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As Marvel Studios gears up to celebrate its 10th anniversary, we take a look at the typographic trends behind the Marvel movie logos. With a plethora of superheroes to choose from – The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America and more – Marvel has released a new movie each year since its 2008 release of Iron Man, building the brand into one of the most powerful in the world. But with great power comes great responsibility, especially when it comes to the logo design of each movie. So what of the typography? How have the film's superhero logos developed over the last decade? And what can designers learn from their evolution? Here we pick out seven big type trends from Marvel movie logos, and offer insights from designers. 01. Back to basics The Inhumans logotype is based on the 1998 comic logo by JG RoshellOne clear typographic trend across Marvel’s 2017 and 2018 movie logos shows many of the designs increasingly returning back to their original comic book roots. “From the get-go with the first Iron Man movie, Marvel Studios’ film branding wasn’t necessarily tied too closely to its comic book counterparts – with the exception of the Avengers logo,” explains comic designer and creative director Tom Muller. “This was done in order to establish IP and brands that reached further than comics.” Another factor is that many older films were licensed out to other studios. Now, that trend appears to be reversing, with many of the newer logotypes giving a nod to their original comics. The wordmark for 2018 film Inhumans is modelled closely on the 1998 logo designed by Comicraft’s John ‘JG’ Roshell, while the Captain Marvel logo takes inspiration from comic book letterer Jared K Fletcher’s original design. 02. Anti-flat design The next instalments in the Avengers story sport logos that go against flat design2016 might have been the year of flat design, but simplification of type continues to be a clear logo trend throughout 2017. Which makes it all the more notable that the newer Marvel movie logos are doing things differently – as showcased by the Avengers: Infinity War logo, which boasts blocky 3D type. “There's been a global design shift towards simpler, cleaner, 'flat' design in recent years so, it's interesting to see this going in the opposite direction,” points out award-winning typographic designer Craig Ward. “You can make the argument that the titles serve as a nice metaphor for the movies, which themselves have become darker, more mature and deeper.” 03. Textured type The Black Panther logo shows off a 3D, metallic textureEarlier Marvel movie logos saw the studio stick to simple typography, with faded hues often serving as the dominant special effect. With the new announcements, Marvel is moving into more textured territory, enabling movie titles to say even more about a film's characters and plot, while also popping from Marvel’s standard black backdrop. “One thing that I'm noticing now is how the new graphics have more texture,” agrees designer Paolo Grasso. “The initial logo for Thor: Ragnarok evokes a rocky texture, while there’s a metallic shine on the Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 and Black Panther logos." "The older logos seem to stay with that 'laser on black' effect," he continues, "which reminds me of movie logos of the late '90s, such as Mission: Impossible.” 04. Bolder colour palettes The use of blue marked the first Marvel movie logo to steer away from the classic red and silver colour schemeIn Marvel’s earlier movies, the logos largely stuck to its standard silver and red colour palette – with a few exceptions. Lately, however, the typography has shifted towards gold and brass tones, which can be seen in the logos for Avengers: Infinity War and Black Panther. Tom Muller adds that while the typography in the logos of Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 and Thor: Ragnarok are “squarely embracing their four-colour origins”, they’re doing so “with a decidedly bolder colour palette.” And it’s worth pointing out that the Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 logo was the first Marvel movie to use blue as its main type colour. 05. Rounded edges The Captain Marvel logotype is based on Jared K Fletcher’s original designLooking at the upcoming Marvel movie logos together, the typography of one in particular sticks out as noticeably different to the others. While most of the logos feature square-shaped typography, Captain Marvel veers towards the circular. It’s based on Jared K. Fletcher’s original design, but it’s a noticeable shift towards something different. A similar style was used recently in Spider-Man: Homecoming, perhaps signalling the way Marvel movies target younger audiences. Spider-Man: Homecoming is a light-hearted film (compared to, say, The Avengers) and the hero himself is one of the youngest in the universe. This circular geometric type evokes a youthful sense of fun, rather than a distinguished type used for the older heroes. 06. 1980s gaming Thor: Ragnarok gets a typographic blast from the pastSpeaking of a shift in direction, the latest Thor: Ragnarok typography looks undeniably different to the series’ previous logo outputs. 2011’s Thor saw a thin, metallic design, while 2013’s Thor: The Dark World provided a bold, textured type, similar to the initial Thor: Ragnarok logo. However, a new movie logo was launched earlier this year and its retro gaming aesthetic marks the series’ change in tone. Director Taika Waititi described Thor: Ragnarok as a "70s/'80s sci-fi fantasy" movie – and the type in the new logo represents the new vision. It’s clear from the Thor: Ragnarok trailer that the tongue-in-cheek approach that made Guardians of the Galaxy so successful will be taking centre stage in the new instalment. And while we're on the subject of Guardians of the Galaxy, the same effect can be seen in the Vol. 2 logo. “It’s something of a trend, but adds much more character and gives a nod to the fun heritage of their comic counterparts,” explains designer Kyle Wilkinson. “A focus on the actual type design seems to be coming into focus too, as opposed to hiding some questionable type choices behind a cloak of special effects.” 07. Mismatched fonts The mismatched fonts in this movie logo ensure an eye-catching design for audiencesA retro and comic book influence can also be seen with the hand-drawn ‘Homecoming’ in the Spider-Man: Homecoming logo, and ‘Vol. 2’ in the Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 logo. While this mismatched vibe is achieved by using contrasting colours and nontraditional colour palettes, an unusual font pairing can also be an effective way to catch the attention of your audience. Related articles: 25 logo design tips from the experts The 7 greatest comic logos of all time Can you identify these superhero logos? View the full article

Japanese graphics tablet specialist Wacom has announced that a larger edition to its popular Cintiq family is on the way. The new 24 and 32-inch creative pen displays have been built to meet the demands of professional artists, designers and illustrators, who will now have more room to let their ideas breathe. Announced last week, the new Cintiq Pros join the 13 and 16-inch models in the range. Unlike previous releases, Wacom plans to unveil a series of behind-the-scenes details over the next six months to generate a buzz around the products. Pro Pen 2 delivers a natural drawing experienceBoth models pack brilliant 4K displays with a billion colours and maximum colour accuracy. Thanks to edge-to-edge glass screens, creatives have free reign to draw as large as they want. Pro Pen 2 technology accompanies the release to deliver the best drawing experience Wacom is capable of. Edge-to-edge glass gives users more room to createSlated for release in January 2018, the wait for these tablets might be unbearable for some. If nothing else, the advance notice gives creatives a chance to start saving their pennies. Prices for the new models range from $1,999 to $3,299. Related articles: 11 huge illustration trends for 2017 How to be an award-winning illustrator 50 illustrators to follow on Behance View the full article

Plenty of people dream of designing their own game. It's never been easier or more accessible than it is now, thanks to the 2017 Zero to Hero Game Developer Bundle. You can get it on sale now for 96% off the retail price! This is the bundle you need if you want to make 2017 the year you learn to develop your very own 3D games. With 83 hours of actionable content that will train you on the industry standards, this course is the perfect place to get your start. You'll pick up the programming languages you need to know to code your creation and the 3D tools that make it possible to design and develop your dream game. The 2017 Zero to Hero Game Developer Bundle is valued at nearly $1,500, but you can get it on sale now for 96% off the retail price. That's just $49 (approx £37.50) – a great deal for a training bundle that could set you down the path to your dream job, so grab it today! View the full article

Colour sells. Whether you’re working with a product, service or space, the ‘right’ combinations of colours can influence how someone feels, thinks and behaves – with powerful results. According to a study by the Loyola University Maryland, colour is registered by the brain before either images or typography. The same study found that colour can increase brand recognition by up to 80 per cent. So why, then, is brand colour so often dictated by the personal preferences of a client or committee? What are the ‘right’ combinations, and how can designers sidestep subjective debates to harness the power of colour more effectively in branding projects? The world’s favourite colour revealedColour theory in branding When it comes to harmonious colour combinations, it helps to know the basics – so here’s a quick refresher of colour theory (and the colour wheel). But what does it mean in practice? How relevant, really, is traditional colour theory for designers when it comes to branding? Traditional colour theory is based around the colour wheelAccording to Jonny Naismith, creative lead at Moving Brands New York, colour theory can provide a useful starting point when deciding the palette for a new branding project, but there are a lot of other factors involved too. “For us, these types of relationships can help generate ideas – particularly when extending out from a core, identifiable colour,” he says. “However, in the early stages of projects, we’re often looking for varied points of reference. In a saturated market, it’s becoming harder to truly ‘own’ a colour, so we try to employ far-flung points of references to help surprise or create something memorable and unexpected. This could come from working with real materials, spending time photographing subjects or browsing the local bookshop.” Moving Brands’ designers also employ a number of tools during the exploration process, he adds, including Adobe’s colour scheme generator, Kuler; Pantone’s Studio app, which converts photography into a selection of swatches; and a tool called Colorable, to ensure colour combinations are in line with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Moving Brands combined a vibrant secondary palette with ValuePenguin’s neutral primary palette to create a sophisticated, memorable scheme for the financial advice firmInterbrand’s executive creative director Sue Daun agrees that colour theory is useful, but says that it doesn’t play a formal part in the global brand agency’s creative process. “While many of these systems are intuitively used, it’s more about the need of the brand and the attitude we’re trying to convey – as opposed to following a system rigidly,” she explains. Daun says that there isn’t a fixed formula at the brand firm for considering colour, because every job – and brand – is different. “Clients commission work for different reasons, whether that’s growth, new directions, new audiences, redefined purpose or simply modernisation,” she reasons, explaining that Interbrand aims to unpack the brands it works on, and reframe them with purpose. Colour ideas in the design process “Every design element is considered with the same intensity, because in combination, they form a graphic equalizer to convey just the right level of distinction, relevance and authenticity for the brand’s new face.” However, just because Interbrand doesn’t have a set formula for working with colour, doesn’t mean there isn’t a process for arriving at the perfect palette. “Very early on we ideate around the brand personality, and this builds an initial hypothesis in the minds of the designers,” Daun explains. “The development process is then about defining not just the core colours, but the proportions used, the way they are used or what they are used for. Every decision focuses the final story to one of clarity and cohesion.” Interbrand used a gradient to liven up Siemen’s colour paletteGlobal brand strategy firm Siegel+Gale takes a similar approach. Finding the right colour palette starts with the same key questions asked during the wider branding process: what does the brand want to stand for? And how does it want any touchpoint across its brand journey to deliver that experience? Siegel+Gale’s designers work closely with strategists to answer these questions, rapidly prototyping holistic brand ideas and core thoughts, and beta-testing brand ideas to ensure concepts work in the real world. “These are early messaging ideas, communications opportunities and experiential concepts,” explains Steven Owen, executive creative director (EMEA) at Siegel+Gale. “As we build these, we explore how they come to life: the visual language they may adopt; the tone of voice they might consider. Colour exploration is a vital part of this process. Each brand idea should have a different tone or personality, and subsequently, each route might use colour in a different way.” Exactly how specific colours are chosen, however, is more arbitrary: “It’s a bit like asking how Siegel+Gale take their showers in the morning,” Owen laughs. “I’m sure we all have different methods and orders in which we wash the parts of our bodies, but the important point is: we all come to work clean.” Colour psychology One reason why colour theory, in traditional form, might not be so helpful to the branding process, is the fact that it was originally designed for artists and painters, and lacks the psychological and behavioural insights required for creating a brand that connects. That’s according to Karen Haller, a leading authority in the field of applied colour psychology. “There’s so much more to colour than the colour wheel,” she says. “To really understand how to use colour to its full effect, you need to include the psychology of colour: how it influences us on a mental, physical and emotional level,” she explains. Karen Haller offers a host of colour training coursesHaller warns there’s a lot of pop psychology around. “Many people get colour psychology, colour symbolism, and their personal colour association all mixed up together, which is why it’s easy to dismiss colour as being subjective,” she explains. “But they are three different things – and it’s important to understand why.” Colour symbolism refers to the use of colour in culture, and the conscious associations we’re conditioned to make. In China, for example, red can symbolise good luck, while white often represents death. In Muslim countries, there are certain products that aren’t designed in green because it represents the prophet Muhammad, but some Islamic banks might use this colour in their logos in order to convey trust. Personal colour association, meanwhile, relates to the memories or experiences of an individual. “You might like terracotta because you were in Tuscany,” says Haller, “or a certain red because it reminds you of your favourite bike as a child.” SomeOne followed a five-step process to avoid ‘rainbowageddon’ in its branding for St Catherine’s HospiceIf a client has ever said your colour scheme looks like their daughter’s bedroom – which has happened to Naismith at Moving Brands – or you’ve watched a meeting descend into endless debate, you’ll know the hurdles that personal colour association can bring into the branding process. But some of these can be avoided. Unlike the previous two definitions, colour psychology relates to the subconscious way colour can affect how we think, feel and behave. And according to Haller, these reactions aren’t as subjective as might be believed. Individual interpretations of a colour can vary (you might see a certain red as exciting; another person might see it as aggressive), but when psychology is combined with the study of tonal colour groups, reactions can be predicted with surprising accuracy. The holy grail of colour Haller isn’t the only one to take this line. In the ’80s, colour psychologist Angela Wright identified links between patterns of colour and patterns of human behaviour. She found that all colours can be classified into one of four tonal groups, and that mathematical relationships underpin the shades and tones within each group. In other words, Wright actually proved objective colour harmony. Wright went on to develop the Colour Affects System, which identifies links between the four colour groups and four basic personality types, based on original research involving Aristotle, Newton and German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. BP uses group 1 colours; Bedding firm Dreams uses group 2 colours; McDonald’s corporate colours are mainly group 3, while Texaco uses a group 4 paletteCrucially, Wright found that colour schemes drawn from a single group always harmonise, no matter which personality type is interpreting them; while schemes that mix groups create disharmony. In addition, each personality type has a natural affinity with one colour family, meaning that people react even more positively to palettes crafted from ‘their’ colours. Theoretically, then, if designers can establish which psychological colour family best conveys a brand’s message, it’s possible to create a colour palette that truly engages its audience – as long as every hue used in all brand communication is drawn from that same group. “There are millions wasted by companies struggling with subjective, endless expensive debates about colour, and it’s usually decided on the basis of rank,” says Wright. “But objective colour harmony is underpinned by mathematics. If you stick within the groups, everyone can understand the message,” she explains. Ask the right questions So how do you get to a final colour scheme? As with any branding project, it’s about asking the right questions to get to the core of the brand. For Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, these include: what does your brand stand for? What message do you want to convey, and how can colour help you tell the story? Who is the consumer? And if you’re targeting a global audience, will local cultural meanings be ascribed to the colours used – does the palette need to be modified to reflect this? Mast turned to nature for colour palette inspiration when it released two recent productsPressman adds that it’s key to look at what it is about the brand – including colour – that will prompt a ‘buy’ response in the targeted consumer, and to know where colour trends fit in. “Ask whether you should use a more unusual colour story,” she says. “Will the colours separate you from your competition? It’s important to be unique.” “We often look at the competitive landscape,” agrees Naismith. “This helps to identify potential gaps or opportunities beyond colour.” London-based SomeOne, too, surveys the competitive sector to establish the norm and find the gaps. To test its schemes, the studio starts by visualising applications, before doing print tests, and then accessibility and usability tests for digital projects. “We’ve built a bespoke cloud-based brand tool to test colour compliance,” says partner Laura Hussey. “Branding’s never finished, so we embed this in guidelines. As it adapts and changes, so does the colour system.” SomeOne applied a lively, optimistic colour palette to the branding for St Catherine’s Hospice, in order to amplify the charity’s voice and achieve market standoutThe other key aspect to choosing the right colour scheme is knowing how colours work with each other. “There are thousands of greens,” points out Haller. “You have to understand what every tone of every colour means, in the context of how you’re using it. Then, if you really tap into who the brand is – if you know its story and authentic personality – the colours to use will be clear. Who a brand is will dictate which colours, tones, combinations and proportions to use to convey – on a subconscious level – what the words are saying on a conscious level.” Whatever you do, she warns, don’t confuse standing out in the market with shouting. “For a long time, to make a brand stand out, designers have been using really bright colours, but it’s the equivalent of shouting. "All of a sudden everyone was using magenta pink, it was like: ‘Hello, look at me!’ You might stand out, but is that colour actually saying what your brand is about? You must be giving the right message.” The key, as always, is to be authentic. “People have an emotional connection with colour first. Then we take in the shapes, the logo, and we read the words,” says Haller. “If we sense a mismatch, it’s the colour we don’t believe, despite the beautifully crafted words.” This article originally appeared in Computer Arts issue 266. Buy it here! Related articles: 21 outstanding uses of colour in branding The top colour trends for 2017 revealed How to master colour theory View the full article

Netflix prototyper David Aragon gives us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at his work for the entertainment giant. What’s your immediate team like? DA: I’m on the TV and site design team, along with nine other product designers. Together we design the Netflix experience that ships on TV devices (set-top boxes, games consoles, smart TVs, Blu-Ray players and so on), as well as the website experience you use in a browser. I work most closely with my immediate team, but also frequently partner with the wider design team, which focuses on mobile, acquisition and Netflix Originals. Product managers, consumer insights analysts and engineers are also crucial in moving any project along. What kind of prototypes do you create at Netflix and what tools do you use to build them? DA: I prototype mainly in two environments: the browser and the TV rendering engine. My choice depends on the aim of the prototype. If I’m looking for quick iteration, I’ll build in a browser, since it’s hard to beat the reliability and ubiquity of WebKit. But if I need to see how a specific idea will render on actual TV hardware, I’ll build directly in our TV rendering engine, called Gibbon. In both cases I build with JavaScript and React. On the web I add in SCSS and WebPack, and with Gibbon I use gulp. The conference rooms at Netflix are movie and TV themedHow do you approach cross-platform testing when you build your prototypes? DA: Because we have dedicated apps for each device class, it’s rare for me to need to test a single UI across platforms. That said, the TV device landscape is diverse and fragmented, so even just testing within that subset feels like cross-platform testing. We have a number of strategies for benchmarking and testing across a wide range of devices. One of those tools is a Raspberry Pi, which simulates different tiers of devices, from low-powered Blu-Ray players to the latest game consoles. What are your favourite tools and technologies you work with? DA: I absolutely love React for its speed and ease. It makes it easy to translate ideas and architecture from one platform to another. I’m also using Sketch more and more for wireframing. At Generate London David Aragon will explain how to design and build prototypes, as well as how to conduct your own qualitative user research You work with product designers, algorithm teams, content specialists, and the platform team. How does collaboration work at Netflix? DA: I can’t speak for every team at Netflix, but my team doesn’t cling to one specific process. Netflix subscribes to the mantra of 'context, not control'. That is to say, your manager should give you enough context so you can do your job well, but should not micromanage the actual work. In the early phase of a project, we often use week-long design sprints, followed up by qual research. Once an idea has matured, we work towards several internal milestones but rarely focus on a specific launch date. When an idea is ready, it goes through a gauntlet of tough strategy meetings before an engineer writes a single line of code. What are the main challenges of doing user research and testing for a product with a user base as massive as Netflix's? DA: That’s a good question. TV entertainment has become more and more personalised, so what I think of as my favourite shows and watch routines probably won’t match up with yours. I might think of Netflix as my after-work sitcom unwind time, but for you it might primarily be the early-morning babysitter, keeping the kids distracted with cartoons. I can’t rely on my own instincts and behaviours because my motivations are so different from tens of millions of other Netflix members. This is why qual research is so crucial. You get to talk with people whose experiences don’t overlap your own. Our consumer insights team does a great job of recruiting qual participants from diverse backgrounds, so we get a broad range of feedback. How do you analyse the data and create user personas? DA: Data is crucial to product development at Netflix. It helps us find pain points in the aggregate that we couldn't see in the individual level. A great example of this is box art testing. Users essentially pick the box art we use for content by voting with the play button. The more users that play a movie based on artwork A, the more likely it is that artwork A becomes the standard for that title. Artwork goes through several rounds of A/B testing What can people expect to take away from your talk at Generate London? DA: People will leave with a broad understanding of how Netflix approaches user research, specifically from a design prototyper’s point of view. I’ll also detail the technical side of building prototypes for qual and how everyone can leverage user research, no matter how big their company. What's your favourite hidden gem at Netflix? DA: If we’re talking content, I’d have to plug Happy Valley. Check it out! Regarding Netflix as a whole, the degree of autonomy I’m granted is rather astonishing, and empowering. It’s really on me to control the success of my projects, and that level of freedom (and responsibility) means I’m excited and proud about all my projects. Generate London on 21/22 September features 16 talks from the likes of Aaron Gustafson, Anton & Irene, and Zell Liew, covering adaptive as well as conversational interfaces, UX strategy, web animation, performance, accessibility, responsive CSS components, and much more. There are also four workshops to choose from on 20 September and you can save £95 on a combined pass. Get your ticket today! View the full article

In this article we've lined up some of the best Photoshop plugins available for Adobe Creative Cloud's photo editing giant. Photoshop is an amazing tool – capable of producing sublime images, high-quality video and very passable renders for 3D art. All this power offers a world of possibilities – but occasionally it's worth adding a few optional extras to get the most out of your investment. There's a plethora of plugins available for PS users, but we've selected the best of those that you can download and use straight away. Promoted: Filter Forge 6.0 Filter Forge offers a load of filter options Publisher: Filter Forge Price: $149-$399 (now with 80% discount $29 - $79) Good for: Photographers, photo editors, graphic designers, 3D artists Currently in version 6.0, Filter Forge offers 11 thousands of filter effects and textures, covering almost every application you can imagine. It's almost infinitely versatile and creative, and capable of a vast range of different styles and looks - and when you get bored with the presets, you can start making your own custom effects (and textures!). 63 Photoshop shortcuts to speed up your workflow01. Fontself Maker for Photoshop CC The Fontself Maker Photoshop plugin brings you font creation superpowers Publisher: Fontself Price: £43 Good for: Designers Ready to start creating your own fonts? It’s easier than you think with this handy Photoshop plugin. Fontself Maker lets you turn any image or vector layer into colourful OpenType fonts using Photoshop CC 2015.5 or CC 2017. You can drag and drop layers to create new characters, and capture any colour, shade or texture you want. The makers are working on updates all the time – think kerning, ligatures, alternates and so on – which they distribute to Fontself Maker owners for free. 02. EyeCandy A multitude of effects are available with EyeCandy Publisher: Alien Skin Price: $129 (free trial available) Best for: Designers EyeCandy has been around for over a decade, offering a broad range of effects ranging from fire to chrome, glass to extrusions. Useful for many different scenarios, a lot of the effects need dialing down from the default settings to achieve something other than a cheesy result, but there’s a lot of hidden gems in the suite. 03. Fluid Mask 3 Fluid Mask is designed to make masking simpler Publisher: Vertus Price: $149 (free trial available) Best for: Photographers & Designers Masking is a fine art all in itself, and while Photoshop has improved its built-in masking tools with CS5 and CS6, there's still plenty of room for a dedicated tool to help you get the cleanest and most accurate masks possible - especially around problem areas such as hair and fur. Fluid Mask makes this normally laborious process quick and (relatively) easy! 04. Getty Images Publisher: Getty Images Price: Free Good for: Graphic designers, web designers Everyone needs a bit of stock imagery now and then, so why make things difficult for yourself. Getty Images' own plugin makes it easy for you to search for and filter images and hi-res comps, not only for Photoshop but also Illustrator and InDesign. If you already have a Getty account you'll have access to all your previous downloads, and you can set your preferences to tailor the plugin experience towards your own needs. 05. ParticleShop ParticleShop brings Corel Painter tools to Adobe Photoshop users Publisher: Corel Price: £44.99 Good for: Illustrators and Photographers Painter is a long established digital art favourite amongst illustrators, but, thankfully, Corel has finally brought its brush technology to Photoshop with ParticleShop. Brushes can make a huge difference to your creativity and productivity, and this powerful plugin offers non-destructive brushstroke layer support and includes 11 great brushes, including Debris, Fabric, Fine Art, Fur, Hair, Light, Space, Smoke and Storm. 06. Ink Ink is a must have for designers working with developer teams Publisher: Chrometaphore Price: Free Good for: Web designers Ink is built for team players. Sometimes developer teams might not be as Photoshop savvy as you, the designer. Ink helps you communicate your designs. This Photoshop specs generator that allows you to include subtle information in your Photoshop document. You can add essential specifications such as text formatting, layer styles, typography, effects and sizes. All this information is then compiled into one handy folder to keep it neat and tidy. This all ensures that your final product looks how it is expected to look when handed over to developers. 07. Fixel Contrastica 2 Contrastica is a smart contrast intensifier that targets both local and global contrast at the same time Publisher: Fixel Algorithms Price: $29.99 Good for: Photographers Available for both Photoshop and After Effects, Contrastica is a smart contrast intensifier. From Fixel Algorithms, a company specialising developing and implementing "Advanced and Innovative Image and Video Processing Algorithms" in order to expand image and video manipulation abilities. Contrastica is a simple to use, focused and highly tuned filter. It targets both local and global contrast at the same time – making it easy to create the image you need in less time. 08. Perfect Resize 9.5 Perfect Resize can enlarge your photos up to 1000% without losing image quality Publisher: On1 Price: $79.99 Good for: Photographers Perfect Resize 9.5 will enlarge images taken on your DSLR and even mobile devices. The plugin uses genuine fractals powered algorithms for optimizing clarity and detail for different image types. With built-in presets and manual controls you can easily create high quality enlargements. You can print directly from Perfect Resize 9.5 and it includes cropping and levelling. 09. B&W Effects Tweak the specific color and intensity of filters to transform colour images into beautiful monocrome photographs Publisher: Topaz Labs Price: $59.99 Good for: Photographers We could have picked any of Topaz Labs products - they are a must-have for any photographer. Providing texture effects, making remasking easy and turning your photos into impressionist paintings - there is nothing Topaz hasn't come out with to maximise your Photoshop creativity. However, their black and white tool makes others pale in comparison. It uses a unique B&W conversion engine that emphasises tone and texture in order to help you get B&W images that pop. 85 brilliant Photoshop tutorials10. Kubota Texture Tools Industrial Texture Tools Industrial includes a set of 50 metallic filters Publisher: Kubota Price: $69 Good for: Photographers Kubota describe themselves as the 'Mecca' of photo enhancing tools, and this latest industrial pak accompanies their extensive range of textures, borders and templates. As usual with Kubota, you can try these metallic filters before you buy. With this pak you can give your images a man-made finish thanks to a selection of 50 metal themed textures. You'll be able to manipulate the filters to fit your images, giving them an edgy final touch that will make them stand out from the crowd. 11. Page Curl Bend your images with this powerful plugin Publisher: AV Bros Price: £34.95 Good for: Graphic designers Page Curl 2.0 allows you to create a page turn and page fold effect on both regular and arbitrary-shaped objects (such as non-rectangular objects, or areas with full or partial transparency.) Ideal for ecovers and designers, this powerful plugin is straightforward to use and designed to fit in with other Photoshop tools. The latest update allows you to switch the direction of the folds and curls (choose between Upwards or Downwards), as well as supporting CMYK coloured images and much more. 12. PSD Cleaner Easily look after your layers with PSD cleaner Publisher: Source Price: $19.99 Good for: Graphic designers, web designers Sorting through layers and layers of design work is a laborious, tedious task that is the bane of graphic designers and web designers everywhere. But thanks to PSD Cleaner, the process has got a whole lot easier. From one simple panel, users can identify unnamed layers, recreate Photoshop effects in CSS, delete empty layers, find out if layers are beyond the canvas and much more. 13. Velositey Design a website prototype in seconds with Velositey Publisher: D&K agency Price: Free Good for: Web designers, developers The simple and efficient Velositey plugin makes short work of creating a website template. With over 60 templates to choose from and no charge (they only ask for social media mentions), Velositey is a polished, sophisticated tool that will benefit both designers and developers. Everything has been designed to fit in with the existing Photoshop setup, so it only takes a couple of minutes at most to create a suitable website template for your project. 14. Google Nik Collection The Nik Collection's now completely free; go get it! Publisher: Google Price: Free Good for: Photographers We've enthused about many of the photographic plugins featured in the Nik Collection before, but now there's no need to agonise over which ones to buy; Google bought it and then, back in March, decided to release the entire collection for free. So now you can equip yourself with top quality plugins such as Silver EFEX Pro and Viveza that would previously have cost you $95 a go, as well as five other powerful and versatile plugins, without spending anything. Next page: more top Photoshop plugins 15. virtualPhotographer Give your photos a makeover with virtualPhotographer Publisher: Optik Verve Labs Price: Free Good for: Designers, photographers If you're a designer in a hurry, or you're not yet confident using Photoshop to create stylised images, virtualPhotographer is a quick and effective way to get some sophisticated looks in a hurry. 16. WebZap WebZap is aimed specifically at designers Publisher: Cazoobi Creative Solutions Price: $19 Good for: Web designers Although many web designers advocate designing in the browser, many designers remain wedded to Photoshop when creating interfaces. The problem is, Photoshop was initially designed as a retouching tool, and although it’s taken on features for working with layout, it’s still a frequently clunky tool for dealing with web design. Aimed specifically at web designers, Photoshop plugin WebZap enables you to create layouts based on a 960 grid system, with a web page broken up into three areas: navigation, feature and fold. In addition, the plug-in provides the means to quickly add form buttons, create text, and style text across an entire layout. 17. Subtle Patterns A great plugin to make using the free texture library simple from Photoshop Publisher: Atle Mo Price: $17.99 Good for: Graphic designers, web designers Subtle Patterns is a high quality library of free, tilable textured patterns by Atle Mo. The Subtle Patterns plugin feeds all this textured goodness directly into your Photoshop panel. You just click the pattern thumbnail and the texture is applied as a layer style to your current layer - a great time-saver and well worth $11.99. 18. Renamy Renamy lets you rename multiple Photoshop layers at once Publisher: Klaia Price: $14.99 Good for: Photographers, graphic designers, web designers Naming your layers right is the first rule of Photoshop etiquette. But sometimes you need to rename layers retrospectively, which can be a pain. With Renamy you can rename multiple layers at once, and there's even a cool autocomplete function to save your typing fingers. There's a free demo version so you can give it a try before you buy. 19. Pixel Dropr Create icon collections and import them into Photoshop with Pixel Dropr Publisher: UI Parade Price: $19 Good for: Graphic designers, web designers Pixel Dropr lets you create your own 100-piece collections of icons, buttons, UI kits or photos and instantly drop them into a Photoshop document while you work. A great way to boost your productivity when you're using assets across multiple projects. 20. Perspective Mockups Create perspective mockups for your designs using CSS3 3D transforms Publisher: Perspective Mockups Price: $19 Good for: Web designers There's a lot of swearing and obscenity on the Perspective Mockups site, which you may find either hilarious or offensive. But the plugin is definitely worth checking out. Essentially it's a great way to make perspective mockups for your designs using CSS3 3D transforms. The plugin sits within your Photoshop tools palette and includes eight different layouts to choose from. 21. CSS Hat We take our hat off to CSS Hat Publisher: CSS Hat Price: $39.99 Good for: Web designers CSS Hat is a a Photoshop plugin that turns your Photoshop styles into usable CSS3 for your website. You just click on a layer designed with some layer styles, and the markup pops up instantly, for you to copy to your clipboard. 22. Flaticon.com Flaticon is a free project, created for and by designers and developers Publisher: Flaticon Price: Free (Premium $9.99) Good for: Web designers If you want to download free icons, Freepik has launched a tool entirely dedicated to this end: Flaticon.com. The largest database of free vector icons, it enables you to download all of its thousands of icons in .svg, .psd or .png format. And this free plugin for Photoshop lets you quickly find all the icons without leaving your working environment. 23. CSS3PS CSS3PS makes it easy to convert your Photoshop layers into CSS3 layers Publisher: CSS3PS Price: Free Good for: Web designers This free plugin uses the cloud to perform the calculations required to convert your Photoshop layers into CSS3 layers, complete with live-rendered effects where these are achievable with CSS. So, drop-shadows, strokes, outer glows, text and rounded corners are all converted to CSS3 automatically. Well worth a try to see if it could save you valuable coding time. 24. Fractalius Fractalius uses fractals to generate sketch-like effects Publisher: RedField Price: $39.90 Good for: Designers, artists This unusual plugin uses fractal patterns, apparently hidden within the source image, to generate procedural effects that are reminiscent of pencil sketches, or stylised light glow streaks. 25. Dream Suite Ultimate Dream Suite Ultimate is a pricey but powerful suite Publisher: Auto FX Software Price: $179.99 Good for: Photographers This all-encompassing suite of effects covers everything from textures to pseudo-3D effects, tonal correction and borders. It's not cheap, but covers such a wide range of effects that if you want to buy just one plugin, this should be in your shortlist of options. 26. Machine Wash Deluxe Add weathering effects with Machine Wash Deluxe Publisher: Mister Retro Price: $99 Best for: Designers and Photographers This filter brings insanely beautiful scratchy textures to your designs and images with accurate, believable weathering and aging effects. Effects include the ability to place artwork on a leather base, render onto wood with the grain visible through the artwork and rust effects. It produces especially nice effects on simple typography. Next page: more top Photoshop plugins 27. 3D Invigorator This plugin simplifies the complex 3D process Publisher: Digital Anarchy Price: $175 (free trial available) Best for: Designers While Photoshop has come on leaps and bounds with its own 3D engine and rendering, there's still room for additional tools that can simplify the process of creating complex 3D scenes and models. This plugin features a simple object editor that uses a pen-like tool for drawing and editing shapes. 28. Blow Up 3 Create pin-sharp enlargements without compromising on quality Publisher: Alien Skin Price: $99 (free trial available) Best for: Designers and Photographers Blow Up allows you to create pin-sharp enlargements from photos without compromising on quality. The algorithm is more advanced than Photoshop's own bicubic filters, which allows the plugin to produce accurate images without artifacts. This makes it a great tool for designers where clients send over images that aren't of a high-enough resolution. 29. Photomatix Pro Photomatix Pro simplifies the creation of extreme HDR images Publisher: HDR soft Price: from £39 (free trial available) Best for: Photographers Photomatix Pro is an High Dynamic Range (HDR) processing and toning tool that integrates with Photoshop either standalone or as a plugin (depending upon which version you go for). This tool goes beyond Photoshop's built-in HDR processing capabilities, especially with the toning aspects and allows for the creation of extreme HDR images with relative ease. 30. Perfect Effects 3 If you want to get a quick effect on your image, try this plugin Publisher: onOne Software Price: Free Best for: Photographers & Designers Perfect Effects 3 FREE is a handy tool for getting a quick effect on an image, whether that's a colour treatment, addition of texture and noise, or creative borders. The plugin features an effects library (a bit like the filter gallery in Photoshop) and allows you to stack multiple effects to achieve interesting new results. 31. Noiseware Noise is tricky to deal with, but not if you have Noiseware Publisher: Imagenomic Price: $79.95 Best for: Photographers Noise is a problem for everyone, but no more so than Photographers who need to present clients with clean images regardless of the conditions when the shot was captured. Noiseware is a specialist noise-suppression tool that will both remove noise and sharpen at the same time making it a really useful addition to Photoshop. 32. Texture Anarchy Rich textures are possible with Texture Anarchy Publisher: Digital Anarchy Price: $129 (free trial available) Best for: Designers A combination of three different filters for Photoshop that each provide seamless and rich textures you can incorporate into your designs. Some of these are a little predictable, but the sheer range available, along with the ability to generate true fractals, makes this a great addition to Photoshop. 33. Portraiture This plugin automatically smooths without softening detail areas Publisher: Imagenomic Price: $199.95 Best for: Photographers Portraiture is a combined plugin for Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture that automates the process of retouching portraits for a perfect-skin look. The plugin automatically smooths skin tones while removing blemishes and, crucially, avoids softening or destroying detail areas such as eyelashes and skin texture. 34. SuperPNG SuperPNG allows greater control over PNG images Publisher: fnord Price: Free Best for: Designers If you're a regular user of the PNG format, you'll know that Photoshop can sometimes struggle a bit to render PNGs quickly. SuperPNG aims to fix this by offering more control over your PNG output, allowing for a balance between speed and file size, control over the alpha channel and meta data. SuperPNG's a handy tool for taking control of your image export, and is free! 35. Exposure X2 Simulate film effects for digital projects with this creative tool Publisher: Alien Skin Price: $149 (free trial available) Best for: Photographers Exposure is a creative tool that allows you to simulate film effects on your digital images. For its X2 release, publisher Alien Skin has improved its special effects offering to include textures, overlays, vignettes and creative focus, as well as portrait touch-up tools like spot heal, iris enhancement, and skin softening. Users can also now layer up different effects. Exposure X2 is available as a plugin for Photoshop or Lightroom, or as a complete standalone raw photo editor. 36. ToonIt ToonIt quickly turns an image into a cartoon Publisher: Digital Anarchy Price: $129 (free trial available) Best for: Designers ToonIt is a straightforward way to turn regular photos into a cartoon-style image, suitable for use in graphic novels or other scenarios where you don’t want photo-realistic images but need to base images on a photographic original. The plugin works automatically on an image, but there is a degree of control you can exercise to change the final output. Niche, but fun! 37. GuideGuide GuideGuide makes it easy to create a grid system Publisher: Cameron McEfee Price: $10 Good for: Print & web designers This simple Photoshop plugin makes it easy to create a grid system in your Photoshop document, hijacking the built-in guides system to create a pinpoint accurate grid according to your chosen settings. You can use negative margins for special hanging columns, separately define individual margins and gutters, and save your preferred options for quick access in the future. Perfect for anyone using a grid to help them create their layouts. 38. Cut&Slice me Cut&Slice Me makes it easy to export your designs to the web Publisher: Daniel Peruho Price: Free Good for: Web designers This super-handy CS6-only plugin makes it easy to export your designs from Photoshop to the web. Rather than rely on Photoshop's outdated export for web functionality, Cut&Slice me offers a new way of doing things; allowing overlapping slices, multiple button states and even exporting different resolutions of the same assets to cater for different screen sizes and devices. 39. Freeware Boundary Noise Reduction Freeware Boundary Noise Reduction is a big improvement on Photoshop’s own noise reduction filter Publisher: Colormancer Price: Free Good for: Photographers This Photoshop plugin is a freeware version of the full Boundary Noise Reduction plugin from Colormancer. Offering a simplified set of user controls when compared to the pro version, it's superior to Photoshop's own noise reduction filter. 40. NKS5 Natural Media Toolkit Nkurence's tool lets you quickly access real-media preset effects Publisher: Nkurence Price: Free Good for: designers & artists This amazing free Photoshop plugin provides a new panel in Photoshop CS5 and above, allowing you to quickly access real-media preset effects in order to generate documents with natural paper backgrounds, realistic water-colour brush strokes and many more. Related articles: Photoshop now supports MacBook Pro Touch Bar The 6 best Photoshop tools for web designers How to create a realistic oil painting of nature View the full article

You're reading Simbla, the Database Driven Website Builder, originally posted on Designmodo. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow on Twitter, Facebook, Google+! Simbla is a website builder launched back in 2013 by a team on enthusiasts and innovators. Built as a hassle-free solution for individuals and companies looking to establish an online presence and boost their businesses, Simbla impresses with elegance and functionality. In additional to building websites, Simbla also allows anyone to extend their website with database […] View the full article

It's not often you see illustration used in brand campaigns these days. But for that very reason, it can be a great way to make your marketing stand out, capturing attention and eliciting an emotional response from the viewer. From hand-drawn images to vector art, the power of illustration cannot be underestimated when done well. So to inspire your own projects, we've brought together 10 examples that show just how illustration can be used in branding in creative and imaginative ways. 01. Oreo This illustrated campaign infused Oreo with a sense of wonderTo celebrate its 103rd birthday, sandwich cookie company Oreo wanted to update its brand but still convey a sense of childlike wonder. Via The Martin Agency, Oreo commissioned 10 artists to create a character that embodied a single word. The only stipulation was that the character use the Oreo cookie wafer as the face/head. The beautifully intricate example shown above was the work of Shotopop, whose word was 'twist'. You can view the full campaign here. 02. Penguin Y&R China's campaign pokes fun at Penguin book jacketsEveryone loves classic Penguin covers. And this multi-award winning campaign for Penguin Group China draws wryly on that sense of nostalgia, to promote its range of audio books. In each of the ads, commissioned by Y&R China, a flipper-footed sound technician subtly invades the scene. The Moby Dick illustration shown above was created by Swiss artist Jared Muralt, and you can see the full campaign here. 03. Ram trucks This retro ad for Ram trucks tugs on the emotional heartstringsSelling automobiles is about engaging the emotions as much as anything else. So these print ads for Ram pickup trucks summon memories of the illustrative posters created in the 1930s and 1940s to awaken the public's taste for adventure. The Richards Group commissioned Anderson Design Group (ADG) to create the poster art, inspired by the Art Deco-style WPA National Park posters created after the Great Depression to promote America's parks. 04. Faber-Castell Redma Hoekstra's stunning illustrations show the versatility of Faber-Castell Aquarelle pencilsIf you're going to advertise a drawing tool, why not show what it can do? Faber-Castell Aquarelle pencils can be used for normal drawing but also, as the slogan says, you can 'just add water' to make watercolour effects. This inventive campaign by Ogilvy & Mather Hong Kong brings that concept to elegant visual life. Illustrated by Redma Hoekstra, and you can see the full campaign here. 05. Kuoni Malika Favre's bold, minimal illustrations gave Kuoni a brand new lookFor its 2016 brochure design, high-end travel operator Kuoni wanted to move away from photography. So, working with Altavia, it commissioned a series of illustrations to depict some of the world's most desirable locations in an attention-grabbing way. The brief for illustrator Malika Favre was to create a hero cover and a series of four complementary images for the different sections of the brochure. Favre's bold, minimal style gave Kuoni's brochure a look that really stands out as a premium product. You can see the full campaign here. 06. Royal Ascot This detailed artwork gives insights into the stories behind Royal AscotSan Francisco artist Lauren DiCioccio uses sewing and embroidery to create unique illustrations, and she was commissioned by Royal Ascot to create this stunning piece, 'Like Nothing Else', to promote its 2015 event. The 48x27 inch tapestry depicts carefully selected elements of the Royal Meeting and took around five weeks to create. You can see a time-lapse video of the creation process here. 07. Schusev Museum of Architecture There's more to Russia's famous buildings than meets the eyeThis campaign by Saatchi & Saatchi Russia for the Schusev Museum of Architecture was based on the concept: 'Discover the Full Story'. Art directed by Polonski Yuri and produced by Carioca Studio, the poster campaign focused on three symbolic buildings in the city: the main building of Lomonosov Moscow State University, St Basil's Cathedral on Red Square and the Bolshoi Theatre. Each illustration demonstrates that behind the familiar exterior hides a story and there is much more to be discovered. Find out more here. 08. Mercedes This bizarre ad draws on the emotional struggle between our logical and creative sidesThis unusual ad is the work of illustrators Gil Aviyam and Lena Guberman, commissioned by Y&R Interactive Tel Aviv to promote Mercedes cars. The concept is that like the brain, split between left and right hemispheres, the Mercedes Benz is a combination of opposites that together create technological innovation, inspiring design and passion. 09. Nike Little Thunder celebrates Air Max in gloriously garish neonNike's has a long and glorious tradition of using illustration in advertising, and this campaign celebrating Air Max Sneakers is no exception. Ogilvy & Mather Hong Kong created a series of ads with the help of local illustrators, each featuring a different Air Max sneaker model; this one was created by comic artist Little Thunder. 10. Lexus This fun campaign gave an automotive makeover to famous works of artWanting to convey the idea that every one of its cars is a masterpiece, Lexus commissioned this fun campaign to reinvent famous works of art in its own image. This example swaps bulbs for headlights to reinvent Van Gogh's famous Sunflowers painting. Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore masterminded this print ad campaign, which also parodied Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol, and was art directed by Ronojoy Ghosh. Related articles: How to break into children's illustration 23 stunning book illustrations 50 illustrators to follow on Behance View the full article

Researchers Tavis Ormandy and Cris Neckar privately disclosed a critical vulnerability in Cisco's WebEx extension for Chrome and Firefox that allows for remote code execution. View the full article

FreeRADIUS today released an update that patches a number of vulnerabilities uncovered in a commissioned engagement using a customer fuzzer. View the full article

Not everyone has the cash to spend kitting themselves out with the most expensive graphic design software, particularly when starting a new business or embarking on a new career in design. Many will default to Adobe's fantastic Creative Cloud suite of applications, but for those who want to do the groundwork there is a lot of free graphic design software out there that can do the job just as well. But to save you from doing said groundwork, we've compiled this list and divided it into five sections – use the drop-down menu above to navigate to the page you want. 01. Gravit Designer Gravit Designer delivers a full vector toolkit for free Platform: Online, PC, Mac, Linux, ChromeOSPreviously known as plain old Gravit, Gravit Designer is a full-featured vector design app suitable for all manner of jobs, from screen and icon designs through to presentations, illustration and animation. With a clean and intuitive interface that adjusts itself as you need it, this free graphic design software packs a wealth of tools for creating detailed and beautiful vector imagery, including non-destructive booleans, a knife tool and path graphs, plus multiple fills and blending modes, and a powerful text engine. It'll export as PDF, SVG or bitmap, and if you need to access a project on the go there's the Gravit Cloud service that enables you to get to your work wherever you are. 02. Vectr Vectr's online options make it great for live collaboration Platform: Online, Mac, Windows, Linux, ChromebookAvailable both as a browser-based web app and as a stand-alone desktop app, Vectr is a free editor for creating 2D vector graphics. With all the vector features you'd hope for, plus plenty of options for using filters, shadows and fonts, it's versatile enough for day-to-day design tasks. Particularly useful are its live collaboration and synchronisation options, which enabling you to hook up with anyone, anywhere, to create in tandem. 03. SVG-Edit Although SVG-Edit is limited to the SVG format it's surprisingly capable Platform: Web BrowserIf you're looking to quickly output SVG or edit an existing SVG file, there are a few online editors that will do the job just as well as Adobe Illustrator. SVG (scalable vector graphics) is an open format that allows you to reproduce your Vector drawings programmatically, and one of the nicest projects is SVG-Edit. This is built entirely on HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript without requiring any server-side processing. So not only can you use it to create and edit documents, but as it's open source you can also download and modify the code – making your own version if you want. The standard – albeit basic – toolset of every vector-image editor is here, and although it's limited to the SVG format it's surprisingly capable. 04. Inkscape Free graphic design software Inkscape has very good SVG integration Platform: Windows/Linux (Mac possible if you're technically minded)As with many of the free options available, Inkscape focuses on the SVG format as its primary file format. This highly capable editor has a very good SVG integration, supporting many of the more advanced features that aren't always available in other apps – such as alpha blending, cloned objects, and markers. Full support for different colour modes means this is a viable alternative to Illustrator for both print and web design, and although the interface is somewhat simpler than Illustrator, it's still possible to achieve extremely sophisticated artwork. Of particular note is the ability to trace bitmap images, support for variable width strokes and native import of Illustrator files. There are source binaries available for Windows, Linux and Mac, and compiled versions currently offered for Windows and Linux. Next page: Free image editing software 05. Photo Pos Pro Need to fix your photos? Photo Pos Pro can do that and more Platform: PCIf you're on PC and need a decent set of image editing tools without Photoshop's price tag or GIMP's immense toolset, Photo Pos Pro should hit your sweet spot. Built with image enhancement and editing in mind, it's perfect for typical photo editing tasks such as fixing contrast, lighting and saturation, but it'll also stretch to more advanced techniques. It boasts an extremely user-friendly interface as well as an in-depth help system to get you started, and if you want to expand its tools to fit your needs there are plenty of expansions and plugins available. 06. Krita Krita has been in development since 1999 Platform: Mac, Windows, LinuxDesigned with the VFX industry and concept artists, illustrators, matte and texture artists in mind, Krita is a free and open source painting tool that's been in development since 1999. It comes with a full set of brushes suitable for all manner of work, and there's a whole host of plugins available, from advanced filters to painting assistants for perspective work. Notable features include brush stabilisers to smooth out any shaky lines, a wrap-around mode for creating seamless textures and patterns, and a pop-up palette for quick colour-picking. 07. Pixlr Free graphic design software Pixlr comes with more than 600 effects Platform: iOS, AndroidFree graphic design software Pixlr claims to be 'the most popular online photo editor in the world'. It boasts more than 600 effects, overlays and borders, and lets you do all the main things you'd expect from a photo editor, from cropping and resizing to removing red-eye and whitening teeth. If you're used to using Photoshop, then you'll find Pixlr's user interface easy to pick up, as it's very similar. This free app is available in both iOS and Android varieties. 8. Paint.NET For photo editing, free graphic design software Paint.NET is an excellent alternative to Photoshop Platform: WindowsPaint.NET is a Windows-based alternative to the Paint editor that Microsoft shipped with versions of Windows. Don't let that put you off, though, as it's surprisingly capable, useful and free graphic design software. The focus is on ease of use, and there's a definite tendency towards photo editing rather than artistic creation. That said, there are a range of special effects available, allowing you to easily create fake perspective, blend and push pixels around the canvas, tile and repeat selections, and so on. A good range of selection tools, support for layers, and adjustments such as curves and brightness/contrast mean that Paint.NET is a great alternative to Photoshop for photo editing, especially if you can do without some of the more recent additions to Photoshop's toolset. 09. Sumo Paint Free graphic design software Sumo Paint works in the browser Platform: Web browser (requires Adobe Flash Player)Sumo Paint is a highly capable browser-based image editor. All the standard features you'd expect from a desktop tool are present and correct (and by buying the Pro version you can install a desktop version of the app if you prefer). You need the Adobe Flash Player to use this tool, so you're not going be using Sumo Paint on your iPad. That said, it's lightweight and quick to load, and the free version is very usable. The standard range of tools and adjustments you'd expect are all included. Brushes, pencils, shapes, text, cloning, gradients and so on are all quickly accessed from the Photoshop-esque floating toolbar. It can also open saved documents from your hard drive, making Sumo Paint a perfectly viable option for editing and reediting. 10. GIMP GIMP is a popular, free graphic design software alternative to Photoshop Platform: Linux, Windows, MacOpen-source free graphic design software that debuted on Unix-based platforms, GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. Today it's available in versions for Linux, Windows and Mac. GIMP's interface differs somewhat from Photoshop, but a version of GIMP is available that mimics Adobe's look and feel, making it easier to migrate over if you're ditching Photoshop. The full suite of tools is available here – everything you're accustomed to is within easy reach, including painting tools, colour correction, cloning, selection and enhancement. The team that oversees development has worked hard to ensure compatibility too, so you'll be able to work with all the popular file formats without any trouble at all. You'll also find a very capable file manager built in, along similar lines to Adobe's Bridge. Next page: Free 3D software 11. SketchUp Make 3D becomes much easier if you use SketchUp Platform: PC, MacFor getting your first foothold in the world of 3D, it's hard to go wrong with SketchUp, and its free version, Sketchup Make, is an ideal starting point. It provides a friendly and forgiving introduction to building stuff in 3D, starting you off by simply drawing lines and shapes that you can then push and pull around to turn them into 3D forms. If you need a bit of inspiration, you can search the SketchUp 3D Warehouse's immense library of models and download them for free. 12. Daz Studio 3D software Daz Studio is available to download completely free of charge Platform: Mac, WindowsDaz Studio is a 3D figure customisation, posing and animation tool that enables artists of all skill levels to creating digital art using virtual people, animals, props, vehicles, accessories and environments. With Daz Studio, you can create custom 3D characters and avatars, design virtual environments, produce graphic design elements and much more. There's also a handy table that shows you what this free tool offers in comparison to its paid alternatives (scroll down here). 13. Blender The superb animation Big Buck Bunny was made using free graphic design software tool Blender Platform: Mac, Windows, LinuxIf you're serious about 3D but struggling to afford software, then you're in luck. Blender is a free, open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems. Started by Blender Foundation founder Ton Roosendaal back in 2002, Blender is now largest open source tool for 3D creation. Its makers are constantly working on its development, but you can pretty much do anything 3D related with this software, including modelling, texturing, animation, rendering and compositing. 14. Sculptris Master the art of digital sculpting with Pixologic's free graphic design software Sculptris Platform: Mac, WindowsIf you're interested in the art of digital sculpting, check out 3D software Sculptris from Pixologic. Perfect for all skill levels, the software is a great starting point for users new to the discipline, while more experienced CG artists will find the software a quick and easy way to realise concepts. Sculptris is based on Pixologic's ZBrush, the most widely-used digital sculpting application in today's market. So, when you're ready to move on to the next level of detailing, skills learned in Sculptris can be directly translated into ZBrush. 15. Houdini Apprentice Get to grips with the Houdini graphic design software with this free Apprentice version Platform: Mac, Windows, LinuxHoudini is a 3D animation and visual effects tool, used widely throughout the media industry for film, broadcast, entertainment and visualisation. And its cheapest version costs just a little under $2000. But the makers of the programme – Side Effects Software – are a good bunch and, knowing that cost can be an issue, offer an Apprentice version for free. With this you can access all the features of the full version in order to develop your skills and work on personal projects. The programme is purely for use non-commercial and learning purposes. Free data visualisation software 16. Google Charts Display real live data with Google Charts Platform: Web browserGoogle chart tools are powerful, simple to use, and free. You can choose from a variety of charts and configure an extensive set of options to perfectly match the look and feel of your website. By connecting your data in real time, Google Charts is the perfect infographic generator for your website. 17. Vizualize.me Free graphic design software Vizualize.me hints at how resumes could look in the future Platform: Web browserIt was only a matter of time before an infographic resume generator turned up. With this you can visualise your resume in one click and also take a look at previous examples. Enabling people to express their professional accomplishments in a simple yet compelling personal visualisation, we think this is an option worth exploring. 18. Easel.ly Free graphic design software Easel.ly offers a dozen free templates to start you off Platform: Web browserThis free web-based infographic tool offers you a dozen free templates to start you off, all of which are easily customisable. You get access to a library of things like arrows, shapes and connector lines, and you can customise the text with range of fonts, colours, text styles and sizes. The tool also lets you upload your graphics and position them with one touch. 19. Infogram Create infographics for your website or to share on social media Platform: Web browserInfogram is a great free tool that offers access to a wide variety of graphs, charts and maps as well as the ability to upload pictures and videos to create cool infographics. The data upon which the infographics are based can be found in an Excel-style spreadsheet, which the user can easily edit and see the results change in real time. When you're happy with your infographic you can publish it to the Infogram website for all to enjoy, or embed it in to your own website or share it via social media. Next page: Other useful tools 20. Klex Klex is an easy-to-use way of banging out great designs quickly Platform: Online, PC, Mac, Linux, ChromeOSMade by the people behind Gravit Design, and sharing the same engine, Klex is an easy-to-learn and accessible tool for anyone who wants to create impressive graphics in just a few clicks. While obviously not aimed at pro designers, it's a perfect tool for anyone who wants to quickly bang out memorable designs. There's a plethora of ready-made templates to choose from, plus thousands of assets and a great selection of effects and filters, as well as customisation options and a load of fonts and text assets. 21. Expression Web 4 Expression Web is free graphic design software to download from Microsoft's website Platform: WindowsIf you're a PC user, Microsoft has made its Expression Web 4.0 software free of charge. There's no tech support available for free downloaders but its a pretty powerful alternative to likes of Dreamweaver that won't cost you a penny. In this article, illustrator, artist and graphic designer Stefan Lindblad explains why it offers an alternative worth investigating. 22. Google Fonts No list of great free graphic design software would be complete without Google FontsThe Google Web Fonts project – renamed Google Fonts – is an extensive catalogue of free and open source designer web fonts, presented in an intuitive directory. The initiative invites users to explore and test fonts in more than 135 languages, and create their own customised collections of font families. 23. Behance Sign up for Behance using either your email address or via your social networkWith millions of views each month, online creative community Behance is a key resource for artists of all disciplines. It's a fantastic way to see what your peers are up to, as well as finding new work and creative inspiration from top web designers and agencies. Find the best ways to get your work noticed on Behance here. 24. WordPress Create your own portfolio blog with WordpressThere are a whole lot of designers who don't have their own blog, but it's a great way to showcase your fantastic work, get recognition in your industry, earn extra income and get new clients. WordPress is the most popular platform for blogging, and while it can be a little fiddly to set up, there's lots of helpful information online to get you going. Check out these articles: Top WordPress resources Brilliant WordPress tutorials for designers Top free WordPress themes for designers 25. Dribbble Dribbble is a great source of inspiration as well as a designer's toolDribbble enables designers to share their creations easily, and is a good source of inspiration as well as a great way to promote your own work. Check out this article to find out which designers you should be following on Dribbble. Related articles: The best new graphic design tools of 2017 so far 15 tools every web designer needs in 2017 Review: Adobe Creative Cloud 2017 View the full article

Coloured pencils offer plenty of opportunities for blending. To get the most from them, we want to take advantage of their semi-transparent nature. Rather than relying upon the individual, flat colour of each pencil, we can mix them together to make things more dynamic. 10 sketching tips for beginnersHaving some knowledge of colour theory can be useful, but this is also a great opportunity to experiment! In this article, I'll show you how to blend coloured pencils in a drawing of a pear. I'll be using a complementary red applied over greens to darken and slightly neutralise the tone. 01. Draw the contour Textured paper is better for multiple layers of colourStart by drawing the contours of your subject in a light colour. It's a good idea to use the local colour on the pear, to hide the original drawing – graphite lines can remain visible and dirty the colour. Here, I'm working on a white vellum Bristol surface. When selecting your paper, aim for a weight of at least 250gsm, with a medium texture surface and a consistent grain. Smoother paper surfaces won't always take multiple layers of colour. 02. Hit the lights Bring in your lightest colours firstWe're working from light to dark, so the first stage is to identify the highlights and lightest tones, and establish a base colour that will mix with the layers applied on top. With light pressure and a sharp point, lay a warm yellow over all the pear except for the highlights. I've chosen a cool grey for the shadow at this stage. Avoid pressing so hard that the paper texture gets smoothed out, because this can effect how additional layers will go down. 03. Establish the local colour Next, apply colours that'll combine to create a local colourContinuing to work with a sharp pencil, apply the shades that will represent the pear's local colour – I'm using different shades of yellow-green and green. Looking at mid-tones, I can see the pear is a mixture of different colours, rather than a single, flat yellow-green. I then give the shadow another layer of colour, this time a warmer steel grey that combines with the original cool grey to create a more complex shade. 04. Add shadows and finishing touches Finish with shadows and darker partsFinally, I use a darker green, brown, and red-violet to define the core shadow and darker parts of the pear, and layers of blue-violet and dark brown to darken the shadow on the ground. Lighter colours (slightly grey versions of yellow-orange, yellow-green and blue-violet) have been applied over top. To finish, lightly use a white coloured pencil to lighten the tones. Check if any darks or mid-tones need to be reapplied in some areas. This article originally appeared in Paint & Draw issue 7; buy it here! Related articles: Drawing techniques: 7 fundamentals of pencil drawing How to start pastel drawing 10 beautiful pencil drawings to inspire you View the full article

Augmented reality has been around for a while now, but with the support of WebRTC (real-time communication), it is possible for users on Android and desktop devices to access a phone's camera. At present, iOS can't support this as it hasn't been implemented in the WebKit browser that powers Safari, but it is in development and you can check the status here. If you do have an iOS device, you don't have to miss out, as you can still use the webcam on your desktop computer. Note: To get this working on the mobile Chrome browser, the content must be served by a secure socket layer (i.e. over HTTPS rather than standard HTTP). Desktop currently works with regular HTTP though. To download the files you need for this tutorial, go to FileSilo, select Free Stuff and Free Content next to the tutorial.In this tutorial I'm going to show you how to place an augmented reality marker in front of a phone camera. This will be picked up by the browser and AR.js, and content will be mapped over the top in 3D, sticking to the AR marker. There are lots of possible uses for this technique. For example, you might want to create a simple 3D creative resume, and then the AR marker could be printed on your business card. Because you can walk around the marker, this is great for content that you might want to see from different angles – think of a certain Swedish furniture manufacturer giving you animated steps that can be viewed from any angle! There are so many possibilities that this can be useful for. 01. Add the libraries Start by linking up your project librariesOnce you've downloaded the tutorial files go to the project folder, open the start folder in your code editor and then open up the index.html file for editing. At this stage the libraries need to be linked up – and there are quite a few for this project! The libraries are in three sections: Three.js, JSARToolKit, and the Three.js extension for the ARToolKit and marker. 02. Take care of CSS styling In the head section of the page, add some script tags and drop in the style rules for the body and the canvas element. This ensures they are placed correctly on the page without the default margins added by the browser. 03. Add global variables In the body section of the page, add some script tags where the remaining JavaScript code for this tutorial will go. There are a number of variables needed: the first line is for Three.js, the second for the AR.js, the third for the model and then a variable to load the model. 04. Load the model Before the scene is set up the model will be loaded so that it can be displayed when markers are detected. This is scaled down by 10 to fit exactly onto the AR marker. The model is 10cm for the width and height, so the marker is 1cm which translates to 1 increment in Three.js. 05. Fix some display issues Still inside the Collada loading code, once the model is loaded there will be a couple of tubes that spin around so they are found in the Collada scene. The first tube is found and its material is grabbed. Here the material is set to just render on the inside of the model, not the outside. 06. Repeat the fix If the transparency and additive blending is not enabled, the model looks like this when loaded and displayed on top of the AR marker – not very exciting and barely visible! As in the last step, this same principle is repeated for the second tube and the blending mode, similar to those found in After Effects and Photoshop, is set to be an additive blend. This enables the outside of the pixels to have a softer transition to the camera image. 07. Final fix The last model is a spinning circle just at the middle of the design. This follows the same rules as before but doesn't render the back of the object, just the front. The opacity of each of these materials has been set to 90% just to make it slightly softer. Once the model is loaded the init function is called. 08. Initialise the scene The init function is set up and inside here the renderer settings are created. The renderer is using WebGL to give the fastest render speed to the content, and the background alpha value is set to transparent so that the camera image can be seen behind this. 09. Create the scene display The renderer is made to be the same size as the browser window and added to the Document Object Model of the page. Now an empty array is created that will store objects that must be rendered. A new scene is created so that content can be displayed inside of this. 10. Light up To be able to see content in the scene, just like in the real world, lights are needed. One is an ambient grey light while the directional light is a muted blue colour just to give a slight tint to the 3D content on display in the scene. Experiment with the lighting colours to give some different tintsNext: Finish up your AR marker 11. Lights, camera, action! With the lights added to the scene, the next part to set up is the camera. As previously with the lights, once created it has to be added into the scene to be used. This camera will auto align with the position of the webcam or phone camera through AR.js. 12. Set up AR.js Enabling the webcam means that both desktop webcam and the phone's camera can be used to view the contentNow AR.js is set up so that it takes the webcam as its input, it can also take an image or a prerecorded video. The AR toolkit is told to initialise and if it's resized it will match the same as the renderer on the HTML page. 13. Keep it together Because resizing is something that happens a lot with mobile screens, as the device can easily rotate to the point that it re-orientates, the browser window is given an event listener to check for resizing. This resizes the AR toolkit. 14. AR renderer The AR.js needs a context set up, calling the Three.JS extension to do so. Here it takes the camera data file, which is included in the data folder, and detects at 30 frames per second with the canvas width and height set up for it. 15. Get the camera data The AR toolkit is initialised now and the camera in the WebGL scene gets the same projection matrix as the input camera from the AR toolkit. The AR toolkit is pushed into the render queue so that it can be displayed on the screen every frame. 16. Match the marker The markerRoot is a group that will be used to match the shape in augmented reality. It's first added to the scene, then this is used along with the AR toolkit to detect the pattern, which is also located in the data folder. 17. Add the model Here the tubes and discs spin, while the hexagon in the centre moves up and downBack in the early steps a model was loaded and stored in the variable of the model. This is added to the markerRoot group from the previous frame. The model had some specific elements within it that are going to be animated every frame. They are also pushed into the render queue. 18. Finish the init function The renderer is told to render the scene with the camera every frame by adding it into the render queue, which is the array set up in step 9. The animate function is called, and this will render every frame to display content. The closing bracket finishes and closes the init function. 19. Just keep going The animate function is created now and uses the browser's requestAnimationFrame, which is a call to repaint before the screen is drawn. This continues to call itself, and the browser attempts to call this function at 60 frames per second. 20. Timing issues Mobile browsers sometimes find it difficult to reach 60 frames per second with different apps running. Here timing is worked out so that the screen is updated based on timing. This means if frames drop, it looks much smoother. 21. Finish it up This is the image that will be detected by the camera as an AR marker; as you can see it shares some similarities with a QR marker, which you might be familiar withFinally each of the elements in the render queue are now rendered to the screen. Save the page and view this from a https server on mobile or a regular http server on desktop, print the supplied marker and hold it in front of the camera to see the augmented content. This article originally appeared in Web Designer issue 262; buy it here! Related articles: Top tips for scaling up AR apps in 2017 The VR web is here Mock up AR graphics with After Effects View the full article

It has been a sweltering summer in the UK so far, but these cool new 3D art releases should help any artist get through the heat in July. 01. Premiere Pro Pond5 plugin Adobe Premiere CC’s Pond5 plugin allows stock footage to be found and inserted easily into an editors timelineAdobe Premiere CC has introduced a plugin for stock footage and template company Pond5. The add-on enables artists to access Pond5’s massive library of HD and 4K video, music tracks and sound effects – all of which can searched based on price, duration, resolution or frame rate – without leaving Premiere. Footage can be dragged directly into the timeline, and once the client has approved the footage, the watermarked version is automatically updated. 02. Ignite Express Ignite Express comes with over 80 VFX, grading and editing plugins
The newly released VFX plugin suite HitFilm Express is getting a little brother. Ignite Express has over 90 plugins, which work in a wide range of applications – Adobe After Effects, Premiere, Fusion and Final Cut to name but a few. Included are tools for grading, keying and VFX. And the best thing is that Ignite Express is completely free. 03. Oculus Rift Price drop Oculus has reduced the price of its complete VR and controller bundle to £399Although those of us who bought the full-price Oculus Rift bundle may be smarting at the news, there’s no denying the new limited-time offer of £399 for the Rift and Touch controllers is a great deal. While VR aficionados may speculate that this as a sign of the rising popularity of the HTC Vive, remember that Oculus has the vast resources of Facebook behind it, so profit may not be the driving factor – this could be a way for the company to get an Oculus Rift into everyone’s living room. All we need is for Oculus to confirm it will follow HTC in developing its software for Mac. 04. Hybrid rendering in V-Ray 3.6 V-Ray Hybrid is an all new implementation of V-Ray that can make use of all your computer’s resourcesIn the latest release of V-Ray 3.6 for 3D Studio Max, Chaos group has added V-Ray hybrid rendering. V-Ray hybrid rendering combines the computer’s CPU and GPU power to speed up rendering times compared to using either on its own. While this is separate from the V-Ray Production render (which is CPU-based), having a hybrid render engine from V-Ray could be transformative for many artists. 05. Modo 11.1 Modo 11.1 comes with many enhancements, including a new Unreal Engine bridgeThe latest release of Modo has just been made available. New features include a new Bridge to Unreal engine, which enables artists to push elements or entire scenes into Unreal from Modo. This can be updated as revisions are made, and even works across a network – which means, for example, a Modo artist could push work to an Unreal artist on another machine. Modelling workflows have also been improved – notable enhancements include a revamped Topology pen and an easier-to-use Loop tool. 06. RED HYDROGEN 
 The Red Hydrogen could mark a new revolution in mobile technologyRED has long been recognised as one of the world’s leading creators of digital cinema cameras. It has gained a reputation for championing new technologies years before anybody else, from 4K in 2006 through to its latest announcement: the HYDROGEN phone. Pre-orders start at $1,195, and for that you get a modular device that has the potential of becoming a full shoulder-mounted camera. Oh, and then there is the holographic display! This could be a game-changer of a device. 07. Canon EOS 6D Mark II The Canon 6D Mark II packs many great improvements into the familiar 6D shapeThe Canon 6D offered an inexpensive way for many photographers to get into full frame photography. With the release of the Canon 6D Mark II, Canon has vastly improved the number of focus points to 45, and created an all-new 26.2 MP sensor. One of the biggest changes to the otherwise similar exterior is the 3” articulating touchscreen. While video stays at HD only, it does have Canon’s excellent Dual Pixel AF focus. 08. DJI Spark The DJI Spark is aimed at novice and enthusiast flyers
DJI has become dominant within the drone market due to its easy to fly and continually evolving drone models. The Spark is the latest drone from DJI, aimed primarily at the novice and casual flier with its 1080p camera and two-directional gimbal. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be used to shoot great video: the Spark has many of the flight controls of the bigger Mavic and Phantom Pro drones, bundled into an airframe not much bigger than an iPhone. 09. Golaem 6 released Golaem 6 brings many enhancements to the Maya population pluginAutodesk Maya population plugin maker Golaem has have just released version 6 of its easy to use software, and with it comes some exciting updates. Characters now have custom AI abilities, making them perceive and react to the scene more realistically. There are also new emit and kill behaviours, a new behaviour for traffic simulation, and enhancements to the bundled Golaem Layout tool. The best thing is that a PLE for Golaem 6 is available for free, so artists can find out more about this amazing plugin. For further inspiration, check out our list of mighty Maya tutorials. 10. ZBrush 4R8 now shipping The new Gizmo 3D tool enables you to move multiple subtools at onceZBrush 4R8 is now shipping and is being offered as as a free update to existing users. A new Gizmo 3D tool, along with the ability to transform multiple subtools at once, makes the new ZBrush a lot easier to pick up for users coming from a more traditional 3D background. New deformation modifiers, live booleans and interactive primitives will also help artists create amazing 3d models. The interface has been given a much-needed tidy up, too. Read more: The VFX behind 72 grisly Game of Thrones deaths Marvellous monsters inside the new issue of 3D World Animator nails 100 walks in this reference video View the full article

Whether you want to build simple portfolio page or an online store, WordPress is a great option. Give your site the exact look and functionality it needs with professionally crafted WordPress themes from TeslaThemes. Get lifetime access for just $39 (approx. £30). TeslaThemes is well known for its high quality WordPress themes. These expert designers have crafted more than 60 incredible themes and are always adding new options. You'll be able to make use of any of these themes anytime you want with lifetime access. You'll even get full HTML documentation, step-by-step instructions, plugins, and customisable PDF themes to make them work exactly how you need. If you want a lifetime’s worth of the expert craftsmanship of TeslaThemes, you can get it now for 84% off. That means you pay just $39 (approx. £30). It's a great price for a must-have resource for any web designer, so grab it today! View the full article

Chances are, if you were on the internet at all yesterday, you probably saw the news that the new Doctor Who leading actor was revealed. Announced after a tortuously long dissection of the preceding Wimbledon final, Jodie Whittaker was officially crowned as the 13th Doctor, picking up where Peter Capaldi leaves off. It's a bit of an understatement to say that the news caused a stir online. Some fans of Doctor Who, the show that can go anywhere and do anything, were left baffled and frustrated that the programme tried something new. Others however were over the moon at the wonderful news. And because Doctor Who fans are a passionate bunch, it wasn't long until the fan art started pouring in. They might only have had a few seconds of footage of the new Time Lady to work with, but that didn't stop artistic fans whipping up some fantastic artwork. We've rounded up some of our favourite pieces which you can browse below by clicking to the left or right. Roll on the Christmas special! View the full article

Micro Machines collector Tim Smith has turned his obsession with the 80s miniature toy cars into an online showroom for the enjoyment of other fans and collectors. The labour of love, called Micro But Many, is based on Smith's own collection of some 1,000-plus Micro Machines toys, with each one lovingly photographed to show off their intricate detailing. Smith, who also heads up ustwo Auto – a digital product agency that looks at design challenges around cars – has a long history with Micro Machines toys, having collected them as a child. With Micro But Many, he's keen to see if other people share his fascination with the miniature motors. "Given most Micro Machines are modelled on real cars, I’m hoping the site will appeal to collectors, car enthusiasts and children of the 80s and 90s in general," he explains. The online showroom displays the cars at their best thanks to close-up photographs. Visitors can learn more about the different models, including their scale, rarity, toy brand and more by clicking on the photographic tiles on the homepage. Alternatively, if you're looking for a half-remembered toy from your childhood, you can search through the cars by entering unique characteristics into the search tool. Each car is photographed in exquisite detailThe nostalgia trip is bittersweet for Smith, though, who as a boy built up his collection by hook or by crook. "They were expensive for a small boy, but thanks to playground swapping and thieving, I managed to amass about a hundred of the things," he reveals. "One day my 'friend', Mark Baldwin, offered to buy them all from me for a measly 50p. He could sense my desperation to buy a stainless steel Teenage Mutant Ninja/Heroes Turtle coin I saw for sale in Woolworths. I accepted his offer. "I regret that decision to this day. Over the past few years though, I have recommenced my collecting and now have over 1,100 of the burglar prevention tool used by Macauley Culkin so effectively." Micro Machines were famous for stopping burglars in Home AloneNew cars will be added over time, but with Smith's collection falling well short of the more than 6,000 Micro Machines models, he's going to need your help. So if you've got any Micro Machines toys knocking around in an attack or under-stairs cupboard, be sure to dig them out and arrange a swap. If you've got a model Smith's after, you might even be able to make some money in the process. Related articles: Is your design retro… or just dated? 5 outrageous product placements in movies 14 great places to sell your design work online View the full article

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At Creative Bloq, we get sent a lot of infographics by PRs in the hope that our coverage will help them go viral. There’s nothing wrong with that, but in all honesty, most of them aren’t particularly well designed. And with the increasing availability of easy-to-use infographic tools we suspect some have been created by marketing folks with no actual design training. To right the balance and show the world what a great infographic actually looks like, we’ve rounded up seven brilliant examples of the discipline created by leading design agencies. 01. Flag Stories by Ferdio Most flags are based on a simple formula of colours, symbols and layouts, as this 3D visualisation highlightsCopenhagen design studio Ferdio is seriously into its flags. So it decided to let its data visualisation skills loose on a side project, and Flag Stories is the result. This mega-infographic compares the design of the world’s flags according to a variety of criteria, including colour choices (and what they symbolise), shapes (used and their complexity), age, similarities and more. These carefully considered visualisations are simple, imaginative and in places quite beautiful. After all, who wouldn’t love ‘Flag Tetris’? 02. The Evolution of Hip-hop by Sub Rosa The intricate interconnections of hip-hop’s history are set out in this lovingly created infographic Sub Rosa is an independent strategy and design practice based in New York that produces a biannual publication called La Petite Mort, which receives a small print run of 5,000 as well as appearing online. For last year’s edition, junior designer Jessi Brattengeier showcased her smarts by mapping out the 37-year history of hip-hop. The result is a striking monochrome infographic that makes perfect sense of all chaos and complexity that story entails. A great example of how to harness visual hierarchy to make complex information easier to navigate, you can view the chart in full on page 54 of the magazine, which can be downloaded for free here. 03. Call to Prayer by Corporation Pop This striking but effective infographic was created for Channel 4 [click the icon in the top right to enlarge the image] Infographics don’t have to be complex or information-heavy to be effective, and here’s a great example. With Channel 4 running a special season to mark the Muslim festival of Ramadan, it asked Manchester-based digital agency Corporation Pop to create suitable branding. This included an infographic highlighting the dos and don’ts of the festival, which is shown in its entirety above. Okay, this is certainly the simplest infographic on this lust. But it’s also an eye-catching, upbeat and strikingly original design, which makes clever use of colour and Islamic-inspired, geometric art to draw the viewer in. 04. A Month in a Design Agency by Paper Leaf Paperleaf indulged in some radical honesty about its operations for this infographic Now for an infographic by an agency, about an agency. Paperleaf is a design firm based in Edmonton, Canada who describe themselves as “big proponents of open, honest communication”. So much so that they created this revealing infographic about how they operated across a typical month in business. Stats covered include how many billable hours the team put in, what proportion of their time was spent on breaks, and the value of contracts they won and lost. And it’s all gorgeously designed, with big, bold typography and a striking red, blue and black colour scheme. You can view the infographic in full here. 05. Waste Matters by Pentagram Pentagram harnessed its infographic smarts to visualise data about water management in New York Global design studio Pentagram is known for its award-winning work for glamorous clients and big brands. So you wouldn’t necessarily expect them to be the people behind an infographic about urinals and sewage. But when they were approached by the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) to visualise guidelines for efficient water use throughout the city, they took the challenge head on. The result is Water Matters: A Design Manual for Water Conservation in Buildings. This crams a ton of information into its 289 pages, but thanks to clever use of colour coding and beautifully designed infographics, all that information is easy to find and to digest. A masterclass in rendering a dull subject engaging and enlightening. You can download the PDF for free and check it out here. 06. USAFacts by Artefacts This mega-infographic breaks down what the US government is doing It’s difficult to hold your government to account unless you’re able to effectively work out what it’s doing. That’s the thinking behind this $10 million project from Steve Ballmer and Seattle design studio Artefact. USAFacts sets out to convey big government statistics in a way that’s easy for a normal person to understand. The visualisations on the site use bright colours, highly legible typography and basic charting structures that the average person can follow, and the result is a great deal more engaging and user-friendly than most government websites we’ve experienced. Anyone planning to visualise a large amount of data online would be well advised to check it out. 07. The Happy Chart by Sagmeister Inc This oversized infographic examined the nature of happinessSo far we’ve covered infographics that appear online, in PDF form and on the printed page. But we’ll finish with one that covered the wall of an exhibition. Curated by Stefan Sagmeister, CEO of New York studio Sagmeister & Walsh, the Happy Show was held at the ICA Philadelphia, and billed as an in-depth exploration of the nature of happiness. Illustrated by Verena Michelitsch under the creative direction of Sagmeister and the art direction of Jessica Walsh, these oversized vinyl prints share facts and figures about happiness and relationships across age groups, genders and sexual orientations. The retro feel and tongue-in-cheek attitude strike the perfect tone, and help to convey a series of quite serious points in a fun and accessible way. You can see the infographic’s constituent parts in detail here. View the full article

If you've just woken up, we can only apologise for subjecting you to one of the most colourful and flamboyant fonts we've ever come across. But if you feel like putting your eyes through their paces, meet Electra. Created by Argentinian freelance designer Yai Salinas, Electra is a free-for-personal-use OpenType font that takes its inspiration from the gaudy and over-the-top 1980s. Are you up to the challenge of making this font work?That's not to say that Electra hasn't got a sense of style, and it certainly doesn't do things by halves. The all-caps font (because when your design is this balls-out why would you waste your time with lowercase wallflowers?) comes with numbers, alternates and symbols, plus it's available to download for commercial use if you sling a small donation Salinas' way. While other fonts mail it in by just relying on a unique letter shape, Electra makes clever use of colour, pattern and texture to deliver a truly individual typeset that could work as camouflage gear to help you blend into a Jackson Pollock painting. Elektra is available in three vivid styles, each with slight variations in pattern and colour. These different styles make the font more flexible to help you accommodate its bombastic aesthetic into your work. Scroll through the gallery below to explore the different versions. Read more: 50 best free fonts for designers 82 top-quality typography tutorials The 24 best free cursive fonts View the full article

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Siemens patches four vulnerabilities, including a critical authentication bypass flaw, in its SiPass integrated access control server. View the full article

Soft pastels are a great medium to work with, because they enable you to draw and paint at the same time. You hold the stick of pigment in your hand and apply it directly on to the surface. The results are immediate and tactile. There's no drying time to hold you back, or brushes to swap around. Brand new to pastels? Read How to get started with pastel drawing In this article I'm going to show you how to create a pastel landscape, making the best use of the varied types and grades of pastel that are available. 01. Pick the right pastels You need rich, pure pastels to create depth in your landscapeFor this painting I want to capture the feeling of distance in the landscape by varying colour and tone. I need the rich and pure pigments of quality pastels, such as Unison, to go from saturated colours in the foreground to soft hues in the distance, with lights, mediums and darks of each colour. 02. Create a tonal sketch A quick sketch helps you focus on the tones in your paintingTo focus on the tonal recession in the view, I do a sketch in charcoal and white pastel on neutral grey paper. I can see how the biggest contrast of light and dark is in the foreground, with soft grey mid-tones in the distance. This exercise helps me keep calm when I start to deal with colours. 03. Test your colour choices Experiment with your colours before going to workThinking of tonal recession, I pick the pastels from the box and test each one by making marks on a sheet, hatching to combine them. By hatching the marks and letting the integrity of each colour show, I'm able to produce lively mixes. Experimenting with colour choices first means I can paint later with confidence. 04. Start in the distance Smudge the distant hills so they're subtle and mutedUsing light blue, lilac/grey and cream, I sketch in the sky and far distant hills, using the pastels on their side, applying several layers and softening and smudging constantly with my fingers. These hills have to be subtle, soft and muted. By smudging the sky colours down into the hills I can make them appear even more distant. 05. Create atmosphere Mix your shades as you go along, so they all intermingleI introduce a soft grey/blue for the next hill, but still mixing and blending softly with the lilac and cream. I take each colour further down into the picture, so that they all intermingle and are related. I then hint at light greens and yellows for the far fields, dusting these into the blue hill to give it form. 06. Move to the mid-ground Bring in warmer tones and stronger marks for the foreground fieldsIn the foreground the colours can become warmer, with yellows and greens growing progressively richer as they get closer to the viewer. Time for some stronger marks – there's no need to smudge so much now. If a colour looks too strong, I use the cooler distance colours to knock it back. I lay down some energetic marks for the foreground base. 07. Introduce the foreground darks The foreground trees require sharper, more energetic marksSketch the foreground trees using sharper, more defined marks and darker shades of browns and greens. I use a deep brown for the foreground and a softer greyer brown for the middle distance. I also have a warmer red/brown for the very front of the picture, to emphasise the tonal recession. I use energetic marks rather than detail at this stage. 08. Create intensity Hatch the foreground details in more saturated coloursNow the fun really starts, as I introduce a collection of more vibrant, saturated colours to enrich the field in the foreground by hatching these on as long grasses, without any smudging, I create a vibrant mix of hues and tones that blend optically. Blues, yellows, orange and warm brown are a contrast to the cooler distance. 09. Add hatching and highlights Hatch in some final lights to add a bit of sparkleTo bring the piece together, I hatch lighter areas to describe the curve of the field, and detail among the trees. I add lighter patches of yellow between the trees, and shadows and lights to the trunks. The joy of using good-quality pastels is that you can apply lights over deep darks to add sparkle. This article originally appeared in Paint & Draw issue 7; buy it here! Related articles: Create a striking wildlife image with pastel How to fix your finished pastel artwork View the full article

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