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Taiwanese gaming pioneer MSI has announced a powerful new ultra-portable laptop for creatives at CES 2019. Aimed at professional artists, video editors, photo editors, graphic designers and animators, the 15.6-inch P63 Modern comes with up to the latest eight-generation Core i7 processor, and optional discrete Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q graphics with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM. The best laptops for video editing The best laptops for graphic design Meanwhile, True Color Technology promises up to 100% sRGB on the IPS-level FHD panel, and four-sided 5.6mm bezels provide an 86% screen-to-body ratio to help you see every detail of your creations. There’s also Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 for your camera phone, a fingerprint sensor, support for 802.11 Wi-Fi and two 2W speakers. In addition, MSI claims the P63 Modern has an “all day” battery that can last up to 16 hours, which we look forward to putting to the test. The new laptop, which was launched in collaboration with the Discover Channel here in Vegas this afternoon, is part of MSI’s Prestige notebook series. Weighing in at 1.6kg, the 15.9mm thick device comes in charcoal blue and boasts a Quiet Mark certification for its Cooler Boost 3 dual-fan cooling system – which means it’ll be particularly quiet when you’re working. MSI also showcased the MS65 Creator. This 15.6-inch laptop comes with a 4K HDR IPS-level display with 100% Adobe RGB. Pricing and availability haven’t been announced yet, but both laptops will ship sometime this year. Read more: The best laptops for photo editing Asus announces new StudioBook S for pro designers The best laptops for Photoshop View the full article

Apple exploits will fetch the highest price. View the full article

Security incidents are set to grow as companies lag behind in securing their containers. View the full article

Samsung has unveiled a new laptop at CES 2019 that boasts an incredibly powerful graphics card. The Notebook Odyssey, which picks up where the previous models in the Odyssey line left off, gives creatives – especially video editors and animators – the chance to use an incredibly strong GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card on the go. The best video editing laptops Traditionally, Samsung's Odyssey range has been tailored towards gamers. And while the company has promoted the Notebook Odyssey as a device for 'serious gamers', it also has plenty to offer creators. Not least portability – the Notebook Odyssey comes in a slim 19.9mm chassis weighing in at just 2.36kg, with slim bezels on a 15.6-inch Full HD display. It boasts a refresh rate of 144Hz and Nvidia's G-Sync tech, so you can wave goodbye to stuttering and tearing. The slim design is perfect for carrying around The power-packed GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card is backed up by an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 six-core processor, both of which work together with the Full HD resolution screen like a dream. These two are complemented by 16GB of system RAM. If we can see any issues with this laptop, it's that the 1080p screen might leave a bit to be desired for photographers or any creatives used to working with a 4K monitor. The lack of a microSD card slot could also prove to be frustrating, if someone's trying to send you large files you might need to think twice about how you're storing them. Expect to see the Samsung Notebook Odyssey ship in the US during the start of 2019. Related articles: The 5 best laptops for Photoshop in 2019 The best laptops for programming in 2019 The best laptops for graphic design in 2019 View the full article

A proof-of-concept from the University of Maryland can defeat the audio challenges that are offered as an option for people with disabilities. View the full article

A glitch allowed hackers to access contacts, photos and more on Android devices - simply by answering a Skype call. View the full article

Samsung has previewed a 75-inch version of its MicroLED TV at CES 2019 – introduced last year as The Wall. It’s notable not because it’s so big, but because it’s so small: MicroLED is made up of millions of inorganic red, green and blue microscopic LED chips that emit their own bright light to produce brilliant colours on screen – and this is the first time Samsung has manage to make them small enough to create a TV that would fit in your living room. The benefit of MicroLED is that the picture should be better than OLED, and without any of the drawbacks of using an organic compound. That means Samsung’s TV should be able to deliver perfect blacks, higher contrast and a very wide HDR colour palette – all the while giving the TV a longer lifespan than OLED too. But because MicroLED is modular, at some point in the near future Samsung says we’ll be able to order custom MicroLED TVs at any size or aspect ratio. On show here in Vegas, Samsung’s new 75-inch MicroLED TV is the smallest version so far that's achieved a 4K resolution. At the other end of the scale, the company is also displaying a monstrous 219-inch model, which it says will offer “something above 4K. Price, of course, remains to be seen. But MicroLED displays are incredibly tricky to produce at scale – if one RGB sub-pixel is bad, it could be game over for the whole display – and we’re likely looking at tens of thousands of dollars, at least. So is this the next big thing for TV tech? Samsung certainly thinks so. Time will tell… View the full article

At its heart, design is about solving communication problems for your clients. But for most creatives, this is not a closed-loop profession. Rather than just beavering away in the studio with the blinkers on, it's also about supporting, nurturing and giving back to the industry as a whole. It's a virtuous circle: established industry figureheads pass down their wisdom to nurture the emerging talent coming up, and creatives from all disciplines pool their expertise to collaborate on projects that are greater than the sum of their parts. Giving back benefits everyone: the design industry is stronger and richer for it, and on an individual level, such projects can aid your development as well as benefit your creative resume. Looking for inspiration? Read on for six great ways to give something back to the wider design community this year.... 01. Pass on your skills Jessica Hische produced this 13-part training course on drop-cap lettering for Skillshare As a creative, your skills are everything. If you've spent years honing your raw talent into something your clients want to buy, you should protect that at all costs, right? Well, actually giving something back to the next generation benefits everyone. Through teaching, you can learn a lot about yourself and your process – it keeps your mind sharp, and helps you avoid slipping into lazy habits. It can be hugely rewarding and satisfying. And if you do it well, you'll help enrich the talent pool with industry ready, curious minds. It's not entirely magnanimous, either – you can make some money on the side by lecturing at design colleges, producing an online course on a platform like Skillshare, or even giving an intensive workshop for an organisation like D&AD. Put yourself out there and find something that's a good fit for you. 02. Support good causes For this rebrand of charity initiative Life Kitchen, hat-trick invited a diverse array of creatives to design a plate Healthy budgets from big-name clients may be great for the bank balance, but are not always good for the soul. In 2019, why not find the time to invest in charity projects and use your design skills for good? There are countless ways to do so. Perhaps consider taking on a not-for-profit client – perhaps for a reduced fee, or pro bono if the circumstances are right and you can afford to do so. Create artworks to auction off for a good cause, or join forces with other creatives for a charity exhibition. Not only is this a commendable way to use your skills to support something worthwhile, but it can also boost your profile and lead to other work – or lay the groundwork for an exciting new commercial collaboration in the future. 03. Mentor a promising talent D&AD New Blood Festival – which takes place in July – is a great place to recruit promising talent Internships have a bad rap in some circles, mostly because some deplorable agencies take malleable young creatives for granted, and exploit them for little or no money. We're not advocating that kind of behaviour here – it ultimately erodes, rather than boosts, our industry. But done properly, taking a promising young designer under your wing to nurture their growth is hugely beneficial for all involved. Rather like teaching, you may find you learn just as much as they do in the process. As graduate show season approaches, make the time to attend the ones that interest you – such as D&AD New Blood – and make a genuine effort to engage with people who show potential. Find a rough diamond to bring into your agency and help them grow, and your whole team will be stronger for it. 04. Give a useful talk at a conference Take the time to develop a thought-provoking conference talk rather than just rattling off your work highlights The design festival circuit is filled with big-name designers giving rousing keynotes, or slightly lesser-known creatives walking through their portfolio highlights. These can be inspiring, sure – but if you have the opportunity to get on the stage yourself this year, why not consider planning something with a little more structure, substance and practical insight. The industry will thank you, as your audience will have some more concrete takeaways afterwards. Shed some light on your thought process in a way that has universal relevance and appeal, or use your work to illustrate a broader theme that the audience can engage with. It may take a little longer to prepare, but it'll be worth it in the long run as your talk will be more memorable, as well as more shareable on social media. 05. Do your bit for the planet In 2018, Carlsberg announced its innovative Snap Pack – which uses dots of glue to significantly reduce the plastic used Why stop at design? While you're in full altruism mode, consider giving something back to the whole global community by pledging to be more sustainable with all the design decisions you make. Sustainability is climbing up the agenda for brands across the board, and even small changes help make a difference on a cumulative basis. Consider using recycled (and recyclable) materials, more eco-friendly inks, and cutting right back on the big villain of the age: single-use plastic. Sustainable thinking can stretch to every aspect of your business, and don't be afraid to enlighten your clients (and your peers) on the possibilities too. 06. Promote diversity and inclusivity Organisations such as SheSays, D&AD and The Other Box are all fighting for a more diverse design industry Diversity has been a hot topic in design for some time now, and while there have been some commendable changes in some sectors, there's still a long way to go to dilute the predominantly white, male, able-bodied demographic. Initiatives such as D&AD Shift and organisations such as SheSays and The Other Box are all working hard to promote a more diverse, inclusive industry for all, but real change starts at home. Don't just decry the state of play and wait for someone else to do something about it. Look outside of the usual silos when hiring. Encourage an inclusive working environment that gives diverse talent a chance to thrive. Review your HR policies to promote equality, and provide the necessary support for disabled creatives, or anyone that needs it. Your agency, and the industry at large, will reap the benefits. Read more: Ethical branding: real revolution or fluffy fad? How to make a brand more human 4 huge design trends we'll be seeing more of in 2019 View the full article

All artists have their own unique workflow when creating 3D art in ZBrush. This workflow can mean a bunch of techniques or a hierarchy in which you achieve certain stages. The more time and experience you get with ZBrush, the more advanced a workflow you will create for yourself. ZBrush lets you take charge, create your own menu and organise the interface to best suit your needs. Try to take advantage of that and save out your own preferences. If there are brushes or buttons you often use, find a place and put them somewhere easily accessible, create a separate menu or assign a keyboard shortcut to them. The Custom User Interface (UI) is a great way of controlling your workflow and maintaining a familiar, comfortable work environment. 30 top examples of 3D art There are things we do automatically because they have become our routine, but there are also ways and techniques we might be forgetting or have never investigated. I have gathered some basic knowledge and created this simple ZBrush tutorial to remind you of those little things which, when incorporated into your workflow, can help you work much easier or quicker. 01. Use image planes PLines can help you identify the parts on the model/reference image you're working on These are incredibly useful for likeness sculpts. Say you have a front and side picture of a person you are trying to sculpt, or a blueprint you need to follow – the best thing you can do is set up the image plane. First, make sure your reference images are the same size and preferably square. Navigate to the Texture folder and import them in. Activate the floor grid (shift+P), go to the Draw menu, click on the Front-Back sub-palette and select your front and back images. Repeat accordingly with Left-Right view. An interesting feature you will probably notice is blue and red lines pointing from the brush icon towards corresponding areas of the reference images. These are called PLines. They help identify the parts on the model/reference image you work on. Notice that there are also a bunch of sliders that can control the opacity of the grid images as well as your model. If you already have a model you would like to use as a reference, you can turn it into a grid. Below the opacity sliders, you will find a Snapshot To Grid button. Pressing it will take your model and make it into a reference grid. You can save your new image plane file by pressing the Save button located above the Grid Elevation slider. 02. Utilise Scale Master Scale Master prevents scale issues that can creep in as you import and export Artists often experience a common problem working across multiple software – scale issues. Import and export can seriously affect the model's scale. It is useful to use GoZ when constantly switching between ZBrush and other software, because it holds up the bridge for smooth file transitions. If you do not use it but want to make sure your scale is correct, you have to change it manually in ZBrush using the Scale Master plugin. Scale Master calculates the size of the model, lets you choose the units you wish to work with, can generate a bounding box as a subtool, and finally, exports the selected tool as an OBJ file with generic units as the selected unit scale. 03. Work with Sculptris Pro With Sculptris Pro you can just get on with sculpting your model One of the most recent additions in ZBrush allows you to focus on sculpting instead of constantly worrying about the subdivision level. Sculptris Pro works fantastically with Clay brushes. The smaller the brush the more dense the tessellation, and the more detail support. Do not forget to switch off Sculptris Pro when smoothing out your model, because Smooth also works in this mode. This problem happened to me a lot when I tried to smooth out the mesh, increased brush size and it wiped my details, replacing them with bigger polygons. 04. Backface masking Backface Mask can be a lifesaver Working on a thin mesh can cause a little trouble when trying to move or sculpt on one side and the backfaces follow the brush. One of my favourite tools in ZBrush is Backface Mask. Hiding in Brush > Auto Masking, Backface Mask can be a real hero and save your day, or at least some stress. 05. Hard surface modelling Try ZModeler or Gizmo 3D for hard surface modelling ZModeler is a great tool that enables you to create hard-surface models in ZBrush. It is the most basic yet useful. Hover over the polygons or edges to see what options you have. For extra choice and more complex creations try Gizmo 3D. It provides a vast array of options enabling very precise tool manipulation. Spend a little time familiarising yourself with the cones and corresponding colours, and it will all come together. 06. Dynamic subdivision Dynamic subdivision can smooth out your mesh without adding extra polygons Use dynamic subdivision found in Tool > Geometry > Dynamic Subdiv to smooth out the mesh without adding extra polygons to it. Applying it generates three subdivision levels. It can be useful when working on a low-poly mesh or with ZModeler to view the model in higher polygonal density, but with the brush still operating on a lower-resolution base mesh. 07. Use the colour picker Press C to grab the colour your cursor's pointing at It may happen that at some point during polypainting you lose track of colour coordinates or you need to match the exact tones on a different tool. You don't have to write your RGBs down. Just hover over the desired colour anywhere on the screen and press C on the keyboard. It will pick up the colour your cursor is pointing at. 08. Subtool master Stop digging through menus to find the tool you need This plugin was designed to make your workflow a breeze, simplifying your operations. It is a quick access to tools like Low Res Vis, which sets the subtool to the lowest subdivision level. Instead of going through the menus in search for a single button, or remembering all the hotkeys, all you have to do is learn one hotkey that you then assign to the entire palette. 09. Remesh By Union Remesh By Union is a great alternative to DynaMesh When you have subtools you need to turn into one solid mesh, but for whatever reason you do not want to DynaMesh them, you could use Remesh By Union. This is an option available in Gizmo 3D. All you need to do is merge the tools, activate Gizmo 3D and hit Remesh By Union. ZBrush will do its best to stick the topology together with the least amount of changes. 10. Activate symmetry With Use Posable Symmetry you won't lose your centre of symmetry again If you lose your centre of symmetry at some point or you need to edit a model that has been transposed, do not despair, as you can easily find it again. Simply go to the Transform menu, activate Symmetry and turn on Use Posable Symmetry. This will allow ZBrush to locate the symmetrical centre and the corresponding points of the subtool, and you will be back on track in no time. 11. Compare with snapshot Use snapshots to easily compare versions of your model Do you ever wonder whether your model looks better with or without some detail, or which colour or pose works best, and you wish to compare them? Rather than constantly jumping back and forth between the model's history, or duplicating subtools to compare the models, try snapshotting it. Press Shift+S on the keyboard to snapshot the model and drag out another version next to it. Having them side by side is a much smoother way to compare your subtools and details. 12. Check silhouette A silhouette can help you find cool poses and spot errors in your model It is a good habit to work on a silhouette of your model and check how it's looking every now and then. It helps to get an interesting pose and quickly find any faults in your model. Just switch to a flat colour and look at it from different angles. 13. Lights and background In the Light and Render menus you'll find all you need for setting up lighting and shadows Even if you do not use ZBrush for its rendering properties, it is still useful to know how to set up simple lights and backgrounds for testing purposes. The Light menu provides everything you need for a straightforward setup of lights, shadows and the environment background. In the Render menu you will find more options for further shadow adjustments. 14. Utilise the turntable A turntable animation is a simple but effective way to show off your work Having a turntable animation can help showcase your work. There are many applications out there you can use to make it interactive on your website or social media. ZBrush offers a simple way to record a turntable, a timelapse or front and back history. It is all located in the Movie menu. You will find a great amount of options to choose from to suit your needs and vision. It is definitely worth experimenting with. This article was originally published in issue 239 of 3D World, the world's best-selling magazine for CG artists. Buy issue 239 here or subscribe to 3D World here. Related articles: ZBrush 2018 review Model a stormtrooper in Maya and ZBrush ZBrush at the movies View the full article

Hoping to transition into a new career in 2019? If you've been dreaming of upping your income and working as an engineer, this online course bundle will have you on your way to becoming a front end engineer in no time. The Ultimate Front End Development Bundle typically retails for $1016, but is currently 96% off at just $39. Engineers are more in-demand than ever before. Now is the perfect time to switch gears and tap into this booming industry. Let the Ultimate Front End Development Bundle get you ready for this new career from the comfort of your couch. Tune into the eight courses whenever you want, allowing you to work at your own pace. The 48 hours of online instruction will school you in HTML, CSS and JavaScript. And there's no need for prior experience, as it's geared towards all levels of learning — including beginners – with courses like The Complete HTML & CSS Course: From Novice to Professional and The Complete jQuery Course: From Beginner To Advanced. Get access to these courses and be on your way to a new career for just $39 today. Want your products featured in The Creative Bloq Shop? Learn more about how to sell your products online! Related articles: The future of web design How to make it in the web design industry 5 articles to improve your web design career View the full article

Whether you're trying to persuade your boss to give you a pay rise or fleshing out the details of a potential job offer, it's absolutely vital to do your homework on pay beforehand – forewarned really is forearmed. "The most important thing to do before deciding whether to negotiate is to conduct background research," says Diane Domeyer, executive director of The Creative Group. "Review salary guides and speak to recruiters," adds Domeyer. "Try to find out if the company is growing or has recently reduced its staff, as these events can help to inform your bargaining power." Once you've armed yourself with the facts, use these five top tips to help negotiate a new salary. 01. Quit playing games
 When sending out your graphic design portfolio and applying for better-paying jobs, be honest about your situation. Domeyer says it's vital to avoid playing games. "Tactics such as misleading a prospective employer about your current salary or other job offers in an effort to obtain higher pay almost always backfire," she says. 02. Don't draw lines
 Always keep your options open when negotiating a contract. Whether you're negotiating with your current employer or a potential new one, Domeyer says it's a mistake to give ultimatums too early on in the contractual process. "Look for common ground and avoid an adversarial stance. You want to start off on the right foot." 03. The time is now
 Start looking around ahead of time rather than waiting until you're thoroughly fed up. "Often, by the time people ask for more money they're quite disgruntled about what they're currently on," says Be Kaler of recruiters Futureheads. "Try to have the conversation before you get to that stage." 04. Know your bottom line 
"Always have a 'Below This I Walk number' in mind when going into a meeting," 
says recruitment consultant Ted Leonhardt. "If you don't go in with one, in a weak moment you can find yourself agreeing to something you later regret. Our brains flick between emotional and rational responses – the rational mind is the slowest part." 05. If not now, try later
 Be aware that pay rises don't have to come instantly. If you can't negotiate more money now, try asking for a delayed or conditional pay bump to be written into your contract. Kaler suggests asking employers to consider writing a pay rise into your contract. "They might say: okay, we can pay that when you've delivered X, Y or Z." This article originally appeared in Computer Arts, the world's leading design magazine. Subscribe here. Read more: Let's talk about money How to make money on Instagram as a creative Learn the art of negotiation View the full article

Looking to extend your skillset in 2019? Maybe you want to learn how to start a blog or discover how to draw? Upskilling can help you skip to the front of the design opportunities queue. But what should you learn, and how? For some creative inspiration, read our for six pro tips from designers who've successfully upskilled. 01. Build your confidence "Have the ambition, confidence and drive to go beyond the area you're working in," advises Terry Stephens, creative director at Studio Nomad. "Look for inspiration that you can apply to your work in a way that's relevant to you." 02. Set broad horizons "Read something new, watch something different, or visit someplace and get lost," urges art director and experimental typographer Craig Ward. "If you're going to develop as a designer, you need to develop as a person." You might, for example, decide to improve your photography skills or learn how to draw better. 03. Be fearless "Flawless design bores me; 'ugly' design gets my attention," declares Jenny Theolin, educator and creative director at Studio Theolin. "I'd rather see you experimenting with the tools you have than considering your next software purchase." 04. Stay adaptable "Adapt to your environment," says Ben Christie, creative partner at Magpie Studio. "You should always be looking and learning, sucking up as much of the world as you can." 05. Work on your problem-solving For Stuart Radford, creative director at Superunion, it's all about developing your capacity to think creatively and solve problems. "The ability to come up with original and unexpected ideas is more valuable than anything," he insists. 06. Be passionate "Be true to who you are," concludes James Hurst, executive strategic creative director at DesignStudio. "If you can keep the spirit alive of doing shit you love, you won't fall into the trap of trying to be the same as everyone else." The full version of this article first appeared in Computer Arts magazine; subscribe here. Illustration: Flavio Montiel Related articles: The expert guide to working from home 30 life skills every designer should master 5 ways to improve your digital art skills View the full article

Asus has announced a new 15-inch workstation-class laptop for content-creation professionals at CES 2019 – and it looks exciting. The new Asus StudioBook S (W700) squeezes Intel Xeon processors, Nvidia Quadro P3200 graphics, up to 64GB of RAM and 4TB of SSD storage behind a 17-inch Full HD display, fit in a 15-inch chassis. (That’s thanks to 5.3mm bezels and a 97 per cent screen-to-body ratio.) Said display sports a 16:10 aspect ratio with a 178-degree wide-view panel with anti-glare. Asus claims it offers 97 per cent DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and Delta E<2 colour accuracy, all of which will appeal to 4K video and film editors, CAD designers and creatives on the move. Plus it’s Pantone Validated to ensure the colours seen on the screen are accurate, too. Speaking of portability, the Asus StudioBook S is also fairly light at 5.27pounds / 2.39kg. It’s slim, too, at just 0.72inches / 18.29mm) thick. The idea is that you can take this new breed of workstation with you, so you can work anywhere. It’s small enough to be stored in a carry-on, but – says Asus – it offers military grade durability. One feature we particularly like is the trackpad, which has a built-in number pad for when you need it. Connectivity options include dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, and the Asus StudioBook S comes with the following ports: a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3, three USB-A 3.1 ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, an SD card reader and headphone jack. Asus StudioBook S: price There’s no definite word on pricing and availability yet. All we know is that this information will be provided in the "coming months". But it’s safe to say this sleek portable workstation won’t come cheap. Also read: CES 2019: everything you need to know LG to reveal two ‘ultra’ monitors at CES 2019 View the full article

CES 2019 is upon us – and Creative Bloq is here in Vegas to bring you all the latest news, highlights and hands-on reviews from one of the world’s largest consumer tech shows. We’ll be focusing on the most exciting new innovations for designers, artists and creatives – from laptops to foldable phones and 8K cameras – so stay tuned throughout the week. You’ll find all the latest news right here. What is CES? The Consumer Electronics Show is an exhilarating glimpse into the future of tech, with the latest and greatest names in the business (apart from Apple) showcasing their new innovations. The annual trade show covers everything from drones and driverless cars to cryptocurrency, smart homes and beyond – and it’s massive. This year, more than 4,500 exhibiting companies are spread out over 11 venues with over 180,000 attendees from 150 countries expected, plus 6,500 media. It isn’t open to the public, though; only industry and journalists. When is CES 2019? The Consumer Electronics Show 2019 officially starts on Tuesday 8 Jan and will run until 11 January. However, Monday is packed with press events so expect exciting news and announcements. Confirmed press conferences include Intel, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony, with LG due to present the first presentation on the 7 January. CES 2019: news and highlights for creatives so far We’ve already seen some exciting new tech at CES 2019. And although the show hasn’t yet officially started, a number of companies have made some exciting early announcements – not just today but in the recent run up to the show. Here's what we've got so far... LG to reveal two ‘ultra’ monitors at CES 2019 Back in December, LG announced that it will be showcasing two new 'ultra' monitors. One, a whopping 49-inch ultrawide monitor, will be aimed at business professionals; while the other – a 38-inch gaming monitor – will have a curved 4K display, and be of most interest to creatives. Here's what you need to know. Also read: View the full article

Update: we're now just a few hours away from LG's press conferences at CES 2019, here in Vegas. Full news to follow as soon as it's announced. LG will be showcasing two new ‘ultra’ monitors at CES 2019 in January. That’s according to a press release from the company in December, which announced a new 49-inch display for business professionals and a 38-inch display for gamers and creatives. The new 49-inch LG UltraWide Monitor (model 49WL95) will sport a 32:9 aspect ratio screen – that’s the equivalent of two 16:9 screens – and a 5120 x 1440 resolution with 108 pixels per inch. It’s been designed to boost productivity by making it easier to multitask, and is aimed primarily at people working in finance, IT, digital design and architecture. At CES, LG will showcase its latest range of 'ultra' monitors However, it’s the new 38-inch LG UltraGear Gaming Monitor (38GL950G) that’s of most interest for creatives. A curved 4K monitor, it promises vivid images and accurate colour reproduction, covering 98 per cent of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. LG says it’ll also have a 144Hz refresh rate, response time of 2m/s – great news for gamers and video editors – and LG's Sphere Lighting technology. The latter displays ambient light from the back of the monitor to reduce eye fatigue. "With a wide choice of models that prioritize productivity, picture quality and out-of-this-world gaming, more and more consumers are seeing LG as a innovation leader in monitors,” said Jang Ik-hwan, head of LG's IT division of the Home Entertainment Company. We’ll be reporting live from CES 2019, so tune in from Monday 7 Jan 2019 for all the latest news for creatives from the world’s biggest tech show. Also read: The best 4K monitors for designers The best ultrawide monitors right now The best 5K and 8K monitors View the full article

Buy the Osprey Farpoint 70 for $160 / £111 at Amazon Buy the Ospry Fairview 70 for $126 / £108 at Amazon So you’re going travelling for a bit. Maybe you’re one of an increasing number of young professionals swapping the office for a digital nomad lifestyle. Perhaps you’re visiting some of the world’s creative hotspots or most inspiring design cities on vacation. Whatever your motivation, if you’re hitting the road soon, you’ll need the right bag to carry everything you need. The former is exactly the situation we found ourselves in recently, when part of the Creative Bloq team travelled to Mexico to work remotely for two months. Why? Because we could. But we needed a bag. Wheeled suitcases were no good – outside office hours we’d be exploring mountains, desserts, beaches and jungle; places where wheels don’t always go. Top-loading backpacks were out too: we wanted to be able to access our things quickly and easily at all times, even if they’d been haphazardly packed. But above all else, we needed our work equipment to be safe from wandering hands. (After all, no work: no play. And we were ready to play.) After many hours of research into travel bags and backpacks, we settled on Osprey’s Farpoint / Fairview series. Designed to be “carried like a backpack but packed like a suitcase” – and billed as the Colorado-based company’s lightest travel backpack yet – on paper it was perfect. But was it any good in real life? Osprey Farpoint / Fairview: sizing First, the name. The Farpoint / Fairview series of travel backpacks have the same features; the only difference is the Fairview has a female-specific fit. The series covers a range of capacities: 40L, 55L, 70L and 80L. The 55L and 70L options include a “zip and clip” day pack that attaches to the main bag; while the 40L and 80L versions come as one big backpack. For this trip, we needed enough room for our work tech – laptop, mouse, DSLR, chargers and so on – plus clothes for a variety of climates. So we opted for the 70L version. Both the Farpoint and Fairview are available in two colourways – grey or red; and grey or green respectively – with the Farpoint offering two sizes to choose from: S/M and M/L. The Fairview comes only in WS/M, but the straps and frame offer a lot of adjustment options, and it fit us perfectly. Osprey Farpoint / Fairview 70: design and features We’ll say it straight away: we loved the design of the Farpoint/Fairview travel backpacks. The main compartment opens like a suitcase thanks to a large, zippered and padlockable opening that runs three-quarters of the way around the main compartment. Inside, there are two compression straps to secure your belongings, and a large mesh pocket attached to the zipper flap. You can open the Osprey Fairview and Farpoint travel backpacks like a suitcase Outside, two cushioned handles on the top and side let you carry the bag like a suitcase or easily pull it off a carousel. On the back, meanwhile, an ergonomically shaped hip belt transfers the weight from your shoulders to your hips, and a die-cut spacer mesh harness (with an adjustable chest strap and load-lifter straps) makes it super-easy to customise your bag for your body shape. The best bit? The hip belt and harness pack can be quickly zipped away behind a small panel when you’re checking your bag in for a flight. When you want the harness out, you can tuck the panel away inside a small pocket at the base Finally, it comes with a 13L daypack that can be either zipped onto the back of the main bag, or clipped kangaroo-style onto the harness straps on your front – useful if it’s carrying your laptop or passport, say, and you need them to hand. (Yes, we tried this. And yes we felt ridiculously touristy – but didn’t it just spread the weight nicely!) The daypack comes with a smaller front-facing stash pocket for your sunglasses or phone, two meshed side pockets, and a laptop sleeve and meshed tablet sleeve inside the body. Osprey Farpoint / Fairview 70: what we liked The Osprey Farpoint / Fairview 70 is ridiculously comfortable. We overpacked (yeah, yeah, it’s been a while since we went travelling) but could still carry our stuff for miles and miles in comfort, with the hip belt taking the weight. (Er, this feature became even more valuable after we smashed our camera phone and lost Google Maps.) Even better, the arched spacer-mesh harness meant our backs didn’t turn into pools of sweat. In terms of portability and comfort, the Osprey Farpoint / Fairview 70 gets full marks from the Creative Bloq team. It was also ridiculously easy to access what we needed from inside the main compartment, at all times – we can’t overstate this aspect. And we liked the lockable zippers, which can be tucked out of sight underneath the zip casing to deter opportunist thieves. Speaking of safety measures, we also appreciated how secure the detachable daypack is when it’s zipped onto the main pack. There’s a hidden strap that doubly locks it into place for extra peace of mind. The external handles, too, proved remarkably useful for grabbing the bag from a carousel or bus and ferry-dump situations. Osprey Farpoint / Fairview 70: what we didn’t like We wish the detachable daypack had a hip belt as well. It’s only 13L, but on hikes or long airport transfers we often found ourselves wishing we could take the strain off our shoulders. (Although positive point: yes, it’s the right size for airline carry on.) Speaking of 13L, we also found it tough to fit in everything we wanted for our day trips. It’s doable, certainly – we used it for two months – but a squeeze. We’d like the daypack to be just a little bigger. The side pockets on the daypack could be a little bigger Failing this, more generous side pockets would help: on a good day you can just about force in a 750ml water bottle – but you can’t do it one-handed (while you’re walking, for example; you have to take the bag off your shoulders) and if your bag is full, forget it. The side pockets are next to useless. And if we were being really picky, we’d like a few more pockets or compartments on the inside. That’s what Osprey's packing cubes are for, of course. Osprey Farpoint / Fairview 70: should you buy it? Overall, we loved the Osprey Fairview 70. The capacity was more than enough for two months’ travelling around a country where temperatures varied from 0-35 degrees (and if you can pack for two months, you can travel forever). Yet, it was also compact enough to be super portable. We had no problem fitting it into hostel lockers, overhead compartments and crammed colectivos. Most importantly, the carry system customisation made it fit like a (non sweaty) glove. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Osprey Fairview 70 to anyone considering either long-term travel or a short-term break to non-wheel-friendly terrain. And if you’re better packers than us, or not heading to multiple climates, we think the 55L version would be a great choice too. Buy the Osprey Farpoint 70 for $160 / £111 at Amazon Buy the Ospry Fairview 70 for $126 / £108 at Amazon Read more: 10 inspirational design cities The best design hotels in the world When, where and how to shoot the northern lights View the full article

Have you been sitting on a million dollar idea for a movie or TV show? WriterDuet Pro will not only help you craft your amazing project, it will ensure that it's in the industry standard format. And a lifetime subscription to this helpful software is currently just $99.99. WriterDuet is designed by established screenwriters for fellow screenwriters. Because of that, it's intuitive and knows what tools are needed to get your play, TV show or movie down on paper. Writing with a colleague? Working with a whole team on a script? The software allows you to work collaboratively in real time, letting you outline ideas on a collaborative corkboard and see changes filtered by who made them. Unsure exactly how to format your work? WriterDuet has industry standard formatting, so once you're done, everyone who sees your work will take it seriously. And you can easily import or export your projects to Final Draft, Fountain, Word and more writing platforms when needed. Though a lifetime subscription to WriterDuet Pro typically retails for $239, it's currently available at 58% off for $99.99 here. Want your products featured in The Creative Bloq Shop? Learn more about how to sell your products online! Related articles: 5 top tips for creating a productive workspace 5 outrageous product placements in movies 8 simple productivity tools for designers View the full article

There are plenty of great JavaScript APIs around right now. Here we've picked five for you to explore in your web projects. Combine them with our pick of the best HTML APIs to help enhance your sites' user experience. 01. Intersection Observer Status: Working draft Read more: W3C summary This JavaScript API can be used to understand the visibility and position of DOM elements (known as 'targets') relative to a containing element (the 'root'). Use it to fire a callback whenever an element enters and exits a certain area. This API is best for lazy loading or infinite scroll effects. 02. Reporting Observer Read more: W3C summary Part of the Reporting API, Reporting Observers observe some types of reports from JavaScript. Use them to get notified when the browser has to intervene – for example, if it has to provide a fallback for a slow-loading font. 03. OffscreenCanvas Read more: Google Developers summary Drawing to a <canvas> is an expensive task for a browser. This new API enables you to render graphics off the main thread, without hitting the DOM. 04. Internationalisation API Read more: MDN web docs Known by the namespace Intl, the ECMAScript Internationalization API provides language-sensitive string comparison, number formatting, and date and time formatting. Use it to avoid sending heavy libraries and show dates, numbers and strings in a format that makes sense in the user’s location. 05. CSS Paint API Read more: Google Developers summary The CSS Paint API – also known as CSS Custom Paint – enables you to programmatically generate an image whenever a CSS property expects one. Use JavaScript to generate dynamic backgrounds, borders and image masks and apply them in CSS without a heavy performance hit. This API is about to be enabled by default in Chrome Stable. This article originally appeared in Web Designer magazine. Buy issue 280, or subscribe now. Read more: A coder's guide to APIs Get started with the Web Audio API 7 hot web trends for 2019 View the full article

Money. What is it? Nobody knows; all anyone's really sure of is that they'd probably like more of it, please. And chances are that, whether you're a junior designer or an art director, you're feeling the post-Christmas pinch, making now the perfect time to have a look around at what better-paying creative jobs are out there. 10 steps to go freelance this year The good news according to PayScale is that a good few creative jobs are in high demand right now, meaning that if you play your cards right you could score yourself a new job with a healthy pay increase. The creative industries haven't seen massive wage growth in the past year, but there's still money to be made While there haven't been any massive increases in pay across the art and design sector in 2018 – according to PayScale's research, salaries are up just 1.1 per cent year on year – PayScale's worker survey data has revealed the most in-demand creative jobs, the ones you should be aiming for if you're angling for a healthier income. It turns out that the most in-demand design job right now is lead graphic designer, with a 234 per cent growth in 2017, and a median salary of $47,900 – bear in mind that's not the average salary, rather it's the halfway point along the salary scale. For a step up the pay scale, a motion graphics designer is looking at a median salary of $57,200, while for a data visualisation specialist it's more like $69,000. Top of the design jobs, though, is senior product designer, with a median salary of $121,000. The hottest jobs in 2018; the dark blue ones are the ones to look at (unless you fancy being a truck driver) If you're working more on the web side of things, there are a couple of interesting jobs that have seen serious growth. Senior mobile developers are much in demand, with a 194 per cent increase in jobs since 2017 and a median salary of $110,000, so if mobile's your thing then now would be a good time to polish up your CV. Top of the list of in-demand jobs right now, though, is full stack developer, as we've previously mentioned in our run-down of the top 10 web skills that pay. While the median pay isn't as high as that for mobile developers – PayScale suggests $70,900 – bear in mind that your value as a full stack is dependent upon how much expertise you can bring to the job, so there's plenty of potential for top-end pay. Want to make plenty of green? Get in on the cannabis trend Looking ahead, PayScale also has some interesting thoughts on what the in-demand job areas are likely to be in 2019. Some are heavyweight tech areas such as cloud computing and AI, but it also foresees demand in virtual and augmented reality, big data and digital marketing. And while it's more applicable in the US and Canada than anywhere else right now, there's also likely to be an upswing in the cannabis industry; now's the time to be pitching fresh cannabis branding to US companies! Related articles: How to raise your prices 5 ways to use your design skills to earn extra income How to succeed as a freelance developer View the full article

An unscheduled patch fixed two critical flaws that could enable arbitrary code execution. View the full article

Pioneering '90s rock band Nirvana are suing fashion designer Marc Jacobs over the use of its zonked out smiley face logo. The iconic logo, which has been traced back to a flyer for a gig in 1991, has been slightly altered for its inclusion in a new Marc Jacobs clothing line called Redux Grunge. This isn't the first time the design has been used by other brands. However, the band's lawyers have decided to take action on the basis that Marc Jacobs apparently did not obtain permission to use the imagery. With its bold yellow and black colour scheme, scribbly line work and accompanying Onyx font, the Nirvana smiley face has become one of the most recognisable band logos in the world. For the Redux Grunge collection, the logo's original crosses for eyes have been replaced by the designer's initials, MJ, with the name Nirvana swapped out for Heaven. A behind the scenes look at the Redux Grunge line from the brand itself reveals that Marc Jacobs wanted the collection to channel the spirit of grunge, namely 'the ironic and the perverse, the celebration of the everyday and the extraordinary.' It's an irony apparently lost on Marc Jacobs, whose celebration of an authentic, underground, DIY band will cost shoppers upwards of £110. The grunge-inspired Marc Jacobs t shirt will set you back £110 A statement issued by Nirvana's legal team accuses Marc Jacobs of using the logo and associated typeface to give the collection an air of authenticity. "The logo has come to symbolise the goodwill associated with Nirvana to a significant portion of the public, which assumes that all goods or services that bear the logo are endorsed by or associated with Nirvana. "Such expansive usage of Nirvana's Smiley Face logo and various other brand-identifying elements is an 'intentional' effort by Marc Jacobs to 'evoke Nirvana in the minds of [consumers],' per Nirvana and to 'associate the entire 'Bootleg Redux Grunge' collection with Nirvana, one of the founders of the 'Grunge' musical genre, so as to make the 'Grunge' association with the collection more authentic." The lawsuit also claims that the Redux Grunge items "have caused Nirvana to suffer irreparable injuries" and "threaten to dilute the value of Nirvana's licenses with its licensees for clothing products". Nirvana's legal team have asked for all clothing featuring the MJ logo to be discontinued. The reverse of the Marc Jacobs t shirt also mimics Nirvana clothing The collision of high fashion and underground music is nothing new. Even back in 1993 Marc Jacobs captured the essence of the age with a flannel-infused range of clothing, much to the amused derision of those at the centre of the scene at the time. There's an extra level of irony when you consider the anti-design origins of the Nirvana brand. Grant Alden, the typesetter at Pacific Northwest biweekly newspaper called The Rocket, conjured up the blocky yet flowing lettering mostly by accident when he wrote out the band's name with whatever was already installed in the company's machine. Designers who want to know how to price logo design services might be dismayed to learn that Alden charged a mere fifteen bucks for his troubles. As for the smiley face logo itself, details are less concrete. Nirvana guitarist and frontman Kurt Cobain didn't include drafts of the design in his journals, which is odd as he would iterate the look of his music videos and album covers. However, Nirvana aficionados have long speculated that the musician took his inspiration from a similar cross-eyed smiley face that appeared on the front of a Seattle strip club, The Lusty Lady. Related articles: 6 huge logo trends for 2019 17 controversial moments in logo and brand design 6 great logo ideas that break the mould View the full article

With new, unpredictable design trends constantly knocking the previous craze off the top spot, it’s only by shaking things up that creatives stand a chance of making an impact in today’s creative industries. How to be disruptive in a productive, meaningful way is the main theme of this month’s issue of Computer Arts, in which lead designers weigh in on the benefits of thinking about creativity differently. Reflecting this theme, Joshua Davis has designed the cover of Computer Arts 288, and there are eight stunning variations to choose from. Buy Computer Arts issue 288 now We run down the first half of design's 15 game changers The new issue also runs through the first half of today’s top 15 graphic design game changers – the talented people consistently proving their ability to operate at the cutting edge. Such boundary-pushing practices don’t happen overnight, so Computer Arts digs deep to discover the ethos behind their major projects. Leading creatives reveal the benefits of breaking new ground Save up to 60% on a Computer Arts subscription Elsewhere, advertising agent turned prop maker Victoria Bee reveals her approach to making larger than life, surrealistic paper objects, and how she’s constantly trying to make her clients be more daring. Meanwhile, Interbrand CEO Christian Purser highlights why subscription-based business models beats ownership every time, and design studio HUSH talks us through how it designed a series of installations intended to communicate the net zero status of a company’s new HQ. Take a closer look at what’s inside by scrolling left to right through the gallery below. Computer Arts is the world's best-selling design magazine, bursting at the seams with insight, inspiration, interviews and all the best new design projects. For all this delivered direct to your door each month, subscribe to Computer Arts. Right now you can save up to 60%, and receive a free Computer Arts tote bag when you subscribe. Related articles: 5 mistakes designers must make to succeed Where design meets food 4 huge visual trends for 2019 View the full article

All of the vulnerabilities arise from improper input validations. View the full article

Password-manager Blur and role-playing game Town of Salem both disclosed data breaches this week that impacted a combined 10 million. View the full article

The best USB-C monitors don’t just make it easier to connect your USB-C laptop and gain a second display. They also let you charge your laptop at the same time, with the same cable – effectively giving you a USB hub for your other peripherals, plus battery charging through the same port. The benefits on their own are overwhelming for creatives. But now that the latest MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models only sport USB-C – and the port is becoming increasing common on Windows 10 machines – there’s a growing argument for switching to a USB-C monitor. So which are the best monitors with a USB-C port out there? There are a lot to choose from, so to help you decide we’ve put together our favourites here in this guide. Whether you’re looking for the best 4K USB-C monitor for your MacBook, or a USB-C monitor from a major player like Dell or LG, we’ve got you covered… When it comes to choosing the best 4K USB-C monitor out there, the 27-inch LG 27UD88-W takes the crown for us. It’s designed for gaming - which means it’s also great for creatives - and it’s the lower-res sibling to the 5K USB-C monitor at number XX in this list, offering a brilliant balance of features and functionality at a much more affordable price. You’ll get 4K resolution and FreeSync anti-tearing processing, plus three gaming presets, two custom presets, and two calibration presets. And as with all the USB-C options here, it’ll power your laptop while acting as a display. If you’ve got a larger budget (and desk) to play with, we’d recommend the big and beautiful Dell U3818DW USB-C monitor. The curved 38-inch InfinityEdge screen is stunning and give you a ridiculous amount of screen real estate, so if you’re prone to working with a lot of windows open this one is worth considering. It’s built for professional work - and aimed in particular at creatives, or anyone who needs the highest colour accuracy possible, and it’s great for gaming too. Contrast could be a little better, but colour accuracy is excellent and images are sharp. Best of all, you get a three-year warranty. (Got even more cash? Try the Asus ProArt PA32UC, at number 07 on this list). The Acer H277HU is a more affordable budget USB-C monitor for anyone with less cash to spend. This isn’t a 4K USB-C monitor - and you’re missing the higher-end specs for video editing and graphic design - but it’s an excellent option if you need a display for casual gaming and film-watching, and comes with an HDMI port and a DisplayPort too. (Looking for the best budget USB-C monitor for gaming? Take a look at the Asus ProArt PA32UC, at number 09.) Another more affordable option is the HP Envy 27 – a stunning 4K USB-C monitor with sleek aesthetics, thanks to its micro-thin bezels. It delivers rich colours and excellent image detail, although colour accuracy could be a little better straight out of the box. But if you’re searching for a reasonably priced 4K UHD monitor with wide viewing angles – and that looks great on your desk – it’s worth a look. The LG UltraFine 5K USB-C monitor sits in the high-end monitor market. Pushed by Apple as its MacBook Pro companion of choice, this superb monitor boasts an incredible 14.7 million pixels across its 27-inch screen. Photos and videos are breathtakingly rich in detail, vibrant and lifelike, with 218 pixels per inch and a 60Hz refresh rate. It’s aimed at Mac-users, with four Thunderbolt 3/USB Type-C ports on the back, and absolutely nothing else, save a plug for the power cord. If you don't mind the lack of other ports, this is fabulous option for photographers, designers and videographers. Designed for professional video editors, animators, filmmakers, 3D modellers and CAD designers, the BenQ PV3200PT offers rich, very accurate colours and fantastic grayscale reproduction. It covers 100 per cent of the Rec.709 (HDTV) colour gamut as well as 100 per cent of the sRGB colour space, and will even remind you when it's due to be calibrated. Flipping into portrait mode is quick and simple thanks to a spring-loaded rotation mechanism; the only feature it’s missing is blue-light settings. If you work with high-definition video in particular, this is a top performer. The premium Asus ProArt PA32UC is the most expensive USB-C monitor on our list - and it’s in a different league. Aimed at creative professionals, it boasts a 4K resolution with HDR imaging capabilities, and comes in a sophisticated, USB-C and Thunderbolt 3-equipped package with nearly every feature a creative could want for SDR and HDR work. You get a 100% sRGB color space coverage, 99.5% Adobe RGB and 95% DCI-P3; plus pro-grade calibration features and a hardware calibration tool in the box. You can do sRGB-accurate work, wide gamut-accurate work, and HDR work with the PA32UC. This isn’t a USB-C monitor aimed at gamers, though - the refresh rate is disappointing; we’d recommend the Acer XR382CQK at number 08 in this list instead. But with strong gamma tracking and colour consistency, but if you’re a professional creative working in anything form film to graphics, this is a mean screen that reproduces content exactly as it’s meant to look. This enormous 38-inch USB-C monitor offers AMD’s FreeSync technology and 75Hz, plus an ergonomic stand with height, tilt and swivel, and premium build quality. The curve radius is a gentle 2300mm, which offers an immersive wrap-around effect without image distortion. Colour reproduction is fantastic, while black levels are impressive. And as for gaming - well, it’s wonderful. This is one of the best USB-C monitors for gaming you can get. With 1ms motion blur reduction, FreeSync technology and Dynamic Action sync, the 34-inch LG 34UM69G-B is packed with game-friendly features, making it one of the best budget USB-C monitors for gaming you can get right now. Housed in a bezel-free black cabinet, there are three customisable gaming modes: two first-person shooter modes and one pre-set RTS mode. Meanwhile, out-of-the-box colour accuracy is good, with strong grayscale performance. This is a brilliant budget USB-C monitor for the price. Also read: The best 4K monitors for creatives The best cheap 4K monitor deals The best ultrawide monitor View the full article