Adobe Bloghttps://blog.adobe.com/2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Zhttps://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/10/12/use-braindate-at-max-authentic-connections-networking-made-easy.htmlUse Braindate at MAX — Authentic connections and networking made easy2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
Use Braindate at MAX — Authentic connections and networking made easy
By MAX Events Team
Posted on 10-12-2021
You come to Adobe MAX. You meet other creatives. You share ideas and inspiration. You make new friends. You create new business relationships. But it’s tough to find time to connect, and traditional networking can be challenging.
And now — in the virtual world — it gets even harder.
Braindate is an in-person conversation experience that will help you find and start discussions with other MAX creatives.
No presentations. No sales pitches. Braindates are conversations giving you direct access to your fellow attendees’ collective wisdom. It’s a platform where you’ll engage in authentic, open conversations about specific areas of knowledge and real-world experiences.
Covering topics that can be professional or personal, Braindate lets you connect with peers and share what’s on your mind, what you’re passionate about, what challenges you’re facing, what best practices you’ve been following — pretty much anything.
Using Braindate, you can post topics that you’d like to discuss related to your expertise or interests. Then you can browse the market and book time to join others for 20-45 minute conversations — including ones from some of MAX’s favorite product and industry experts. Choose who you’ll learn from and meet virtually, on the Braindate platform.
It’s easy. Just register for MAX and you’ll be able to log in to Braindate. Then you can post topics — things you want to learn about or knowledge you can share — or use your access to the Topic Market to browse other attendees’ Braindate offerings. Keep checking back, new topics get added all the time. Your confirmed Braindates show up on your MAX schedule, and — when it’s time to connect — just head to the Braindate platform to start your virtual meeting.
Good conversations, fresh connections, education, fun — Braindate at MAX makes it happen.
]]>https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/10/12/mother-earths-beauty-with-natgeo-explorer-dell-ambassador-mike-libecki.htmlExploring Mother Earth’s beauty with NatGeo Explorer and Dell Ambassador Mike Libecki2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
Exploring Mother Earth’s beauty with NatGeo Explorer and Dell Ambassador Mike Libecki
By Matthew Allard
Posted on 10-12-2021
During the upcoming Adobe MAX 2021 event, famed National Geographic Explorer and Dell Ambassador, Mike Libecki will host a virtual session with a behind the scenes look at his recent explorations. While the pandemic may have hindered Libecki’s excursions, once it was safe, he started traveling again and shared with us insights from his recent visit to Alaska as well as how he hopes his work will continue to impact lives.
Changing the world one expedition at a time
Having completed more than 85 expeditions, Libecki’s recent adventure not only tackled new terrain, but allowed him to continue his microplastics research, the study of plastic debris smaller than a millimeter found in our oceans and lakes. According to a recent report, studies show that up to 80 percent of the oceans litter consists of plastic. Libecki and his longtime friend, expedition partner and scientist Abby Barrows, are working together to solve and decrease the accumulation of plastics in our oceans and on land, an important feat they can’t do alone.
“We are grateful for the team that is supporting us on this journey,” said Libecki, “It wouldn’t be possible without our partners — Dell Technologies, Adidas, and Goal Zero Solar — and so many others for their support.”
While many of his excursions focus on exploring remote and untouched places on the planet, Libecki is using his most recent adventure to better our planet. The best part about his lifestyle is being in the field and working with so many amazing people, including his daughter. Not only is he fighting for the oceans, but he and his daughter began a humanitarian project in India (501c3, joyfund.org), in partnership with Dell, to help make the world a better place. When it comes to his travels and projects, his favorite adventures include his daughter who has traveled to over 28 countries with him.
Traveling during a pandemic
Like for many of us, Libecki’s job was impacted during the pandemic. Travel restrictions caused him to cancel and rearrange upcoming expeditions. Being on the move 24/7, Libecki learned patience and optimism during a rough year and was able to spend as much time with his family and friends as he could.
“I have never been home for so long at one time,” Libecki said. “I love the time I’ve spent, but I am really excited to start traveling and doing these important expeditions again. The second-best part of traveling is bringing home the stories to share with the world.”
Without Libecki and his excursions, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to view those remote, untouched locations from the convenience of our homes. Thanks to his Dell Latitude Rugged, we’ve had the opportunity to experience Antarctica, Greenland, Baffin Islands, and more, through the lens of Libecki and his technology.
Technology in the great outdoors
Of course, we all know the pain we have when it comes to the outside world and technology, when you need something to work, it doesn’t. Without the technological advances we have today, Libecki wouldn’t be able to carry out the research he’s doing to help save our oceans from the plastic crisis, and share these findings with the world through research, photo, and video footage.
“Dell Latitude Rugged has been a major part of our expedition equation,” Libecki said. “I have tested and used it on dozens of very demanding expeditions in the harshest climates — rain, mud, extreme cold — you name it, I’ve done it. We rely on it for a successful expedition.”
On top of the Dell Latitude Rugged, Libecki says he can’t go on an excursion without making sure he has hard drives, photo, and video cameras (including virtual reality), satellite communications, drones, and for those times he needs to relax, audio books.
While pre-production is important, Libecki doesn’t forget to thank his post-production equipment, Dell Precision mobile and desktop workstations and his Adobe Creative Cloud apps for creating photo, video, and virtual reality experiences.
“If we can bring these stories home, and create any kind of emotion with them, I really feel like we can be a voice for our planet, and people will start to care more and make better choices for our planet,” Libecki said. “Without the best tech, these goals are not possible. Again, so much gratitude for the amazing teamwork and partners that make this all possible!”
What’s next?
Libecki is looking forward to representing Dell and speaking at Adobe MAX 2021. One of many sessions, Libecki will be speaking to the magic, power and beauty of our planet and people he has met along the way while delving into film making, showcasing behind the scenes footage, and much more.
“Having this opportunity and representing Dell showcases the trust in our partnership and why teamwork is important,” Libecki said. “Being an ambassador has provided me the opportunity to do a number of expeditions and showcase my work without losing any data thanks to the Dell Latitude Rugged.”
If there’s one thing Libecki doesn’t stray from its his emphasis on teamwork, while he may be the face of many of his expeditions, Libecki will remind you that none of this would be possible without his partners behind the scenes. Having worked with many of them for years, he has made lifelong friends and believes his friendships have led to the highest quality of success possible.
Libecki ends our conversation stating, “It is not only life, but the quality of life.”
]]>https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/10/12/adobe-stock-artist-development-fund-congratulates-new-recipients.htmlAdobe Stock Artist Development Fund congratulates new recipients2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
Adobe Stock Artist Development Fund congratulates new recipients
By Irene Malatesta
Posted on 10-12-2021
Today we are pleased to congratulate the fourth group of recipients selected for the Artist Development Fund, a $500,000 creative commission program from Adobe Stock: Matelli Graves, Jerilyn Guerrero, Simi Jois, Kei Mongari, Phatthranit Osman, Cheryl Thuesday, and Lisa Weatherbee.
Adobe Stock selects artists for recognition and funding based on their application proposals and their demonstrated ability to create visuals from the perspective of their own regional, ethnic, and lifestyle communities. Working with global artists from different backgrounds helps us get closer to our goal: expanding and maintaining a truly inclusive, world-class stock collection that authentically represents all of us and inspires creators worldwide.
The Adobe Stock Advocates program is part of our commitment to supporting and promoting accurate, inclusive representation in stock imagery, and we have invested $500,000 in an Artist Development Fund especially targeted to help self-identifying artists from underrepresented communities explore ambitious new projects, offsetting up-front costs like hiring models, renting spaces, and equipment.
In collaboration with the Adobe Creative Residency program, Adobe Stock is awarding $12,500 each to 40 selected artists as they undertake new projects focused on accurately depicting their diverse communities and unique experiences in a visually fresh, inclusive way. Applications will remain open for a few more days, so there is still time to learn more and apply.
Meet the latest Artist Development Fund recipients
Credit Matelli Graves.
Matelli Graves
Matelli Graves is a fashion and portrait photographer and cinematographer, based in Columbus, Ohio. Self-taught, he began shooting photos and video for friends, then decided to focus on a career in image-making. His work for clients such as Dior, Tommy Hilfiger, VSCO, ASOS, Henri Bendel, and others exudes confidence and cool.
For Adobe Stock, he focuses his lens on Black hair — specifically, cornrows. “Cornrows have been used in African culture for thousands of years to show status, then transition to holding food for Africans when they were transported to the States,” he says. “Now you’re seeing cornrows being used in fashion all over the world.” His project takes inspiration from the history, culture, and expressions of community through hair braiding and styling.
Credit: Jerilyn Guerrero.
Jerilyn Guerrero
Jerilyn Guerrero is a CHamoru and Filipino multidisciplinary illustrator and designer based in Los Angeles, CA. Born on the island of Guam, her experience growing up on her native island and her time spent in New Jersey and California combine in the different lenses that she uses to view life and develop creative work.
Jerilyn’s art celebrates self-reflection and self-sovereignty. For her Artist Development Fund project, she responds to the Celebration of Self creative brief. She says, “My images are an extension of the theme I’m next exploring in my illustration work, which is, ‘Growing through joy’. I communicate different ways a person may tend to themselves with more care and grace, to nurture the peace and joy in their lives.”
Credit: Simi Jois.
Simi Jois
Maitreyi “Simi” Jois is a culinary photographer and stylist based in Chicago, IL. Inspired by the ingredients, spices, and dishes from her own kitchen, she aims to share the rich flavors of her Indian heritage through bold, immersive images.
For her Artist Development Fund project, Simi responds to the Taste of Heritage creative brief. “As a woman of color,” she says, “I want to share my personal narrative as a first-generation immigrant. But it isn’t just my story to tell. I use my camera to capture stories from members of my diaspora: people who preserve culinary traditions while creating beautiful new ones in Indian-American homes.”
Simi believes that her love for creating unique flavors deeply informs her passion for culinary optics. Her work has been featured on MSN, Better Homes, theKitchn, The Hindu Newspaper, and more.
Credit: Kei Mogari.
Kei Mogari
Kei Mogari is an illustrator living in Tokyo, Japan. Her creative work includes book design, corporate collaborations, stationary, and character design, in Japan and abroad. She won the longlist for the AOI World Illustration Award in 2021.
Inspired by the Family Life creative brief, Kei’s project for Adobe Stock will consider the various forms and roles of family through illustrations. “There are many forms of family, with or without blood ties,” she says. “Ideally, everyone should have a happy family surrounded by love, but the reality is different.”
Credit: Phatthranit Osman.
Phatthranit Osman
Phatthranit Osman (also known as “Biruoh”) is a UI/UX designer and illustrator from Thailand, currently based in Cork, Ireland. Since childhood, Biruoh has been inspired by video games, and drawn to color as a way of expressing mood and emotion.
Deeply invested in raising awareness about the importance of diversity and helping others, she often spends her time creating art tutorials and guides, which she shares with her followers online. In her project for Adobe Stock, she is exploring gender identities and diverse people in everyday situations, influenced by her personal experiences growing up in rural Southeast Asia, rendered in her colorful, holographic style.
Credit: Cheryl Thuesday.
Cheryl Thuesday
Cheryl Thuesday (also known as “Ras”) is an illustrator originally from South London, England. At an early age, her family moved to the United States and settled in a small town in New Jersey. Later, she attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where she learned to marry fine arts with commercial artistry. Her Caribbean and Asian heritage influences her color choices throughout her illustrations. She has created artwork for companies and publications including the New York Times, NPR, Hewlett-Packard, and others.
Her commission for Adobe Stock is inspired by the Identity and Gender creative brief, and her perspective on stable and healthy relationships. “When it comes to illustrations of LGBTQ families and the older generation, there is not much,” she says. “I am a Black lesbian who is getting married and potentially would like to start a family. These illustrations would be a testament of my journey and others who are either on that path or has already started the process.”
Credit: Lisa Weatherbee.
Lisa Weatherbee
Lisa Weatherbee is a portrait and lifestyle photographer living in New York, NY. She is highly conscious of the power that photography and media imagery have to shape the way we see ourselves and each other. An experienced photographer for brands, advertising, and stock, her past clients include Apple, Canon USA, Cavan Images, Citibank, Madewell, The New York Times, and others.
For her Artist Development Fund project, Lisa will explore family and identity. “Throughout my career, my work has been about inclusiveness, diversity, and depicting humans and families in ways that feel real,” she says. “I believe that representation matters, and that belief stems from a childhood where I didn’t always see myself reflected in the media images around me. I grew up wanting to change that. My images show families of all shapes and sizes, expanding and breaking down gender norms.”
]]>https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/10/12/work-with-pdf-files-right-in-your-browser.htmlWork with PDF files right in your browser2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
Work with PDF files right in your browser
By Adobe Acrobat Team
Posted on 10-12-2021
Opening a new application on your computer or searching for a web app for PDF editing can be a hassle, especially when you’re in a hurry. And the native default PDF viewer in your web browser has limited functionality, allowing you only to view or download PDF files.
But the Adobe Acrobat extension for Google Chrome, allows you to effortlessly comment on, mark up, fill in, and sign PDFs, and more — all right from your browser window.
Download the Acrobat extension for free to unlock the power of PDF tools in Chrome where you need them most and go beyond simply viewing and downloading. You’ll save time and energy by filling out, signing, and marking up your documents quickly, without skipping a beat or switching applications.
Already have the Acrobat Chrome PDF viewer downloaded? Open Chrome and follow these simple steps to enable your extension and set it as your default PDF viewer in your browser’s content settings.
Intuitive online PDF tools for everyone
When you are viewing a PDF online, sometimes you need to sign it digitally, add a comment, and send it back. If you’re not already an Adobe Acrobat user, you can open PDFs and view them with your internet browser’s native PDF reader — but you can’t do other important tasks.
To solve this issue, install the Acrobat extension and use the world’s most trusted PDF solution to edit the document right in your browser. No matter what types of PDFs you work with, the Acrobat extension has tools to make life easier.
Business and financial documents — Comment on annual reports, white papers, spreadsheets, brochures, and marketing materials
Educational documents — Adjust text documents, school assignments, presentations, eBooks, and lesson plans
Small business documents — Review and mark up menus, catalogs, newsletters, business plans, lookbooks, and invitations
Personal documents — Fill out and sign itineraries, medical forms, and service agreements
Try these Acrobat tools for free
The Acrobat extension for Chrome will allow you to open PDF files, download or print them, add comments, and fill and sign them for free — no subscription necessary.
Add comments, markups, or highlights
Whether you’re a student taking notes on lecture slides or a teacher giving feedback on an assignment, adding comments, markups, drawings, text, and highlights to PDF documents is quick and easy with the Acrobat extension.
Fill out fields and add an e-signature
From purchase agreements and waivers to employment contracts and lease agreements, Chrome users can easily fill out the form fields in a PDF and add an e-signature without leaving the browser.
Access more features with a free trial
With a free 7-day trial or Adobe Acrobat Pro DC subscription, you can do even more with your Acrobat Chrome extension.
Convert a PDF to a Microsoft Word doc
It’s time-consuming and messy to copy and paste content from a PDF into a new document. Instead, use the Acrobat extension as a document converter, transforming a PDF into a Microsoft Word doc right in the browser without losing formatting.
Convert web pages to PDFs
See something on the web that you would like to turn into a PDF? You can convert web pages into PDF files by clicking the Acrobat icon on your Chrome toolbar. Acrobat preserves the layout, formatting, and links of captured pages.
Rotate, delete, or reorder PDF pages
Trying to read a PDF brochure or menu online and it’s showing up sideways? Rotate it in an instant with your Acrobat extension. Want to change the order of pages on a PDF document or delete a page before you send it to your coworker? Do it in a few clicks in your Chrome browser window.
Amp up your productivity
Whether it’s for work, school, or personal use, the Acrobat extension for Chrome installed in your browser allow you to get more done — faster. Level up your ability to download, adjust, and perfect your PDFs without slowing down your workflow, and make an impact on your work moving forward.
Topics: Future of Work, Document Cloud, Productivity
Products: Document Cloud, Acrobat,
]]>https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/10/12/these-street-photographers-are-expanding-definition-genre.htmlThese street photographers are expanding the definition of the genre2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
These street photographers are expanding the definition of the genre
Image Source: Georgian photographer Natela Grigalashvili redefines street photography with her images of daily life in her country’s rural villages.
By Colleen Atherton
Posted on 10-12-2021
Natela Grigalashvili was just 16 when she parted ways with her small Georgian village and made for the nation’s capital of Tbilisi to study photography. All across the country, rural life was in a state of collapse. Someone had to record the young children playing in the streets in their traditional dress and shepherds on the way to the animal market before it was too late.
In contrast, people are almost totally absent in Manfred Teh’s work. Based out of Leeds, he’s less interested in documenting the English city he calls home than transforming it into a moody “cyberpunk” underworld.
The two photographers, with their sharply contrasting styles and missions, represent the diversity available within the genre of street photography. But while their final images may not look anything alike, both rely on many of the same finely honed best practices — from a passionate commitment to a consistent look, to selecting a subject, to the moment they snap their computer shut, satisfied that their edits have done their visions justice. To learn more about their tried-and-true methods, read on.
For Grigalashvili, creating a cohesive body of work begins with her dedication to the unique and underrepresented subject of daily life in Georgia’s few remaining mountain towns. In her photos, kerchiefed young girls dance in mountain fields, men enjoy feasts in the village hall, and women build haystacks — all scenes and faces that almost certainly would be lost to time if not for her.
Teh, on the other hand, does most of his street photography late at night when life is most muted, and the streets are at their most bare. Doing so grants him uncluttered access to his preferred subject: the city itself. Asphalt, concrete, metal, glass, neon — in image after image these markers of urban life squeeze out any hint of the natural world.
Teh uses Lightroom to build contrast between light and dark and warm and cool colors when creating his dark and gritty city scenes.
When it comes to carving out a distinct brand, this faithfulness to one general subject is only the first step for these street photographers. The second is how they frame those subjects.
“To create a story, a visual narrative, your images must have the same style,” Grigalashvili said. For her, this means combining movement, natural lighting, and a wide angle to create a series of cinematic images that feel cut from a documentary. The final result is an Instagram feed that feels less like isolated photos captured over multiple years and locations, and more like stills taken from a single film about life in just one village.
Teh, a cinephile, draws inspiration from the Batman series for his dim, blue-tinted images. “When an image is cloudy and moody, it makes you feel on edge,” he said. “The scene feels more interesting that way.” Sure enough, image after image shows Teh reveling in inky shadows, eerie stillness, and cool colors. The effect is a portfolio as recognizable as it is brooding.
Composing the shot
Unlike, say, newborn or portrait photography, street photography challenges you to select a subject often on the fly and from a constantly changing scene you have little to no control over. To know where to point your lens, both Grigalashvili and Teh agree — look toward the light. For the former, this means rays of sun escaping through broken clouds or open barn doors. For the latter, it’s all about street lamps, car lights, and illuminated window signs.
Less important than your source is determining how to use that light to your advantage, whether that means getting in close to detail the weathered hands it illuminates, or zooming out to capture a glittering cityscape. If, like Grigalashvili, you prefer natural light photography, be sure to have your camera ready during sunrise and sunset when sharp rays and deep shadows dish up ample drama and stark silhouettes.
By reducing the highlights and drawing up the shadows in Photoshop, Grigalashvili was able to emphasize the striking dawn light in this image.
In addition to light, both street photographers advocate for leading lines, be it a bridge or a railing. These, too, help frame the subject and add depth to the scene by drawing the eye deeper within the shot. Even where dramatic leading lines are absent, however, you can still create a shot that feels three-dimensional by stacking subjects to create a distinct foreground, middle ground, and background.
Editing for story and style
Grigalashvili’s first step in the editing process is always the same: She waits. “Like every photographer, I have a very strong emotional connection to my photos,” she said. “I remember the stories and everything that was happening just beyond the frame.” By putting a shoot aside for a month or more, she is better able to assess which photos actually embody the story she wants to tell — not just the ones that were somehow more meaningful in the moment.
Once she has those, she opens them in Photoshop, where she can begin to shape that story. “When I’m editing, my goal is to direct the viewer’s eye to certain details they otherwise might have missed,” she said. “That way I can better reveal the narrative of a photo.”
Rather than crop images — something she stresses she rarely does — Grigalashvili relies on color and light to eliminate noise and focus attention. In practice, this means making liberal use of the Brightness/Contrast adjustment to see at which point certain details emerge and others drift into the background. At the same time, she adjusts the white balance and color sliders to mute any distractions and excavate her subjects.
Occasionally, the best thing she can do for a photo’s narrative is to drain away the color altogether. For this, she uses Photoshop’s black and white adjustment tool. By exposing the bones underneath, she’s able to achieve an overwhelming sense of timelessness.
Here, Grigalashvili used Photoshop’s black and white tools, along with tone curve and film grain filter to help capture the “mystical evenings” out in the mountain villages.
Teh also makes liberal use of the contrast slider, albeit in Lightroom, where his personally tailored presets allow him to apply his signature blue hues across an entire batch of photos with a single click. “I just try to keep my style as consistent as possible,” he said.
Even when he uses presets, however, he still finds himself fine-tuning individual images using each of the sliders, starting with contrast and white balance. Among his biggest challenges is taming orange streetlights. “That’s tricky,” he said. Here the hue, saturation, and luminance tools allow him to pull the warmer lights back into the cooler side of the spectrum — or pump them up for contrast.
Teh often uses hue, saturation, and luminance tools to either mute warm colors, or, as in this case, increase them for drama.
Clean lines and sleek backdrops are critical to Teh’s cyberpunk aesthetic. And while shooting when the streets are quiet helps, distracting elements often creep in. To fix these, he simply right clicks his image and selects “Edit in Photoshop,” where he can lasso and clone stamp away stray wires, people, or cars.
Making street photography your own
When Grigalashvili started posting her images to Instagram, she had no idea anyone would care about the rural towns she was so set on preserving with her camera. Five years on, she has tens of thousands of highly engaged followers from around the world pouring out their praise in a litany of languages. “I can’t really put it into words how much encouragement it gives me,” she said.
She and Teh are proof that there is no one trend or style you have to adopt to make it as a street photographer. What you do need is a unique view of the world in need of preservation, as well as a connection to your subjects. “These mountain villages aren’t just interesting to me as some kind of outsider,” Grigalashvili concluded. “I feel extremely close and connected to these people.”
It can be tempting to assume that the best street photography happens where the biggest buildings meet the busiest streets. Instead, focus on what you know to build a portfolio that sees beyond first impressions, stereotypes, and the most obvious shots.
Check out Adobe’s guide to street photography for advice about recognizing the rules of the street and capturing public life respectfully. For a beginner’s guide to night photography, click here.
]]>https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/10/12/behind-the-scenes-love-letter-little-simz-mum.htmlThe team behind the scenes of the love letter from Little Simz to her mum2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
The team behind the scenes of the love letter from Little Simz to her mum
Image from Love the Journey film
By Adobe Communications Team
Posted on 10-12-2021
We believe creativity is a uniquely human trait – it’s not exclusive or a special gift, it’s within us all. If it’s nurtured and celebrated from an early age, the next generation can flourish and be able to reach their full potential. To do this, having the right support, guidance and access to inspirational role models is needed, which is why we have launched the Love the Journey, to inspire and educate young people everywhere.
As part of the campaign, we joined forces with award-winning rapper, lyricist and actor, Little Simz, who penned a heart-warming love letter to her mother who has supported her in her creativity journey.
From the stories we’ve shared as part of Love the Journey, we know everyone’s journey is unique and it’s through the diversity of thought and the power of self-expression that creativity can bring creativity to life and create what’s true.
Today, we’re excited to share with you some of the team behind Simz’s Love the Journey film, to give you a taster of the roles that contributed towards its making, how they got to where they are today and what got them most excited about creating the film.
Here’s what they had to share:
What is your job title and what does your role entail?
Andre Rodrigues: I’m a film editor. After a project has been shot, I watch all the footage and put it together and a bit like a jigsaw puzzle, I try and fit all the pieces together to tell the story with the director. I love being one of the cogs in the creative machine that helps bring storytelling to the screen.
Indy Selvarajah: I am an executive creative director (ECD), so I am in charge of all the creative output of the agency; films, ads, design work, animations, installations and experiential.
Lainey Richardson: I’m a film director in the commercials, content and music video space, so this means that in response to a brief, I come up with the creative vision for a project - what you will see from moment to moment, what you will hear, what it will feel like, how we’ll achieve it within budget, among other things! I pitch a vision against other directors and their visions, and if I win the job, then with the support of a production company bring together, oversee and collaborate with the team and on-screen talent, to see that vision through to fruition. In addition, as with everything, there are always obstacles or hiccups, so it’s my job to ensure that the essence of the vision and messaging remains intact no matter what - so a lot of creative problem solving!
Shamima Begum: I’m group manager for Adobe communications, which probably doesn’t mean much to anyone, but in simple terms, I lead all communications efforts for Adobe in the UK across PR, social and thought leadership content. This means I bring Adobe storytelling to life for our customers and communities, helping inspire and educate them, as well as celebrate their work.
Image from Love the Journey film
Can you explain a bit about your journey into the creative industry, and how you got to this job today?
Rodrigues: My dad used to have a camera and as soon as I learnt how to use it, I started filming my friends and family and creating silly sketches. I had to do ‘live’ editing, which meant if the take wasn’t good I would re-shoot and erase the previous one… I realised I really liked that bit a lot. Later, I went to a film school in France (where I grew up) and in my last year I took the editing course there. When I moved to London 10 years ago, I didn’t have any contacts, so I just sent my CV to lots of post-production houses. I first became a runner, then an assistant and now here I am.
Selvarajah: I studied a degree in architecture at University College London, before going on to become an artist where I showed work at Tate, Barbican and Whitney in New York. I then moved into writing, writing a TV show for Channel 4 amongst others. More recently I went into advertising where I became a creative director. And now I’m an ECD of a communications agency.
Richardson: I’ve wanted to be a film director since I was 13, and after several stints running at various production companies, I started making films at art school in my early twenties, but these were definitely more of the conceptual art variety. After graduating, I worked at film festivals, and I’d say it wasn’t until I was 27 that I properly started making short films independently. I bolstered myself financially with a second career as a video editor until I got signed to ‘Caviar’ and ‘Imposter’ just over a year ago. I’ve since been lucky enough to direct a steady flow of commercial and online campaigns with an incredible team of people around me. I definitely think I’ve had a bit of an unusual journey into the industry, but I think all of these experiences have made me who I am, and in some way contribute to the work I make today.
“I definitely think I’ve had a bit of an unusual journey into the industry, but I think all of these experiences have made me who I am, and in some way contribute to the work I make today”
Lainey Richardson, Film Director
Begum: I studied journalism and contemporary history at university and during my time there, I did a few work experience stints at magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Dazed and Smash Hits. Yes, those were my days of working in a fashion cupboard and distributing post! Although I loved creative writing, after I graduated, I needed a job and didn’t have many connections to break into journalism, nor could I afford a salary of £12,000 a year! I took a temp job at the Royal College of Surgeons’ press office and after six months of job hunting, I got an offer at a small B2B PR agency. I had no idea what PR was back then, I completely blagged the interview and had to ask the agency’s HR team if I had just signed myself up to a sales job! It turned out I hadn’t, and from there I cut my teeth in PR at a few different agencies, which included 12 years at Golin, before moving to Adobe to take a secondment role. That turned out better than I expected, and here I am today.
Q: How does the ‘Love the Journey’ campaign resonate with you?
Rodrigues: My parents never forced any career on me. The only requirement when growing up was to be respectful, to have good grades and get a good job. So, I was lucky they were on board when I told them I wanted to go into the creative industry, which was completely unknown territory for them. The campaign shows that when you have support, love, and the space to grow, the road to creativity is then very exciting and it’s about embracing it fully.
“The campaign shows that when you have support, love, and the space to grow, the road to creativity is then very exciting and it’s about embracing it fully”
Andre Rodrigues, Film Editor
Selvarajah: In every possible way. That people from minority backgrounds are outnumbered in creative industries, so to use your personal journey as your super-power and currency to create incredible work.
Richardson: The ‘Love the Journey’ campaign really resonated with me as it set out to shed light on the barriers that young BAME groups face when it comes to entering the creative industries – barriers I’ve personally had first-hand experience with in the past, such as not feeling like I had enough role models I could relate to, struggling to get guidance or a foot in the door etc. Young people need to see more representation of minority groups to feel that there is a place for them, and to show them that they can do it to. For me, I’d love for my work on this campaign to inspire others to pursue their creative dreams, and to encourage parents and careers to support creative children. There is a whole world out there of jobs that might be just right for them, and the creative industry might just be the space that they can thrive in.
Image from Love the Journey film
Begum: When the ‘Love the Journey’ campaign came to us in the UK from our EMEA comms team, we wanted to look at the challenges young people in this country face when it comes to trying to break into the creative industry. For me and the team, there was one major issue the industry faced… attracting and retaining talent from diverse backgrounds, particularly ethnic minorities. ‘Love the Journey’ is more than a campaign, it’s part of my story as I’ve lived it. I know how difficult it is to not know where to start, to not have the confidence to reach out to people in the industry and to walk into a room and feel like an outsider. This campaign supports an issue I truly care about and one that’s inspiring young people from all walks of life to pursue their passions to give them the role models they need and broaden their knowledge about the opportunities that exist. The creative industry is in urgent need of greater representation across all levels, and I hope ‘Love the Journey’ can encourage change for the better.
“This campaign supports an issue I truly care about and one that’s inspiring young people from all walks of life to pursue their passions”
Shamima Begum, Group Manager Adobe Communications
Q: What one piece of advice would you give to young people looking to get into the creative industry?
Rodrigues: Show interest in the people whose work you like; reach out and ask for help and advice. People in the creative industry love hearing new voices and will often help that voice to be heard. And don’t be afraid of failing, it’s hard, but still part of the process and you learn a lot from it.
Selvarajah: Never take no for an answer.
“Never take no for an answer”
Indy Selvarajah, Executive Creative Director
Richardson: Try and get as much practical experience as you can, whether that’s from working directly on professional projects, or on independent ones that you can do with your peers. It really is all about constantly learning, growing and collaborating. And it’s this growing body of work that going to help you get more work in the future.
Begum: I heard this recently and I truly believe it – embrace your difference. You may not be like others but that brings with it so many plus points as you’re able to think outside the box and contribute in ways others can’t. Also, you may have people along your career journey that doubt you but as long as you persevere, have the passion to pursue what you want and the resilience to stand back up when knocked down, you can achieve anything. You’re in control of your life and how your story unfolds.
Image from Love the Journey film
Check out Adobe ‘Love the Journey’ to see more stories from the UK creative scene and take our quiz to help find your creative career path.
Topics: Creativity, Career Advice, University, Diversity & Inclusion, Education, UK
Products:
]]>https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/10/11/new-adobe-experience-cloud-innovations-power-next-evolution-b2b-customer-experience.htmlNew Adobe Experience Cloud innovations power the next evolution of B2B customer experience2021-10-11T00:00:00.000Z
New Adobe Experience Cloud innovations power the next evolution of B2B customer experience
By Brian Glover
Posted on 10-11-2021
Led by a new generation of buyers, a shift has occurred in the business-to-business (B2B) buying experience in today’s digital first economy. These new B2B buyers prefer digital and self-service channels, are less loyal, and often depend on trusted community sites and peer reviews during the product evaluation process. According to Gartner, as little as 17 percent of the B2B buyers’ time is spent interacting with potential suppliers, while 80 percent of buyers prefer virtual meetings and self-service options. And while B2B buyers are more conscious about how their data is being used, they also expect experiences to be tailored and relevant. A preference for digital engagements also means that brands need to be more thoughtful and impactful with their limited interactions to create meaningful connections with their B2B customers.
B2B brands wanting to create long-term relationships with their customers and deliver impactful experiences, must show a deep understanding of each individual within the account, their relationships with others on the team, and the business goals of the buying group. Additionally, as organizations across industries expand and find new opportunities for growth by serving both consumers and business professionals, there’s a new mountain to climb: how to have a single view of a person with whom they have multiple, relationships across different lines of business.
Announcing new B2B-focused innovations for Adobe Experience Cloud
To help brands truly understand every unique person they call a customer, improve how they navigate shifting buying preferences, and deliver compelling customer experiences, Adobe is announcing the following B2B innovations for Experience Cloud.
B2P Edition of Adobe Real-time CDP: With the availability of the B2B edition of Adobe Real-time CDP, first-party person and account data from multiple Adobe and non-Adobe sources are brought together into a single view for creating and activating audiences across channels. We are also announcing a B2P (Business-to-Person) Edition of Adobe Real-time CDP. The B2P Edition of Adobe Real-time CDP gives brands targeting both consumers and business professionals a single offering for unifying and activating their customer profiles. This new offering enables brands to know for the first time that a consumer customer is also a business customer and create experiences based on one, the other or both contexts. Imagine a customer of a wealth investment company who may have a 401K through their employer as well as a personal investment account on their own. Adobe Real-time CDP, B2P Edition, unlocks new opportunities to provide more holistic experiences for these individuals, cross-sell offerings and drive loyalty.
B2B Product Recommendations Powered by Adobe Sensei: As more B2B buyers seek a personalized buying experience, Product Recommendations for Adobe Commerce can now be set up to support a wide range of B2B needs and strategies. Adobe Commerce merchants today can implement intelligent product recommendations that take into account a customers’ unique pricing and product assortments. Because Product Recommendations is powered by our AI and machine-learning technology, Adobe Sensei, it greatly reduces the need for creating manual rules and frees up the merchants’ time to focus on other priorities like optimizing recommendations to increase conversion rates.
More Synergy Between Adobe Experience Manager Forms and Adobe Sign: With the latest enhancements to Experience Manager Forms, B2B brands can easily onboard new vendors through digital workflows and e-signatures, which greatly reduces manual work and ensures a highly secure and frictionless enrollment process. With Adobe Experience Manager Forms as a Cloud Service, documents requiring e-signatures can now be included in any site built with Experience Manager Sites to ensure that the form filling and e-signing experiences are consistent across all branded touchpoints. Lastly, for organizations that require increased security, Experience Manager Forms now allows users to provide their government-issued IDs (such as a passport and driver’s license) to securely authenticate their e-signatures through Adobe Sign.
Adobe Marketo Engage Streamlined with Experience Cloud: Adobe Marketo Engage’s next-generation UX began rolling out earlier this year and includes a new design consistent with Adobe Experience Cloud. Users will see an updated tree menu for accessing all campaigns, workflows and assets, new global navigation, as well as improved performance and productivity enhancements. Later this year, new Adobe Marketo Engage enterprise customers can use Adobe User Credentials to sign into Adobe Marketo Engage, streamlining user administration across Adobe Experience Cloud.
To learn more about how Adobe Experience Cloud powers digital modernization for B2B brands, click here.
]]>https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/10/11/creep-it-real-new-free-example-puppets-for-character-animator.htmlCreep it real. New free example puppets for Character Animator2021-10-11T00:00:00.000Z
Creep it real. New free example puppets for Character Animator
By Erica Schisler
Posted on 10-11-2021
Happy Halloween! Or as brother-sister duo Jet & Ash call it, amateur night. They live the dark and spooky life year-round, often spending nights in the cemetery penning poems of ennui and despair that even Edgar Allan Poe would find depressing. By day, they front the death metal band Ghost Paper Scissors, now playing at an abandoned treehouse near you. Download the puppet just in time for Halloween.
The Jet & Ash puppet was created by Emily Watts. She is a self-taught animator and illustrator, and currently performs the live animation of robot host, Nicky, on Nickelodeon’s cartoon game show, “Tooned In”. Before that, she served as the assistant director of animation for Your Daily Horoscope on Quibi, and created a children’s series on emotional literacy for Sesame Studios. Emily got her start in animation by developing her own animated web series, “The Weather Girls”, learning Adobe Character Animator through binge-watching Dave Werner’s “Okay Samurai” videos.
With cool goth clothes, a bat-shaped bow, a dangly skull earring, and jet blue and black hair use Dangle so that the character parts can bounce, sway, and slide realistically alongside other fun triggers. Which one is Jet? Which one is Ash? You decide -this puppet could be either one. Use your arrow keys to control the Walk behavior and get this puppet walking back and forth across the screen. Limb IK and Dragger help you control the arms.
In addition to the new Jet puppet, there are also two new puppets enabled with Body Tracker (in public Beta): Ruby and Nia. Live-perform 2D character animation using your body. Powered by Adobe Sensei, Body Tracker automatically detects human body movement using a web cam and applies it to your character in real time to create animation. For example, you can track your arms, torso, and legs automatically. The Ruby and Nia puppets utilize face tracking as well as Body Tracking for arms and torso. Download Nia and Ruby plus other puppets perfect for trying Body Tracker.
This Halloween is nothing but treats! Puppet Maker is also in public Beta, allowing you to customize an animated character and get a unique puppet to use in your own creations. Puppet Maker lets you select a style, pick features like skin color and clothing, and generate a final optimized puppet. There are 10 available styles in Puppet Maker, and Okay Samurai has created a new style called Puppetbot, which is a robot with customizable head, arms, torso, legs, and metal color. Press the ‘On button’ trigger to activate special actions like a flamethrower or spinning buzzsaw. Check out Puppet Maker and the Puppetbot style.
From the Character Animator team to you, have a spook-tacular and fang-tastic Halloween!
Topics: Creativity, Insights & Inspiration, Video & Audio, Media & Entertainment, Creative Cloud,
Products: Creative Cloud, Character Animator,
]]>https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/10/08/adobe-max-2021-social-media-track.htmlAdobe MAX 2021 social media track2021-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
Adobe MAX 2021 social media track
By Adobe Events Team
Posted on 10-08-2021
As social media evolves, so must our ability to bring content to life in a fresh and compelling way. Whether you’re just getting started or you’re a pro on the go, the Adobe MAX social media track is designed to give you all you need to take your social presence to the next level, including sessions with creative experts and tutorials to help you master the tools in your Adobe arsenal.
Learn how to build your visual brand and grow a following, create pro-quality graphics and videos, get practical tips for sharing on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and gain inspiration from other social content creators.
Who you’ll meet
Anyone who wants to make great photo, video, or graphic content for social media, whether you’re working solo to share your passion, creating content as part of a team, or just want to stand out from the crowd.
S511: Building and Engaging Social Audiences with Branded Content
Phoebe Sherman, founder of Girl Gang Craft
Learn how to create dynamic content for social media that drives traffic to product-based and service-based online stores. Join Phoebe Sherman, founder of Girl Gang Craft and Adobe Spark ambassador, as she highlights how to use Adobe Spark and Premiere Rush to create short-form video content for organic views and paid reach.
Create beautiful, branded content that will help you establish and grow your brand on social with ease using Adobe’s collection of powerful content creation apps. Join craft-based designer and Adobe Spark ambassador Kitiya Palaskas in this follow-along lab to learn how to harness the power of Adobe Spark, Premiere Rush, and Photoshop Express to create professional promotional assets, including Instagram grid posts and stories, Pinterest tiles, YouTube thumbnails, and more, that will elevate your social presence.
S501: Get Seen on TikTok
Valentina Vee, director and video trainer
Join director, cinematographer, and editor Valentina Vee as she shares her top tips on creating TikToks that will get noticed. Whether you’re making an account for a business or trying to grow your own social media following, learn key tips on how to conceptualize, shoot, and edit for the TikTok platform.
Use Premiere Rush to do more than what the in-app editor offers
Make use of trending sounds, hashtags, and effects
Apply TikTok’s in-app features to add flair
S500: Make Your Videos Sound Awesome in Adobe Premiere Rush
Mike Russell, creative director at Music Radio Creative
Join Mike Russell, creative director at Music Radio Creative as he demonstrates how to take your videos to the next level with music and sound effects using the free assets that come with Adobe Premiere Rush. You’ll also discover audio editing and audio improvement techniques that will take your videos from good to great.
How to make audio adjustments (such as clip type, volume and ducking music)
Cleaning up and improving sound using the noise and echo reduction features
How to mute, move and separate audio in your Rush project
Adding music to your project using the free assets inside Rush
How to add samples and sound effects to your video
S508: Leveraging Adobe Apps to Create Brand Marketing Content
Nicte Cuevas, principal & creative cultivator, Nicte Creative Design
No creative agency? No in-house team? No problem. Learn how you can leverage the power of Adobe apps to create stunning and cohesive branded content — even if you’re not a designer. Whether you’re working with an existing brand or starting fresh, you’ll leave with actionable strategies and the confidence to create marketing content like social media videos and graphics, logos, presentation graphics, infographics, and more.
S506: Must-Know Social Media Marketing Techniques
Phil Pallen, personal branding expert
Join brand strategist Phil Pallen on an entertaining ride as he debunks common social media myths in favor of what gets you noticed online. He’ll give you a formula for deciding whether new platforms like TikTok and Clubhouse are worth your time, a content creation system to amp up your posting strategy, and proven tactics for connecting with your audience.
S502: Effectively Creating for Brands on Social Media
Anna Prosser, creator and streamer
Having spent years on both sides of the creator/brand relationship as a streamer as well as former managing producer for creator development at Twitch, Anna Prosser brings unique insights to this talk about collaborating with brands on social media. Come learn how to connect with the right people and the right brands, how to communicate with them once you do, and ultimately how to make sure that they keep coming back for more.
This session will provide useful ideas and executable strategies including:
Communicating persuasively collaborating professionally with companies and potential clients
Building thoughtful, authentic, and effective brand relationships
Employing habits and etiquette that foster future collaboration
S505: Creative Instagram Content Tools and Techniques
Mikos Adams, brand strategist
Join social media content strategist Mikos Adams as he shares how he creates his scroll-stopping Instagram content and his proven techniques for growing his online presence. You’ll learn how he uses Photoshop Express for adding punch to photos, creates video stories using Adobe Premiere Rush, and uses Adobe Spark to streamline his branding and drive engagement.
Register for the FREE, VIRTUAL Adobe MAX 2021 (October 26-28) to unlock new ideas and grow your skill set alongside a community of like-minded creatives.
Topics: Adobe MAX 2021, Adobe MAX, News, Creative Cloud,
Products: Creative Cloud, Premiere Rush, Spark,
]]>https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/10/08/how-to-maximize-your-video-marketing-budget.htmlHow to maximize your video marketing budget2021-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
How to maximize your video marketing budget
By Adobe Communications Team
Posted on 10-08-2021
Video is one of the most powerful mediums in marketing. It can have a significant impact on conversion rates and sales (getting people to take action) — and it’s a great way to create an emotional connection with potential customers. The use of video marketing has increased significantly in the past few years and is most certainly something your company should invest in.
Ninety-three percent of marketers from a sample of 813 respondents to Wyzowl’s State of Video Marketing Survey say that video marketing is an important part of their marketing strategy. What’s more, 86 percent of video marketers say video has increased traffic to their website, and 94 percent say that video has helped increase user understanding of their product or service.
Although often worth the investment, video marketing can be a considerable expense, and businesses might be hesitant to jump in. But invest in video strategically and its effectiveness cannot be ignored.
You will be relieved to know that there are ways you can give your videos some extra oomph without breaking the bank.
Research and plan
It’s essential to research and plan your video marketing strategy to manage your resources effectively and avoid costly mistakes. This is vital for those who are new to video marketing or trying to stick to an affordable budget.
It is crucial to plan out what type of videos will work best, on which platforms, and how often you should post them for your audience. Analyze popular video marketing platforms and see the best course of action for your company’s marketing strategy.
For example, one social media platform may have features best suited for your strategy that may not be available on other platforms, so you want to be sure to use what works for your company.
For a successful video marketing campaign, research your market, audience, and competitors. Understand where people spend their time online so that you can be successful at capturing their attention with your content (video or otherwise). This way, you can be smart from the start so you don’t waste resources on strategies that may miss the mark.
Stay in-house
Many companies, small businesses in particular, are beginning to realize the benefits of maintaining some jobs and tasks in-house — and not hiring outside freelancers or contractors. You may find that if you take the time to train an employee for a particular task, it can be much less expensive than outsourcing. As Thomas Smale illustrates for Entrepreneur magazine, you can save a lot of money by keeping certain tasks in-house — such as social media marketing and content.
It can be challenging to keep up with the constant demand for video marketing services, and the demand for these services is only rising with video marketing’s popularity and proven effectiveness. There will always be a need for expert professionals to do the work, but it can be costly to contract with experts if you constantly need their services. Moving these operations in-house may save you money in the long run.
Make the most of your budget
Once you decide to have video makers on your internal staff, make the most out of your budget, by finding ways to save money. Your main expenses will be on t cameras, editing software, and even actors and wardrobe expenses.
Cameras will likely be the most expensive item on your video production equipment checklist. One way to save on costs is by renting a camera instead of buying one. Once you rent or purchase a camera, you’ll need video editing software. Video editing programs can also be expensive, but you will use it, every time you create a video.
It is best to go with software loaded with useful features — fonts, music, graphics, and an easy editing interface — that is intuitive enough for beginners to use while flexible enough to support advanced tactics. As you grow with your marketing efforts, you won’t need to spend money on more advanced video editing software.
If you need actors and a wardrobe, it may be more affordable to hire people from your community. To save even more money, you can rent clothes for your actors or go shopping at thrift stores for inexpensive wardrobe options.
Video marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) go hand in hand. If you want to rank higher on video search engines such as YouTube, it’s essential to use the right keywords. Business 2 Community provides a helpful primer on how to make sure your video SEO efforts include descriptive terms for search engines that relate to your niche or business.
Make sure your video is engaging so people want to share it with others. If the video is good content, viewers may share it with their friends and relatives. This increases the number of views, which may make your video more visible to Google and YouTube.
Another way to get your videos ranked higher and more visible is by adding video file metadata such as tags for descriptions, video names, and categories. Lastly, provide video transcriptions. These efforts will help your video content appear in Google and YouTube searches.
Promote your videos
Beyond the SEO strategies, get started on social video marketing tactics as well. If you want followers for your channel or business page, then make sure that you use the right features to draw in an audience.
There are several social media platforms to promote videos online, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, as well as the leading online video platform, YouTube. Be sure to provide “follow me” or “like this video” options. When followers watch your video, they will more likely follow you and share your content on social media if a button makes it easy for them to do so.
Repurpose existing content
Yet another thing you can do to save money is to reuse some of your existing content. You may have great blog posts or webinars that are less relevant if they were published some time ago. One way to repurpose these old assets into something new is by making a video out of it and posting it on YouTube. You can also take screenshots from the older videos and use those as graphics to create blog posts. Your audience will find it helpful if you provide information in different formats such as text, images, and video.
As the SEO experts at Backlinko explain, one of the best ways that you can repurpose content is by creating an infographic. An image-based representation allows people to process information quickly and at their own pace, which may help explain concepts better than a video alone. Just make sure that if you use existing content for your video marketing efforts, it’s still relevant to your current audience.
Prioritize quality over quantity
Even the best video marketing tactics won’t work if your videos aren’t worth watching. A common mistake that many businesses commit is flooding social media with low-quality content to build an audience. Even though this “volume” strategy may seem wise, it’s not sustainable. People get turned off when their social feeds are filled with information they don’t want to see.
William Craig, entrepreneurship expert and Forbes contributor, does a great job of explaining why your content’s quality is more important — and effective to serving your marketing goals — than sheer quantity. To attract more viewers and increase your engagement rate, you must first make sure that the content on your channel or page is useful, meaningful, relevant, and above all, targeted to your audience. It’s critical that each video contains valuable insights about a particular topic. Audiences won’t share videos they don’t like and will quickly unfollow your channel or page if you post volumes of uninteresting content.
Video marketing is a powerful way to amplify your marketing efforts and reach more people. It can be an inexpensive yet highly effective digital tactic that any business can use with the right strategies in place. Businesses and marketers should not shy away from video marketing. With some money-saving tips, your ROI will be undeniable.
