Creating a successful brand requires marketing as an integral piece of your business plan. Social media is at the forefront of any marketing strategy because it allows brand exposure and gets you engaging with your target audience—the more crossover from one platform to the next, the better. YouTube and Twitter are prime examples. Sending out a tweet linking your YouTube channel is an excellent strategy to garner subscribers.

Here are some fixes for your YouTube thumbnail not showing up on your Twitter posts:

1. Update Web Browser
2. YouTube Video is Fully Processed
3. Upload Thumbnail Yourself
4. Share Directly From YouTube
5. Share Using YouTube URL

If your YouTube thumbnail isn’t showing on your Twitter post, it can decrease the likelihood that your audience will use the link, see the video and subscribe to your channel. Let’s look into these fixes, learn about their causes, and how to avoid these issues in the future.

» MORE: How Long Does It Take YouTube To Change A Thumbnail?

5 Fixes for YouTube Thumbnail Not Showing on Twitter

You could be new to linking YouTube videos to your Twitter or have linked YouTube videos for years. Either way, issues could arise that cause the thumbnail not to appear. Thumbnails take a lot of time and energy, whether you’re using Photoshop, Illustrator, or an easy template on a website like placeit.net. Seeing a blank space where your thumbnail should be or an outdated thumbnail can be very frustrating. Luckily there are fixes for these issues.

1. Update Web Browser

Twitter allows its site to be used on most web browsers, including Safari, Firefox, Edge, Chrome, etc. However, it may not allow for the specific version of one of these web browsers you use. It will also not allow any browser extensions as they modify the user agent. Most of the time, if your system is updated, you will have the latest version of whatever web browser comes with that system. However, the best practice is to check for any updates.

If you’re on a laptop or PC, you can go into your “Control Panel” and update the system or go to your browser’s website and download the latest version of the browser. If you’re using a phone or tablet, go into your “App Store” and click on your profile. It should bring up a list of apps on your phone, including your browser, and beside it will say “Update” if it is due for one.

2. YouTube Video Has to be Fully Processed

Your video needs to be fully processed for your link to work properly on Twitter and show the proper title, description, and thumbnail. The metadata of the video allows those aspects of the video to appear properly, and the metadata isn’t ready for sharing until the video is fully processed.

Depending on the length, YouTube videos can take quite a long time to upload. It takes a lot of patience and waiting around for it to fully process and be ready for viewing. You may be at the last step or those last few seconds– hold out a bit longer and make sure the video is ready. Once the video is uploaded and processed, refresh the page to ensure it appears and the title, description, and thumbnail are present and correct; then, you can share the video on Twitter.

Checking your video settings might seem like an obvious statement, but sometimes we overlook the simplest mistakes. Ensure that your video is not set to “Private;” otherwise, the thumbnail will not appear on any social media platform.

3. Upload Thumbnail Yourself

Manually uploading your YouTube thumbnail may not sound like a solution, but sometimes the issue is with the website or the app. There have been several forum posts about this issue that had to be resolved by developers at Twitter. Websites and apps have bugs, glitches, errors, and that is why they require updates and troubleshooting.

While you’re waiting on a team to fix the issue, you can take matters into your own hands by uploading your thumbnail from your library to Twitter, then adding the link, title and description. Manually uploading may not be the most ideal approach, but it will save you time waiting around for Twitter to fix the bug.

4. Share Directly From YouTube

Sometimes it’s a matter of the approach. While the thumbnail may not appear when you try sharing your video one way, there is another option that may work for you. Instead of sharing your video by copy/paste, try sharing it directly from YouTube.

All you have to do is go to your video, double-check all the information: title, description, thumbnail, and metadata, then below the video, hit the “Share” option. A pop-up will appear and give you a few options; select Twitter, and a tweet will appear with the YouTube video embedded. Once it’s shared, give your post a few minutes to ensure that YouTube and Twitter have had time to communicate and the information is approved and updated.

5. Share Using YouTube URL

Perhaps you tried sharing your video using the “Share” link below the video, and it didn’t work correctly. The thumbnail is showing up as a blank box or not at all. Luckily, there is more than one way of sharing YouTube videos on Twitter. Try a different approach; copy and paste the URL.

You can copy the URL directly from the address bar at the top of your page or right-click the YouTube video and select “Copy Video URL from the pop-up menu.” After that, sign in to your Twitter account, draft a tweet, and paste the URL directly into the tweet. Again, once you hit tweet, give the post time before declaring a misfire. Refresh the page if needed.

» MORE: Why is Your Twitter Header Not Changing? [4 Reasons]

Conclusion

After trying all of these options to fix the YouTube thumbnail not showing up in your tweet, your problem persists; the issue may lie in the website or the app. You can try updating whichever one you’re using, or if you’re using the app, you can delete and reinstall it. However, some things can only be fixed on the backend, so be sure to contact Twitter support for more troubleshooting options.

The best way to promote your business or your brand is by networking across social media platforms— the most popular being Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The more you spread your content, the greater exposure and the more likely you are to gain subscribers, clients, sales, and leads. So, if you have a YouTube video, for example, be sure to promote it on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Be sure to learn the mechanics of each platform to avoid issues sharing content.

If your YouTube thumbnail is not showing up on LinkedIn, here are some possible reasons why:

1. Browser Cookies and Cache
2. Browser Update
3. Extensions and Pop-up Blockers
4. Image Format and Size

Let’s look into each scenario, understand why it might be causing the issue and then learn how to solve it. There is also a helpful tool built-in to LinkedIn that might be of use to you in resolving your YouTube thumbnail issue. We’ll tell you what it is and all the information on how to use it.

4 Reasons Your YouTube Thumbnail is Not Showing on LinkedIn

For the uninitiated, LinkedIn is an online service based on employment. It’s where you can essentially display your resume and portfolio to prospective employers who may be on the hunt to fill a position. To be competitive on this platform takes more than listing out your job history; you have to show companies your skills. What better way to do that than visually with a YouTube video?

1. Image Format and Size

Checking the image formatting may seem like an obvious fix, but not all formatting guidelines are the same across platforms. It could be your first time trying to add a YouTube video link and thumbnail to LinkedIn– which has very clear requirements for videos and thumbnails. For starters, they recommend that you custom make your thumbnail. There are three different ratios for LinkedIn display: landscape, square and vertical, and each ratio has its minimum and maximum pixel sizes.

• Landscape ratio: 16.9; Min: 640 x 360 pixels; Max: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Square ratio: 1:1; Min: 360 x 360 pixels; Max: 1920 x 1920 pixels
• Vertical ratio: 9:16; Min: 360 x 640 pixels; Max: 1080 x 1920 pixels

Other important requirements for your YouTube video thumbnail are as follows:

• Thumbnail File Format: JPG or PNG
• Thumbnail Max Size: 2 MB
• Thumbnail Aspect Ratio & Resolution: Must match video

If you don’t want to worry about specs for your thumbnail, you can always use a website like placeit.net to create your custom YouTube thumbnail image.

2. Browser Update

Before possibly updating your browser, you want to make sure that you are using a supported browser for LinkedIn. The supported browsers are Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Safari, and Firefox if you’re using a PC. If you’re using a mobile device, the supported browsers are Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Safari, and Android.

Once you’ve identified if your browser is supported, you can move on to check if an update is needed. Each PC browser will have different instructions on how to locate updates, so be sure to look those up and follow them step by step. App updates can typically be found in your App Store under your profile if you’re using your mobile device. Be sure to restart the browser after an update before going to LinkedIn to check on your thumbnail image.

Pro tip: Edge and LinkedIn are both Microsoft products, so many users have found that if their images, including their video thumbnails, do not appear in other browsers, they do appear in Edge.

3. Browser Cookies and Cache

If your cache has an outdated version of LinkedIn, it may prevent the browser from properly displaying your images. You need to clear your cookies and cache in your browser to fix this. Again, each browser has different steps to clear your browser history.

The following are steps on how to clear your browser history for your particular browser:

• Firefox: Options> Privacy & Security> Cookies & Site Data> Clear Data
• Chrome: Settings> History> History> Clear Browsing Data> Clear Data
• Edge: Settings> Privacy, Search & Services> Clear Browsing Data
• Safari: Safari> Clear History

Be sure to close out and reopen your browser before going back to LinkedIn and checking out your YouTube thumbnail image.

4. Extensions and Pop-Up Blockers

Browser extensions and pop-up blockers can affect the script on a website by circumventing the script or blocking it altogether. The way to check and see if this might be causing issues with your thumbnail images appearing in your web browser, disable your browser extensions and pop-up blockers.

Check online for instructions on how to disable browser extensions and pop-up blockers for your particular browser, refresh your page and see if your images appear. Most web browsers will have this option under Settings>Privacy & Security, but Safari has it under Preferences>Windows.

Use LinkedIn Post Inspector

If all else fails, LinkedIn has a built-in tool that will help remove bugs, update your data and take care of any other issues that might be preventing your YouTube thumbnail images from showing up in your web browser. It’s called Post Inspector, and all you have to do to use it is enter the URL of the webpage and select “Debug Issues.” If anything is detected that might be causing issues with your web page, Post Inspector will let you know then you can address the issues from there.

There is also an option to clear cache using Post Inspector to retrieve the most up-to-date information about your new post. Go to Post Inspector and enter the URL of the page with the post and select “Inspect.” Your link preview should now appear with the latest information, including the YouTube thumbnail.

Conclusion

Troubleshooting is not easy, especially if you’re frustrated and in the dark about what is causing the issue. If one of these fixes doesn’t work for you, reach out to LinkedIn support. The website may be having problems that a technician can only fix on the backend.

If you’re a Twitch streamer, you know that emotes can be crucial to your channel. These little images are arguably the primary method of chat communication and help streamers to reward their viewers or entice new ones in a fun, personable way. However, if your custom emotes aren’t done well, not only will they appear visually underwhelming, but they can also reflect negatively on your channel. Luckily, there are a few simple but effective ways to get making a good Twitch emote down to a science.

In this article, we will cover our top four tips for making any Twitch emote look good. As you read, you’ll learn how little things like color, contrast, and even line boldness can have a huge effect on the clarity and impact of your emote. We’ll also discuss how your specific brand and the community you’ve built around plays a key role in the creation of any emote.

Once you understand the fundamentals of a good Twitch Emote, check out these Twitch Emote Templates to customize your own!

Tip #1 – Understand and Utilize the 3 Cs

If you’re familiar with digital art and graphic design, then you might have already heard of what is referred to as the three C’s. While what the C’s stand for can vary depending on the source, when it comes to making Twitch emotes, these are the C’s you need to know.

The primary 3 Cs of Twitch emote making are color, contrast, and content. These are the foundations you need to always keep in mind throughout the entire process in order to achieve the fourth C of consistency, both in overall emote quality and appearance.

Each of these design aspects has its own set of tips and tricks that we’ve detailed below to help you make the best Twitch emotes possible.

1. Color

Something you want to consider significantly before you even start creating a new Twitch emote is your color palette.

If you have a well-established brand, you should already have a set of colors that you use frequently in other elements of brand marketing, such as a logo, a Twitch banner, etc. Now is not the time to diverge from these core colors that reflect your brand. Instead, you want to stay consistent and continue to utilize this palette in your unique Twitch emotes.

You don’t need to limit yourself to only using these colors, but emphasizing them in every emote will help you maintain your brand image and help your viewers who use these emotes feel like they are representing a community they enjoy participating in.

Now, what if you’re relatively new to Twitch and you don’t have a strong brand presence? Don’t worry; there are other color-related tips that are effective in making stunning Twitch emotes regardless of your following or where you are in the branding process.

The first is to make sure that whatever colors you use will appear clear and vibrant on both Twitch’s dark and light modes. This can be a significant challenge at first, but if your emote only looks good on one mode, you’ve essentially lost 50% of potential subscribers.

One way you to do this and catch peoples’ eyes is to use bright colors that pop against black and white, but giving them depth and increased readability is where contrast comes in.

2. Contrast

Even if you master the use of colors by ensuring it matches your brand’s palette and works well on both Twitch modes, it will likely appear flat or difficult to read without some elements of contrast.

When it comes to giving your Twitch emotes depth and a look of professionalism, highlights are you best friend.

If you have an emote with a particularly dark palette, try to add a light edge between the emote’s outline and its interior color to help it pop more visually. Another step you should take is to highlight the middle of the image slightly, especially the center of any facial emotes, as this will help features like the eyes, mouth, and nose become more readable and dimensional.

Once you have those in place, go back and try to lighten or darken certain areas of your emote to help set certain features apart. Try to refrain from stacking dark colors on top of each other or directly next to one another without a lighter tone or highlight present to break it up and provide contrast.

Of course, you don’t want to be completely without dark shades either, or your image will appear washed out, so strive to find a balance.

3. Content

When it comes to content, we want to drive home the point of keeping your unique brand in mind for all of your emotes.

These images should stand out and be a recognizable reflection of everything your particular Twitch channel stands for, and one way to do that, apart from being consistent with colors, fonts, and other aspects, is to be consistent with the content of your emotes regarding the primary depiction.

If you don’t have one already, we strongly recommend you create one or two character or figures that function as mascots for your Twitch channel and use them consistently in your emotes. Not only will this make it much easier to know what you are going to depict, but it will also increase your brand’s sense of community and ensure you have an emote that is unlike any other.

In the event that you don’t have a mascot in mind, remember that you are also a representation of your brand, and if people see your face often when streaming, an easy mascot option would be to create a caricature or visual representation of yourself.

Tip #2 – Maximize on Size

Emotes are overtly small images that must fit within a 28 pixel by 28 pixel space. Despite this, you’d be surprised how many people don’t use this tiny space in its entirety.

Every Twitch emote you create must maximize space. By this, we mean, that your images should touch the borders of the space provided, if not extend beyond it (ex. character’s hair is cut off rather than making them smaller to fit their entire head, hairdo included).

You don’t need to fill every pixel of your emote’s box. In fact, this is something you should probably avoid since it will reduce the readability of your image.

That being said, keeping your emote small so it all fits inside the box perfectly but has white edges surrounding it looks unprofessional and means the emote is even smaller than the 28×28 pixels. So, essentially, you’ve made a small image that could be hard to read even smaller and now it’s almost certainly hard to read. No more blank borders; pull that emote all the way to the edge!

Tip #3 – Limit Detail and Prioritize Readability

As we mentioned previously, emotes are incredibly small images that don’t have a lot of space to express themselves. Because of this, tiny details will likely either go completely unnoticed or worse, they will pixelate your emote and make it hard to read.

When it comes to making a good emote, the less detail you have, the better. You can add details like clothing patterns that won’t necessarily matter if you don’t see them, but if you’ve packed your emote with shading, tiny images, lines, etc., and every detail is important, then your emote won’t work.

This goes for what is inside your image as well as the image as a whole. If you’re concept contains multiple features such as text, two or more characters/figures, and colorful backgrounds, then odds are there is too much going on and the emote will look like a tiny, confused mess.

Instead of trying to use details to give your emote dimension and depth, focus on your two C’s of color and contrast.

Tip #4 – Don’t Underestimate a Thick Border

One of the simplest tricks any Twitch streamer can use to make visually stunning emotes is to alter the thickness of various lines within their image.

Providing a thick border around your primary emote image is a great way to help the image pop out from the background, make interior colors more pronounced, and ensure the image works on both dark and light Twitch modes.

In addition to a thick outer border, it can be extremely helpful to alter the thickness of various lines within the image as well. For example, if your emotes are usually a character’s face, thickening the line under their chin, around hand gestures, or other areas that are harder to read can give them the extra boost they need to separate from the rest of the image, making them more pronounced and improving the image’s overall readability.

Working with InDesign is intricate, and knowing how to change your mouse settings to work on smaller projects is a handy tool. Unfortunately, InDesign is one of the most complicated vectoring software programs. Knowing how to change your mouse, DPI could be hit and miss. Can you change mouse DPI in InDesign?

There are options in the device sub-menus that allow the user to set a higher DPI. Setting the DPI to a higher setting doesn’t necessarily make your mouse move faster but enables you to move around the project space efficiently if all settings are optimal. 

InDesign is a versatile program in that bits like DPI settings are sometimes plugged in automatically. This makes it easier on the user but can create problems with the printer. Read on and learn how to change your mouse DPI settings in InDesign.

Mouse Settings in InDesign

Getting into the settings of InDesign and not making a critical error for your project means you are trained. While InDesign becomes an application that is a breeze to work with, if you are a beginner with the software, it would be wise to create backstops that protect you from mistakes. 

DPI stands for Dots Per Inch. DPI means that the coverage area can move for every bit you move your mouse. This can help you get into tiny areas and do intricate work like detailing art. In addition, the scale is movable so that when you are working smaller, you move smaller.

The basics of DPI are:

• Cursor Movement – In the end, DPI relates to how fast the cursor moves in relation to the mouse input, which means that the DPI calculates your movements with the mouse and mimics them on your screen.
• Precision – DPI isn’t one of those measurements that will give you an accurate reading every time you want one. There will always be a representative number that isn’t precise, just an educated guess of how far the cursor moved.
• Sensitivity – A mouse’s sensitivity will dictate whichever operating system you are using. A few people out there think that DPI affects mouse sensitivity, but the mouse only appears to move faster when the DPI is cranked up.

Intricate systems like a computer have tons of programs and executable files running even when they aren’t in use. DPI allows the user to increase the rate at which the cursor moves but won’t make it more sensitive to your movements. Mouse settings can derail your workflow. Create macros or shortcuts to protect yourself against blunders.

Ways InDesign Helps Users with Workspace Data

Knowing everything about the project you have going on is imperative. InDesign has impressive ways of sharing workspace data and the project’s facts that other software programs don’t. But unfortunately, it could be hard to find while the data is out there.

Ways to find workspace data while using InDesign are:

• DPI – DPI is one of the great workspace data nuggets that can be mined by doing a bit of exploring in the menus. DPI is easy to find! Just click on the File menu at the top of the screen. This menu can be long, so scroll down to see the Place option. Once you click there, it will produce a box with DPI and other document placement facts.
• Artwork – A mouse used for painting will need some complicated menu work. If you are an artist using the mouse instead of a Wacom tablet, going into the menus of InDesign gives you a steady benchmark for your palette. The data will show you which settings work best for which type of art you are creating.

InDesign is one of the most workspace data-friendly applications on the market. Like the mouse options, it makes things easy to find with a few clicks. Knowing where your settings are and how to change them is handy if you find yourself in a working jam.

Conclusion

Mouse DPI means dots per inch. DPI doesn’t mean the same thing when referring to printing, and a mouse DPI is often the lesser-used term. Mouse DPI is used to describe the correlation between the input on the mouse and the movement on the screen.

Dots per inch refers to the pixels on the screen when you create a workspace on InDesign. These pixels could change depending on the size and type of document you create. Therefore, being wary of changes made to the document while working as a small change can have drastic results. 

Adobe Illustrator is still the top-of-the-line product when it comes to image editing. Still, it can have its problems. Sometimes you go to change the color of a portion of an image only to find it stays gray or black. If this is happening to you, you’re probably wondering why can’t Illustrator change the color and how can you fix it? Well, fortunately, we’ve got the solution.

Most of the time when Illustrator can’t change the color of an image or part of an image, it is because the image file being edited is set to grayscale. To fix this problem you simply need to go into the color panel and change the settings for grayscale to something like RGB or CMYK depending on your needs. 

If you’re having trouble adding a splash of color to your Illustrator project, you’ve come to the right place. In our guide below, we will explain what exactly causes these kinds of issues as well as what you can do about them. We will even provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to transition images out of grayscale and finally get that color you’ve wanted. So let’s jump right in!

» MORE: Why Are Your Illustrator Colors Gray? [5 Easy Fixes]

Why Are My Colors Only Black and White in Illustrator? 

So you may have noticed that your image is fine in areas where it is black, white, or gray but where it’s supposed to be more colorful it falls short. Even if you select a certain section and try to change it to a color it just comes out as a different shade of gray. What exactly causes this? 

As we stated in our intro, when your colors won’t change from black, white, and gray in Illustrator it usually means they are set to grayscale. More specifically, this means that the colors you choose will be translated into simple shades to make a black and white image. 

What Is Grayscale and Why Does Illustrator Use It? 

If you’re new to using Illustrator you may be asking yourself “what in the world is grayscale and why is it a setting in Illustrator? 

In the world of graphic design and image editing an image or graphic that has been grayscale has had all of its color translated into shades instead. Specifically shades of black and white. 

Illustrator allows users to have the option for both artistic and practical reasons. 

» MORE: What To Do When Illustrator Gradient Looks Choppy

How To Fix Illustrator When the Colors Won’t Change

So onto the main event. How exactly do you fix this grayscale problem and get that color back into your image? Well, it’s a pretty straightforward process and can be done within minutes or even seconds. 

Below we present you with our step by step guide to fixing illustrator when the colors won’t change to anything but black, white, or various shades of gray: 

1. Click on the part of the graphic you want to change: You first need to simply use your mouse to select the part of the graphic you want to fill in with color by clicking on it. When you do so it should be highlighted in a blue frame.
2. Find the color panel in “Window”: On the taskbar, you’re gonna want to select the table labeled “Window.” Again, this is the second to last option on the taskbar. Within the dropdown menu, simply select “Color.” This will take you to the color panel. 
3. Change the color setting away from grayscale: The color panel should be a little box that pops up in the top right corner of the screen. In the top right corner of the box itself, you will see a little icon with a tiny triangular arrow pointing down. It’s easy to miss. Once you find it, click it and select an alternative color option like CMYK or whatever you need. 

After that, full color should return to your image with whatever colors you were suggesting. It’s important to note that you don’t have to go with the CMYK option, however, it is one of the most commonly used. Other options like RGB and Websafe RGB will work as well. If you don’t know which one to use, feel free to experiment and find which one suits your needs best. 

What’s the Difference Between RGB and CMYK?

So now that you know you can use either RGB or CMYK in place of grayscale, the question becomes what’s the difference between these two color options? Which ones are best for what?

Below we breakdown both RGB and CMYK color settings in Illustrator and how they differ so you can have a better idea of which will best suit your project: 

• RGB: RGB colors are created through an “additive” process. This means that the whites they create are made from a combination of all the other colors. Because of their additive nature and boldness, RGB colors tend to look better on a screen than in print (though if you’re planning to post your image online you should use Websafe RGB.) 
• CMYK: CMYK colors use white as the default background color in a “subtractive” process. CMYK colors are really what you want if you plan on printing your image and delivering it to your audience that way. They tend not to have some of the distortion problems RGB colors have because they don’t have to use as much for the same effect. 

So that’s really it. At the end of the day, if you plan on presenting your project within a screen it will probably be best to go with RGB. If you plan on having your project printed, on the other hand, then you really should consider using CMYK instead. Thankfully you can use our guide above and change it back and forth any time you want. 

» MORE: Should Logos Be in CMYK or RGB Colors?

So Really, Why Can’t Illustrator Change Colors?

Usually, when Illustrator won’t change colors, it is because the image you are editing is set to grayscale. Grayscale essentially means that the image will be presented in various shades of black, white, and gray instead of full color. 

To fix this you simply need to go into the “Window” tab on the top taskbar, select “Color” from the dropdown menu and change the setting to either CMYK or RGB. Remember CMYK is best for printed images and RGB is best for on-screen images. Best of luck!

Procreate is a top-notch application for artists and illustrators. While Photoshop is still the industry standard, many professionals are turning to Procreate for their animations, paintings, illustrations, and custom lettering. Its rise in popularity is due to its cost, user-friendliness, features, functionality, and flexibility. There is one major complaint among users when using Procreate— single gesture undo.

Users that battle with Procreate accidentally undoing their work while using the application can look to the following reasons for a solution:

1. Zoom is On in Your Settings
2. Palm Detection is Enabled in Your Settings
3. Hand Positioning While Drawing

Let’s look at each reason for accidental undoing in Procreate, the mechanics behind them, and the fixes for each issue.

3 Reasons Procreate Keeps Undoing Your Work

Nothing is more frustrating than being in the middle of an illustration and noticing that a line you’ve just drawn has been undone. What is worse is becoming aware after you’ve drawn a new line, which prevents you from hitting redo, losing that work forever.

Unfortunately, there is no way to disable the single gesture undo in Procreate as of now. Still, it is a feature many users have requested in forums across the internet, so it may only be a matter of time before Procreate creators add this option in an update.

1. Zoom in On in Your Settings

Procreate is an application used primarily, if not exclusively, on iPads. With that being said, certain features in the settings can interfere with the application, causing it to perform unwanted actions.

When zoom is on in the iPad settings, it causes interference with the Procreate’s three-finger gestures (redo, clear, and the swipe up/down that opens the menu for copy/cut/paste). This interference will delete the last stroke you made with the Pencil when your hand comes in contact with the screen.

To resolve this problem, go into your Settings on your iPad. Locate your General settings> Accessibility and turn the zoom off. Return to Procreate, continue your work as normal, and see if this resolves the problem. If not, you can move on to the next reason and solution.

2. Palm Detection is Enabled in Your Settings

Procreate gives you the option to use your finger to draw in the application. Naturally, this could mean your palm may, on occasion, come in contact with the screen. To avoid unwanted smudges or random strokes from your palm,

Procreate has a feature called Palm Support, which will recognize the difference between your finger and the rest of your hand— only allowing strokes using your finger.

The problem with this feature arises when you try using any two or three-finger gesture to perform shortcuts. A prime example is the two-finger zoom gesture. With Palm Support on, the application thinks more than one finger on the screen is a mistake and doesn’t perform the intended task correctly– this could cause Procreate to undo the last stroke you made, erasing your work.

If you use a Pencil for your work, this feature is not necessary. To disable Palm Support, go into your iPad Settings> Procreate> Palm Support Fine Mode and set it to “off.” Return to Procreate, continue your work as normal, and see if it resolves the problem. If not, you can move on to the next reason and solution.

If you use your finger to draw and don’t want to turn off Palm Support, the options are to be mindful of resting any part of your hand, other than a single finger, on the screen while drawing. If you want to use a gesture, pause after your last stroke before attempting the gesture. Give the application to separate and differentiate one movement from the next.

3. Hand Positioning While Drawing

Every artist is different in the way that they illustrate or paint. Often your technique is determined by your education or your medium. For example, an artist who uses charcoal for their drawings will likely hold their hand in a way that prevents their palm from touching the paper to avoid smudges. If you are the type that often rests your hand on your screen while drawing, you may run into some issues with unwanted actions, like undo.

Since the single gesture undo cannot be disabled within Procreate, the only solution to avoiding accidental undoing is to adjust your hand positioning while drawing. For some, that could mean drawing with an Apple Pencil rather than their finger.

For others, it could look like modifying the way you hold the Pencil or your wrist while drawing. The important thing is not touching the screen with anything but your Pencil or your single finger.

If you don’t want to police your drawing technique and resting your palm on the screen is unavoidable, you could try using a drawing glove. A glove will isolate your hand from the screen and prevent your touches from registering as gestures in Procreate. You can also utilize a different resource, like Placeit.net, for your project needs.

How to Redo in Procreate

Accidental undoing can cause panic, especially if you are in the process of adding a new stroke to your design. Luckily, if caught in time, there is a way to get your work back, redo it. There are two ways to “redo” in Procreate.

• Option 1: Double-tap anywhere on the screen with three fingers (index, middle, and ring fingers)
• Option 2: Select the red arrow in the sidebar (the icon arrowhead goes toward the right)

Remember that using redo to bring back an accidentally undone stroke will only work if you haven’t made a new stroke.

Conclusion

One of these fixes should solve your undo issue in Procreate. There are also several forums where users will provide alternative solutions to Procreate problems. You can also reach out to Procreate directly for support. Perhaps an application update will resolve the undo dilemma by giving users an option to disable this gesture, but until then, we’ll keep hunting for solutions for you.

No one likes to think ahead, but mockups can get you started on the right track and give you a leg up on creating a final product that everyone will love. Illustrator’s preview feature can be a little wonky sometimes, and it can be frustrating to spend hours making a mockup only to have it not work in preview.

When your Illustrator is not rendering your preview, it is possible that Illustrator is not up to date, the artwork’s complexity creates an overload, there is a lack of PC memory, there is damaged or corrupted work, or the version is out of date.

No matter how much experience you have, you’ll probably find at least one thing that you can’t finish previewing. So, here’s a recap of the problems and solutions for you.

Why Illustrator can’t finish previewing

Something that designers and developers frequently face is the task of checking their work in a graphics program like Illustrator before sending it to the printer. They may therefore have to spend a lot of time looking at a website in different ways to make sure that everything looks good.

Unfortunately, digital designers don’t often have the luxury of being able to look at their work in a traditional way. When working with a digital product, you’re typically expected to look at the artwork only. As such, you may not realize how “off” something appears until you try to preview it in a program like Illustrator.

If Illustrator is not letting you preview, it could be down to one of the following:

1. Application not up to date
2. Complexity creates an overload
3. Lack of PC memory
4. Damaged or corrupted work
5. Out of date version

1. Application Not Up To Date

This is a common reason for Illustrator not being able to preview. It’s always best to make sure you’re running the latest version of your software before checking your work.

This includes things like software updates, patches, and security fixes. If your software has been updated, you’ll want to make sure to run the new version instead of the old one.

2. Complexity Creates an Overload

When there are too many objects on screen, the computer will sometimes prioritize certain processes over others. This can create an overload, which in turn can cause delays or errors in workflow.

In order to avoid this situation, you can set an appropriate priority for each process. This setting isn’t affected by job titles, so you can use this information to help schedule tasks and avoid overlapping or processing items at the same time. You can also use organizational charts to help prioritize tasks. This information can be valuable when you work with a large number of objects on screen, since it allows you to prioritize similar objects over others.

3. Lack of PC Memory

When working with large files and complex artwork, it’s possible that Illustrator may not have enough internal memory to complete previewing the artwork.

If this occurs, an error message will appear, and you will need to close the Illustrator file and open it again with a different file type. Certain file types such as vector artwork and photographs cannot be processed in this way. If you have trouble previewing your artwork in this way, consider increasing the file size or resizing it to a different file type. If you experience problems previewing your artwork in this way, try decreasing the size of the text and/or images in your file.

4. Damaged or Corrupted Work

This can happen if you apply a file format that has been corrupted by another program such as Photoshop. In some cases, this can even cause your computer to crash as a result. To prevent this from happening, make sure that the file you are trying to open is a .PDF document or .EPS or .JPG image file. You can also try opening the file in a program such as Preview or Microsoft Word to identify any formatting or security issues.

5. Out Of Date Version

This can happen if you’re working with an older version of software that is no longer being supported. It’s best to make sure you are using the latest version of Adobe Illustrator before checking your work. It’s also a good idea to keep track of which versions of Adobe software you are using and make sure you are still getting the latest and greatest functionality. Keeping track of your software version can help you avoid any software updates that are not compatible with your current version and can also give you a better indication of when a software update is required.

Solutions to Previewing issue

If you are experiencing a problem with Previewing your file, there are a few solutions that you can try.

• Try adjusting your Preview settings
• Try changing your display color settings
• Try clearing out any temporary files on your computer
• Make sure your application is on the latest version

What else can I do?

Sometimes things just don’t work out and you need to get back to it. If you are in a rush, you can always use an alternate program, like Placeit.net, to get the work done. However, if you are in need of a fix and have time, use the following tips to get back on track.

Keep a file open while you are working on it (even if you are not actively working in it) so that you can easily return when you need to. If your software is crashing, try reopening the file or use another tool until you find out what is wrong with your application.

If your computer is freezing up, try restarting it and see if that fixes the problem. If nothing seems to work, be sure to save often so that there is a copy of any changes before they are lost if your software crashes again.

Be sure to save as a copy rather than try and make any changes on top of an original document so that you have a backup copy of your work. If you need to print something, make sure you are printing from the latest version of Adobe Illustrator or whichever program you are using.

Conclusion

Not being able to preview in Illustrator after you have done so much work can be annoying. Sometimes you can fix the problem by restarting Illustrator, but sometimes you have to resort to using a different program to do your work. The best thing to do is just keep on working and try to figure out what is going on.

Adobe Illustrator allows you, as the designer, to have complete control over your design process. This application enables you to do so by giving you a plethora of options for each of your settings— that way; you can customize as you see fit. Each project has its unique needs, which means you might constantly be switching up your settings, but it’s beneficial to know what settings would work best overall.

The default color setting you should have in Illustrator is RGB for digital work and CMYK for print products. RGB stands for the red, green, and blue hues on which computer screens are based. CMYK refers to the four-color ink plates printers use: cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black.)

It’s important to note what kind of project you’re working on so you know what default color setting works best. Let’s look at why each of these settings is best suited for their respective functions. We’ll also note how these two settings interact with one another across applications.

Changing Your Default Color Setting in Illustrator

You may have a variety of projects on your plate, and each one has its unique needs in terms of settings. Once you’ve established what setting would best suit your project, you may need to change the color setting in Illustrator. Adobe Illustrator is automatically set to North America General Purpose 2— an all-purpose color setting.

If you would like to change this color setting in Illustrator, follow a few simple steps:

1. Select “Edit” for the menu in the top left-hand corner of Illustrator
2. Select “Color Settings” from the drop-down menu; the option is toward the bottom of the menu.
3. Click the arrow in the drop-down menu box next to “Settings.”
4. Select desired setting from the menu (Custom, North America Newspaper, Monitor Color, etc.)
5. Change preferences under “Working Spaces” and “Color Management Policies,” if desired.
6. Select “Ok” to update color settings.

You may be looking at the list of settings in the drop-down menu and be confused about which one you should select for your particular project. Let’s take a look at each color setting and what it does so you can choose the best one for your project.

The Color Settings in Illustrator

First, you need to know that the color settings you have in Illustrator are dependent on your version of Illustrator, as well as your geographical location. For example, if you are in North America, which are the settings tackled in this article, you’ll have settings titled with the North America label. If you are in Europe, your color settings will reflect your location.

If you want to avoid changing color settings in a program, you can always use a website like placeit.net for your print or web designs.

Here is a comprehensive list of the color settings for Illustrator in North America:

• Custom: Gives you the ability to control your settings manually.
• Monitor Color: Mimics most video application colors. Should not be used for print images, reserve this setting for screen images.
• North America General Purpose 2: All-purpose color setting for print and screen. It uses the same CMYK working space as North America Prepress 2 and the web standard sRGB for the RGB working space.
• North America Newspaper: Specifically used for North American newspaper printing presses—preserves the CMYK values.
• North America Prepress 2: Uses the color setting for all other North American print images— preserves the CMYK working space.
• North America Web/Internet: Gives the color setting for North American web images— utilizes sRGB for the RGB working space.

Most users prefer the “Custom” color setting because it allows you to change the working spaces and color management policies for your particular work— digital or print. For example, if you’re doing web design and you select the “custom” option, you can set your RGB working space to sRGB like in North America General Purpose 2 and North America Web/Internet. Additionally, you can change your RGB color management policy to “Off” so that all imported work will automatically be set to sRGB.

CMYK Model Versus RGB Model

Knowing the difference between these two models will explain why each model works best in its function. It will also let you know what will happen to images if converted from one model to the other.

CMYK is a subtractive color model, for starters, while RGB is an additive color model. With RGB, black is the absence of white, while white is a combination of all primary colors. On the other hand, CMYK uses white as the default color of the print background, while black is the combination of colored inks.

RGB is used for any media that transmits light, i.e., a computer screen, because these channels emit color as red, green, and blue light. The white light coming through the screen combines red, green, and blue onto the retina of the eye to create a wider range of perceived colors. The more color beams there are, the closer to white and the absence of color beams makes black.

CMYK works in the opposite of the RGB model. CMYK creates dyes or pigments by subtracting colors from natural white light. Printers then use these pigments in close together or spaced out dots to achieve the desired color. With CMYK, the more ink, the closer to black, and subtracting the CMYK inks makes white.

RGB has a greater range of colors compared to CMYK. All the colors produced by a screen cannot be duplicated in print because printer ink does not emit light– this is why it is important to convert the file to CMYK if you want to print to avoid color problems in the final product. Converting will allow you to preview the image and make adjustments.

Conclusion

The beauty of any design setting is it can be changed and customized to accommodate your design needs. It’s just a matter of understanding how each functions in relation to your specific project.

If you’re a content creator and you already own Adobe Illustrator, you can import your vector artwork directly into Affinity Designer. But what if you want to use certain brushes from Adobe Illustrator?

When using Affinity Designer, you have the ability to bring in and use Illustrator brushes to complete your designs. This gives you complete access to all the tools you will need during your project.

If you’re a fan of Adobe Illustrator, you’ve probably heard of the “brush tool”. It’s one of the most essential tools when it comes to creating vector illustrations. In this article, we’ll be exploring how you can use Illustrator brushes in Affinity Designer.

How to Use Illustrator Brushes in Affinity Designer

If you are looking to use Illustrator brushes in Affinity Designer, you are lucky to have a couple of ways to do this:

• The Brushes Panel
• The Illustrator Panel

The first way is by using the “brushes” panel. This way, you can use the same brush tools you know and love in Adobe Illustrator. But the downside is, you can only use them on single layers.

The second way is by using the “Illustrator” panel. This way, you can use the brushes on different layers and use them in a variety of ways.

The “Brushes” Panel

Sometimes, you just need to quickly add some color to a solid color illustration. You can do this in Affinity Designer by importing an Illustrator file and then going to the “Brushes” panel and adjusting the brush size, color, and pattern to your liking. You can add multiple layers with the “brushes” panel and adjust the brush properties as needed.

The “Illustrator” Panel

When you don’t have access to the “brushes” panel, you can use the “Illustrator” panel to add some color and pattern to your vector illustrations. This way, you can create amazing illustrations without having to go through the process of creating multiple files, adding layers, and adjusting the layers’ properties.

This is great when you want to save some time in the creative process.

Using the Illustrator Panel

From the main “Brushes” panel, go to the “Wrapper” section. From there, you can create complex patterns and textures with a variety of Wrap-Around options (Square, Rectangular, Elliptical, and Circular). Once you’ve created the pattern you’d like to use, you can adjust its color to match your illustration.

What Brushes are Compatible with Affinity Designer?

Sometimes, compatibility becomes an issue when using tools from different applications. With Affinity Designer, there are no limitations. You can use any brush you want with Affinity Designer.

Just make sure to save the file in the correct format (AI, EPS, PDF). This way, you’ll be able to open it with Adobe Illustrator or other vector editing software.

Can You Import Brushes into Affinity Designer?

In general, you can’t import brushes into Affinity Designer. You can, however, import bitmap images or vector images that have been converted to bitmaps.

What’s the Best Way to Create a Brush in Affinity Designer?

There are several ways to create brushes:

1. Use the “Pen” tool and draw whatever you want. This is great for creating a custom brush with a complex structure.
2. Use the “Pencil” tool and draw whatever you want. This is great for creating a custom brush with an organic feel.
3. Use any other drawing tool (i.e., Rectangle Tool or Rounded Rectangle Tool). This is great when you want to use a simple shape as your brush and then adjust it afterwards using the “Brush panel”. If you decide to use this method, make sure to select “Vector Shape” in the Tool Options Panel.
4. Use any of the other Affinity Designer tools (i.e., Gradient Tool, Paint Bucket Tool, etc.) to create a brush. This is great when you want to use a simple shape as your brush and then adjust it afterwards using the “Brush panel”. If you decide to use this method, make sure to select “Bitmap” in the Tool Options Panel.
5. Use any bitmap image as your brush in Affinity Designer. Just make sure that the bitmap has a transparent background.
6. Use any vector image as your brush in Affinity Designer (vector with a transparent background). Just make sure that the vector image has no stroke or fill applied (i.e., use only strokes or fills with 0 Opacity).
7. Use any rasterized vector or bitmap image as your brush in Affinity Designer (rasterized vector or bitmap with a transparent background). Just make

Does Affinity Designer Support Illustrator Files?

Affinity Designer is compatible with Adobe Illustrator files. However, you will encounter a few issues when you try to import an Illustrator file into the software.

When you try to open an Illustrator file in Affinity Designer, you will be offered the following error: “Illustrator file contains items that are not supported in Affinity Designer.”

If you want to open an Illustrator file in Affinity Designer,  try changing its name and file extension. Making it a PDF can make importing easier. You can also try to open the file in Illustrator itself. However, this approach will not work if your computer is running on a slow or low-bandwidth connection.

Affinity Designer is a vector graphics editor, just like Adobe Illustrator. Thus, you can achieve similar results by using the tools of Affinity Designer instead of Illustrator.

Affinity Designer has a few features that are not available in Illustrator. If you want to use these features, your best option is to create the desired design in Illustrator and then import it into Affinity Designer for editing and final touches.

Conclusion

We’ve discussed how you can use Illustrator brushes in Affinity Designer. You may have probably heard of these tools before, but you might not have used them often enough to know how useful they could be in your workflow. Of course if you need a specific brush now, apps like Placeit.net will help you get your design project completed!

If you’re a new user of Affinity Designer, or if you’ve been working with it a bit but haven’t quite got the hang of it, these tips might help. In Affinity Designer, you can adjust the brush size, type, color, and even pattern. You also have multiple layers to work with, which can be a lifesaver when you’re doing complicated projects.

So, there you have it: How to use Illustrator brushes in Affinity Designer. Now, go create some beautiful vector art!

Adobe design applications like Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign allow for a great deal of crossover when working on design projects. Each one has its primary function; Photoshop, for example, is primarily for photo editing, but its secondary functions overlap the primary function of other applications. Therefore, designers use the programs interchangeably for projects involving graphic design or animation, to name a few.

Illustrator does have blending modes similar to Photoshop, and you will find that Illustrator has a lot of the same functions as Photoshop. The primary difference between the two applications is that Photoshop is raster-based, while Illustrator is vector-based.

Let’s look at how we can find blending modes in Illustrator and exactly which ones overlap and which might be missing in either application. We’ll also take a look at the functions of the blending modes in Illustrator.

How to Find Blending Modes in Illustrator

The way blending modes work in Illustrator allows you to vary how the colors blend between two overlapping objects. When you add a blending mode, the effect of that mode is visible on any object that is beneath the layer or group. You can think of it in terms of blend color, base color, and resulting color for visualization.

To find blending modes in Illustrator, follow these easy steps (with content selected):

1. Open “Opacity” in the “Properties” menu (right-side)
2. Select “Transparency”
3. Select “Normal” to open the “Blending Modes” drop-down menu

Illustrator has sixteen blending modes versus Photoshop, which gives access to twenty-nine blending modes.

6 Blending Modes Found in Illustrator

All sixteen of the blending modes on Illustrator can be found in Photoshop. Blending modes work a little differently in Photoshop as they affect the pixels in an image, but the principle is the same and should yield the same result. If the results vary, check the image and ensure it is not in CMYK, as the colors don’t blend the same as RGB or LAB— which is what Photoshop uses.

Normal is the default mode, and it functions by painting the selection with the blend color without affecting the base color. Since normal is the default, you don’t need to change the blending mode in order to use it.

1. Darken/Lighten

Darken selects the resulting color based on whichever is darker—the base color or the blend color. Anything lighter than the blend color is replaced, but areas darker than the blend color are left unchanged.

Lighten selects the resulting color based on whichever is lighter— the base color or the blend color. Anything darker than the blend color is replaced, but areas lighter than the blend color are left unchanged.

2. Color Burn/Color Dodge

When using color burn, the base color is darkened to resemble the blend color. If the blend color is white, there is no change to the base color. With color dodge, the base color is brightened to resemble the base color. If the blend color is black, there is no change to the base color.

3. Screen/Multiply/Overlay

In the screen mode, the inverse of the base and blend colors are multiplied, always resulting in a lighter color. For example, screening with white will result in white, and screening with black results in no change.

With multiply mode, the base color is multiplied by the blend color, always resulting in a darker color. For example, any color multiplied by black will result in black, and multiplying with white results in no change.

Overlay is a sort of combination of multiply and screen. Depending on the base color, it can multiply or screen the colors. Colors and patterns lay over the image. The base color preserves highlight and shadows while the blend color reflects the darkness or lightness of the original color.

4. Soft Light/Hard Light

Soft light functions depending on the blend color, it may darken or lighten the colors— like shining a diffused light on the image.

If the blend color is lighter than 50% grey, it’s lightened (Dodged). If it’s darker than 50% grey, it’s darkened (Burned). Using black or white will result in a darker or lighter color only.

Hard light functions depending on the blend color, it multiplies or screens the colors— like shining a harsh light on the image.

If the blend color is lighter than 50% grey, it’s lightened (Screened) and great for highlights. If it’s darker than 50% grey, it’s darkened (Multiplied) and great for shadows. Using black or white will result in pure black or pure white.

5. Difference/Exclusion

Depending on which has the greater value in brightness, it subtracts the blend color from the base color or vice versa. White inverts the values of the base color, while black produces no change.

Exclusion mode is lower in contrast to the “Difference” mode but is similar in effect. White creates an inversion of base color elements, while black produces no change.

6. Hue/Saturation/Color/Luminosity

All of these modes are a variation on one another. Hue combines the luminance and saturation of the base color with the hue of the blend color. Saturation combines the luminance and hue of the base color with the saturation of the blend color. Areas with no saturation will be left unchanged.

Color combines the luminance of the base color with the saturation and hue of the blend color. It is best for tinting colorwork and coloring monochrome work, as it preserves gray levels. Luminosity Combines the hue and saturation of the base color with the luminance of the blend color— creating an inverse effect to the “Color” mode.

Blending Modes Found in Photoshop But Not Illustrator

Photoshop, the raster-based design application, offers more variety with blending modes than its counterpart, Illustrator. Altogether Photoshop has twenty-nine blending modes, thirteen more than Illustrator.

Here are the additional blending modes that Photoshop offers its users:

1. Dissolve
2. Behind
3. Clear
4. Linear Burn
5. Linear Dodge
6. Vivid Light
7. Linear Light
8. Pin Light
9. Hard Mix
10. Subtract
11. Divide
12. Lighter Color
13. Darker Color

If there is a blending mode you would like that Illustrator doesn’t have, you can open your image in Photoshop and use it there. Remember that Photoshop will save your work as a raster image. You can also try a website like Placeit.net—which already has templates for any kind of design project.

Conclusion

Overall, Illustrator has a decent amount of the same blending modes you will find in Photoshop. If there is a blending mode you prefer to use that is not found in Illustrator, you always have the option of opening your image in Photoshop and using it there.