career. "It was a huge shift in mindset for me, changed my company’s approach to web design, and increased the value of our offerings," she says. "Just as Mercedes owns the word ‘luxury’, we want to help brands own a word in the minds of consumers. From aesthetic choices like colours and typefaces to tone of voice, 22 Laws helps us develop website strategy and design for clients with this aim in mind." Next page: 10 more awesome books for web designers 11. Don't Make Me Think Buy it now If you work in web design and haven’t read this classic tome by Steve Krug, make sure you correct that ASAP. Basically the bible of web usability, it’s written in a concise way that makes it easy to consume on your commute. First published in 2000, an updated version explores mobile as well as web usability. "Anyone who designs, codes, writes, owns, or directs websites should read and memorise this book," argues Jeffrey Zeldman. "Whereas earlier usability books are scolding, parental, and anti-creative in tone, Steve makes the case for web usability compelling, friendly, and fun. I naively saw usability as the enemy of design until I read this book. It will work equal wonders for the marketers, developers, project managers, and content folks on your team… or for anyone who wants their website to delight its users." 12. Getting Things Done Buy it now "One of the greatest problems faced by web design freelancers is stress. Running your own business and dealing with demanding clients leaves many freelancers lying in bed worrying and feeling completely overwhelmed," comments Paul Boag. "Allen's book proposes a way of organising one's life to strike the balance between work and home. Although not for everybody, it certainly made an enormous difference for me, enabling me to feel in control of my ever-growing workload." 13. Good Strategy, Bad Strategy Buy it now Richard Rumelt's Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why it Matters aims to differentiate itself from its rivals by not stretching an essay like argument to hundreds of pages. Instead, says the author, it "presents views on a range of issues that are fundamental, but which have not been given much daylight". This gelled with Leisa Reichelt: "It's not exactly a web book, but I wish more web industry people would read it so that we could spend more time making better things." 14. Mobile First Buy it now Luke Wroblewski's Mobile First is a strategic guide to mobile web design, which asks and answers why you should go mobile first, and how to achieve such goals. While it's a little old now (it was originally published in 2011), it still includes plenty of great advice. "When you want solid research and statistics on any web-related topic, Luke is your guy," says Aaron Gustafson. "His treatise on mobile is packed with incredibly valuable – and sometimes surprising – information that will help you better understand the mobile landscape and better sell its promise to your clients." 15. ReWork Buy it now It's safe to say Basecamp is not a typical company, but its success shows there can be a better way to work, without meetings, spending your entire savings, or working ridiculous hours. ReWork: Change the Way You Work Forever, was written by the company's founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, and provides a glimpse inside how Basecamp works. UI designer Maykel Loomans finds it invaluable: "The book's a staple when anyone asks me about designing, developing or wanting to create just about anything software-related. The power of ReWork lies in how clear-cut all the statements are. It's not a book that contains information that should be taken at face value, but it does give a lot of empowerment and it's a breeze to get through." 16. Steal like an Artist Buy now Austin Kleon's Steal Like an Artist is a book about process, and what the author learned during his design career. "There are many lessons here that are so stupidly obvious, but when they're written down they bring a lot of empowerment to the reader," comments UI designer Maykel Loomans. The book began life as a list, and then a slide presentation, before becoming a lively, engaging and entertaining book for improving your creative life. 17. The Elements of Typographic Style Buy it now Before you understand the technical aspects of typesetting on the web, you have to understand the principles underpinning it. First published in 1992, this beautifully written manual from Robert Bringhurst sets out the history of typography and is a practical guide to its use. Thanks to technical advancements, web designers have more control than ever over the way their text is displayed. Which means designers need to understand the principles of typography more than ever before. "This book goes into incredible depth and detail, making it indispensable for anyone wanting to make their web typography both legible and beautiful," says designer Laura Kalbag. 18. The Happiness Project Buy it now Are you happy? Gretchen Rubin one rainy afternoon realised she could be happier and embarked on her project, setting resolutions and figuring out what worked for her. The result is a thoughtful, practical and humorous story that could inspire you to your own paths to happiness. Sarah Parmenter elaborates on why it's an important inclusion in our list: "It reminded me that there's more to life than sitting in front of a Mac. Work-life balance is incredibly important in what we do, and this book can be read as a quick pick me up at any time." 19. Thinking, Fast and Slow Buy it now Daniel Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow is concerned with thought processes and how we make decisions: why we're more likely to believe something that's in a bold typeface; why we assume someone who's good-looking will be more competent; and so on. Designer and developer Sebastian Green says: "As competition on the web increases, we are all looking for ways to create better sites. Going down the psychology route is the next step, and this book provides insight into how we are influenced, and how we interpret and respond to questions." 20. The Victorian Internet Buy it now According to Eric Meyer, this book by Tom Standage is a "compact, fascinating examination of how the internet parallels the telegraph system very closely, and how the world was even more technologically disrupted and future-shocked by the telegraph than we could ever aspire to be". Standage himself is proud of the book's longevity, noting on his website that he got to "make fun of the internet, by showing that even such a quintessentially modern technology actually has roots going back a long way – in this case, to a bunch of electrified monks in 1746". Read more: 15 great web design podcasts 13 names every web designer should know An essential guide to web design etiquette View the full article

We all make mistakes every now and then, and thankfully they're usually pretty minor. If you're just starting out in design, then you're bound to make the occasional cock-up, but it's unlikely to result in disaster; once you get to art director level, of course, it's a whole other matter. The 62 best infographics Learning from your mistakes can be a vital way of honing your craft, but there are some mistakes it'd be easier to not make. If you get a bit of design terminology wrong then ultimately, it's no big deal; you might be quietly praying for the ground to swallow you up and end your embarrassment, but really, no one's really going to be that bothered. Why go through all that unnecessary discomfiture in the first place, though? In this infographic from Think Design you'll find 14 terms that young designers often get mixed up, and you've probably fallen foul of at least one of them already. Take five minutes to commit them to memory and you'll never slip up again, leaving you free to make much more calamitous mistakes instead. Related articles: 13 incredible tools for creating infographics Infographic: the history of the internet Pro tips for creating interactive infographics View the full article

Sound is a critical element when creating an engaging and compelling user experience. If you need proof, try playing your favourite game or watching your favourite movie with the volume turned right down. Ambient city noises, distant sirens, and low rumbling hums can drop you into a scene, even without the visuals. Sounds create the mood and set the pace of an interactive experience. Music enhances suspense, ramps up intensity, and ultimately triggers an emotional response, and does so much more powerfully than visuals can alone. In this article, we'll explore the role of sound in web and app design. We'll look at how sound can enhance an experience, as well as what the different types of sound are, where to find sounds to use in your projects, and the audio libraries you should try out. How can sound improve online experiences? Immersive sites, such as world-building models, in-world web experiences and games can be greatly enhanced by sound effects and musical scores. Sites and applications with engaging animations, dynamic visuals or 3D, depend on solid sound design. But even the simplest sites can benefit from user feedback and meaningful signals through audio. Otherworldly sounds immerse the user on Pottermore (click to visit the site) In your projects, sounds can form part of the reward system in completing tasks. For example, sound effects that trigger with completing a puzzle make the act much more satisfying. A pleasant chime as a bar fills up, or as the user achieves a specific goal – these all work together to give short-term rewards, while the user works towards a larger goal. Sound can provide audio feedback, to complement visual feedback. Buttons make noises when clicked, a clicking metronome can count you in before recording. Sounds can help reinforce that something was done as a further way to acknowledge the user’s actions. A way to say ‘yes’, your interaction was received. In some cases, sounds can call out something in a visually busy landscape. In time-critical applications, they can communicate something faster than visuals might alone. Paper Planes uses audio to add a new layer of interaction (click to visit the site) User interfaces, since the earliest days of the command-line, have used sound effects in the form of simple audible beeps, to warn of errors. And today, apps such as Twitter or Facebook use well-placed sounds for notifications and alerts. Skype uses audio to facilitate communications. As we move into technologies away from screens, speech and gesture interfaces are increasingly dependent on audio input and feedback. Assistant software and tools such as Alexa and Siri give audio feedback fuelled by powerful artificial intelligence. Audio cues and speech recognition can also be used to create a better experience for those with disabilities or learning difficulties. With ever increasing support, bandwidth and networking power, now is the time to put the power of sounds and music to work in your sites and applications, through solid sound design. What types of sound are there? Music/score Imagine your favourite movie without the iconic score. Jaws without the ominous two-chord warning, Star Wars without the incredible score, driving the action from the first iconic frame. Great music has its own life; it’s essential to the success of the production. Ambient Sound In film and game design this is also called asynchronous sound. It is not directly synced with other actions, but forms a mood bed or atmospheric soundscape. Crickets chirping, a crackling fire or sounds of the city at night. Ambient loops that set a tone for the experience. Of all the types of sound, this has the strongest ability to subconsciously transport the user into the world of the experience. Sound FX Every interaction, achievement unlocked and warning can be enhanced with sound effects. They can reinforce the tone of the experience, and communicate greater detail quickly to a user. A clear warning tone might signal a low battery, before the user notices the flashing bar. A gentle bell or satisfying click when pressing a button can encourage and make an action more enjoyable. The nice pop effect when you pull down on Twitter to refresh results is a great example. Voice Voiceovers can humanise an experience, guide a user with instructions, and serve the functional role of communicating important information in the absence of visuals. For example, a navigational app for driving or an instructional tool. Pitch recognition for tuning an instrument or voice recognition to receive commands are just a couple of possibilities. Voice assistance through apps such as Alexa or Siri are rapidly becoming part of our lives, from using a phone, operating a vehicles or setting the mood with some music at home. Voice recognition in sites and apps is growing and will continue to grow. The psychology of sound Sounds are able to create powerful reactions on deep, instinctive levels. A baby’s cry can set a new parent into action without conscious thought, a sharp warning hiss of a snake can trigger adrenaline, and hearing that favourite song on the radio might bring a smile before you realise it. Scientists and thinkers have been pondering the relationship between sound and emotion for thousands of years. Modern day neuroscience has uncovered amazing insights into the relationship between our ears, minds and emotions. Dramatic audio creates tension on The War of 1996 site (click to visit the site) Deep within the brain, in the amygdala, we processes memories and emotional reaction, while the Hippocampus controls behaviour and helps form memories. Within these most primal sectors of the mind, responses are triggered when we hear sound. Breathing, heart rate, brainwaves and hormone secretions are continuously affected by incoming audio. Sounds are associated with experiences and the feelings connected to them, both good and bad. The right music or ambient sounds can instantly connect an audience to a flood of associated feelings How someone feels at any given moment is very often affected directly by what they hear. People have the ability to remember hundreds, if not thousands of songs and voices. Sounds are remembered more easily because of the impression they make on your mind, and they also are much harder to ignore. Hearing someone say your name across a crowded room, but seeming to ignore everything else, is just one example. Film and game-makers have capitalised on the psychological power of sound for years. They know how sound can evoke emotions. The right music or ambient sounds can instantly connect an audience to a flood of associated feelings. Everyone has that favourite game theme song or movie score. As soon as they hear it, they recall how they felt when they played it or saw it the first time. Perhaps it’s the iconic Super Mario Bros theme or the soundtrack from Azeroth in World of Warcraft. The right sound design, the right music, can not only set the mood, but emotionally connect to people in a way visuals alone simply cannot. How can sound affect emotions? Brain stem reflex When loud or dissonant sounds are heard, they signal a potentially important and urgent event, causing us to react on an instinctive level. Notifications, beeps and sirens are examples. Learned response or conditioning When we have heard a sound repeatedly in a certain situation, it can often lead to an association between that sound and situation. Hearing it again can instantly elicit similar emotions or feelings. Emotional contagion Perceiving emotions expressed by a piece of music. It doesn’t have to sound sad. Instead we recognise it as conveying ‘sadness’. Sound is so fundamental, that it often transcends languages. People from diverse cultural backgrounds often agree on whether a piece of music sounds happy or sad. This has led some to term music the ‘language of emotions’. What are the challenges of using sound? Download size and streaming limits Sound will increase the weight of your page. We can overcome this a few ways. First, optimising sounds through good compression that balances quality, size and bit rate. MP3 format is going to give a good balance of these factors, and audio tools will give you options for levels of compression. Stream larger files instead like music and ambient tracks. Load FX for instant playback. Unexpected intrusion No one likes to be caught by surprise, or feel like they’re not in control of their experience. Give users the option to disable sound and control levels. Let them choose their experience, and they will often choose to listen. Mobile limitations Mobile offers new challenges. On most mobile devices, audio will not play until triggered by a user action. A simple solution is to start the experience with scroll or click event, that you can then bind your audio start to. Initialise ahead, and wait to fire load and play events the moment you get that first interaction. Sound overload It’s easy to overdo things when it comes to sound. Not every action needs a sound effect. Sounds should serve a purpose. Use music and effects that inform or enhance the experience. Just like a good visual designer, don’t be afraid to cut. Too much of a good thing can still be too much. What are the major audio file formats? MP3 - A compressed or ‘lossy’ format. Audio data is compressed and optimised for size and bit rate. This is the format you want to be using as often as possible. WAV – The WAVE container format is an uncompressed audio file and has much larger sizes typically. Files in the WAVE container format typically end with the '.wav' extension. FLAC – Uses lossless compression, meaning silence does not take up file space, but the uncompressed audio is retained. This is a larger file size, (smaller than wav), and not as well supported. Ogg Theora Vorbis – Supported in desktop/mobile Gecko (Firefox), Chrome, and Opera. Support can be added to Safari (but not on iOS) with an add-on. The format is not supported in IE in any way. Where can I find sounds for my projects? Freesound – A collaborative database of Creative Commons-licensed sounds. You can browse, download and share sounds. SoundJay – Library of free sounds you are allowed to use on your website, free of charge and royalty free in your projects. Partners in Rhyme – Free and royalty free music and sound effects. Pond 5 – One of the world’s largest collection of royalty free stock video and creative assets, sounds and music. Premium Beat – High quality curated royalty free music library, organised by genre and mood. Audio Jungle – Massive library of royalty free sounds and music from $1. Sound Stripe – Membership model, for unlimited licenses for songs in large, curated music library. The best sound libraries to try Howler.JS A solid, audio library for the modern web. A solid cross-platform solution, for managing multiple sound effects easily, with good documentation to get started quickly. Includes a wide range of file support, use of audio sprites, spatial audio for 3D experiences, automatic caching and has no dependencies. Pizzicato.JS Another well documented Web Audio JavaScript library. Pizzicato has a simple set of methods for creating cool effects, using sound inputs, and managing sound files. Compressors, stereo panning, tremolo, reverb, flanger and many more effects are included, to start creating cool effects out of the gate. SoundJS A JavaScript library that provides a simple API, and powerful features to make working with audio extremely simple. Designed with cross-browser support in mind, it gracefully falls back to HTML audio for wide support. Easily ties in audio file loading to PreloadJS. If you are already using CreateJS tools, this is a solid choice. This article was originally published in creative web design magazine Web Designer. Buy issue 275 or subscribe. Read more: 9 ways to smash UX on a small budget UX for emerging experiences Infographic: How people really use voice assistants View the full article

Adobe issues a second unscheduled update this month to address a bug with a publicly available proof-of-concept code in the wild. View the full article

Great figure drawings feel alive. One of an artist's greatest tools to communicate life in a drawing is gesture. It's the movement from one form to another. That's why it follows the natural flow of human anatomy. Draw a figure in under five minutes The first place to look is in the torso – where it is contracting and where it is relaxing. The relaxed or stretch side is the primary gesture – the 'action line' – and the foundation of knowing how to draw people. To learn gesture, I enjoy timed life drawing, five minutes or less. Begin with the action line. Next connect the shoulders and the hips, then close the form at the pinch side. As time permits, I add rhythm lines and simplify any anatomical details. With the torso established, proceed to the limbs. I use a simple oval to lay-in the head and neck. Next, I use a rhythmic gesture on the outer edge of the legs to form a graphic shape. Finally, the arms can be simplified into tapering, curved rectangles, with a simple oval to capture the hand. This lay-in not only communicates movement, but is also a great base to add details, lighting and shading too. 01. What is gesture? Gesture communicates what your figure is doing When I draw figures, my first priority is to describe the movement. That's what gesture does. It communicates what the figure or form is doing. Gesture also describes movement between separate forms of the body and how these forms relate to one another. When done right, gesture can help create the illusion of a living, breathing figure. 02. Where is gesture? Everything from the torso to the fingertips is connected by gesture Gesture occurs everywhere in the body and in many forms. For example, gesture occurs on the outer edge of the figure and on the larger forms like the torso and leg. Gesture also occurs in smaller forms. For example, the arm, wrist, palm and fingers are all connected by gesture. 03. Exterior gesture Exterior gesture simplifies the figure into one graphic shape One way to connect the points of a pose is known as an envelope. This simplifies the figure into one graphic shape. The second form of exterior gesture is the silhouette or contour. This closely follows the contour or edge of the figure and connects key parts like the shoulder, waist, hips and limbs 04. Interior gesture Rhythms are useful for placing anatomy and small details Gestures on the inside of the figure are known as rhythms. Rhythms are naturally occurring lines that are often based on anatomy. For example, the neck flows to the shoulder, the chest flows into the arm, and the hips flow naturally to the thigh. I like to use rhythms to place anatomy and small details. 05. How to see gesture Connecting the main anatomical landmarks reveals the action line To see gesture, I first focus on the torso and then look for key anatomical landmarks such as the shoulder, outer hips (great trochanter), pit of the neck and groin. Connecting these points reveals the action line or the primary gesture of the pose, and also the contraction or pinch that happens on the opposing side of the action line. 06. The action line Your action line should be as long and fluid as possible The most important gesture in any drawing is the action line, also known as the longest line or thrust. This line describes the primary movement in the pose and should be drawn as long and fluid as possible. I use it as the foundation of the entire drawing, and every mark I make either reinforces or complements the action line. 07. How to make good marks Three marks are all you need To make drawings clean and easy to read, I use only three marks: straight, C-curve or S-curve. For example, a C-curve is great for the stretch or elongated side of the torso. Straights quickly connect the shoulders and hips. For the action line, a long S-curve connects the head to the legs and feet. 08. Making gesture lines longer Use the outer extremities to make your gestures as long as possible I draw gesture lines as long, smooth and uninterrupted as possible, especially the action line. To do this, I often look for the extremities like the fingers, toes, and the top of the head, and use gesture to connect these points. Within the body, I use and follow the anatomy to keep the gesture flowing. 09. Drawing poses: under two minutes Start with the torso then work from there When I draw really short poses (two minutes or less), I like to first isolate the torso so I can clearly see the action line. Once I describe the action line, I connect the shoulders and the hips and then close the shape at the pinch side. Next, I continue to add rhythms and major anatomy until the allowed time is up. 10. Drawing poses: under five minutes Use ovals to describe negative space When drawing short poses under five minutes, I first describe the torso and then simplify the head. Next, I draw the legs as one shape, using gesture to connect the hips to the feet. For the arms, I use long tapering lines that describe their outer shape and movement. A simple oval is great for quickly describing any negative space. This article originally appeared in Paint & Draw. Related articles: How to choose the right drawing tools 15 observational drawing tips Get better at figure drawing View the full article

Adobe Creative Cloud is a great place to start any creative project. With this suite of incredible tools, you'll find everything you need to bring even your wildest ideas to life. From photo editing in Photoshop and video editing in Premiere, to creating cool visual effects in After Effects, there really is something for every creative discipline. The best Adobe deals for 2018 And right now, you can not only get the entire suite for a massive 40 per cent discount, you can also get hold of this in-depth training on some of its most popular tools for just $39. In the The Complete Adobe Mastery Bundle: Lifetime Access, you'll find tutorials on everything from how to learn Photoshop in an hour and Photoshop accelerated, to a complete After Effects course and a class on mastering Lightroom. Both of these offers are only available for a limited time only, so don't miss out, sign up for your discount on Adobe CC and start learning how to use it today. 60 top-class Photoshop tutorials to try The designer's guide to illustration The 60 best free Photoshop brushes View the full article

If time and money were no object, every photoshoot would capture exactly what you need. Remote locations could be your backdrops, with perfect models posing just as you need them to – and, even the most ambitious and conceptual ideas would go off without a hitch. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case – every shoot has its constraints that both agencies and clients have to grapple with, ranging from budget to concept and more. However, with the right premium stock images, like those found at iStock by Getty Images, you can achieve the look and feel of a premium photoshoot – without blowing your entire budget on flights, location fees, models, and a helicopter or two. Read on to see four instances where you could skip spending a fortune on a shoot, and instead, use some affordable, premium stock imagery to get the job done. 01. High in the mountains Sweeping vistas of mountain peaks are the kind of uplifting, awe-inspiring shots that take your breath away – but, if you want to shoot them yourself, be prepared to pay a hefty price. The best shots are found deep inside snowy mountain ranges and probably need a drone or a chopper to capture. Why go through all that hassle, when you can get a fantastic shot from someone who’s already been there? Stunning premium stock images, such as the one above, are perfect for dramatic background images, or even for use as part of an above-the-line campaign, where this kind of rugged scenery can excite your audience and drive engagement. 02. Deep under the sea Opposite of mountain peaks, we plunge into the ocean depths for some mind-blowing shots that are equally, if not more, expensive to shoot. You could charter a submarine with a high-end underwater camera or don your own scuba gear and hope you’ll capture what you need – or, you could just save time and money by using high-quality stock images. There's a reason that wildlife photographers and film-makers spend so much time waiting for that perfect shot – nature is notoriously unpredictable, and however conscientiously you brief them, animals don't really care about you or your client's needs. And, it’s best to keep in mind that when working with any exotic animals or locales, you’ll probably run into more issues than you originally anticipate, so you should prepare for delays. You can avoid disappointment from the get-go by reaching for premium stock images to create what you need, hassle-free. Do yourself a favour, skip the headaches, and go straight to creating with a beautiful image, like the one above. 03. Iconic far-flung locations Sometimes a brief requires something instantly recognizable, like a distinct city landmark or natural wonder – but, depending on where that is, your shoot could quickly get very expensive. Granted, if you need to shoot something or someone in a specific location, you might need to do the shoot yourself. But, if a little Photoshop compositing wizardry could solve that problem, then premium stock images are exactly what you need. Just take a stock photo and get an experienced graphic designer to mock-up your image exactly how you need it. You should keep in mind that particularly famous locations have been shot countless times – and used countless times in campaigns, too. It’s worth taking a little time to search for unique perspectives, such as the example above, for results that are more distinctive and original. 04. Dramatic aerial view Expansive views are captured in all types of locations, and the stunning perspective of an aerial photo makes these shots desirable and useful in all sorts of ways, such as for copy space. After all, if you need more space in a landscape image, the easiest way to get it is to go aerial and get more room in your image. The same is true of a city scene, even if the specific city isn’t necessarily recognizable – a dramatic aerial vista can’t be shot in any other way than from the air. In a more remote setting, the striking example above would make a perfect background image, with plenty of space for design elements. Of course, everyone would like to shoot photos like this, but we all know it’s not that simple. So, make it easy for yourself by getting a ready-to-use, expertly shot image that wows your customers – for a fraction of the cost of a photoshoot. If you need some awe-inspiring imagery but can't afford to shoot it yourself, iStock by Getty Images is the perfect solution. Offering million of assets, including their own exclusive imagery, iStock is the original resource for premium, royalty-free stock imagery and video sourced from the crowd. iStock is currently offering new customers 12% off all credits by using code 12CBLOQNEW at checkout. Good luck with the search! Related articles: 5 ways to create stunning brand imagery using stock Make your online shop look amazing for less Make your portfolio images look amazing for less 8 stock image cliches, and how to avoid them View the full article

Botnets fused with artificial intelligence are decentralized and self-organized systems, capable of working together toward a common goal – attacking networks. View the full article

After Google publicized the flaw seven days after a patch was issued, the Epic Games CEO called out the company for irresponsible disclosure. View the full article

Are you an early bird? Are you a morning person, who leaps out of bed and gets on with work after the briefest sniff of coffee – only to find you slump and slow down come early afternoon? Or do you get all your tasks done while working from home in the wee small hours, then spend the next day blearily trying to recharge your batteries? Whether you're a lark or an owl, you probably harbour a sneaking suspicion that a change in your waking and sleeping hours could make you better able to concentrate and create better work, and perhaps more experimental design. So if you want to maximise your creativity and productivity, what are the best working hours to choose? We looked at some research in the area, and some of the findings may surprise you... Evolutionary impulse Back in the mists of time, we were all morning people. Before electric light and gadgets came along to help us while away the dark hours, everyone went to bed when it went dark and got up at dawn. In today's modern world, our body chemistry is controlled by the way we live, how we exercise, when we go to sleep and what we eat, but there are some primal things we can’t change. One of those is the melatonin cycle. When the evening draws in, our brains ramp up production of a hormone called melatonin. It’s what makes us feel sleepy and fogs up the thought processes. Burning daylight Sunlight inhibits the production of melatonin, making us feel more awake. So in theory, humans should be at their most alert and productive after a decent night’s sleep and a light breakfast, just after the sun has risen. If you think of yourself as a morning person, you’ll probably recognise this state of total clarity. Scientific studies support this too. Research conducted by Professor Christoph Randler at Heidelberg University showed that people who rise and begin work early in the day are, largely, more positive and productive than their lazier mates. Significantly, it was also reported that early risers use the morning hours in specific ways; to organise and plan, to set goals hours or weeks ahead. Early risers are less chaotic in their approach to work than their sleepless friends. Health issues Matching your sleep cycle to the Earth's circadian clock has benefits There’s also evidence that getting up early is better for your health. Tuning your sleep cycle as close as possible with the Earth’s circadian clock, the setting and rising of the sun, leads to deeper, more restorative sleep. So it seems that early risers are healthier, get a larger variety of work done and have more energy than the Duracell bunny. But when it comes to designers specifically, that's not the end of the story. According to psychologists, there are some big advantages for those of us who like to burn the midnight oil, too... Night owls Sigmund Freud first came up with the idea of the superego; the part of the mind that indirectly inhibits creativity The part of our mind that acts as 'gatekeeper' during the day (known in Freudian terms as the superego) is suppressed as we start to feel sleepy. The superego is the bit of your mind that pushes for perfection, which is great when you have detailed design work to do. But this part of your mind also dismisses frivolous or fanciful thinking – the root of your creativity. A more biological account says more or less the same thing. As you grow tired, your brain chemistry changes. As well as making melatonin, you also produce less dopamine – the chemical that regulates much frontal cortex function. The frontal cortex is responsible for decision making. Crucially, it’s the bit of your brain that nitpicks all your ideas. Essentially, this means you stop caring so much as you grow tired, and the wacky thoughts start coming through thick and fast. Increased focus Swizec Teller, who brands himself the Geek with a Hat, subscribes to the idea that being tired actually gives you focus Even though we get less picky when we’re tired, some studies show that our overall ability to concentrate actually increases. We don’t self-edit as much, so we’re able to stay on track and get more done on one thing. The fact that night owls are able to concentrate for longer periods has been scientifically proven. Researchers from the University of Liege conducted controlled studies in which they allowed two groups the same amount of sleep. One group identified as early risers, the other as night owls. It turned out the night owls had better levels of focus when it came to tasks requiring sustained attention, and the early risers ran out of steam more quickly. And science shows that creativity and late nights might be linked even more deeply. Research conducted at the London School of Economics suggests that people who choose to work late at night often have higher IQs – a measure of numerical, spatial and linguistic problem solving that requires a good deal of creativity. The maker’s schedule Working at night may make you more able to work uninterrupted In his in-progress book Why Programmers Work at Night, Swizec Teller points out another reason why the night-time is the right time for creative work: the lack of distractions. Teller introduces the idea of 'the maker’s schedule'. For most people – managers, retailers, administrators and so on – work is just a set of tasks. The daytime schedule and its distractions are tolerable as most tasks are short, mechanistic and easy to resume. But for creative people like designers, distraction is disaster. At the beginning of the creative process, we’re building things out of imagination. Distraction can cause you to lose your train of thought entirely. So, the evening, when others are asleep, is an ideal time to work on creative problems. Lark or owl? So which approach is best, lark or owl? Overall, evidence seems to say that early birds get more done, but that the morning is better suited to practical and organisational tasks. Night owls use the cover of darkness to complete more cerebral kinds of work, when distraction is at a minimum. When it comes to the question of when you should you get out of bed, it seems design is kind of a special case. It’s one of a handful of vocations that requires long periods of very precise, repetitive work, good planning and the ability to project-manage. But there are also periods of chaos and creation; time spent blasting out ideas and puzzling through problems. The late Alex Graham, creator of the Fred Basset cartoon strip, seemed to get the balance right. His daughter told the BBC that Graham would work on illustrating the strip in the morning, take the afternoon off, then do his creative thinking in the evening, filling in sheets full of doodles and ideas. He was both a morning person and a night owl. Perhaps all designers should take a leaf out of his book: get up early to do the grunt work at your desk and use your evenings to brainstorm ideas. Related articles: How to balance life and work 6 ways to apply the principles of design to your life 12 tips for the work-at-home ninja View the full article

Whether you're using Twitter, Facebook, or still clinging on to Google Plus, one thing you'll notice is that social media platforms like to make frequent little tweaks to their layouts. Sometimes these can be welcome updates that make information easier to see, but one of the most common adjustments is the changing of image sizes. To keep on top of the different social media website templates, last year Jamie Spencer from Make A Website Hub created this go-to infographic-cum-cheat sheet that details the best image sizes and image types across a range of platforms. The 100 best infographics With social media continuing to be a place where artists and designers can show off their work and impress potential clients, there's never been a better time to brush up on these image dimensions. Covering the likes of Facebook, Instagram, and YouTuve, this infographic is one to bookmark for future reference. Click the image to see the full size infographic Related articles: Social media for artists: a lifeline or a curse? 10 must-have social media tools for artists and designers 13 incredible for creating infographics View the full article

If you've dreamt of becoming a game developer, Unity is a great place to get started. Intuitive and user friendly, it's offers a gentle but exciting introduction to the world of games. And right now, you can learn how to master its toolset with The Complete Unity Game Developer Bundle. Build your own worlds, learn how to create open-world games without a hitch, and even discover how to incorporate AR (augmented reality) into your designs. That's just some of the training you'll cover in this comprehensive Complete Unity Game Developer Bundle, which you can now get hold of for just $39 -- that's 97 per cent off the regular price. View the full article

While it can be difficult to develop hard skills from scratch, it’s certainly not as difficult to hone your skills (including those softer skills) to get a competitive edge. Learning can take many different forms, so aside from harnessing the latest and greatest web design tools, what can the web developers of tomorrow do to get ahead? To get an idea, Packt, creators of the skills learning platform Mapt, asked six of its expert authors and developers what they think graduates and young developers can do to give themselves a head start. Here’s what they had to say: 01. Specialise, don’t diversify Harold Dost, principal consultant at Raastech, suggests that young developers take some time to look at tools such as Lynda (now called LinkedIn Learning) or Linux Academy. He stresses that tools such as these can be used to develop a strong foundation of knowledge on a key topics and can help you on your journey in becoming an expert. “Hone a core skill (maybe two or three), and then diversify on the rest,” says Dost. “This will allow you to specialise and give you the in-depth knowledge, which will be necessary as you go further in your career.” Choose a website builder: 17 top tools But he also says that although you should specialise in a few areas, be careful not to neglect other opportunities. “At the same time as specialising,” Dost says, “be sure to keep learning about new technologies to allow you to grow and improve the work you produce.” 02. Read and write (more than just code) Oracle ace director and principal at Capgemini UK, Luis Augusto Weir, says: “My advice for young developers would be to be passionate about learning and, of course, about coding.” He also thinks that even though his industry is all about new technologies, good old fashioned reading will always be the most important part of education. “Not only does a huge amount of effort go into writing books,” he says, “but nothing beats a good book to read whilst on the train, or bus. Bringing a book with you wherever you go means you’re always equipped to learn.” Author Adrian Ward backed up Luis’ advice, saying that reading and writing were crucial to his own education. He says that writing, whether it's “blogs, articles, books or presentations” will compel you to learn. “If you’re writing about something,” he adds, “you certainly have to learn about it first!” 03. Take up meditation. No, really. Perhaps the most frustrating thing about working in IT and tech is the non-stop nature of the industry. It’s easy for those just finding their feet in a constantly moving world to feel overwhelmed. Author Sten Vesterli says that the most critical skill to learn is “to manage your energy, and find ways to replenish it when it's running low." If you have high energy, you can learn any skill and it will remain employable Sten Vesterli “If you have high energy,” he explains, “you can learn any skill and it will remain employable. If you have low energy, you will have a hard time learning something new and will be in danger of being left behind by technological changes.” But how does Vesterli make sure that he’s energized enough to keep up to date with the pace of change? “I've found that meditation and triathlons work for me,” he says, “but others will have different things that give them energy.” 04. Question everything Phil Wilkins, author and senior consultant at Capgemini, thinks that sometimes the tech industry is a bit quick to move onto the next fad. He says that as graduates gain experience, they should challenge the work they are doing and the tools they are using to make sure that they are always trying to influence things for the better. Not only will this help new developers stand out to their employers, but it will help them learn. “Many will consider me a heretic, but the industry is sometimes a little quick with the next shiny thing and some 'not-invented-here' thinking," says Wilkins. "I think you should challenge those around you to really understand the tools they’re using, and question whether they’re the right tools to do the job well. Reflecting on what you’re doing and challenging yourself to do something better will drive better understanding and insight that can then be applied in later life.” “Questioning why something is a good answer to a problem is as important as to how to answer the problem,” adds Wilkins. “Understanding this may not make you a guru, but it will give you a foundation to work with peers in an engaging manner and set you up for future success. Ultimately IT is here to solve problems, and knowing why certain things are good answers rather than that they simply are good answers, means you stand the best chance of developing good solutions.” 05. Get networking It’s a frustrating stereotype that that tech types aren’t social beings. One tip suggested by Packt’s experts was to realise that putting yourself out into the real world is a great way to get ahead. As cliché as it is, networking is a simple way of getting a foot in the industry. Whether you attend events organised by your university of college, or connect with people who interest you on LinkedIn, networking is a crucial skill – particularly if you ever consider going freelance. Ward says that aside from writing, he has one other crucial bits of advice for graduates: network. “Just get involved with the community,” he says. Not sure how? Read our advice on how to network. 06. Apply for the right jobs Robert van Mölken, author and senior Integration and cloud specialist for AMIS, says that graduates seeking employment should actively look for companies that invest in their developers to keep them up to date with innovations. Things are changing so fast these days that you can’t sit still if you want to be relevant in two years time Robert van Mölken “Things are changing so fast these days that you can’t sit still if you want to be relevant in two years time," he says. "Companies that allow their developers to go to conferences, both locally and further afield, will find that they will learn upcoming skills much faster, going beyond the point of knowledge you can get from investing in and learning from books.” However, van Mölken also says that developers shouldn’t just rely on their bosses giving them opportunities – they should find them for themselves. “Invest some personal time to experiment with new technologies and IT innovations,” he advises. “Don’t fall behind on stuff just because you are comfortable with what you do every day at work. Find opportunities to speak up, to give presentation about what you learned, and share your experiences. Then you will get noticed, and a world of possibilities will open up to you.” This article was originally published in January 2017. Related articles: 7 times you should turn a design job down 23 great examples of WordPress websites 25 game-changing JavaScript tools View the full article

This artwork was a great challenge for me to embark on. My task was to take an old-school classic vintage posters vibe and modernise it for today's audience with my artistic interpretation. One of the main inspirations I leaned towards was Frank Frazetta's art. It was tricky to take his essence, yet still keep my voice. I'm going to be showing you how to create a great dynamic pin-up in a smart and editable format, while keeping your voice. Many artists and designers today have a problem where either they start an image and jump into it too quickly with a messy workflow, or get so tied up by the process analytically that their voice doesn't show through the piece. Versatility and communication are some of your best assets. 14 imaginative web comics to inspire you Being able to communicate to the client about what they want, what you want, and how best to represent their product or project, yet still keep the integrity of what you want to say with your creativity are great skills. What I like to do is provide at least three options: two leaning more on what the client wants and one that's more my own. Doing this will help communicate that you're a team player and that you take direction, as well as showing you're not afraid to jump outside your comfort zone to express your artistic opinion. I hope this process will help guide you through the steps on how to approach things in an organic and structured way, yet still keeping the fun and energy. Ultimately, I'm really happy with the process and outcome! 01. Create graphic shapes A strong foundation makes the whole project easier I like to start simple. It's good to establish something clear and impactful. With a strong foundation, the rest of the process should be easier. After a couple of variations of the comp, we land on a barbarian-esque lady and a feline. I want the shapes and colours to be really bold. It's a good general rule to have things on separate layers when working for a client! 02. Work on shading and lighting Basic shadows are locked down I want to establish my lighting quickly. I like to make concise decisions early, to serve as a foundation when I need to find answers to problems later. I quickly lay some tonal shadows with an airbrush. I put down basic shadows of the anatomy and try to establish a good value read. With the shape on its own layer, I lock the layer and have more freedom to experiment. 03. Refine and design Ross Tran is keen to undermine classic looks I decide that black hair is too classic looking. I remember I want to use my own voice and create a modern piece. I love having a sort of white/purple hair. I think it's fresh and exciting. As I put it down on the canvas, the results are clear and I'm relieved. I commit to that decision and start to refine and design. It's good to have your own inspiration up next to you. Your experiences and things you're inspired by translates into the pieces you make, so it's good have some things to draw from. 04. Work on the background An airbrush keeps the background loose If I work on the character too much it might not fit its surroundings, so I start on the background. Mint Cyan and Salmon Pink are some of my go-to colours that I find appealing. I want to be loose, so I use an airbrush to find a nice, abstract composition for the background. I want the most contrast on the focal point, so I light the bright white light behind her head. 05. Commit to the background An overall design is built up It's great to work loosely, but I need to commit or the stage will go on forever. I try to design all background shapes thinking of the overall impact I'm going for. I want an essence of a moon or sun behind her, cutting through the composition dynamically, fading off into interesting pinks. It's good to always keep in mind your intentions. Here, striking is my key word. 06. Refine further The hair colour is finalised Now I have my elements in order – the background, composition, girl and general shapes – I start to design my characters. I pull from what I know – I work the main placements like her costume and features. I want her to be soft and dramatic, so I give her a heavy cat eye to enhance her attitude. I begin to commit to the white/purple hair. 07. Polish elements Reference images are used for the panther I start to polish, making things clearer and identifiable. I know it's a panther so I look up some reference and start to polish away. The client wanted a knife of some sort, so I implement that. I start to light her a little better so it pops off the page. I'm beginning to see the vision come to life and start to get excited. So I bring in the elements I love most: tattoos! 08. Get feedback The artwork is sent to the client I send my version to the client and receive feedback. I switch the side of the paw, because I thought it was the other paw. I think it's important early on to establish which way left and right are. Because 'the left paw' can mean the panther's left paw or the paw on the left side. I make the eyes smaller, which gives it more attitude, and change the knife. I start to implement the fixes. 09. Use effects and layering Effects help to keep the image rough Everything's in order now: the pose, the shapes, the subject and the colours. It's time to add effects and layer some roughness to it. I love the roughness of canvas, so I introduce textured brush strokes throughout. I also add debris, dust and breakage, to give that extra layer of impact. I start to refine and polish things alongside of it. Everything starts to come together. 10. Apply Color Dodge Color Dodge is the finishing touch Once I've got the feline's pupils finished, I get to the stage that is the proverbial cherry on the top for all my images! At the near end of my process, around 80-90 per cent in, I like to Color Dodge my paintings. It stimulates a technique close to light. So I brush over my paintings with an airbrush on Color Dodge mode and it instantly pops my painting. I have to be careful not to overdo it. Too much of anything is a bad thing. This is an instant satisfactory step, so please enjoy! This article was originally published in ImagineFX magazine, the world's leading magazine for digital artists. Subscribe here. Read more: 60 top-class Photoshop tutorials to try How to become a better concept artist Create a striking figure in watercolour View the full article

Amazon UK's biggest ever August Bank Holiday sale is in full swing, and today it's presented one of the best deals we've seen so far. This full-frame compact Sony A7 camera is now just £649 after cashback - that's over 50 per cent off the retail price. The first full-frame compact system on the market, the Sony A7 recently featured among Amazon's incredible Prime Day deals, but many were left disappointed as they flew off the shelves. But your luck is in once again, as Amazon has slashed the price of Sony's original A7 camera and FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS lens kit to just £799 (RRP £1,549.99) – and with Sony offering a further £150 cash back, the price of this full-frame camera drops to a staggering £649. Get a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime See more Amazon Bank Holiday sale deals Get the Sony A7 for just £649 The A7 has been superseded twice now since its inception, with later models boasting the addition of competitive features, such as touchscreen functionality and 4K video, but the fact that Sony has continued to sell it alongside its younger siblings shows its worth. Fully equipped with a 24.3MP Exmor CMOS sensor, the A7 produces incredible Raw images, making it a fantastic first-time full-frame buy for any aspiring photographer. The Amazon August Bank Holiday sale runs until 29 August, but we don't expect these Sony A7's to hang around for long so grab one while you can. The sale is open to everyone in the UK, but Amazon Prime members – and anybody signed up to a free 30-day Prime trial – will benefit from a 30-minute early access period to all Lightning Deals. These are quick-fire offers where products become available at a discount, in limited quantities, for limited period of time. Want more deals? We've got the best Amazon offers for artists and designer right here. Deal subject to availability, cashback claimed via Sony post-purchase and subject to T&Cs. View the full article

Researchers find proof-of-concept code that can take advantage of the recently identified Apache Struts framework (CVE-2018-11776) vulnerability. View the full article

The approach makes Mirai executable on a wide variety of disparate IoT devices and platforms from a single server. View the full article

T-Mobile alerts millions of its customers to a breach of its website that resulted in subscriber names, zip codes, phone numbers, email addresses and account numbers being stolen. View the full article

Step away from the stylus and get back from that Mac: even if you have all the tools for graphic designers, being a designer can be hazardous to your health. The job you love could be doing serious damage to your body and to your brain. Some of you already know this. We used social media to find out how readers felt their jobs had affected their health. Here's what we found... Health issues for designers The results showed that 15 per cent reported back problems, 15 per cent headaches and migraines, 13 per cent eye problems and 11 per cent repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome; six per cent reported obesity and five per cent circulation problems. There were other serious issues too, with 17 per cent of you reporting psychosocial issues such as stress and depression, 12 per cent sleep problems and seven per cent relationship problems. So what's going on – and more importantly, what can we do about it? A passion problem Dr Gail Kinman is professor of occupational health psychology and director of the Research Centre for Applied Psychology at the University of Bedfordshire; she's studied the effect work has on our physical and mental health. As she explains, creative people are at risk of certain conditions because we like what we do. "It's all about job involvement," she says. "People who do this type of work breathe it." As Dr Kinman points out, the flow that creatives experience – "when you are completely and utterly absorbed in what you're doing, when the demands of what you're doing are slightly beyond your capabilities" – is good for your wellbeing, but it can be bad for your health. "You're not aware of time passing, you're not aware you're hungry, you're not aware that you're sitting awkwardly." If you're sitting with poor posture and poor ergonomics for long periods of time, back pain and repetitive strain injuries are likely to say hello sooner rather than later. The good news is that you can change this. Here's how... 01. Pay attention You can ward off many injuries with a bit of attention – a good, supportive chair and an ergonomically arranged desk, good lighting, a comfortable mouse and a posture that keeps you upright with your arms and legs at right angles. But one of the major threats to designers is lack of exercise. If you're solo or part of a relatively small team, then the combination of tight deadlines and long hours can make it difficult to find the time or the motivation to eat well and exercise regularly – and that can be fatal, especially if when you go home you relax in front of another screen instead of doing something for your fitness. The long-term consequences of poor diet and lack of exercise include obesity, type II diabetes, circulation problems, back and neck problems, heart disease, and increased risk of some cancers. 02. Exercise while your work Illustration: Becca Allen for Computer Arts magazine Some creatives have decided that the best way to address that is to exercise while they work, or at least to abandon the chair and work standing up. Proponents of standing desks and treadmill desks – which are exactly what they sound like; desks attached to the kind of treadmill you'd find in a gym – say they help burn calories and help you live longer. But critics point out that standing all day can cause arterial disease and varicose veins, and if your posture isn't perfect, they can contribute to back problems and repetitive strain injuries. 03. Take a walk You're better off taking regular walks – especially if they involve meeting up with people. "I'd say do something physically different from being at work, especially if your place of work is also your place of leisure," recommends Dr Kinman. While the 'genius is close to madness' cliché has now been comprehensively debunked, the nature of creative work isn't always good for your mental health. Tight deadlines, tough requirements, job insecurity and the stress and strains of getting paid can make life miserable. It's particularly pronounced if you work from home or remotely, where you don't have the interactions you'd have with colleagues in the office. "There is a very prominent model of job stress that is based on high demand, low control and social isolation," Dr Kinman says. Together, those factors have been linked with serious illnesses including coronary heart disease and depression, but you don't need to change all three to make your work less stressful. It's the combination of all three that hurts, so for example you might be juggling major deadlines, working all the hours God sends, and missing your friends or loved ones. 04. Social support is vital Illustration: Becca Allen for Computer Arts magazine "Social support is one of the most important factors," Dr Kinman says. "What we need to do is to replenish ourselves, and social support is a very important part of that." The support might be listening to you vent, or taking your mind off things, or practical support. All of it helps. Can you get the same support from social media? Dr Kinman isn't convinced. "Social support for creative people can be strange," she laughs. "You want people when you need them, but you want them back in their box when they start interfering with your work. Social media is very good for that, because you can do that management. But of course that means you won't have the deep social interaction that you need." 05. Know yourself As Kinman points out, there's a difference between serious stress and depression and having a few bad days or feeling overwhelmed by a client from hell. "It's about knowing your body and your mind, and listening to the signals," she says. "Depression and pre-depression can have a kind of flattening effect. There are feelings of low self-esteem, a lack of enjoyment of everyday activity, a lack of concentration. It's like a narrowing of your field of vision. Sometimes the people closest to you are better than spotting it than you are yourself." 06. Listen to Ice Cube Being a designer is hardly one of the world's most dangerous jobs, but it's a good idea to look at what you do, when you do it and how long you do it for to make sure that your working life isn't going to hurt your heart or your head. In the words of renowned workplace health and safety expert Ice Cube, you'd better check yourself before you wreck yourself. This article originally appeared in Computer Arts. Subscribe here. Read more: Amazing art with Mental Health Awareness Week How to balance life and work 12 of the best places to live as a designer View the full article