Twitter feed

By Royal Appointment

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Liz Wilkins

We’ve had a very exciting day as we joined His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh at the official opening of the University of Salford building at MediaCityUK.

Our very own Simon Williams (Director of Strategic Relations) represented Adobe as Her Majesty The Queen visited the North West and Prince Philip gave the royal seal of approval to the new state-of-the-art facilities at the University of Salford.

Adobe is one of the University’s close partners, sponsoring a VFX studio at the institution’s new teaching and research facility and giving students the chance to carry out work placements within our own video teams.

The studio itself  is fully equipped with the Adobe Creative Suite Production Premium platform which will provide students at the University with access to the very same software that has been used to make Hollywood blockbusters including Hugo, The Social Network, Avatar and Monsters – to name just a few!

Alongside the studio, we’re also working with University staff and students on applied research projects that will help to shape the future of the broadcast industry. These include fine-tuning post-production workflows across television, film, commercials and animation disciplines.

It’s hugely exciting to be part of the MediaCityUK development considering it will be home to the likes of BBC North, ITV, Coronation Street and SIS LIVE by the end of the year. And we are quite simply thrilled to have been able to play a part in the official Diamond Jubilee tour. What a day!

Posted in Customer Showcase | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

Photoshop Sneak Peeks

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Liz Wilkins

For my post today I wanted to give you a sneak peek into what’s in store for our flagship image editing software Adobe Photoshop. Having spoken to several lecturers, I know many of you have either used the product in your lectures or are at least familiar with it, so here are some great videos to give you a taster into what the future holds for Photoshop.

An early look at some of the things the Photoshop team is working on for Camera Raw.

Some enhancements to a popular Facebook fan request are revealed – background save and the most powerful liquify tool ever.

An insight into a new feature allowing you to create dashed and dotted lines with just one click!

A look into some advanced features of Photoshop’s Content-Aware technology – how to seamlessly move or remove an object from an image.

A peek at what sharing presets will be like in the future.

A sneak peek into a future feature which will allow you to create blur effects without masks, layers & depth maps!

Posted in software | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Adobe News from Mobile World Congress 2012

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Liz Wilkins

There are lots of exciting things happening at Adobe and we shared some exciting news last week at the annual Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona.  

Here’s a quick rundown of our announcements with links to more information for anyone who missed them:

1. We launched Photoshop Touch for iPad 2, via the iTunes App Store. The app allows you combine multiple photos into layered images, apply professional effects to create beautiful artwork, touch up photos, paint and lay out ideas.

2. We unveiled the industry’s first fully integrated video technology platform, Project Primetime, which enables smooth, TV-like experiences for ad-supported videos across Web-connected devices. The new platform delivers premium video and ad content consistently across all major platforms, including Apple iOS, Google Android, desktop operating systems and connected TVs.

3. We revealed some exciting data showing that the Digital Publishing Suite has powered more than 16 million digital publications across tablets. We also have added more enterprise-class functionality to the Suite, which will help drive digital revenue and brand engagement through digital publications.

4. Finally we have given mobile gaming a performance boost: we announced AIR 3.2 and Flash Player 11.2 with hardware accelerated 2D and 3D, which will enable the next generation of mobile gaming apps.

For more information on any of these announcements visit www.adobe.com/uk

Posted in software | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Muse Beta 6: new update available

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Liz Wilkins

A couple of weeks ago we released a new update to our Muse public beta software. From now on when you download the beta, you’ll have access to more than 80 new updates and performance enhancements all based on feedback we’ve had from the user community since the beta launched last summer.

 In a nutshell, Muse is our latest Web design software which essentially lets you design and publish a HTML site without having to write the code. The use of tools such as Muse, and in fact technology across the board, should be encouraged in our Higher Education institutions.

It is important that young people today are given the opportunity to learn about technology and how it can be used to tell a story in more creative way, whether in the classroom or when they start their careers. Muse is just one way they can do this.

So what can you expect from our latest updates to Muse? The beta now includes autoscrolling, so when you drag an item to the edge of the view, the view automatically scrolls in that direction. Plus export and publish times have been improved so they’re now much quicker and easier. There’s loads more so check out our Muse Blog to get all the details.

If you want to learn more about how you can use Muse in your lecturers then it’s worth a visit to our site where you can download the beta for free, take a look through a gallery of Muse-created websites, and also access instructional tutorials. 

 

Posted in software | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

Create your wings and fly: Adobe Design Achievement Awards

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Liz Wilkins

Well it’s that time of year again and we’re on the hunt for the next generation of creative talent through our Adobe Design Achievement Awards (ADAA).

 For those who haven’t heard of the ADAA, it’s a competition we run every year to celebrate and recognise the incredible and innovative work students produce using Adobe software. It’s completely free to enter and open to students, faculty and staff from higher education institutions around the world.

 There are 13 categories ranging from Games Design and Development, to Application Development and Mobile Design and entries are judged by a fabulous panel of international design experts including Anthony Dunne, who is Head of the Design at Royal College of Art.

 Since this competition began in 2001, nearly 25,000 students across 73 countries have been involved. If you’re curious, you can check out some of the previous year’s submissions for yourself by clicking visiting the ADAA gallery.

 ‘But what’s in it for me’ I hear your cry. Well, in addition to being recognised as a creative genius, in October finalists will be invited to attend the ADAA awards ceremony in none other than LA!  If that wasn’t enough, there are also cash prizes up for grabs!

 So what are you waiting for… visit the ADAA website and get submitting! The deadline for entries is April 27, so plenty of time to get those creative juices flowing. Good luck!

 

Posted in Student Competition | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

Pioneering licensing agreements in Higher Education

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Liz Wilkins

It’s true what they say – education and self study has changed a lot, especially when I compare it to when I was studying! Gone are the days when you have to fight for a seat in the computer lab or the library ahead of deadlines and dissertations – well not exactly; but with greater accessibility to software and programmes, self study has very much become a private personal activity. One that people can now do at home, in the park, or a coffee shop.

 Ravensbourne, a specialist higher education institution in London, has taken this idea a step further.  Specialising in vocationally focused courses from fashion, television and broadcasting, to interactive product design, architecture and environment design, to name but a few, the University has placed pioneering technology within education at its core by introducing our Education Enterprise License Agreement (EELA).

 This enables the provision of industry‐standard software to both staff and students from any device, at any time and any place – truly fantastic! A practical way of implementing Ravensbourne’s philosophy of open, applied, learning and the amalgamation of skills, the EELA agreement exposes its student community to technology and software used by disciplines other than their own. So for example, a fashion student now has access to tools traditionally used by their peers studying graphic design.

 Chris Thompson, director of enterprise and innovation, Ravensbourne said: “By working with Adobe, Ravensbourne enables students to express their ideas and knowledge through a variety of digital channels and media, building essential digital communication skills as well as ignite a new passion for learning.”  

 Ravensbourne is just one example of how higher education institutions are paving the way, helping their students to gain a wider skillset for their transition into the working world.

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

News from Adobe MAX 2011

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Liz Wilkins

There are a lot of exciting things happening at Adobe, and we shared some major news at Adobe MAX 2011, our annual conference for designers, developers, and business leaders in Los Angeles last week.  Following the Adobe MAX event I wanted to share with you how Adobe is transforming the creative process across mobile devices, personal computers, and the cloud.

Day 1: Creativity unleashed
The day one keynote explored some of the latest technology trends and how they are impacting Adobe tools and solutions. Highlights of the keynote:

1) The major announcement was the unveiling of Adobe Creative Cloud, a new initiative that redefines the content creation process. Over time, Adobe Creative Cloud will become a focal point for the worldwide creative community, where creative professionals can access desktop and tablet applications and essential creative services, as well as share their best work.

2) The introduction of Adobe Touch Apps, a new family of intuitive touch screen applications designed for Android tablets and Apple iPad that enable anyone to explore ideas and present their creativity anytime, anywhere. Inspired by the Creative Suite, these stunning new apps bring professional-level creativity to millions of tablet users. Learn more about the first six exciting new apps today: Adobe Collage, Adobe Debut, Adobe Ideas, Adobe Kuler, Adobe Photoshop Touch, and Adobe Proto

3) The world’s top publishers are using Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. Now small design studios and freelance designers can easily publish their content to the iPad using Digital Publishing Suite, Single Edition.

4) Adobe has acquired Typekit, a service that allows you to choose from, and easily incorporate, hundreds of fonts into your web projects. This service will be included in Adobe Creative Cloud.

5) Adobe is working with WoodWing to accelerate digital publishing on tablets. WoodWing Software will both integrate and resell Adobe Digital Publishing Suite.

6) We also featured brand-new Adobe Carousel, which allows you access to all your photos and photo editing tools on your iPad, iPhone, and Mac, with no syncing hassles or storage issues.

Day 2: Creating the very best user experiences
The day two keynote explored the best solutions for how Adobe Flash technology and HTML can work together to deliver highly expressive and usable experiences in the browser and as apps. Among the highlights:

1) PhoneGap is now part of Adobe. PhoneGap technology allows developers to create native applications using familiar web technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery to build and deploy applications to all major mobile platforms.

2) Adobe Edge Preview 3 is now available, adding new interactivity features like looping, hyperlinks, and animation control. It also has a new built-in code snippet library and the ability to add custom JavaScript. Expand the boundaries of motion and interaction design using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.

3) Recent releases of Adobe Flash Player 11 and Adobe AIR 3 runtimes enable the next generation of immersive application experiences for gaming, rich media, and data-driven apps. Upcoming Flex 4.6 and Flash Builder 4.6 releases will provide new components, access to the latest platform and device capabilities, and native install experiences.

4) Experience 3D games with FlashPlayer. As the game console for the web, Flash Player 11, along with AIR 3, allows game publishers to instantly deliver console-quality, immersive 3D games to desktops and TVs. (Mobile 3D support will be available in an upcoming production release.)

5) Adobe is working with USA Network to release Psych Vision, an AIR companion app that engages television viewers and invites them to interact with additional compelling programming content. Android and iOS versions are on the way.

We’re holding a Back from Max event in London on 2 November 2011, to find out more visit http://www.backfrommax.com/london

Posted in Event | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Launching our new education community www.adobe.com/go/aeeuk

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Liz Wilkins

Posted in Adobe Education Exchange, Video | Comments Off

Lights, camera, action – Hollywood special effects come to Salford as University links with Adobe

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Liz Wilkins

I’m thrilled that we have a new partnership with the University of Salford that I can share with you.

We are going to sponsor a state-of-the-art VFX studio at the University’s new teaching and research facility at the MediaCityUK campus. And what this means is that the University’s studio will house Adobe Creative Suite CS5.5 Production Premium as a platform for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.  This will provide students with access to the tools that have been used to make hit films like Monsters, Social Network, Avatar, the list goes on.

But what’s maybe even more exciting is that we will also be partnering with the University  to engage in R&D.  This will see students and academics invited to work with Adobe on applied research projects such as fine tuning post-production workflows across disciplines, including television, film, commercials and animation.

As Jon Corner, Director of MediaCityUK, for the University of Salford, explained he sees this partnership as having huge benefits for their students and demonstrates how “students at Salford will also get the chance to combine their creativity with technology in the best digital campus in the UK.”

At a time when Adobe is taking the broadcast industry by storm, I’m excited that Salford students will have the opportunity to acquire the skills that I truly believe will provide a springboard into the industry.

Posted in Customer Showcase | Tagged , | Comments Off

Adobe Imagination Challenge

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Liz Wilkins

By their very nature higher education institutions are a melting pot of ideas, expressions and creativity. The desire to learn and excel can be almost tangible at the start of a new academic year and with so many creative juices flowing, we felt it was the perfect time to introduce their newest initiative to foster this inspirational period – the Adobe Imagination Challenge.

Throughout the following months the Adobe Imagination Challenge will help students get the most from Adobe software as well as offer them the opportunity to gain national recognition and win some incredible prizes in the process. From our student portal https://students-adobe.com/UK they can download trial versions of our entire suite of software and also find the resources to help them fully utilise its powerful features.

Our celebrity guest judges are:

  • Helena Christensen (supermodel, photographer)
  • Greg James (TV & Radio presenter)
  • David Rowan (Editor, Wired UK)

They will oversee the competition and provide weekly challenges to motivate minds and help students find their voice. Through blogs, videos and tutorials they will share their creative experience and ultimately help us find the three overall winners of the Adobe Imagination Challenge that will walk away with £10,000 each.

There is no limit to imagination and that’s why entries can be as varied as creativity will allow. Whether it’s a poster, an engineering plan, a poem, a slogan or a dream Adobe provide the tools to help students to express what makes them unique. The best entries will be added to our Imagination Gallery where students can share it with friends and vote on other entries that they love. To make it even better, we’ll be giving away a £50 gift voucher every day simply for voting.

It’s not just students that benefit though; anyone employed through a higher education institute is entitled to an 80% discount on Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Student and Teacher Editions. This provides the perfect opportunity to work with students to help them get the most from this incredible competition.

Students can find everything they need to get started at https://students-adobe.com/UK/

Posted in Student Competition | Tagged , | Comments Off