If you’ve visited the Creative Cloud Facebook page, then there’s a good chance you’ve seen the work of Will Suarez aka “HI Def Willy.” A believer in bringing cultural awareness and unity, he enjoys creating pieces that showcase people from various ethnic backgrounds and their unique characteristics.

Intrigued by his work, we connected with HI Def Willy on Facebook. We wanted to not only see more of Will’s work, but to also learn how Creative Cloud helps bring his innovative ideas to life.

Find out more about HI Def Willy’s style, learn how Creative Cloud has enables him to work more efficiently and more in the Q&A below.

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Adobe: Describe a project you are currently working on or have completed with Creative Cloud.

Will: Recently I have been focusing on creating a series of fine art pieces combining illustrations, photography and analog techniques into digital formats to create surrealistic portraits .Using a matte gel transfer technique, I transfer high res images onto fine art paper, canvas or wood.

What was your inspiration behind the project?
During my long commutes around Texas for meetings and work, I find myself always meeting random people walking the city streets. I get inspired by the stories told, the way people view them and the myths that people create of them. I wanted to capture that and find a way to show those emotions in these pieces.

How has the Creative Cloud changed your creative workflow?
Using the Creative Cloud has changed the way I work dramatically. It definitely has simplified everything and makes it easy to keep organized. I can seamlessly access and save progress on projects and pick right up from where I left off on any of my other devices on the go.

What tools specific to Creative Cloud enable you to work more efficiently?
As a freelance graphic artist and being on the go most of the time, having all my files accessible to view, edit and share, sure come in handy. I utilize many of the Touch Apps . One of the more frequent one I use is Adobe Ideas. It allows me to start a vector sketch on the go and access through the Creative Cloud on my PC where I can then continue to edit and complete.

Describe your style of work in a few words.
Everything’s a work in progress… pushing the limits.

Fill in the blank: I couldn’t create without _________.
Music and life experiences

What advice would you give to an individual who is considering Creative Cloud?
If you are looking to grow and develop your style, you definitely need to look into it! Invest in your talent and gain access to utilize all the great tools that you get with Creative Cloud. Not only will you stay current on updates and gain access to many options, but it will definitely streamline your workflow. The allotted space is more than enough to be able to carry along with you a mobile studio. Creating couldn’t get much easier. Everything you need is right there whenever, wherever.

Anything Else?

Thank you Adobe for always putting out great products! I am excited to see what new apps and features will be added in the future! For all fellow graphic designers, artists, creators, and innovators, keep pushing your limits, get out of your comfort zone and explore, create, define your work. Putting your work out there for people to see and enjoy is what it is all about. Stay humble, pour your heart into what you do and don’t ever be afraid to take a leap of faith.

Be sure to follow HiDefWilly on Instagram, Twitter and “like” him on Facebook.

Ready to have your work featured for everyone to see? Share your work with us on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments below and you could be our next spotlight!

Oh, the places you’ll go with Adobe Touch Apps… literally. For Matt Maughan (@somemattpaint), Touch Apps have transformed not only his creative process, but also his life, as his digital portfolio full of Adobe Ideas creations helped him score commissions and a gallery exhibition!

We connected with Matt over Twitter after coming across some of his creations including video game artwork in the style of a Chinese shadow puppet show. Take a closer look at his creative workflow, learn about some of his favorite features found in the Adobe Ideas v2.5 release, and pick up some tips and tricks.

Also, remember to visit our Facebook and Twitter channels to see Matt’s work featured.

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 Adobe: Describe a favorite creation you’ve created with Touch Apps

Matt: That’s a tough one. Maybe the Charles Bukowski portrait which was a commissioned piece, as I enjoyed doing the shadows and detail and I seemed to make use of all of Adobe Ideas’ features to create it.

What role do Adobe Touch Apps play in your creative process?
They are integral, completely and utterly – I can’t stress that enough. I create solely on the iPad and both Ideas and PS Touch are my primary apps for creation. Adobe Ideas has all the bases covered from sketching out ideas right through to full projects. PS Touch is most used as a ‘finishing school’ where projects go to become refined!

How has the integrationof Touch Apps and the Creative Cloud features changed your creative workflow?

The Touch Apps have revolutionized my creative workflow! The simplicity of them, the similarities in the UI which make it incredibly easy to switch between them, the tools offered and ultimately the fact that anything that I create in one app can be progressed, enhanced and polished in another. I’m forever switching between Adobe Ideas and Ps Touch. The Creative Cloud keeps all my artwork safe and allows me to access files quickly, as well as manage them either on my iPad or on my PC.

What are your favorite Adobe Ideas v2.5 features?

Top of the list has to be the new brushes – the tapering paint brush especially. It’s just perfect and adds a real artistry to projects. Lines have a fluid, natural look to them and results in a final image that looks more organic than digital. It’s also possible to add really fine detail especially for faces and hair!

I’m also a huge fan of the ‘fill’ function. So much time is saved now that I can fill specific areas with color just with a simple touch.

Next is the ability to merge layers. This essentially allows for unlimited layers so when a project becomes more complex you can merge together finished layers to create new blank layers for additional content. You can just keep going and going. One of the things I love about Adobe Ideas is that it’s as simple or complex as the user requires. I can do simple sketches like it’s a digital pad and pen or full on, multilayer projects that require duplicated layers, resizing, mirrored layers and varying opacity levels.

What tips/suggestions do you have for creative individuals thinking about getting into Adobe Ideas?

If you want to create digital art on a tablet I personally think Adobe Ideas is a ‘must have’. Then experiment and play with it. Play with the brushes, play with the opacity levels, play with everything. Import a photo and create a unique and accurate color palette with the eyedropper. See what happens when you select a layer and resize it, it may just make your artwork more striking. You can’t mess up so just experiment.

For veteran users like yourself, what tips and/or techniques can you offer them to improve their creative workflow?

Between Adobe Ideas and PS Touch and any other apps you may have, you have a whole array of tools that can help refine your work. Would shadowing look better if you adjusted the opacity level? Would the background work better if you moved its layer to the left? Is there an effect or feature in PS Touch that would really make your Ideas project pop out? I think it’s very easy after working on a project for hours to sit back and say finished! It’s always worth giving it a critical eye and remembering that you are working on an incredibly powerful tablet with incredibly powerful apps that just might make a good image wonderful.

Can’t get enough of Matt’s work? Head over to www.somemattpaint.com to see more creations!

Recently, Adobe Ideas v2.5 was released on iOS and our fans love it! For over a year now, graphic designer and Touch Apps user Ryan Garratt (@NemesisGraphics) has continued to improve his creative process and creations with each update to Ideas. Excited about the update, Ryan connected with us over Twitter to let us know what he really loves about the update and provided us useful pointers for both rookie and veteran users.

Read on to learn more and be sure to visit our Adobe Touch Apps Facebook and Twitter channels to see his work on display. Also, check out the Adobe TV video after the Q&A to learn more about what’s new in Adobe Ideas v2.5.

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Adobe: Have you had a chance to try out the new features in Adobe Ideas v 2.5? Which are your favorites?

Ryan: The update is SUPERB! The addition of the new preset tools is fantastic and the paintbrush is possibly my favorite addition to the arsenal, as I really enjoy how you can vary the strokes to give power lines to work. The paint bucket fill is an absolute genius addition as well. Before it would be a case of coloring and getting a few spots that you had missed, but with the new fill bucket it increases productivity and efficiency. Needless to say, I was really excited when the update came out.

What tips/suggestions do you have for creative individuals thinking about getting into Adobe Ideas?

Enjoy what you do. I recommend having a stylus on hand and find somewhere you can relax. Experiment as well – try different opacity settings and line thickness. It’s all about finding your style!

For Ideas veterans like yourself, what tips and/or techniques can you offer them to improve their creative workflow?

Just enjoy what you’re doing! I absolutely love what i do and think that fuels me to keep creating. Also, keep everything you do, regardless of whether it’s a quick doodle or masterpiece. To look back on and see your journey progress is critical.

Which pairing of the Touch Apps and CS6 products are most instrumental to your creative process and why?

I would have to say Illustrator. I can sketch something roughly on my iPad using Ideas, and after uploading it I can use Illustrator to clean up and tweak everything. The live trace preset is fantastic.

How much of a difference has direct touch input made to your creations?

Immensely! I take my iPad and stylus with me everywhere… just in case the mood to draw strikes me. Uploading to a computer from anywhere makes life extremely easy and 100% more efficient. Its’ been a huge help and boosted my ability and workflow.

Anything else you would like to say?

If you don’t already own any of the Adobe Touch Apps, I strongly recommend getting them. They are enjoyable and easy to use, and not to mention they are very powerful tools for creating. Without them, I don’t think I could draw. I can’t recommend them enough!

Be gone the days of lugging around a laptop, the days where confined space would limit your creativity, the days where designing was restricted indoors. Adobe Touch Apps is a game changer when it comes to creating on-the-go, and one user who knows that better than many is Jessica Garza (@jessicamariedesign).

Jessica’s talents were discovered via Twitter. After identifying her as a veteran Touch Apps user, we threw some questions her way to better understand her creative workflow, discuss the creative projects that she is most proud of, as well as get tips for otherTouch Apps users. Check out the full Q&A below and visit our social channels (Facebook and Twitter) to see her work on display.

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Adobe: How has the integration from Touch Apps through to the Creative Cloud features changed your creative workflow?
Jessica: Adobe Ideas has allowed me to create on-the-go. I used to create using my Wacom tablet and laptop, which was fine, except in situations where I had limited space. Now, I carry my iPad with me and create with Adobe Ideas. I can design at the park, by the pool, or on a flight – all without having to carry all my equipment.

What are your favorite features in Adobe Ideas?
What really made Ideas essential to my creative workflow was that it exports my art work in vector. I would not have much use for the app if my final product was just a JPEG, as I take what I create and refine it using Illustrator and Photoshop.

Which Adobe Ideas project are you most proud of and why?

I’d have to say the project I am most proud of is my “Gameday Dress” sketches. I created a template in Ideas to show my customers what their “Gameday Dress” would look like with specific colors and designs. Ideas made it easy for me to duplicate my original and edit the template by adding layers.

What tips/suggestions do you have for creative individuals thinking about getting into Adobe Touch Apps?

Do it! You won’t regret it. Ideas will give you the flexibility to create on-the-go. Whether you are sketching or creating complete works of art, Ideas makes it easy for you to do so. Even if you don’t consider yourself a digital artist, you will find a use for Ideas.

For veteran users like yourself, what tips and/or techniques can you offer them to improve their creative workflow?

When I used my sketchpad, I was hesitant to begin drawing until I had an idea of exactly what I was going to do. Now that I use Ideas as my digital sketchpad, I draw out all my ideas and work with new layers to refine the original sketch. My tip for users is to create without hesitation. You can always create a new layer or work on your file in Illustrator/Photoshop to refine it.

Stay up-to-date with all of Jessica’s projects by visiting her design blog. Also, remember to reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook or in the comments below for the chance to be featured. That’s all for now. Until then, keep on creating!

There’s no denying the fact that Brian Yap is one talented Adobe Touch Apps user. We’ve seen his Touch Apps projectssuch as the Grovemade iPhone/iPad Cases, his demo videos on Adobe TV , and we’re excited to bring you more of his great designs. This time around, Brian has lent his talents to the self-described “world punk” band Firewater for their recent music video titled “A Little Revolution.”

We chatted with Brian to learn how he utilized his favorite app, Adobe Ideas,  CS6 tools, and Creative Cloud in making of the music video. Check out our interview below and pick up some useful tips along the way.

Adobe: How did this opportunity to work on the Firewater music video project come about?
Brian Yap: Paul Griswold contacted me about working together for no reason other than seeing and liking my illustrations on an Adobe TV video – where I was using Adobe Ideas and talking about how it fit my style. We connected and talked a bit about wanting to collaborate on a fun project. Then, earlier this year, a friend of Paul’s and musical hero of mine, Todd A., contacted him in the hopes that he could get help creating a music video on a tight budget. The band was Firewater and the video was created for the first single off their new album.

Live footage was shot in Turkey and was mixed with animation built from illustrations I did on the tablet with Adobe Ideas and then fine-tuned in Illustrator. The pieces were then animated with After Effects, as well as other programs outside of Adobe.  Being able to work remotely made it possible for me to connect with these amazingly talented guys and get in on this project, without ever actually meeting them in person.

Talk us through your creative process. How did you approach this project?
I started by working with the team to come up with a bunch of visual concepts to illustrate. I began collecting references and sketching things out. The process was cool because I would feed Paul Griswold sheets of designs and pieces, and then when the test animations started, it lead to other ideas and concepts.

Usually, whenever someone tells you to just draw cool stuff, the first thing that happens is white paper freeze, but Firewater’s music and the tracks from the new album are so filled with energy and ideas that it was easy to get things flowing and get into it.

Tell us why Adobe Touch Apps, specifically Adobe Ideas, was an ideal tool to use for this task?
I was able to work while traveling with Ideas and the Creative Cloud and keep all the many pieces and designs organized. Being able to draw while traveling for another project, or get out of the office or studio and work on this project really kept me inspired. The vector-based quality of Ideas meant that the process of cleaning up a sketch to make it finished and the way I wanted was super fast and easy so I could explore a lot more pieces quickly and feel okay about not sending everything.

What was the inspiration behind the images you created?
All the inspiration for the work I contributed to the piece was from the song. The tone of the music, the energetic and upbeat sound, and the themes in the lyrics, all helped to lead everything from color to what I was drawing. The video footage shot in Turkey had a “dance number” skew/protest march. It helped inspire me to keep the illustrations meaningful but usable in a way that matched the tone of the song.

Speaking of music, how critical does music play in your creative process? What genre or music gets you in a creative mode?
I’m definitely an aging music nerd. Everything I do is inspired by the music I listen to and when possible, like this project, actually part of the work. Todd A and Firewater’s sound and big catalog were on constant repeat during this project, and I think I made some new fans for them around me because of it. A lot of time it’s hip hop, like Ghostface Killah. When I need to slow it down, like when I’m sketching or playing with concepts, I get into bands with a more songwriting, musical exploration type feel. Lately groups like Manouk, Manchester Orchestra, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and instrumental outfits, like Red Sparowes, are as important to me working as the tools I use to draw.

What tips/suggestions do you have for creative individuals thinking about getting into Adobe Ideas?
The pinch and zoom allows you to work with an almost infinite sized canvas. Drawing on a tablet with a photo layer is an unbelievable way to keep a reference file, sketchbook and finished canvases all in the same place. I always say, just play around with it. Get used to the features and what it does and then make the tool work the way you work.

For veteran users like yourself, what tips and/or techniques can you offer?
I was using Ideas for a year before bothering to play much with opacity. It led me to a whole new way of drawing with Ideas that look like pencil by using a super low opacity and black or grey and just layering strokes. Always keep playing with the app. I think the simplicity makes it easy to use for everyone, but there are some smart guys behind this application and the ways we as artists use it is only fenced in by our imagination and willingness to adapt to a new artistic tool.

For more on the making of the music video, check out the project on Behance.

Depending on his mood and where inspiration may strike him, you might find Adobe Touch Apps user Isaiah Bela (@BelaTheBoy) creating in the bedroom, a park or in the back seat of a car. We connected with this Los Angeles-based creative after coming across his “Fluttershy” project, which he shared with the Adobe Ideas Facebook Fan Page. Impressed with his work, we reached out to find out more about his work and creative process.

Being the vector-art fanatic that he is, Isaiah discussed the simplicity of creating on-the-go with Adobe Ideas and further refining his work in Illustrator CS6 through the use of the Creative Cloud. Additionally, he provided us with useful tips for all Touch Apps users, from newbie to veteran, and much more! Check out the full Q&A below, the photo album of his creations we’ve included directly below and his work displayed on our Touch Apps Twitter and Facebook channels. You can also see more of his creations on Deviantart.

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When it comes to looking at options for portability, Todd Powelson has tried it all from dragging along his canvas, paints and brushes, then downsizing to markers. It wasn’t until Todd tried the Adobe Touch Apps that simplicity sunk in, allowing him to quickly concept anywhere and transfer creations to his desktop where he can further refine until he is satisfied.

In addition to the Cubism/Surrealism/Fauvist art he has shared with us today, Todd plans on utilizing new products, such as Edge Animate, to incorporate animation into his work.

Read the full Q&A below to find out how Todd found Adobe Touch Apps, how they and other Adobe products have benefited his creative process.

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We’d like to introduce you to Adrian Franks (@afranks3) – a creative who celebrates friends, historic figures and admired current icons by creating silhouette sketches using the creative trio of Adobe Touch Apps, Creative Cloud, and Creative Suite! We stumbled upon one of Adrian’s impressive sketches on the Adobe Ideas Facebook Page and reached out to learn more about him and his work as we knew that Adrian would have a great story to share.

Get to know Adrian – find out where he likes to create, his ideal travel destination and how Adobe’s products have helped streamline his digital workflow in the full Q&A below. Also, visit both our Twitter and Facebook channels to see his work on display.

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Adobe: When were you first introduced to Adobe Touch Apps?

Adrian Franks: I started using Adobe Touch Apps when I first discovered Adobe Ideas in January 2011.

What was the very first creation you made with Touch Apps and Creative Cloud?
My creative endeavors with Touch Apps is a line of silhouette drawings called FEARLESS that highlights various people that I admire whether they are close friends, historic figures, or current pop culture icons. Currently, I use Creative Cloud to store my vector-based silhouette and download them to my Mac for further design work in CS6.

Where’s your favorite location to create?
My favorite place is at my studio, which is broken down into 2 places. One, being my physical studio in Red Hook, Brooklyn, the other is out in the world on the go. Whether I am on my bike, riding the train, the bus, or random coffee shops, I consider that as part of my studio. It helps influence my work.

How has the integration from Touch Apps through to the Creative Cloud features changed your creative workflow?
Creative Cloud has allowed me to produce my ideas faster because I have fewer steps to take. I love the fact that once I am done creating in Ideas it auto saves, syncs to the Cloud where I can download the file back to my computer to further manipulate in Photoshop or Illustrator. Once done, I can post to social or send to a printer. All of this has streamlined the process into a digital workflow. I love it!

Which pairing of the Touch Apps and the applications within Creative Cloud (i.e., CS6), are most instrumental to your creative process and why?
I love the combo of Ideas + Photoshop + Illustrator for creating illustrations and designs. I also love Proto + Photoshop + Illustrator for web design and UX projects.

How much of a difference has direct touch input made to your creations?
The Touch Apps give me the freedom to create and concept like I used to before the computer. It replicates the functions of pen and paper, but maintains ease of use on digital.  Touch is the present and future creative.

If you had the opportunity to travel to anywhere in the world with your Touch Apps, where would it be and why?
Africa, especially South Africa. Design there has been in a boom for a couple of years now. Events such as the World Cup and its rich political history have caused a shift in how the world perceives South Africa and its people. With that said, things such as creativity, design, art, and photography have pushed the thinking of South Africans. I would like to be a part of that, I would need to be mobile and believe Adobe’s Touch Apps and CS6 would allow me to do that.

Can’t get enough of Adrian’s work? Visit his Creative Works website to check out more of his work. If you have great work to share, send your creations our way for chance to be featured in an upcoming Creative Spotlight. Reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or in comments here.

The first time we discovered Jordan L. Rodgers, we were impressed by his ability to create with Adobe Touch Apps. We were blown away after stumbling upon his Adobe Ideas sketch of the RIBA façade via Twitter. We reached out to him, to learn more about his creative process – and of course, see more of his work!

Jordan was kind enough to discuss how Touch Apps have revolutionized his creative process. Check out what he shared with us below and then be sure to head over to our Adobe Touch Twitter channel to see the new background we’ve created from his sketches.

Jordan L. Rodgers

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Adobe: When were you first introduced to Adobe Touch Apps?

Jordan Rodgers: As an artist I make use of the iPad as a tool to explore the comparisons between traditional drawing on paper and digital drawing applications. Since discovering Adobe Ideas, I have embarked on further research and exploration between art and technology as a means to record everyday journeys, drawn in the evolution of a Modern Metropolis.

How has Adobe Touch Apps improved your ability to create?

The ability to draw on a hand held tablet in any location allows one to document in new ways. The Adobe Ideas app provides the ability to zoom in and out while restricting oneself to 0.5 fine line and working from one’s finger touch for greater rhythm and flow while drawing the lines. I also tend to do a lot of building up and then undo lines I don’t feel reflect the scene adequately.

How much of a difference has direct touch input made to your creations?

Touch screens are revolutionizing the process of creation and represent a new perspective in drawing. Direct touch input has made a significant difference to my pieces.

How has the integration from Touch Apps through to the Creative Cloud features changed your workflow?

The integration from Touch Apps through to the Creative Cloud features has changed my work workflow in allowing the drawing to be kinetic and mobile from other devices (iPad, iPhone, Desktop). By utilizing this form of modern technology, I am then in a position to share my works via social media – from hosting a portfolio on my own website to using Twitter (@jordanlrodgers) as a means to engage with a diverse range of practitioners.

Which pairing of the Touch Apps and the applications within Creative Cloud is most instrumental to your creative process?

The pairing of Adobe Ideas and Photoshop CS6 application within Creative Cloud has proven to be most instrumental to my creative process when drawing traditional Arch-viz. I have also taken the initiative and paired up the use of Adobe Ideas app and explored visual effects, motion graphics in After Effects software with the purpose of creating depth by essentially projecting flat images onto some 3D geometry or AE 3D cards.

To see other projects from Jordan, visit www.jordanlrodgers.com. Also, reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter or even here if you’d like to have your work featured. We’re always on the lookout for talented Touch Apps users to feature!

Note: All images featured are the property of Jordan L. Rodgers.

Like a superhero, Eric Merced possesses a special power – the ability to unleash creativity. With his trusty iPad loaded with Adobe Touch Apps, along with access to Creative Cloud and the Creative Suite 6 applications, there is no project too big for Eric to tackle.

We sat down with Eric to learn how these Adobe products have improved his workflow capabilities, given him the ability to seamlessly transfer his work between technologies and helped him become the illustrator he is today. Read our Q&A with Eric below and be sure to check out the new hero-themed Twitter background we created to celebrate his work.

Adobe: When were you first introduced to Adobe Touch Apps?

Eric Merced: It was with my first generation iPad (I currently own the iPad 2) and Adobe Ideas. There was a lot of complaining going on about how the iPad was not ideal for creating high-resolution art and Ideas was the first app that made me think otherwise.

What was the very first creation you made with Touch Apps?

Even though I had already used Ideas to dabble in creating art on the iPad, my first “wow” moment that cemented my desire to create illustrations and comics, was when I used Creative Cloud to upload an image of The Dark Knight Rises’ character, Bane. The idea of being able to back up my work directly from the iPad and have it available on my iPhone or desktop was thrilling. I later took that image into Photoshop Touch and added textures, which brought the image and my workflow to another level.

How has the integration from Touch Apps through to the Creative Cloud features changed your creative workflow?

It has simplified everything. I feel good knowing that I have a powerful mobile studio with Ideas and Creative Cloud.  The iPad’s feature of allowing apps to store files in iTunes is good, but I feel Creative Cloud is a step up because it allows you to access those files from other devices (i.e., iPod, iPhone, desktop). That’s true integration right there, and it’s also essential for a true mobile studio experience.