Should UX Designers Use Canva? [What You Need To Know]

Should UX Designers Use Canva? [What You Need To Know]

Canva is a great program for easily creating graphics and other design projects, which may have you wondering if it is a good platform for UX designers. It is important to have a clear understanding of what UX design consists of and what it takes to execute it successfully.

Although Canva has a lot to offer when it comes to basic graphic design projects, it is not the best option for those who are in the field of providing top-notch UX designs. Generally, UX designers are best suited to professional design software such as Adobe or something comparable.

For more details about using Canva for UX design and other helpful information continue reading.

UX Design – What You Should Know 

Before deciding if a UX designer should use Canva as a platform for creating top-notch, unique user experiences it is helpful to have a better understanding of exactly what UX design entails.

UX design is much more than simply creating a website or a specific design for a product; it pertains to how the “product” is perceived by the viewer/user.

UX design refers to how an interface looks, how easy it is for users to interact with features and navigate the settings. It has to do with how the user feels while using the product and what they think after they have completed the experience.

Oftentimes people confuse marketing with UX design; UX design is a part of marketing, but that is where the similarities end.

Those who work in marketing are focused on increasing sales for a particular business, brand, or product whereas UX design focuses solely on making things easy to use and visually pleasing for the customers/viewers.

A lot of planning and research goes into developing a premium user experience; for UX design to be successful a designer should be knowledgeable and skilled in graphic design and web design and development.

Continue reading to learn why Canva is not the best design platform for designers who are focused on user experiences.

Why UX Designers Should Not Use Canva

Canva is a design program generated to help those who are not professional designers or perhaps cannot afford to hire a graphic artist for their marketing and/or web design needs.

Students and social media fanatics can also benefit from the simple drag-and-drop style of designing but what about professional designers who are trying to create an entire user experience?

We briefly mentioned that Canva is not the best design tool for professional designers who are looking to create an out-of-this-world user experience and the section below explains why.

It’s Your Design, But It’s Not – Limitations Apply

Let’s start with the most significant reason why a UX designer or any other serious graphic designer should use Canva for their designs.

When you create something using the Canva design platform you do not truly own that image, graphic, or video. This is where it is important to have a clear understanding of the different types of software you are using.

As an example, if you happen to create an awesome-looking design using the Canva platform and wish to use it as your business logo, Canva actually owns the rights to that image.

Using anything for commercial use that was created in Canva can lead to copyright infringement issues and other possible legal action.

It is super important that you understand the perimeters in which you are allowed to use the designs that you create in the Canva platform.

Must Rely On Internet Connection And Canva Server

If you are a professional UX designer working on a tight schedule or perhaps keeping odd hours it is important that you have access to your designs and the programs you use to create them whenever you want.

If you are using Canva as a primary design program you are at the mercy of their server as well as your internet connection. Since Canva is a web-based platform the internet must be working correctly and the Canva server must be up and running.

There are times when Canva may experience issues that require maintenance which means they have to restrict access to the site until the issues have been resolved. If you are unable to connect to the internet you will not be able to access or work on your designs either.

Additionally, since Canva is a web-based platform there is no local file storage. All of your designs and all files associated with them are saved into the Canva server which can be restricting if you wish to work offline.

Don’t Put Your Creativity In A Box

And lastly, but certainly not least, UX designers should not use Canva as a design software because it is a drag-and-drop software where you select images, graphics, and layouts that you like and basically fill in the blanks.

There is not a whole lot of thinking or actual design that goes into the process. They have made it so simple to use that it can hinder your creativity.

The Canva design platform is great for basic designs but if you wish to create a truly professional-looking user experience you need to use a professional design software such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

Canva is limited when it comes to advanced tools such as creating smooth gradients that blend without showing banding, photo editing options, drawing, or illustrating.

Another issue that designers encounter when using the Canva platform is that after a while everyone’s designs start to resemble one another because they were all created using the same drag-and-drop method from the same template options etc.

So although the actual content may vary, more websites are beginning to have a generic look that blends in with the millions of others instead of standing out.

For Professional Results Avoid Canva For UX Design

As you have learned from the information above, Canva is great for basic designs and non-commercial use but if you are wanting to create a truly unique user experience it is best to stick to professional design software that won’t limit your creativity.

Is Vexels.com a Safe Site to Use?

The internet is busy, and there are many websites to try out. If you are interested in print-on-demand to provide products for an audience, vexels.com is an excellent place to go. However, if you’ve never used it before, it can be tricky to determine if it’s a quality site for your needs. Is vexels.com a safe site to use?

Vexels.com is used by plenty of people and is deemed safe to use. They offer ready-to-use images, designs, and template options for creators to form t-shirts and other items in no time. If you want designs made fast, vexels.com is a safe website to use.

If you’re interested in learning more about vexels.com, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn what makes vexels.com safe, what the site is used for, and other critical information to assist with your content journey. The more you know, the better a choice you can make for your product needs.

What Makes Vexels.com Safe?

Vexels.com is a safe site to utilize, but what makes it trustworthy? The proof makes all the difference when determining the correct choice for your needs.

Here are a few reasons you can trust vexels.com:

  • It has excellent reviews on Trustpilot
  • Several scam sites have analyzed vexels.com as trustworthy
  • There are many positive user reviews from people who have purchased items on the site

It’s worth a shot if the designs look ideal.

Many tasks can be accomplished on vexels.com. Let’s go over a few possibilities to help determine if it’s the ideal choice for your life.

What Is Vexels.com Used For?

Vexels is a unique site that provides a way for people to access designs ready to go on the market. Rather than working to create designs, users can pay for and take advantage of what is already on the site to produce valuable content much faster.

Here are a few items you can use those designs on:

  • T-Shirts
  • Tote bags
  • Pillowcases
  • Posters
  • Popsockets
  • Mugs

No matter what you choose, Vexels has a design that will work perfectly for your needs. You can sell them on a website, offer them as handouts at a convention, or offer gifts for loyal company members. If these items sound appealing to you, how do you become part of vexels.com?

How Do You Become Part of Vexels.com?

Vexels.com operates differently than other product creation sites. If you want to be part of vexels.com, you need to pay for a subscription and keep it up to continue producing content. There are three options available.

Here are the available options for vexels.com subscriptions:

  • Merch: This subscription offers 100 downloads a month, two design requests, and access to the T-Shirt Maker, Mockup Generator, and Logo Maker. It costs $16.50 a month or $198 annually.
  • Merch Plus: This subscription offers 200 downloads a month, four design requests, and access to the same items as Merch. It costs $27.99 a month or $335 annually.
  • Merch Ultimate: This subscription offers 2,000 downloads a month, eight design requests, and access to the same tools as the previous two. It costs $55.99 a month or $667 annually.

The lowest tier is best for those who only need a product every once in a while, while the most costly works for content creators with an audience to satisfy with merchandise. Once you pick a subscription, you need to keep up with it to retain access to Vexels designs.

Another site similar to Vexels is called Placeit.net. In fact, some people choose to use Placeit instead of Vexels due to Placeit’s larger library of designs and templates, and the unlimited downloads that come with a Placeit plan for only $12 per month.

Can I Use Vexels For Commercial Use?

Vexels is an excellent choice if you have a personal agenda. Individuals can purchase the merchandise for their groups or themselves as promotional material for their brand. What about larger companies that need products on a massive scale? Is Vexels capable of commercial use?

The designs on Vexels are free and ready for commercial use. The company is equipped to handle mass production and you don’t have to worry about using a design that isn’t legal. Every part of Vexels works to make creating products as simple as possible, whether for work or personal reasons.

If you’re interested in this site, there is one last question to answer. How does Vexels work?

How Does Vexels Work?

Vexels is a website that produces content on-demand for users. If you are an individual with an active subscription, you can pick a design and customize it to your needs. You can choose the products you want and select the number you need. Once you place an order, Vexels creates the items and ships them to you.

Although the draw to the company is its vast set of ready-to-use designs, they also make it possible to create your own and upload them into the system. You can also request a drawing from the Vexels team, working with a staff member to form the look for your products.

Once you have a subscription, Vexels is a straightforward site to use. It’s one of the best ways to form merchandise for your needs.

Final Thoughts

If you are interested in a site that provides ready-to-use designs for products like t-shirts and coffee mugs, vexels.com is an excellent place to look. They are a safe platform with tons of satisfied customers. It’s possible to test design possibilities without purchasing anything from the site, so you can see if it fits your needs before committing.

We hope this information is helpful! Making products for consumers can be tricky, so it’s critical to work through a website with a quality reputation. It’s reliable, and they have plenty of options for those interested in creating products. Although there are other choices on the market, vexels.com is an excellent choice.

How to Change the Size of Your PlaceIt Images?

Great image designs may start with your imagination, but they will end up looking terrible if their size does not fit the application. As such, you need a way to adjust and crop your images to the right size. Fortunately, most design editors offer such a feature, including PlaceIt.

PlaceIt offers two tools that will let you change the size of your image depending on your needs. The Image Resizer tool provides general-purpose size control options. Meanwhile, the Image Cropper lets you adjust the size by removing unnecessary content. Both tools are simple to use with just a few clicks.

While PlaceIt allows you to resize your images, you must still know your desired sizes. Therefore, by reading further, you will learn some commonly used image sizes and how to use PlaceIt to get to them.

How to Resize Your Images in PlaceIt

As an online design editor, PlaceIt lets you create professional-quality designs without requiring design training or background. While you could use it to build from scratch, the thousands of pre-set design templates allow you to get things done quickly with just a few clicks. However, it will not automatically resize your images. But it does come with the tools for it.

Resigning your design is a critical part of the design process. It may feel unnecessary, but specific applications require specific image sizes as a part of their graphics layout. For instance, clothing requires rather large image sizes, but you can get away with something smaller when making buttons.

However, your original images and photos might be either too large or small to fit the required space. This can happen when printing out the images or when opening them in your editor. You probably ran into a few occasions where you get a “your file size is too large” error or something similar.

In these cases, you can resize your image to make them pixel-perfect for your application. You can reduce their file sizes when editing them before resizing them back for your larger uses.

PlaceIt Image Resizer

To resize your images in PlaceIt, you will most likely need to use the Image Resizer tool. It is PlaceIt’s chief image size adjuster, and you can easily access it from the “Download” page. As such, most of the time, you can resize images in PlaceIt with the following steps:

  1. Upload your image or download a PlaceIt design
  2. Select “View All” under the “My Downloads” menu option
  3. Click “Crop/Resize” from the dropdown box
  4. Make your size adjustments
  5. Click “Download”

This procedure should create a new file containing your resized image.

Benefits of Using the PlaceIt Resizing Tool

Ultimately, you can resize your images using any editor at your disposal. Even the small image editor that comes with your computer can do it. However, there are many reasons to choose the PlaceIt Image Resizer. The top reasons are:

  • PlaceIt Image Resizer works with any image and design in the PlaceIt Asset Library
  • Preset image size options for common applications such as social media
  • Custom size editor for better control and image management
  • Maintains image quality and aspect ratios

Image Resizer also keeps your original design intact, letting you create multiple correctly sized images from a single source. As such, your images will fit their platforms perfectly without having to render each version individually. You also avoid the natural quality degradation that comes from readjusting and redownloading the same image. You just get properly sized images without blurring.

PlaceIt Image Cropper

The PlaceIt Image Resizer will work in most situations as it maintains your design completely throughout the process. However, there might be times when the Image Cropper will be more useful.

Cropping is removing parts of an image that are unnecessary, and it can be extremely useful when used in the right places. It lets you eliminate things such as local identifiers, private information, copyrighted assets, and so forth. For instance, cropping lets you create great profile headshots of your team members.

Cropping an image in PlaceIt is as easy to use as the Image Resizer. You just:

  1. Open the image in the editor
  2. Create a selection box around the parts you want to keep
  3. Select “Crop/Resize” from the menu above

Common PlaceIt Image Resizer Size Presets

Resizing images is normally a one-way process, and generally, you want to move from large to small. While you theoretically go in either direction, the compression required to create small images tends to reduce quality. Enlarging them often enlarges the compression artifacts as well.

Luckily, the PlaceIt Image Resizer lessens the impacts of these artifacts, letting you resize your images as needed. You just have to select the right target size so to minimize the need for further adjustments. Fortunately, Image Resizer comes has presets with some of the more commonly used image sizes.

These size presets to ensure that your images will fit where you need them, keeping your branding consistent across your platforms. This allows you to use the same image on say Instagram and LinkedIn without worrying about meeting the different size requirements.

 Some popular preset sizes include:

  • 110×110 – for Instagram profiles
  • 165×165 – Pinterest profiles
  • 180×180 – Facebook profiles
  • 300×300 – LinkedIn profiles
  • 400×400 – Twitter profiles
  • 552×289 – LinkedIn stories
  • 800×800 – YouTube profiles
  • 900×1600 – Pinterest stories
  • 820×312 – Facebook page banner
  • 1192×220 – LinkedIn page banner
  • 1500×500 – Twitter page banner
  • 2,048×1,152 – YouTube channel banner

These are a small sample of the presets PlaceIt offers. The Image Resizer also comes with presets for Print on Demand (POD) clothing designs, large print banners, marketing displays, and more. PlaceIt will even customize your preset selection based on your desired output. For instance, it will only show you social media sizes if you select social media images.

Thus, if your image has size requirements, you should see if PlaceIt has the size in its presets before you try to do it manually. It will save you a lot of time and effort. Most of the time, you can just upload the finished resized files directly to your platform of choice as well.

Conclusion

Resizing images is an important part of any graphic design. It lets you customize your images to your different platforms, ensuring consistent branding throughout. To get you there, PlaceIt offers two different tools: a general image resizer and a cropper.

Is It Possible to Get a Free PlaceIt Premium Account?

PlaceIt is a leading online mockup, video, and design generator with millions of happy users. However, not every tool works in all situations. Therefore, you may want to take a test drive to see if it will meet your needs.

While it is not possible to get a free PlaceIt Premium account, there are ways to lower the premium cost. Also, PlaceIt offers a Free account that never expires and offers some of the premium features. Even with the free account, you get an unlimited commercial use license, however the downside to the free account is only having access to a limited library of free templates.

Most users should find that the free account will serve their needs well. However, there might be times when you will need premium access. Therefore, by reading further, you will learn the benefits and drawbacks of each account type, allowing you to choose the best account for your situation.

Does PlaceIt Offer Free Premium Accounts?

PlaceIt stands as one of the best video, mockup, and design editors out there. It’s not only for designing, but also for so much more:

  • Mockup Tool – create various use mockups for your designs
  • Logo Maker – make stunning logos for your business, brand, or social profiles
  • Graphic Design Editor with Templates – Create your graphics or use a template from the ever-growing library
  • Video Maker – create professional-looking videos in any format or size

Some of the most popular uses for PlaceIt include t-shirt designs, business logos, and social media posts.

Unfortunately, PlaceIt does not offer free premium accounts. If you need full access to the software, you must pay for the premium version. However, there is a 15% off coupon you can use to lower the premium cost.

PlaceIt Free Trial and Premium Subscription Comparison

The PlaceIt free trial is perfect for hobbyists, freelancers, and small businesses who need something quick and free, but comes with limited access to templates. If you need access to the full 90,000-asset library, you’ll need a premium account. Unfortunately, when you try to sign up for a premium account, you will quickly learn that there are 4 different PlaceIt accounts:

  • Free Trial – Free with limited library access
  • Single Download – $2.99 to $39.99 per download
  • Monthly Subscription – $14.95 per month
  • Annual Subscription – $89.69 per year

Luckily, you we have a 15% off coupon that works on any premium plan.

These accounts come with different features and library access, but all of them will let you create commercial designs without watermarks. Luckily, it is easy to switch between these account types, letting you customize your account access as needed.

Single Download

The Single Download option works similarly to the free account, except you get access to the full library. You get the same unlimited access to the app and commercial use license. However, unlike the subscription plans, you must pay for each asset you use separately.

Monthly and Annual Subscriptions

Both paid subscription options give you full and unlimited access to the asset library. The only real difference between the two is the length of the subscription, though you will get a 50% per month discount if you choose the annual plan.

Please note that subscription accounts automatically renew themselves at the end of the subscription period. To avoid these charges, you must cancel the subscription 24 hours before the current period ends. You can then request a refund if your card still got charged.

Conclusion

While there is no free premium account, there is a 15% off coupon to lower the cost. There is also a PlaceIt free trial that never expires and lets you create stunning artwork and great commercial designs at no cost. However, the free account comes with a very limited library of assets. Still, it is a great way to see if PlaceIt will work for you.

How to Show a Missing Top Bar in Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator could populate a missing top bar menu. This menu allows you to control several things, like page orientation and font options. However, the top bar is critical to the application and is heavily used in favor of the drop-down menus. So how do you show a missing top bar in Illustrator?

Missing toolbars in Illustrator can lead to delays and cause confusion that could slow the project and cost you money. Keep your cool! You could make a mistake that costs more time and make things worse. Read on and learn all you need to know about showing the missing top bar in Adobe Illustrator.

Showing a Missing Top Bar in Illustrator

The top bar could be missing for several reasons. These reasons could range from a simple keystroke push to updating software. The critical thing to remember is that you can always use the options along the top of the application to gain functionality. Therefore, you should start with the easiest fix and work your way down the list until the problem is solved.

Using Keystrokes is the First Place to Start

Sometimes the answer to your problem is simple. For example, when the top bar doesn’t appear, the first thing to try is to hit the Tab key. By hitting Tab, you will force the top bar to reappear. It is a straightforward process, but if that doesn’t work, you can move on to the next step: trying the Window option from the top.

Next, You Should Try the Window Menu

If clicking the Tab key a few times doesn’t get the job done, there could be an issue with the Controls in the Window section. There are many menus and rulers to choose from in the Window section, and you should try them out to see which ones improve your workflow.

The steps to change Controls in the Window drop-down menu are as follows:

  1. Click Window – You should choose Window from the top of the screen. Window is home to all the things you can add to your workspace and has tons of valuable tools inside. It would be best to look for Control, which is near the top of the list. Click control and move on to the next step.
  2. Control – Once you have clicked Control, you will see the top bar repopulate at the top of the screen as soon as you can click through all the options and see that none are greyed out or unusable.

Of all the options in the Window, menu Control is the one that allows you access to the top bar. In the top bar, you have different options, and with a bit more browsing in the Window menu, you can find out how to place those options around your artboard. If working in the Control panel doesn’t fix the problem, you could need to update your software.

Updating Your Version of Illustrator is a Good Idea

It could be the software that keeps the top bar from appearing. Often there are bugs in older versions of the Adobe Creative Cloud that will cause menus to disappear and your settings to be moved around. One of the great things about Adobe is they give you several options to update your software.

Some of the ways you can update your version of Adobe Illustrator are:

  • Auto Update – The most common way your Illustrator updates is with the auto-update option. This allows your software to get needed updates whenever it accesses the internet or, at times, the user chooses. Ensure that your software has auto-update by clicking the option in the Preferences tab of Adobe Creative Cloud.
  • Manual Update – If there’s a reason that your auto-update isn’t working, you should try and do it manually. Click the Apps tab in Creative Cloud and browse the program you will update. Once there, you should see an Updates icon near the top.

Keeping your software up to date is a good idea because it keeps any unforeseen problems from happening, and you can concentrate on your work. Once the updates are installed, restart Illustrator and see if the problem persists. If so, another option requires a clean boot state that will allow the computer to fix the issue internally.

A Clean Boot State is a Fantastic Option

There are often bits of leftover code from other versions and projects that could contain malware or some program that prevents Illustrator from loading correctly. Doing a clean boot allows these types of programs to be stopped before interfering with functionality. To get to the Clean Boot State programs, you must press Enter during the computer booting process.

The steps to run a Clean Boot State are as follows:

  1. Selective Startup – When the menu appears during the Safe Mode process, you should see a menu that has a few bullet options. One of these options is Selective Startup. Selective Startup lets you choose the programs that run when booting and can be used as a buffer for spyware and malware functions.
  2. Services – The next tab you should look for is the Services tab. Here it would help if you concentrated on disabling Microsoft services with the box at the bottom of the menu. From here, you click restart, and your computer will boot in Clean Boot State.
  3. Trial and Error – Now that you are in Clean Boot State, you should go back and allow specific programs to run until you see the problem occur. This takes time, but once you find the bad program, it is easy to remove, and your top bar problem is solved.

The trial and error portion of the steps could take time. Therefore, it would be best to restart in Clean Boot State as many times as needed to resolve the issue. Please note that creating a save state is encouraged when doing this process.

Conclusion

A missing top bar in Adobe Illustrator can be a headache. The guides and rulers are essential to the projects, and the top bar allows users to change different design aspects in a single location. When the bar is missing, you should search through the Window menu or press the Tab key to see if it appears.

Often the best options are simple, and you should make sure you start with the simple tasks before getting into the reboots in safe mode that could be in your future. No matter what the issue was, you can restore the top bar in Illustrator by following a few simple procedures.

How to Rotate View in Illustrator [4 Tips]

Adobe Illustrator allows its users to create packaging and art that could need to be seen from different angles. The Rotate tool will let you move the view 180 degrees in both directions. So how do you Rotate in Adobe Illustrator?

Functionality with Adobe Illustrator gives the user many options, which could overwhelm the new user. Too many choices can be stressful, and it could be even worse if you are on a deadline. Keep your cool! Read on and learn everything you need about how to Rotate view in Illustrator.

How to Rotate View in Illustrator

Rotating View is a valuable function that will allow you to rotate the artboard on which you work or the art itself. Rotating is essential for creating packaging for store shelves or illustrating a sculpture or model. Knowing how to rotate quickly gives you an uninterrupted workflow, which increases concentration.

1. Rotating the Canvas is Great for Perspective

One of the first things you should try is rotating the artboard. The artboard is the significant white backing, often called a canvas, where all your magic will happen. By rotating just a few degrees, you add some flair to your design and force your design to be noticed.

The steps to rotate the canvas in Adobe Illustrator are as follows:

  1. Hand Tool – The first thing to look for when you want to rotate something is the Hand Tool. It looks like a hand with splayed fingers and could be located in the toolbar. If not, use the old faithful Shift + H.
  2. Click – Once the Hand tool is selected, you can click anywhere on the artboard, and it should swing to an angle. Take your time and give it a few tweaks back and forth before going forward. Remember that you can rotate and restore, so play around and learn some new tricks.

Once you get the hang of rotating the artboard, you can move on to rotating the art. Knowing how to perform simple functions like rotate not only gives you insight into how the program works but gives you tools for your artwork arsenal—allowing you to create at a higher level.

2. Rotating Artwork Equips You to Create Exceptional Pieces

Rotating the artwork inside the canvas creates a skewed effect that works excellently on logos and branding. It also allows the designer to try a section of artwork from different angles to pick which is best for the product and the project.

The steps to rotate the artwork in Illustrator are as follows:

  1. Space-Shift – Another great way to swap from the regular click is to hit the Space+Shift combo. This changes directly to the Hand Tool. Remember that when you rotate objects, the grids will change, and the guides will stay in their position.
  2. Use the Tool – Once the Hand Tool is visible as your cursor, click and rotate the art to any angle you need. Remember that some fonts could disappear the closer you get to 180 degrees on each side.

Rotating artwork is an excellent functionality that allows users to add text and rendered items from impressive angles. This slanted view can make still shots an action feel while adding a street art feel to the rough text and stark colors.

3. Viewing an Object with Rotate is a Simple Procedure

You are designing new boxes for a cosmetics company. On the lid of the box is their company logo. You will have to rotate the logo on the screen so you can work with it. Rotating to the object is a quick way to check your work.

The steps to rotate to an object are as follows:

  1. Click the Area – The area you try to click in should be a text box or art on the same layer. By clicking on the text box, an outline will appear. However, it could be placed in a position that makes it hard for you to read and even harder to correct.
  2. Select View – Once the area you want is selected, go to the top menu and look for the View option. About halfway down the list, you will see the window for the rotate features. Click on Rotate View to Selection. The view will snap around so the hard-to-see text or logo can be easily read.

Rotate to View Selection will only work if you have an area selected. If not, it will be greyed out in the View menu. Ensure that you don’t create any extra words in the text box or bump the logo when trying to select.

4. Resetting the Canvas is a Handy Trick

Once you have the canvas off-kilter and any obscure pieces you need to work on are complete, you can move the artboard back to its original position. Sometimes leaving the canvas askew can create a lovely art effect, and other times, the work must be classic. No matter which you choose, knowing how to get back to the original location is essential.

A few ways to set the canvas back to its original position in Illustrator are:

  1. Reset Rotate View – You can access the Reset Rotate View option through the View menu at the top of the screen. Like Rotate View to Selection, if nothing has been rotated, the item will be greyed out on the screen.
  2. Shift+Command+1 – The keyboard entry for setting the canvas back to the original is quite simple to perform. You must make sure you are clicking on the artboard level. Once you are there, just hit Shift+Command+1. The artboard should go back to the position it was in when the project began.

Resetting can get you out of a jam if you make a mistake. Sometimes the artboard can be clicked, and you could rotate the background by accident. Knowing these quick shortcuts will get you back in the game and on deadline.

Conclusion

Rotate allows you to move the art or workspace around your point of view. It is a handy tool because it will enable users to add bits of flair or eye-catching movement to their graphic arts projects. 

Rotating View in Illustrator gives you many options when creating art or packaging. For example, you can create logos and print in hard-to-reach, perfectly centered places. In addition, knowing a few quick keystrokes and menu locations allows you to level up your designs and bring in larger contracts.

Drawing Tablet Keeps Drawing Straight Lines? [9 Fixes]

Drawing tablets are highly useful devices for digital artists. They allow more precise lines to be used when drawing on a computer, while making the process more comfortable too. At times you may experience what is known as the ‘straight lines issue’.

When a drawing tablet keeps drawing straight lines instead of responding to other input, it may affect your work. Read on below to find out the fixes you can try to solve this issue and restore full functionality to your tablet.

1. Update Drivers

Digital artists tend to prefer using a drawing tablet thanks to the more polished and high-quality results it provides. The quality of the lines in particular is one of the most essential benefits, and everything depends on the precise response from the tablet.

To ensure a smooth response from the drawing tablet, you should always keep your drivers updated. If you notice that your drawing tablet keeps drawing straight lines, you should immediately check if there is an update available.

Whenever a driver update is released, no matter what type of drawing tablet you use, the outdated version may start having response issues. Updating your drivers will frequently solve your issue with just this easy one step.

Depending on which type of tablet you use, you can either access the dedicated tablet app, your Windows or Mac settings, or the brand website to get the new firmware.

2. Adjust Drawing Software Preferences

Some tablets may stop responding accurately when they lag. This may happen if your computer starts running out of RAM, which is usually caused by the drawing software currently in use.

You should always check the requirements of the software you use with your drawing tablet. Whenever you see that your drawing tablet keeps drawing straight lines and overall lagging, check your task manager or activity monitor.

You will likely notice that your drawing software is overpowering your computer. In this case, you should check the preferences or settings of the drawing software you prefer using. Most times, you will be able to specify how much RAM the software is allowed to use.

Balancing out the percentage of RAM the drawing software uses may help solve the problem of your tablet not responding to your input. Depending on your computer’s performance levels, this can be an essential step in ensuring a smooth drawing process.

3. Switch High Precision Settings On and Off

Drawing tablets that support high precision settings can provide an even more high-quality process. Despite this usefulness, you may notice that these settings affect the response of your tablet.

At times, you may notice that your drawing tablet keeps drawing straight lines on options that have the high precision setting. To fix this problem, toggle this setting between on and off and check to see how your tablet responds.

You may see that the drawing tablet stops drawing only straight lines when the high precision settings are either on or off. Make sure to experiment with this setting to get the most out of it and to get the response you want from your drawing tablet.

4. Uninstall and Reinstall the Drivers

A drawing tablet that keeps drawing straight lines may have a deeper problem caused by the drivers. If you notice that updating the drivers does not sort the issue, you should proceed to do a full uninstall once you disconnect your tablet from the computer.

Once you fully uninstall your tablet drivers, you will have to do a clean reinstall from scratch. To do this, either connect your tablet to the computer again or go to the manufacturer website (e.g. Wacom, Huion) and download the firmware you need.

5. Restart Drawing Software

If your drawing tablet keeps drawing straight lines, it may be due to a glitch in the drawing software. Once you start experiencing this problem, one of the first things you should do is restart your drawing software.

Save your work before you restart the software, then try opening the file once more. Test out how your drawing tablet responds by drawing your desired shapes. Restarting the drawing software can solve many problems with how the tablet responds to your input.

6. Change Hotkeys

Hotkeys are a useful feature available on many drawing tablets. They allow you to customize and streamline your drawing tablet experience, but on occasion they may interfere with the input.

Your drawing tablet drawing straight lines may have to do with a hotkey being pressed at the same time. If this happens, you may have to adjust the hotkeys or even turn them off to ensure they are not getting in the way of your lines.

7. Delete Drawing Software Preferences

When you are unable to make your drawing tablet draw anything other than straight lines, this may also be caused by your drawing software preferences. This can especially be a problem with preferences that were saved in the software before the tablet was used.

To ensure that your drawing software preferences don’t interfere with your lines, you should delete them and create new ones. This process will differ depending on the type of drawing software you use, but most of them have a setting to reset your preferences upon exit.

8. Change Tablet Properties

When you connect a tablet to your computer, you will be able to customize various properties. If you notice that your drawing tablet keeps drawing straight lines after these properties have been set, you should change them to something else.

While changing tablet properties, you can also opt to add a new profile. This can be something you use to create a better experience that varies depending on the drawing software you use, which will reduce issues with your lines.

9. Use a Cable on Bluetooth Tablets

If you are using a Bluetooth tablet, this may affect the response to your input. A lack of stable connectivity may be to blame for your tablet drawing straight lines. To eliminate any issues related to the network, make sure to connect your tablet using a cable.

Conclusion

There are several fixes you can try when your drawing tablet keeps drawing straight lines. From connectivity issues to drawing software preferences and keeping drivers up to date, you will soon solve your drawing problems.

How To Change The Font Size On Placeit

You can edit so many templates within Placeit.net that it can be a little overwhelming. It almost feels like you are learning a whole new program! But navigating this website is simple, and you can learn it quickly.

Changing the font size within any template on Placeit is quite simple. You can learn how to change and edit the font to have the content look exactly how you want it. You can do so much on this website!

Pro Tip: Placeit also offers an additional 15% off any plan with this coupon.

How To Change The Font Size On Placeit

Changing the font size is pretty much the same on all templates, whether you are making a poster, book cover, or slide show. It is only a little different from a still image and a video. Here is what you need to do for both.

Texts On Still Images

Many of the templates are still images, making it easy to resize the text. The process is very similar to when you upload an image to the template on the website and try to resize it. Here is what you need to do:

  1. Log into your account.
  2. Find the template you want to edit.
  3. Choose the text you want to resize.
  4. The four arrows will appear, informing you can resize, move around, and rotate the text.
  5. Click and drag on the corner of the text box to adjust the size.
  6. It’s best to enter your text before changing the size.
  7. Try out different sizes and save all your edits.

Ensure that you don’t stretch your text or resize it to the point that it is difficult to read. When you make it too larger or too small, people will not be able to read it and will lose interest.

Texts On Videos

When it comes to videos or moving texts, you can’t resize the text. These are set as is, but you can change the font of the text. Some fonts are larger, while others are smaller. You can adjust these features to fit your needs.

Try different colors as well. Just adding a little color that stands out can give your text what it needs that size may not have been able to do.

How To Change The Font

Changing the font only takes a few steps. Placeit has made the process simple and easy with just a few clicks, your font can be transformed. Here are the following steps to changing the font on a template:

  1. Find the template you want to edit.
  2. On the left-hand side, there will be a row with all the texts you can input.
  3. Find the text you want to change.
  4. Insert what you want your text to be so you can get an accurate depiction of what you want.
  5. Click on the font title below the text box for more options.
  6. Try a few out to see what best fits your needs.
  7. Save the template.

You can save a few different versions to see which one you like best. There’s no need to settle for just one design!

How To Change The Color Of The Font

Adding a little color to your font can make a world of a difference. It can make your designs unique and bring attention to specific words or texts you want to bring attention to. Here is how you change the color:

  1. Find the template you want to edit.
  2. On the left side, there will be texts.
  3. Add the text you want.
  4. Choose your font.
  5. To the right of the font title there will be a small box that should be the color of what the default text is, click on it.
  6. You can choose from “Recent,” “Default,” “Colors,” and “Custom.”
  7. Pick from any of the pallets and test out those colors.
  8. You can mix and match the colors of each text to see what works and what doesn’t.
  9. Save your progress when you are finished.

You can come with so many combinations. You don’t have to settle for the usual black and white tones. Color can add a unique touch to your design.

Tips For Choosing Font And Size

Choosing the font and size of your design is more important than you may initially think. It will be the brand you are trying to portray. The font and the size is important to your brand so you don’t want to take it lightly.

Fonts tell a lot about a brand. Cursive fonts may provide more of an elegant connotation, while thick, bold fonts will be more loud and noticeable. Whatever connotation you want to portray, the font and size can help you do that. Here are some tips to making those decisions:

  • If your lettering needs to be smaller, shy away from cursive fonts as it can be difficult to read.
  • Sometimes simple is better.
  • Stay away from bright colors that can strain the eyes.
  • Try different fonts for different texts within the design.
  • Don’t be afraid to try something outside of the box.
  • Steer clear of texts that are hard to read.
  • Don’t make your design too busy that it is distracting.
  • Choose the right color combinations.
  • Fancy or complicated doesn’t mean that it’s better.
  • Allow some empty space around your text to give it a pop.

You can do so many things when it comes to your font and the size of it. You can make your design unique to your brand just by playing with all the options.

Outro

Font and font size is important when you are making a design. If you have too big of a text, it can be distracting and take away from the entirety of your brand. If your text is too small, then people won’t be able to read it. Find that happy medium using Placeit.net and their easy to use program.

How to Add Text to Multiple Photos in Photoshop

Adding text to multiple photos with Photoshop will save needed time in the editing process. For example, photographers often need to add location information or text strings they can use later to identify the files. So how can you add text to multiple photos in Photoshop?

Adding text to several photos is a complicated process that could take several minutes to get through and could still give you issues. Don’t let it get to you! Read on and learn all you need about adding text to multiple photos in Photoshop.

Adding Text to Multiple Photos in Photoshop

Creating an Action is the best way to add text to your photos. The Action Panel is one of the fly-away menus that appears when you open the menu, and once you have learned how to record an action, you should be ready to rip. Once that is completed, you will need to Batch Process the files and add a Droplet, which is a way to add specific edits to photos. 

File>Auto>Batch is an Involved Way to Solve the Problem.

There’s a way to add an action to a batch of files, like photos, but creating an action takes time and practice. When working with Photoshop, the application be overwhelming and involved processes can fail. By paying attention to the steps, you can beat the feeling of being deluged with software.

The steps to create an action in Photoshop are as follows:

  1. Window Tab – The place to start is up in the top menu in the Window tab. There are many options to choose from; luckily, the one we want is close to the top, Action. The Action tab allows you to create button combinations in Photoshop that can be called up quickly and copied.
  2. Action Panel – Once you have gotten into the Action window, there should be a panel on the right side of the screen. This panel will have a + button towards the bottom. By clicking it, you open the Create Action window.
  3. Create Action – The Create Action window has a few options to choose from, but first, you need to come up with a name for the action. Try to pick something you can remember so you won’t have trouble finding it later. As soon as the title is picked out, you must pick the keys you want to activate it.
  4. Showtime – Now that your new action has a name you can remember and the hotkey you want to use is selected, it is time to record the action. The Record button is on the top right of the window. Act only. Do not perform any other inputs.
  5. Stop Record – When the actions are performed and logged, you can immediately hit the Stop Record button at the bottom of the Action Panel next to the Record button. Remember that the previous Record button on the Create Action disappeared, and recording controls are at the bottom of the Action Panel.
  6. Run a Test – You should open another photo from your files in a separate window. Once it is open, you should perform the hotkey press a few times to get the feel for how the process works. If it doesn’t, you will have to restart the process until you get the desired effect.
  7. Save the Action – After all your extensive testing, it is time to save it and apply it to the second half of the project. Creating the action on the first picture sets a template that will be followed when all the photos are selected, which you can do by opening the folder and hitting Ctrl+A.
  8. Get to Work – Now that you have an action that will add text to each photo can get into the File folder. Once you get the dropdown open, click Automate. Then you should check on the Batch option. This will allow you to select the folder of the photos you wish to add text to.

The steps involved in adding text to multiple photos are simple once the adding text action is performed and recorded. Afterward, you must select the folder or individual files and perform the File>Automate>Batch sequence to add the text.

Creating a Droplet Makes the Process Quicker

A Droplet is a way to take the Action you created earlier and apply it to a batch of files. Action is critical; if you haven’t perfected it, you should try before moving on. If it fails, there will be no text in the droplet, and nothing could happen to the photos.

The steps to create a Droplet in Photoshop are as follows:

  1. File – Several functions begin at the File tab at the top, and Droplets are no exception. Head up to File, and once the menu opens, you should look for the Automate selection. Automate is the area where Actions are recorded and the birthplace of the Droplet. Inside Automate, choose Create Droplet.
  2. Save Location – Now, a box will appear asking for the save location you want. Next, the Save Droplet In menu will appear, and you can click around to the best place to store your photos. It is a good idea to bring the saved location of the action you want to turn into a Droplet up in the background as it will go into the next step.
  3. Select the Set – Once your action panel is ready in the background, click Set the Action. The Actions should be saved to the Droplet. It will appear as a Photoshop arrow icon.
  4. Drag to Droplet – The Droplet will appear on the work screen adjacent to the Action Panel. Now all you have to do is select the files to which you want to add text and drag them on top of the Droplet. It will spit out the files in your requested folder with the attached text action.

Droplets are excellent tools that can make your job a cinch if you know how to use them. By taking some time and learning the nuances of using Droplets, you can batch-process files with text and other actions in a whip.

Conclusion

Adding text to multiple photos in Photoshop is easy once you learn how to create an action and a Droplet. Creating action stores tasks performed while working on the images, like naming and editing, that you can use later to apply to individual photos. It truly takes shape in the next step when you create a Droplet.

Droplets are items that can handle edits for a batch of files. Droplets can be created with actions; all you have to do is drag and drop the folder to which you want to add text. In Photoshop, adding text to multiple photos is a breeze once you get your actions and Droplets programmed.

How to Add a Page in Illustrator

Pages are the canvas we see when opening a new project in Illustrator. The broad white background provides a base for all types of projects and artwork. However, there are instances when you need to use different artboards, and knowing how to create them on the fly is a handy time saver. So how do you add pages in Illustrator?

You can add a page in Illustrator by clicking Shift+O or by clicking the artboard tool and dragging it into the grey area of the project. There are also ways to adjust the dimensions of the page that will fit different projects.

Illustrator is a program that offers so many options that a person can find themselves lost when they begin a new project. Don’t stress over it! Read on and learn all you need about adding pages in Illustrator.

Adding Pages in Illustrator

Adding pages in Illustrator is an easy process that allows the user to create several different artboards. Each artboard can produce a distinct look of a logo or design and can be saved separately if needed.

The First Step in Adding Pages is to Open a New Project

Opening a new project is one of the most simple actions in the application and should be one of the first actions you learn as a user. It applies an empty artboard to the grey area that populates the center of the workspace, and adding another page or artboard can be done quickly with the menus or keystrokes.

The steps to open a new project are as follows:

  1. Find File – File is one of the most critical options in the program. It allows you to create new files and open those you have worked on previously. It is often in the top menu and will drop down another menu when you click on it.
  2. New/Open – Once in the File Menu, you can choose from a few different options, but the one you should look for depends on your situation. If you have an old file you wish to continue working on, you should choose Open, as it will take you to the list of saved projects. For new projects, you should select New.

The artboard or a piece you have been working on will appear on the screen. Once the new screen has populated, you can begin to scan the outer edge of the pop-out menu to look for the next step in the process.

The Add Page Icon is in the Pop Out Menu

You can find the icon for adding a page by checking the options in the pop-out menu. It looks like a page with dashes going up and to the left. Again, several options exist; this one is above the stroke and background color changer.

The steps to add a page using the pop-out menu are as follows:

  1. Browse Pop-Out – While looking through the pop-out menu on the left-hand side of the application, you will notice many options. For example, the choice you need to add a page is located above the stroke, and the background color-changing options look like a page with dashes on the top left corner heading outward.
  2. Click Add Page – Once you see the paper with the dashes icon, you should click on it. You will see another blank canvas appear somewhere in the workspace by clicking. The new page should be clean and ready for your unique project or a continuation of an old one.

A pop-out menu is a valuable tool that should be used regularly. In addition to the Add Page icon, there are ways to impact the color of the artboard and text. If you make several versions of a logo, using these tools with the Add Page option can give you several options when you add color and size.

Dragging with the Add Page Icon is Magic 

Once you have the icon clicked, it will change the pointer on the screen into the square with the dashes on the top left. It will allow you to drag and drop the sections of the page you want. Playing around with drag and drop is a good idea because it not only makes a new artboard but also allows you to create shapes and sizes quickly.

A few options you can choose when using the Add Page icon are:

  1. Size – The first thing you can do with the drag-and-drop Add Page tool is controlling the artboard size. Choosing the height will allow you to get a few different designs for your projects. Clients aren’t always going to go for the first design you show them, and it is always good to have a few others for them to pick.
  2. Orientation – Another helpful thing that you can choose when using the drag-and-drop Add Page tool is orientation. Orientation is how the artboard will be set either in Portrait or Landscape.
  3. Reference Point – Choosing a Reference Point is something you can do when the artboard is created. The pop-out menu should have a series of dots in a square. By choosing one, you shift the focus of the design to that area. Reference Points are a nice touch that will allow you to begin your design in any section.

The Add Page icon is an intelligent tool that gives you lots of functionality and creating options. You should find ways to work these options into your designs and improve your skill. Knowing essential functions like Add Page adds flair and originality to your designs that could pay dividends.

Conclusion

Adding a page in Illustrator is a simple task that can be done quickly and easily with the Add Page icon. Add Page will let you create several artboards of varying shapes and sizes across the workspace.

By creating artboards, or pages, of different sizes and orientations, you give clients several options to choose from and provide yourself with a load of good practice. For example, learning how to Add a Page in Illustrator is a breeze and tons of fun to practice.