Adobe has unveiled a wave of groundbreaking new features for its flagship applications, Illustrator and Photoshop. These advancements leverage the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to empower designers and photographers with innovative tools that streamline workflows and unlock new creative possibilities.
The latest updates prioritize AI integration, aiming to enhance efficiency and productivity for users. A key highlight is the introduction of Generative Shape Fill (beta) in Illustrator. This innovative tool utilizes the power of Adobe Firefly, a machine-learning framework, to generate intricate and detailed vector shapes based on user input. Users simply describe the desired shape with text prompts, and Generative Shape Fill automatically delivers a range of options. This eliminates the need for manual creation, saving designers valuable time and effort.
AI-Powered Image Editing
Photoshop also benefits from the inclusion of AI features. The Generate Image tool, powered by Adobe Firefly Image 3, allows users to create entirely new images based on text descriptions. This opens doors for creative exploration and rapid prototyping, enabling designers to visualize ideas more quickly and efficiently.
Enhanced Selection and Adjustment Tools
The updates extend beyond AI. Both Illustrator and Photoshop boast improvements to existing tools. Illustrator features enhanced selection tools for more precise object manipulation. Photoshop gains a new Adjustment Brush tool, providing users with greater control over adjustments applied to specific areas of an image. These refinements streamline the editing process and allow for more nuanced creativity.
Empowering Creators with Accessibility
Accessibility remains a core focus for Adobe. The new features are designed to be user-friendly and cater to a diverse range of skill levels. Program Akar, a new initiative by Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) powered by AWS re/Start, was also announced alongside the Adobe updates. This program aims to equip Malaysians with essential cloud computing skills, fostering a future workforce prepared to utilize these cutting-edge design tools.
The development of these AI-powered features reflects Adobe’s commitment to collaboration. Generative Shape Fill in Illustrator is powered by the latest Firefly Vector Model, highlighting teamwork between Adobe’s research and development teams. Program Akar, meanwhile, exemplifies a successful industry partnership between PayNet, AWS, and WEPS, ensuring accessible training for aspiring designers.
The popular emulator, Delta, has undergone a sudden logo change, leaving some users scratching their heads. This unexpected update comes after the emulator received a legal threat from software giant Adobe.
Developed by Riley Testut, Delta has become a go-to option for iOS users seeking to relive classic video games from consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Game Boy Advance (GBA). The emulator has made its way to Apple devices following a change in Apple’s App Store policies that allowed for emulators. Delta, in particular, allows users to play these games on their iPhones and iPads, offering a taste of retro gaming nostalgia on the go.
Screen cap from Mastodon.
The recent logo change stems from a dispute with Adobe. According to reports, Adobe’s legal team contacted Testut, claiming the Delta logo bore a resemblance to its own logo, potentially causing confusion among consumers. While Delta’s logo represented a stylized Greek letter delta (Δ), Adobe argued the similarity could mislead users into believing the apps were connected.
Faced with the potential for legal action, Delta opted to avoid a lengthy battle and promptly changed its logo. The new logo, described as a “broken triangle,” is a clear departure from the previous design. While some users expressed amusement at the somewhat unconventional new icon, the change ensures Delta remains available on the App Store.
App Store Screen Capture
The Delta logo dispute is one of the more trivial issues that have been haunting the video game emulation space. There are bigger concerns when it comes to the legality of emulation as a whole when it comes to copyright, particularly because the game files (ROMs) are used to play the games on the emulator. Typically, users are responsible for acquiring these ROMs legally, often by dumping them from their own physical game cartridges.
We’re all familiar with Canva, the app that blew up during the pandemic as more and more of us needed to find ways to keep communication interesting. Well, that app’s parent company, Canva, is looking to take on Adobe with its latest acquisition – Affinity. Affinity, formerly known as Serif, makes one of the most popular alternatives to Adobe’s Creative Suite and the best part? Affinity’s offerings are available for a one-time fee. The acquisition sees Canva acquiring Affinity for a reported USD$380 million.
Canva’s acquisition of Affinity gives it access to Affinity’s suite of design apps including Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, and Affinity Publisher. All of these apps received their major v2 updates recently. That said, Affinity’s suite of apps expands on Canva’s market. Where the company was looking at targeting the majority of users who do not have design know-how with its own app, it can now cater to design professionals. As of reporting, Canva itself has over 100 million active users while Affinity brings a user base of over 3 million. The suite of apps also allows it to compete with the likes of Adobe which is arguably the largest design software company in the world.
For now, it has been indicated that the 90 people in Affinity will be joining Canva. Canva and Affinity have yet to announce any plans on how the apps will be integrated moving forward. As of now, it seems like everything is more or less status quo. However, it has been indicated that there will be some integration between Canva and the Affinity suite in the near future. With this acquisition, Canva becomes one of the most complete options when it comes to design software in the market.
It’s worth noting that Canva did create some waves when it first launched back in 2013. With its initial offering, the company also spurred companies like Adobe to create a new offering like Adobe Express that takes on the platform directly. It looks like the tables have turned with other competitors.
Acer has just unveiled its Chromebook Plus lineup – the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 and Acer Chromebook Plus 514. These Chromebooks are part of Google’s Chromebook Plus initiative, designed to deliver enhanced performance, improved hardware, and exciting new features that cater to the demands of modern users.
Google’s Chromebook Plus Initiative builds on its relatively successful Chromebook platform; taking it to the next level. It aims to deliver an enhanced Chromebook experience with better, more powerful hardware augmented by AI features while staying affordable.
A Duo for Elevated Chromebook Creativity
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 and Chromebook Plus 514 are engineered to provide users with an elevated digital experience. Both models feature cutting-edge processors, high-resolution IPS displays, and 1080p cameras, all framed by sleek narrow bezels that draw you into the vibrant visuals.
These new Chromebooks empower users to unleash their creativity and productivity effortlessly. They come equipped with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Express, making photo editing and graphic design a breeze. Users even receive three months of Adobe Express Premium at no additional cost. This allows you to enjoy Firefly-powered generative AI features and the precision of Photoshop as well as Adobe Express’s all-in-one capabilities.
The Chromebook Plus 515 and 514 come with built-in editing tools to simplify photo and video tasks. For instance, the AI-powered Magic Eraser feature in Google Photos effortlessly removes unwanted distractions. When offline, File Sync ensures uninterrupted access to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides via Chromebook Plus File Manager.
Chromebooks Made for Work and More
The Chromebook Plus laptops offer ample memory and storage for seamless multitasking and content creation. With up to 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of SSD storage, you’ll be ready to tackle any task both offline and online.
Being built primarily for online productivity, the Chromebook Plus 514 and 515 come with Wi-Fi 6E for fast and secure internet connectivity. You’ll also be able to leverage interconnectivity between ChromeOS and Android with Bluetooth 5.1 while an array of ports, including dual USB Type-C ports and HDMI, cover your charging, data transfer, and display extension needs.
Working on the go will no doubt entail a whole load of video conferencing. These Chromebooks live up to their Plus moniker with top-notch conferencing thanks to the built-in 1080p webcams. These webcams also come with Temporal Noise Reduction (TNR) and Blue Glass lenses. AI-powered tools help enhance clarity, cancel noise, and blur backgrounds, ensuring you always look and sound your best. For added privacy, a physical webcam shutter can be closed during meetings, with one-click mic muting and camera deactivation.
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 – Intel-ligently Built for Work and Play
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 harnesses the power of 13th Gen and 12th Gen Intel Core processors (up to Core i7). These specifications offer efficient multitasking and up to 10 hours of usage on its fast-charging battery. The spacious 15.6-inch Full HD display with IPS technology and wide viewing angles ensures an immersive visual experience. Whether you prefer a touch or non-touch display, both options shine brightly even in well-lit conditions.
Acer Chromebook Plus 514 – Ryzen to the Task
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 features the AMD Ryzen™ 5 7520 C-Series processor, combining high-performance “Zen 2” CPU cores with cutting-edge AMD RDNA™ 2 integrated graphics. This Chromebook offers rapid boot times and responsive performance for modern productivity and collaboration apps. Its 14-inch WUXGA display boasts a productivity-enhancing 16:10 aspect ratio, making it perfect for professionals and students on the move. The display features an anti-glare coating and IPS technology for crisp, clear visuals.
Sustainably and Sturdily Built
Both Chromebooks are U.S. MIL-STD 810H compliant, ensuring durability against daily wear and tear. They feature an OceanGlass™ touchpad and offer an optional backlit keyboard.
These Chromebooks support Acer’s Earthion initiative. They are sustainably built by incorporating recycled materials, come with sustainable packaging, and have energy-efficient designs that meet Energy Star certification.
Seamless Device Management for Schools and Businesses
For schools, both Chromebook Plus models are available with Chrome Education Upgrade, simplifying device management and providing access to essential teaching and collaboration tools.
For businesses, the Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 and Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 514 come with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade. These models unlock advanced business capabilities in ChromeOS, ensuring data and application protection, streamlined device management, and easy issue resolution.
Pricing and Availability
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 starts at USD$399.99 (MYR1,891.81) and will be available in North America and EMEA in October.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 starts at USD 399.99 (MYR1,891.81) and will also be available in North America and EMEA in October.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated graphics is not a new thing. You have things like OpenArt and Hotpot these days where you can just type in the keywords to the image you want, and let the engine generate art for your use. Even before AI generated graphics though, the implementation of AI within the creative industry is nothing new. NVIDIA has used their own AI engine to write an entire symphony, and even to create 3D environments using their Ray Tracing engines. Adobe too have something they call the Sensei. They the AI tool is implemented across their creative suite to understand and recognise objects better, fill details where needed more naturally, and even edit videos, images, or even texts quickly and efficiently. Now, they have Firefly.
Firefly is not a new separate AI system from Adobe’s Sensei. Firefly is a part of a larger Adobe Sensei generative AI together with technologies like Neural Filters, Content Aware Fill, Attribution AI, and Liquid mode implemented across several Adobe platforms. Unlike those platform specific implementations though, Adobe is looking to put Firefly to work on a number of various platforms across their Creative Cloud, Document Cloud, Experience Cloud, and even their Adobe Express platforms.
So, what is Adobe Firefly? We hear you ask. It is technically Adobe’s take on what a creative generative AI should be. They are not limiting Firefly to just image generation, modification, and correction. It is designed to allow any sort of content creators create even more without needing to spend hundreds of hours to learn a new skill. All they need to do is to adapt Firefly in their workflow and they will get contents that they have never been able to create before, be it images, audio, vectors, texts, videos, and even 3D materials. You can have different contents every time too with Adobe Firefly; the possibilities, according to Adobe, are endless.
What makes Adobe’s Firefly so powerful is the power of the entirety of Adobe’s experience and database behind it. Obviously Adobe’s Stock images and assets is a huge enough library for the AI implementation to dive into. The implementation can also look into using openly licensed assets and public domain contents in generating its contents. The tool, in this case, will prevent any IP infringements and help you avoid plenty of future litigations.
Source: Adobe
As Firefly is launched in its beta state, it will only be available as an image and text generator tool for Adobe Express, Adobe Experience Manager, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator. Adobe plans to bring Firefly into the rest of their platforms where relevant in the coming future. They are also pushing for more open standards in asset verification which will eventually include proper categorization and tagging of AI generated contents. Adobe is also planning to make the Firefly ecosystem a more open one with APIs for its users and customers to integrate the tool with their existing workflows. For more information on Adobe’s latest generative AI, you can visit their website.
Content creators that deal with videos and audio know the struggle. The struggle to get good audio is universal for almost any modern content creator. In most cases, while most might not realise it, bad audio can break your immersion or a good video. Think about it, imagine watching The Conjuring on mute. You will find that it is way less scary than it is.
Good audio is not just limited to the music, or sound effects though. In the world of radio, YouTube personalities, and podcasts, great audio usually means great vocals. We understand that struggle because we produce our very own podcast (available on Spotify, coming back in 2023). We had to spend a little bit of money to get a set of gears for the office and home ready and going for our Podcast series, Tech & Tonic, just to get that crisp and smooth radio voice.
Thing is, we do have to spend a bit of our own money to get better audio even at home. Getting at least a dedicated USB mic was the only way to get quality audio for our podcasts during the pandemic. But what if you do not or do not have that money to spend on a mic? What if your regular built-in mic on your laptop or headphone is enough to create your own podcasts? It is possible today with Adobe’s latest free tool.
Adobe, as one of the most widely used content creation suite, has been researching on ways to improve creative workflow using AI for years. Their AI tool has helped make Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, and even Rush even more efficient and way cleverer than before. They have also been messing about with AI in audio processing with Project Sasha, recently rebranded to Adobe Podcast.
As part of the project, they came up with something called Enhance Speech. The tool is free at this time, only requiring you to have an Adobe account to begin with, even without any subscription plans. The tool also works best with a desktop web browser, so you do want to get on at least a Chromebook to get it working. MP3 and WAV file format works best with the tool currently and the upload limit is 1GB.
Once you do that, the tool uses some form of deep learning algorithm to transform your audio from a slightly noisy recording to sounding like its recorded in an isolated professional studio. There have been reports that the tool does not work too well in extremely noisy scenarios though, so you do want to ensure that you are still doing as much as you can to keep your recording environment as quiet as possible. Of course, description only goes so far. You ought to experience the tool yourself, since it is free.
Our sample is a voice recording using the Samsung Galaxy Note9, one recorded with the mic right up near the mouth, and one placed on the table. We did not make too much effort in isolating the recording environment. We have some traffic noise, construction nearby, and even the MRT going about in our recording environment.
You can hear that a lot of the pop peaks have been cancelled out. While there is not much in terms of noise, the resulting audio sounds much cleaner and contains some of those radio like quality in the voice. Wind noise and echo is reduced to the point where you do not hear them too. If you are looking to start a podcast or improve your audio without spending extra money, you might want to give this tool a whirl on their website.
The Apple iPad has really come into its own in the world of content creation today. It has become one of the go to or must have tools in a remote production set up to quickly get at least photos edited and uploaded quickly. Adobe’s Photoshop app on the iPad is mostly the weapon of choice in that matter. Adobe’s Photoshop for iPad is one of the most powerful photo editing tools you can find on a mobile device, just short of laptops.
It has just become even more powerful though with the added ability to edit RAW files. This not only includes Apple’s ProRAW file format. You can even edit photos in DNG formats from other proper DSLR type cameras if need be.
While you might not see value in taking photos in RAW and editing them on your mobile device, there are good reasons why you want your photos taken and post edited in RAW. For one, RAW photos usually will take full advantage of your camera’s full dynamic capabilities. If you are using your smartphone to take RAW photos, you can even take advantage of its full sensor size. In terms of post editing, there are a lot more manipulation you can do with RAW photos, down to the granular details.
Now you have that ability to edit RAW photos on-the-go with the Apple iPad thanks to the Camera Raw ability on the Adobe Photoshop software. Camera Raw is a known plugin for Adobe’s suite to add RAW decoding capabilities. It gives even Adobe’s Lightroom the ability to open and edit RAW photos.
That also means you have a greater control over photos on your iPad. You can now turn your iPad into a professional photo editing station, and you do not even need a PC to work on your photos now. There is small caveat here though.
The new function is not actually available for current Apple iPad users. Adobe says that the function will be ‘coming soon’, whatever that means. They managed to showcase and tease the power of the Adobe Photoshop on an iPad with Camera Raw capabilities too on YouTube. This feature is also announced ahead of Adobe’s Max 2021 conference, so we may be able to expect the function to come to Apple iPad devices, especially the iPad Pro with m1 chips after the fact. For now, we can only wait.
The techENT Download is back for another exciting week in tech! This week’s tech news round up has everything from dramatic reveals, painful hacks to sad cancellations!
Adobe Premiere Pro is quickly becoming one of the most popular video editing tools among professionals. If you stay for the credits in movies, you’ll realise that a growing number of them have Adobe’s logo in the credits. As such, the demands on Premiere Pro and its features are slowly evolving to adapt to an ever changing workplace with an increased amount of collaboration.
“Productions” was designed in collaboration with some of the largest producers and editors in Hollywood. The feature was tested on recent films such as “Terminator: Dark Fate” and “Dolemite is My Name” with special builds being used in ongoing projects.
The new “Productions” feature in Adobe Premiere Pro allows users to arrange and organise large projects into smaller, bite sized chunks. With these chunks as guides, video editors and videographers are able to divide and upload footage and assets to Adobe Creative Cloud and Premiere Pro in a more organised way. They will be able to create folders within their project files which will sync seamlessly between team members and also allow team members to download updated assets and files to work offline. It will continue to sync once the person goes online.
The more flexible collaborative and management features on “Productions” allow assets and video footage for large productions to be segregated into smaller portions. It also allows larger episodic productions to be organised according to episodes or even more granular divisions. It also allows reused assets to be shared or duplicated across folders seamlessly. You can easily add to project workflows by adding projects to the “Productions” panel within Adobe Premiere Pro. This will then add the project to the larger workflow.
Project locking in “Productions” allows editors to lock their active project. This will prevent collaborators from overwriting or deleting work files or the project. However, it still allows collaborators to seamlessly copy and import assets from the active workflow to their own. Project settings are also synchronised between project files in “Productions”. This allows collaborators to previews rendered by a single editor can be made available to all the editors for smooth playback.
The feature is coming to Adobe Premiere Pro soonon both MacOS and Windows. However, Adobe has not provided an exact date just yet.
