How to Make CMYK More Vibrant in Photoshop

How to Make CMYK More Vibrant in Photoshop

Are you looking to make your CMYK colors more vibrant in Photoshop? If so, you’ve come to the right place! CMYK colors can look a bit duller compared to RBG but do not fear, there are some simple solutions to this.

In this tutorial, we will show you how to adjust the CMYK levels to achieve stunning results. With just a few simple steps, you can create beautiful graphics that stand out from the competition. So what are you waiting for? Start learning today!

Making CMYK Colors More Vibrant in Photoshop

You can easily make CMYK colors more vibrant in Photoshop with a few simple steps. The first thing you need to do is open your image in Photoshop. Once your image is open, you can do any of the following adjustments:

  • Hue/Saturation and Vibrance
  • Camera Raw Filter
  • Solid Color Fill Layer
  • Complementary Colors
  • Selective Saturation

These changes will all adjust the overall image creating a pop of color rather than dullness that is sometimes seen with CMYK. So if you want your CMYK colors to be brighter and more vibrant, there are a few things you can do in Photoshop to achieve this.

Hue, Saturation and Vibrance

To carry out this process create a new hue/saturation adjustment layer. Then adjust the saturation as you need to get your CMYK colors to pop in Photoshop.

An alternative approach is to use the vibrance adjustment layer. Vibrance will protect skin tones and already saturated areas of your image. Vibrance adds a more subtle saturation to an image. So this may be the better option if you do not want a dramatically vibrant image.

If complete vibrance is your goal, choose to change the saturation.

Camera Raw Filter

To use this method, start by converting your layer to a smart object. Apply the Camera Raw Filter from the filter tab/menu. A new window will open with vibrance and saturation sliders. There is also a clarity slider that can be played with to increase color vibrance.

When using the saturation section of the filter, there are eight different color sliders to choose from. This is helpful if you are trying to target one specific color in your image.

Solid Color Fill Layer

Another way you can create a more vibrant CMYK color is by creating a solid color fill layer. First step is to select the area where you have the color to make it more vibrant. Select the color of the area and set that as your paint color. Then select the solid color adjustment layer. Finally, change the blending mode on your layer to soft light.

Complementary Colors

Another way you can make CMYK colors pop in Photoshop is by using color theory. In color theory, complementary colors when used together, help make the image pop.

Add a hue and saturation adjustment layer. Adjust the part of your image you see fit. This works best when you have only two main colors in your image.

Some complementary color pairs you can use to make your CMYK colors more vibrant in Photoshop are:

  • Purple and Yellow
  • Orange and Blue
  • Red and Green

Selective Saturation

The last option you can use for brightening up your CMYK colors in Photoshop is to reduce the saturation of parts of the image you do not want the viewer to focus on. A mask will reduce the saturation of the entire image. Then you can select the specific color in your saturation dropdown menu and add saturation back to the image with that specific color.

For example, say you have a purple bird surrounded by greenery. You can decrease the saturation of the whole image and then increase the purple saturation so the bird pops.

Why Does CMYK Colors Look Darker?

CMYK colors are subtractive colors. This means as colors are added and blended together the colors will get darker. The more a color is altered from its original state, the darker the color will become.

this is important to keep in mind if you want vibrant colors. Choose minimally blended colors.

How Do You Get A Neon Color in CMYK?

Often it is very hard to get neon colors in CMYK. But there might be a time when you need these vibrant colors! You can mimic a neon color in CMYK by adding as little color as possible to one of your main colors. This is because cyan, magenta, and yellow all have a neon-like hue to them and with CMYK being subtractive keeping the colors as pure as possible is importnat.

However, true neon fluoresces and it would be impossible to match in CMYK because printers do not have fluorescent dyes or inks.

Some popular neon color combinations for CMYK to try would be:

  • Purple – 27, 89, 0, 0
  • Yellow – 11, 0, 91, 0
  • Orange – 0, 27, 100, 0
  • Red – 0, 96, 82, 1
  • Pink – 23, 83, 0, 0
  • Green – 51, 0, 85, 0

As you can see most of these colors mix only two of the CMYK colors to get a final more vibrant combination.

Can You Print Bright Colors in CMYK?

The easiest way to print bright colors in CMYK is to choose a paper type and weight that is good for your project. This will give you the best possible chance for your colors to print vibrantly.

For example, if you want your CMYK colors to be extra vibrant, try using glossy or semi-glossy paper. The high gloss of the paper will help CMYK inks appear more vibrant. Just be aware that high gloss papers can cause smearing more easily. Just let your CMYK colors dry a bit longer before you handle them.

If you want your CMYK colors to be less vibrant, try using matte or dull coated paper. This will help CMYK inks appear more subdued.

In general, it is best to avoid using textured papers when printing with CMYK. Textured papers may cause uneven pigmentation to occur.

In Summary: Make CMYK Colors More Vibrant With Photoshop

With the power of Photoshop, it is quite easy to make CMYK colors more vibrant with only a few mouse clicks. This post went into great detail on ways to change hue, saturation, layers, and filters to get the best, most vibrant output of CMYK colors.

Are GIFS a Lossy Or Lossless Format?

If you are working on a design that incorporates digital images such as a GIF you may be wondering if they are lossy or lossless formats. Editing and file size requirements can make a difference in how you save a file. Knowing how GIFs and other images are saved can help you decide what type of formats to use in certain situations.

A GIF is considered to be lossless. Generally, GIFs are best used for creating banners and buttons as a call to action for the viewers. These images are usually less detailed than that of a JPEG which is a lossy format used more for photography and other detailed images.

To learn more about the formatting used to create a GIF and other information continue reading.

Understanding GIFs and How They Work

To begin, the acronym GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format and they are a lossless format which means there is no loss of quality in the images once they are compressed. The problem with using a GIF is that they can only store up to 256 colors.

It is possible for a GIF to handle more than 256 colors however this is accomplished by a long process that often results in the GIF being such a large file that it makes more sense to save the image in a JPEG format at that point.

Most web designers or social media fanatics find that GIFs are best used to create:

  • Flashy website banners to attract the viewer’s attention
  • Call to action buttons that link to other pages
  • The funny memes we see plastered all over social media pages

If you try to save a photo as a GIF the quality will not be as good because the standard range of colors is not broad enough to give the image the detail it needs to be clear.

Trying to use a filter or other color blending techniques to smooth the image causes them to look grainy or blurry rather than crisp and clear.

A lossy file is a file that loses certain data during compression which is considered to be redundant or unnecessary. These redundant pieces of information allow the file to take up less space, keeping your overall file size down.

Some examples of lossy files are:

  • JPEG
  • MPEG
  • MP3

Most people cannot detect such differences unless they have a trained eye or ear. The loss of quality is generally noticed in images when they are enlarged because they lose scalability when saved in this format.

Pros of using a GIF file:

  • Faster load times
  • Fast and easy to make even if you don’t have a lot of graphic design experience
  • The lossless format means you won’t lose any file information
  • Smaller file sizes

Cons of using a GIF file:

  • Only uses 256 colors
  • Can be difficult to edit due to multiple layers in the file
  • Poor internet connections can affect the quality of the images

For information on other lossless file formatting continue reading.

PNG Formatting – Another Lossless Option  

As mentioned earlier, GIFs are great for usage on websites to create flashy banners and buttons to draw the viewer’s eye to a particular part of the page.

The downside to these lossless files is the not-so-large range of colors they can support. This is where the PNG file can be helpful in some situations.

What is a PNG and How Are They Used?

PNG stands for Portable Network Graphic and they are a kind of raster file which are commonly used to create company logos with transparent backgrounds or other web images such as charts or diagrams.

Pros of using a PNG file:

  • More detailed images than a GIF due to a broader color palette
  • Open formatting allows the file to be viewed in more programs without special licensing
  • No loss of data when compressed

Cons of using a PNG file:

  • Unable to support animation like a GIF so not good for creating banners or buttons
  • Larger file due to broader color palette
  • Not the best print quality because they are designed to be used on the internet

Formatting Matters When Watching File Size Counts

As you can see there are pros and cons to using a lossless file format, however, when used appropriately with the right programs they can add a lot of value to a webpage. GIFs are a great way to draw the eye and the mouse to the areas you want to attract the most attention.

Are PowerPoint Stock Images Copyrighted?

If you’ve ever worked on a PowerPoint presentation, you’re probably aware that well-placed images can take your entire display to the next level. However, if you are using PowerPoint’s stock images, you may be wondering whether they are copyrighted.

As a general rule, PowerPoint stock images are free to use as long as they are kept within the context of PowerPoint and other Microsoft Office applications. These images are sourced from stock imagery sites and are provided as a perk for Microsoft Office subscribers.

Adding stock images is a great way to enhance PowerPoint slides. However, it’s important to know what your limitations are. Keep reading to learn more about copyright concerning PowerPoint stock images.

Are PowerPoint Stock Images Copyrighted?

If you’ve ever played around with PowerPoint, or maybe even set up your very own presentation, you’ve probably come across the menu option that allows you to insert stock images. As a Microsoft user, you have access to thousands of images to use in your presentations. While these are a great opportunity to enhance slides with meaningful imagery, photos usually come with certain limitations.

The images found in PowerPoint’s stock image library are copyrighted. These photos are provided by third party stock image sites in an agreement with Microsoft. Some of these image sites may include:

The license for these photos that Microsoft Office provides may not always cover the full usesage rights of the images. So, while you have access to them when using PowerPoint, it’s essential to know exactly how much freedom you have.

Are Images From PowerPoint Free To Use?

According to Microsoft’s license agreement, PowerPoint stock images are free for Microsoft Office subscribers, so long as the photos remain within the context of the application. However, there are some restrictions that are important to take note of:

  • Products with the image provided by Microsoft cannot be sold, licensed, or distributed if the image is the main value of the product
  • Users cannot grant clients or customers the rights to use the photo
  • Images cannot be used to represent people, governments, trademarks, or logos in a way that implies endorsement or association
  • Photos cannot be used to create obscene works or products

The general idea is that the photos provided by Microsoft can be used without restriction unless that image is used on a product for sale.

Can PowerPoint Stock Images Be Used Commercially?

Much of the time, if someone is concerned about a stock image’s licensing, it’s because they intend to use the photo for commercial purposes.

In total, PowerPoint stock images can be used for commercial use within the confines of PowerPoint, so long as the image isn’t being redistributed or sold on its own.

Microsoft offers access to premium images that are ideal for users who sell commercial products like PowerPoint slide decks and documents. Users can even modify photos and export the file into another format.

Keep in mind, however, that you don’t own the images for general use. You cannot take them outside of Office applications for use in a different context, such as making mockups on Placeit or designing a book cover on Canva. For this, you would have to source the image from a third party site.

Where Can You Find Stock Images Free for Commercial Use?

If you’re concerned about the limitations that come with using PowerPoint stock images, your best bet is to use a free stock image source. These photos are typically considered open source and are free for commercial use.

Some of the sites that offer free stock images include:

Keep in mind that because these photos are free for commercial use, they will not be unique to your brand or style. You may even find several versions of the photo you choose across the web or even used in a similar campaign to your own.

Another option is to purchase your stock images from a renowned stock image site. This will give you more options to match your images to your brand’s style, and you will have more freedom to use the photos however you choose.

Final Thoughts

Finding great images to use in a presentation isn’t always an easy task. To help with this, Microsoft has provided access to stock images within its applications. However, it’s important to understand the End-User Licence Agreements so that you know exactly how and when you can use these photos.

Hopefully, this article gave you a better idea of the copyright on PowerPoint stock images, and walked you through what you can expect when using these photos in your own projects.

How Do RGB Values Determine Pixel Color?

Something that is a mix of light wavelengths around us that forms into what we know as a specific color. A computer, or digital tool, cannot see such things. Everything has to be converted over to numerical “color coding” for them to be able to create and save the colors we see. So, how do RGB values determine pixel color?

The RGB values, which are simply the red, green, and blue colors in the spectrum, are the only three colors used by the digital world. The RGB values are mixed together to form the color seen in the real world and are turned into a digital image that matches that color.

The simple explanation of RGB values work is that the digital platform will take a specific shade of the three primary colors and combine them in numerical order. This recreates the color in digital form, which is nothing but a series of codes. A series of numbers that combine together. Let’s dig into this a little deeper to better grasp the concept.

RGB Values and Pixel Color

The most common way digital platforms convert colors to numerical code is through RGB values. The red, green, and blue color spectrums can create any shade and color combination you can see with your naked eye. Have you ever played around with any color settings in a program?

If you have, you will see how many color combinations you can come up with by simply adjusting one of the three colored bars. To clear up any confusion on the numbers, you will need to know which number represents the color you are after:

  • Setting 0 – This is the darkest setting for the specific color.
  • Setting 255 – This is the lightest setting for the specific color.

The lower the number is adjusted to, the darker the shade of the color will be. This is how the digital platform creates replicas of the photos or images you are saving. The program will adjust the numbers to the settings that they need to be, creating a numerical copy of the original.

The digital platform you are working on will adjust the colors automatically to the numbers you input into the RGB value boxes. It is not as simple as just plugging some random numbers into the equation and hoping you get the color needed. First, you will need to understand what the numbers mean.

How RGB Values Work

Now that you understand the basics of RGB values, it is time to check out what they really mean.

It may seem a little complicated if you are unfamiliar with all the technical aspects of the process, but if you step back and look outside the box, you will see how easy it actually is to comprehend:

  • The higher the number is, up to 255, which is the highest value, the lighter the color will be on the screen.
  • The color will be neutral when all three numerical colors are the same, such as 100100100. That means it will be black, gray, or white.
  • When adjusting one of the components of the RGB values, the overall color will become closer to that color.

 That means if you move the red up to 150 from 50, the color you see will have more red tints, but since you are going up, the color will be lighter. So when adjusting to match a color, you may have to adjust one aspect to darker, while the other two may need to go lighter.

It is a complicated system, and adjusting to the perfect color will be challenging. It is just another second out of their day for a computer or digital platform, though, so it is suggested that you use a program to help you get the needed colors.

How To Understand Written RGB Values

Looking at a set of written RGB values can be as confusing as a sentence written in a foreign language. If you are unsure what is displayed in front of you, it will be next to impossible to follow along with the color scheme you want.

  • 255255255
  • 100233050
  • 000000000

Take a good hard look at these numbers and see if you can figure out what they mean. If you can, that’s great. If not, you are about to learn an easy lesson.

You will start by taking the first three numbers of the grouping above. Let’s use the middle example so it will be 100. This is the red numerical value (R). The second number, 233, will be the green color (G) value. The third number, 050, is the blue numerical value (B).

To break this down more straightforwardly for you, follow along below:

  • The red numerical value is set at 100
  • The green numerical value is set at 233
  • The blue numerical value is set at 50

Go to one of your programs in which you can adjust the RGB values and give these numbers a try. The color you come up with is equivalent to the numerical RGB value of 100233050. Sometimes this is written with spaces in between, such as 100 233 050, but they will give you the same color.

Conclusion

The RGB values used on digital platforms may seem complicated unless you have grown up around computers and gaming systems. These values do not make much sense for those who grew up using rotary phones and a DOS computer system. If you take the time to sit down and think about what is discussed above, it will make much more sense.

The best way to figure out how RGB values determine pixel colors is to sit in front of a computer, get onto a program such as PhotoShop that will let you play around with numbers, and get to know the different color bands that can be used.

You will quickly see how easy it is to understand how one affects the other and how you can adjust those numerical values to manipulate the program to view any color you want.

How Long Do Stylus Pens Last?

Stylus pens are fantastic tools that many digital artists, graphic designers, and other touchscreen device users adore for their increased precision and freedom akin to a typical pen or pencil on paper. They can come in a range of designs, capabilities, and prices, which is why many people would like to know how long these tools tend to last before investing in them, particularly for the pricier options.

On average, most stylus pens last for anywhere between 6 months to 3 years. How long a stylus pen lasts is highly dependent on several factors, including the stylus pens’ design, materials used, and more. It also depends on what part of the stylus pen you’re referring to (ex. body vs. tip).

In this article, we will break down this question in more detail by discussing the various factors that affect a stylus pen’s longevity. This will help you find the stylus pens that are likely to last the longest, have an educated estimate of how long each will likely last, and how to potentially extend the lifespan of any stylus pen you purchase.

What Affects The Lifespan of a Stylus Pen

While it would be easier to say that all stylus pens functional ideally for around the same amount of time, this just isn’t the case. After searching the range of stylus pen options, you’d quickly notice how different they can be, which plays a key role in their longevity, amongst other factors.

The most influential factors that affect a stylus pen’s lifespan include:

  1. Material
  2. Design
  3. Frequency of use
  4. User influence

We have elaborated on each of these factors below, so you know what specifically to look for in a stylus pen that you want to last and how you could potentially minimize its wear and tear.

1. Material

The materials used to create a stylus pen is arguably the most influential factor regarding its lifespan. The majority of stylus pens are made using a plastic body and a rubber tip.

However, you’ll notice that the cheapest stylus pens are often made with low-grade plastic that is more likely to shatter over time versus top-of-the-line styluses that are made with high-grade, patented plastics and reinforced with other sturdy materials, such as metal or aluminum.

Some companies will even opt to forgo plastics altogether to ensure their product has the maximum durability possible.

Materials used for internal components is also important for active styluses. Electrical components, such as wiring and battery attachments, need to be able to withstand regular movement, pressure, and use without breaking or degrading, as they are essential to the stylus pen’s functionality. Once these parts start to wear down, you’ll find a replacement stylus pen isn’t too far off in your future.

2. Design

The internal design of your stylus pen will affect its longevity more than you might think.

When it comes to stylus pens, their internal design falls within two categories: active or passive. Active stylus pens have internal electrical components that allow them to connect directly to your device, either via a Bluetooth feature or some other form of connection, and are typically powered by an internal battery.

These stylus pens tend to be more expensive than their passive counterparts due to their internal components, but they are also often made with more care because the design and construction is more involved. As a result, it isn’t uncommon for them to last several years due to being higher quality products, but there is a higher chance of quick degradation due to the number of electrical components necessary for optimal functionality.

Passive stylus pens, also referred to as capacitive stylus pens, are by far the most common and cheap option, as they don’t require electrical components to operate, and they are compatible with a wider range of devices.

Although they don’t have the risk of internal components breaking down, it is more common for these stylus pens to have reduced life expectancies simply due to the lower quality of materials used to create them.

3. Frequency of Use

Unsurprisingly, frequency of use plays a major role in how long your stylus pen will last before needing a replacement.

If you’re they type of person who uses their stylus pen multiple times a week, or even daily, and for extended periods, they you’ll undoubtedly find your stylus pen breaks down from general wear and tear exponentially faster than someone who only uses it once a week or month. 

4. User Influence

This is a factor many people are unaware of when it comes to their stylus pens. While the aforementioned factors are definitely more influential when it comes to your stylus pen’s longevity, there are ways that a user’s influence can have an effect. The most notable one being how much pressure they apply to their stylus pen when in use.

Sometimes when people notice their stylus pen is as responsive as it should be, their solution is to increased their pressure in hoping that will improve accuracy. This is also something you might do subconsciously as your write or draw, particularly if your hand is getting tired.

Applying excessive pressure to your stylus pen will put significant strain on its tip, external material, and any internal components it might have, which could contribute to them wearing down or even breaking sooner than usual.

How Long Do Stylus Pen Tips Last?

An important note to make with stylus pens is that most are made with removable tips that owners can replace when the material has worn away, responsivity has decreased, or if they simply lost the original. These components of your stylus pen are designed to be expendable, as opposed to the stylus pen itself, and therefore, do not last as long as the rest of the tool.

Similarly, to the stylus pen itself, the lifespan of the average stylus pen tip varies and depends on many the same factors discussed previously. On average, most tips will last several months to a year with consistent use, and up to three years with occasional use.  

Generally speaking, you should expect your stylus pen’s tip to need replacement far sooner and more frequently than the stylus pen itself.

Final Thoughts

Although the lifespan of a stylus pen can vary significantly, most people should expect to get at least a year of use out of theirs before needing to purchase a replacement. If you take exceptionally good care of your stylus pen, you should have no issues extending that lifespan to two to three years. Of course, pricier options made of higher quality materials will undoubtedly outlive most cheap stylus pens, particularly if you change their tips regularly and store them when not in use.

How to Blend Images in Canva: The Complete Guide

Canva is a full-service picture editing software that works inside your web browser. It allows you to work with images to create multimedia presentations that will wow clients and drive business to your blog and website. So how do you blend images in Canva?

Blending images can be frustrating if you have several foreground images or click on the wrong element. Don’t sweat it! Read on and learn everything you need to know about blending images with Canva.

How to Blend Images in Canva

Blending images is helpful to people who are creating web pages or beginning to build a brand for themselves. Blending is a way to obscure unwanted images from the background while keeping the subjects in the foreground clear. Using the tool takes work, and practice is imperative before releasing any content.

Canva is easy to use. You can pick anything from your stored pics and upload them to the platform by giving access to your photos. By uploading, you can plug in any templates that favor your choice. Start by clicking the drop-down menu on the top left.

Some guidelines to follow when uploading photos to Canva are:

  • Relevance – Choose a photo that is relevant to the situation. For example, do not place the pictures from your family beach vacation in an advertisement for your online seminar. Only choose photos that make sense, or you face confusing your intended audience.
  • Clarity – Another thing to remember is to choose a picture that isn’t distorted or has several things going on in the foreground. Seeing yourself or your subject is great for attracting business and building a brand people recognize.

In the next step, you will remove the background elements, and an abundance of items could spend excess time on a single picture. By concentrating on images that are relevant to the situation and show the subject clearly, you are halfway home.

Removing Elements in the Background is the Next Step

The way to go when blending photos is to remove the background to provide a stable platform to have no other images bleed through. Busy environments are full of items that can hamper the picture and decrease the clarity of the subject.

The steps to remove the background from your photo in Canva are:

  1. Select the Photo – You should click on the photo when it appears in the main window. By clicking, you select the photo and affirm that all the following changes are to take place on that photo. Photo selection only takes a single click. Ensure that you don’t click several times before moving on.
  2. Hit the Edit Button – Once the photo is selected, there will be an Edit Image button at the top of the screen. This button opens another set of boxes that could be greyed out because of your payment status. If you subscribe to the Pro-Version of Canva, you are given more tools to create, like the background removal tool.
  3. Repeat as Needed – Every time you want to add more subjects to the foreground, you must start the process and save each iteration until you get the desired effect. This will take time but has a fantastic effect when done correctly.

Now you should have come crystal clear images of subjects in the foreground of your chosen photo. This could be a single photo or one of several combined to add several subjects. No matter what is going on in the foreground, we must work on choosing a pic to go behind them.

Backgrounds that Will Make your Pic Pop Work Best

Backgrounds on Canva are breathtaking. They have an ample assortment of photos that work great for holidays, birthdays, or any day of the week. There are more available to Premium Canva users, but the free files are nothing to turn your nose to.

The steps to choosing a background for your Canva photos are:

  1. Browse – The selection of backgrounds that Canva provides covers many bases. Pick away if you are looking for solid colors to obscure to make the subjects stand out. In contrast, extensive backgrounds allow you to place them in different environments or create festive cards.
  2. Right-Click – Once you have chosen a pic, you should right-click on it. This will bring up the typical drop-down box. These drop-down boxes are similar to those on your operating system and could have some of the same options. You are looking for the Set as Background option.

Once you select set as background, the photos merge, and you have a platform to blend. After all the steps, it is time to avoid obscuring the image with the blending tool. Make sure you have the base and background you need before moving on. Your photos should be lined up and where you want them in the final product.

Using the Transparency Bar is Easy and Useful

Now that you are ready to rock, you should look for the icon on the top of the screen. There will be a series of squares on one of the icons that look like they are fading away. This is the transparency icon. Click on it, and a sliding rule will appear. As you move the ruler, the photo will blend in with the background.

Conclusion

Blending images with Canva is easy once you memorize the steps. After doing them a few times, you will see how easy the platform is and begin experimenting with the things you can do. Experimenting will unlock your creative potential and make dynamite content for your webpage or brand. It is a fun software that almost anyone can use, like a pro.

Canva is an exciting application that works right on your standard web browser. Canva saves time and space on your computer by allowing you to work on a single platform without updating the software several times a month and paying exorbitant fees that continue to climb each month. Canva is great for blending pics and creating marketing materials.

Why Does PowerPoint Say “Working Offline”?

When you are working in Microsoft Office and are connected to a wireless network, you will notice that changes you make can save automatically. Sometimes, however, MS Outlook may not be connected to a network. Why does PowerPoint say “Working Offline”?

If PowerPoint says “Working Offline” chances are that you are having connectivity issues with your network. Still, there are other causes, like MS Outlook needing to update its software. An MS Outlook application that says “Working Offline” is typically an easy fix.

Read on to learn more about why PowerPoint says “Working Offline.” Fixing this issue should not be a problem, but instances in which you do not have a secure network connection can pose more laborious measures. There is much to learn about working online versus working offline.

Why Does PowerPoint Say “Working Offline”?

If PowerPoint says “Working Offline,” it usually means that there is an issue with MS Outlook being able to connect to an available network. Even if you have used MS Office applications on your home network before, MS Office may not always automatically connect. 

If PowerPoint cannot connect to your network, it will display your status as “Working Offline.” There are different reasons for this:

  1. No internet connection
  2. Update required in MS Outlook
  3. Corrupted Outlook files
  4. Unrefreshed page

Below, you can review more in-depth information regarding the reasons behind PowerPoint saying “Working Offline.”

“Working Offline” Causes

The most common reason PowerPoint says “Working Offline” is that your device is not connected to the internet. If your device does not find and secure a connection to an available network – even one you use daily – PowerPoint will revert to “Working Offline.”

Typically, the second most common cause of PowerPoint saying “Working Offline” is due to MS Outlook needing to be updated. MS Outlook maintains regular updates to keep your mail server and other MS Office applications running smoothly. If it is not up to date, it might cause your other MS applications to display “Working Offline.”

Your PowerPoint may say “Working Offline” if your Outlook files have been corrupted. This can result from a temporary crash in the software, a minor bug, or a more serious virus. It is not common, but if you know that MS Outlook is up to date and you are connected to the internet, it is worth looking into. 

The most simple cause of PowerPoint saying “Working Offline” is that you need to refresh your page. If you were working on PowerPoint earlier and moved away from your device for a time, you may need to reconnect to the internet or simply close out of and refresh the application.

What Does Working Offline Mean?

You may be curious as to what “Working Offline” means. Rest assured that in most cases, “Working Offline” is not a serious problem. Aside from lost files, if you are dealing with the causes listed above, “Working Offline” is a precautionary measure to ensure that your work is saved to at least some extent.

If an MS Office application like PowerPoint says “Working Offline,” the edits you make to your document are still saved to your computer. However, working offline in MS Office means that your changes will not be saved to your MS Outlook account.

Working online through an MS Office application such as PowerPoint is beneficial for being able to share files and save your edits to a system separate from your device alone. If you need to perform tasks like these, a “Working Offline” display can prevent you from doing so.

How To Get PowerPoint Back Online

Switching from “Working Offline” to online is easy. As mentioned, unless you are dealing with a more serious problem such as a hacked account and corrupted files, working offline is not a major consideration. Below are simple fixes to change your PowerPoint from “Working Offline” to have a secure connection with your network.

Connect To The Internet

If your device has WiFi disabled, is not in range with your network router, or cannot connect to the internet for another reason, you need to address the problem and connect to the internet. Go to the Settings application of your device and select the network with which you want to connect. When you connect to the internet and open PowerPoint, it should no longer say “Working Offline.”

Update Microsoft Outlook

Since MS Outlook updates its software through regular bug fixes and improvements, your MS Outlook may need to be updated. While this usually happens automatically, you may have to implement a manual update – which should take no more than a few minutes. Once Outlook is up to date, all of your Microsoft applications should function smoothly.

Contact Microsoft Support

If the case is more serious, your MS Office files may have been corrupted. The easiest way to make sure you take the correct steps necessary is by contacting MS services to see if they can look more deeply into the problem. Not particular to customer support, but as mentioned earlier, less serious problems can be addressed by refreshing your PowerPoint page.

Takeaway

If PowerPoint says “Working Offline” there is typically a minor issue that prevents PowerPoint from locating and connecting to an available network. The problem usually stems from no internet connection or a required update in MS Office or MS Outlook, and the fixes are simple.

7 Reasons Why PowerPoint Crashes on iPad

While you can use Powerpoint on your Ipad, there are a few issues that pop up from time to time that can cause users to lose data, progress, and the desire to use Powerpoint on the iPad at all. 

Most of the time, there are simple solutions to a crashing issue that will ultimately fix whatever issues you are having. Usually, Apple support has answers and troubleshooting solutions to help your app work to the best of its ability. 

1. Outdated Powerpoint App

Your apps need to be updated every so often, and PowerPoint is not an exception. When your iPad software version is updated, or if the PowerPoint App isn’t the most recent version, the app will have issues running efficiently. 

Usually, this can cause the app to run slow or glitch issues with certain features or processes. However, in some cases, depending on the part of the app that needs updating or fixing, this can also cause the app to crash and shut down fully. 

While this doesn’t usually cause long-term problems, it can result in your work or file being lost, corrupted, or not saved as recently as it could be, causing you to lose work. 

(Source: Appuals, Microsoft Answers)

2. Corrupt OS Of The iPad Air

Every so often, you have to update the OS of your iPad, usually for things such as:

  • Security updates
  • New iPad releases
  • New features, or set-ups.

When you update your iPad, there is always a chance that you may end up with corrupt files when the download is happening. This can happen when Wifi isn’t reliable or constant, and certain files don’t end up downloaded correctly or fully. 

Corrupt files in the OS software can cause your apps to work incorrectly and sometimes crash.

Usually, you have to revert your OS to an older version of the software before trying to update it again. This should fix the issue. However, if it doesn’t, you may have another issue altogether. It’s possible to have an issue with your OS that actually hides another issue. 

If the OS is the biggest problem, you won’t see any other issues until that one is fixed. 

(Source: Appuals, Microsoft Answers)

3. iPad Needs Updating

Your iPad may need a simple update if your Powerpoint app crashes regularly. Whether it’s an update to the OS or an update to the version of the iPad you have, sometimes updating your iPad can be the only fix for an application issue. 

If the app isn’t working well with the OS or the physical version of your iPad, you will experience issues such as:

  • Crashing apps
  • Issues with saved files
  • Your apps not opening at all

Unfortunately, some apps simply won’t work well with older versions of iPads. Once your Ipad gets to be a few years old, you usually have to replace it with a new physical version, no matter what OS it’s running.

4. Powerpoint App Hasn’t Been Formatted To Newest iPad Release

When Apple releases a new Ipad or any hardware, there are some cases where the Apps and their developers aren’t quite ready for the new update. When this happens, it can take a few weeks for the developers to update the app to work with the new system. 

While you are waiting on this, you may experience issues with the app, such as glitches, some features not being available, and crashing. This issue is often resolved after a week or two, and you can use your app like you normally do. 

Both Apple and Microsoft have come out saying that when new versions are released, there is usually a lapse that can affect how some apps work with the new OS. So, this has nothing to do with your particular model or OS; it’s simply what happens when growth happens in technology. 

5. Not All Features Work Well With Apples System

Since PowerPoint is a Microsoft-based software, there are some issues with it working perfectly on an Apple-based system. While most issues have been discovered and fixed at this point in time, there are still enough issues where users report application problems regularly. 

Suppose you are still having problems with Powerpoint working well or crashing on your Ipad. In that case, you should always contact Apple support to see if they can troubleshoot some solutions that should fix your issue or at least help you pinpoint the specific issue for a better understanding. 

6. Your Presentation File Size Is Too Large

If you open up a file on your iPad and your app crashes while attempting to open or fully load the file, it may be due to the file size being too large for your iPad to handle. In some cases, certain sized files can only be opened on a computer due to the limitations of tablets. 

To see if this is the legitimate problem you are dealing with, try opening a smaller file on your iPad to see if the app still crashes. If it doesn’t, you’ve figured out the issue; if it still crashes, you have a separate issue altogether. 

7. Your PowerPoint File Is Corrupt

In some cases, when you save a project, some files may end up corrupt due to a Wifi issue or an issue with certain functions or abilities through Powerpoint itself. If this happens, attempting to open the file can cause your app to crash. 

The only way to fix this is to open an earlier version of the project and fix things back to where they need to be, then save it again. Ensure your Wifi is stable and your computer has plenty of battery life to complete the save. 

Final Thoughts

There a quite a few things that can cause your PowerPoint to crash on your iPad, and while some of them are avoidable, not all of them are caused by circumstances in your control. 

However, no matter the reason, you can usually find a solution, with or without the help of the Apple help desk. Usually, you can use the process of elimination or troubleshooting solutions without the help of an expert, and it will fix your problem. 

Why Can’t You Italicize Anything in Canva?

If you’re like me, you love italicizing text to add emphasis. It’s a great way to make your words stand out and get your point across. However, Canva doesn’t seem to agree with us on this point. You can’t italicize anything in Canva! What gives?

Usually, when choosing a font, select an option that allows for all types of emphasis. However, some fonts in Canva do not allow italicizing. This will mean the icons for italicizing will be grayed out and unclickable. This is strictly due to the type of font that has been selected. Choose a different font to allow for italicizing.

In this post we will explore the reasons why Canva doesn’t allow italicizing. Keep reading to learn some workaround methods to get around this problem. Let’s get started!

Why Is the Italics Icon Grayed Out?

I’m sure you’re wondering why Canva won’t let you italicize your text. After all, it seems like such a simple thing to do! Unfortunately, there are a few fonts that do not support adding emphasis to your font.

The workaround to this is to simply choose a different font. Canva has many great options to choose from, so you’re sure to find one that meets your needs.

Or you can get creative and angle your text box. It won’t be the same as creating a font that is italicized but it will add emphasis to the page.

How to Add and Edit Text in Canva

You may be curious as to how you can add and edit the text too. Canva can be a bit challenging to understand all the tools, especially when one isn’t working/ not supported. You can easily add text by selecting the “Text” tool on the left-hand side menu. This will open up a text box for you to type in.

If you want to edit the text, simply click on the text box and start typing. Canva will automatically save your changes. If you want to change the font, size, color, or anything else about the text, Canva has easy-to-use tools for that too. Simply select the “Text” box and then click on any of the options in the format tab at the top of the Canva editor. From there, you can make all sorts of changes to your text.

With Canva you can make the following changes to the text:

  • Change the font
  • Change the size
  • Change the color
  • Add a drop shadow
  • Adjust the opacity
  • Align the text
  • Change the line height
  • Change the letter spacing

Canva is a user-friendly platform that makes creating beautiful designs easy and straightforward. It is the perfect tool for creating social media posts, flyers, posters, and much more. And best of all, it is free to use!

A Method to Work Around No Italics in Canva

Creating designs in Canva is simple and easy. However, one thing that you cannot do with Canva sometimes is to italicize text. This may seem like a small limitation, but it can be quite frustrating when you want to emphasize certain words in your design but cannot because you cannot italicize them.

One method to get around Canva not letting you italicize certain fonts is to use two different fonts in your text box – one with your regular text and one with your text in italics. Then, you can get the emphasis on the words you want without too much hassle of choosing a whole new font.

To carry out this method follow these simple steps:

  1. Select the text you want to be italicized, it could be one word or a series of words
  2. Change the font of this text to a standard option (not bold, or too script-like)
  3. Now after the font is changed select the italics button and see your emphasis come to life

It is simple to use Canva but getting creative is where the challenge really lies. Canva is a free online design platform that is used by businesses, individuals, and organizations for creating beautiful designs. Canva offers users a wide range of tools and resources to help them create professional-looking designs. You can create designs from scratch or use templates to get started. Canva also has a huge library of photos, illustrations, and icons that you can use in your designs.

How to Add Other Effects to Text in Canva

Sometimes Canva will not let your bold things either, this again is because the option is not supported by the font you have chosen. The workaround for this is to create a text box, write your text in the box, and then apply the effect to just part of the text box. This workaround works for both italics and bolding.

You can also add other effects to your text in Canva such as:

  • Shadows
  • Outlines
  • Glows
  • Curves

To do this, select your text box and click on the “Effects” button in the top menu bar. From here you can choose from a variety of different effects that you can apply to your selected text.

Several of the effects options have more choices for you to make. For example, if you select “Shadow” you can then choose from the following scales to adjust your final look:

  • Offset
  • Direction
  • Blur
  • Transparency

While Canva is a great platform for creating beautiful designs, there are some limitations to what you can do with the free version of the software. If you’re looking for more control over your design or want to use more fonts, upgrading to the premium version may be for you.

You Can Italicize with Canva, But You Need to Be Creative

While Canva does offer some basic text editing features, such as the ability to italicize, there are limits to what you can do within the software. For example, Canva Pro gives users access to more than 100 different fonts. But some of those fonts still may not be able to be italicized depending on the type of font it is.

Can You Use Hex Codes in Illustrator? [Here’s How]

For decades, Adobe Illustrator TM has been the go-to resource for users of all skill levels, ranging from professional graphic designers to students. With its dazzling array of vector graphics tools, Illustrator is the world’s premium platform for creation, design, and editing. It also provides a vital linkage to websites and content that is digitally displayed and an important aspect of this is color coordination.

With hex codes being the standard color format for popular programming languages like HTML and CSS, support for this system in Illustrator is an absolute necessity. Can you use hex codes in Illustrator? Absolutely, and here are the steps you need to know to make it happen.

Can You Use Hex Codes in Illustrator? Here’s How

The human eye can distinguish between approximately one million different colors and modern computer screens can display many times that, so precise color coordination in any type of visual project is crucial toward achieving the desired level of impact, particularly if the content is to be consumed through digital channels.

Illustrator supports the use of hex codes in the creation, design, and editing of art files, thus empowering users to seamlessly transition their work from a computer to its final destination. Here’s how to use hex codes in Illustrator, starting with the color picker feature.

Using Illustrator’s Color Picker

Illustrator’s Color Picker is a dashboard that is specially enhanced for selecting colors with pinpoint specificity. Among the available formats are the usual cast of characters such as the CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) and RGB (Red, Green, and Black) color schemes

At the bottom of the panel, however, in a rather nondescript box tucked between the CMYK and RGB values, is where the hex code for any selected color is displayed. Follow these simple steps to check the hex code for any selected color using Illustrator’s Color Picker:

  • The Color Picker can be accessed from either the Color panel or the Tools panel
  • Double-click either the Fill color selection box or the Stroke color selection box
  • Both of these boxes are located on the left side of the panel (the Fill color box overlaps the Stroke color box)

Once the Color Picker has been opened, there are several ways to view a particular color and its corresponding hex code. From the large color field on the left side of the panel, simply clicking on a color target will reveal its hex code. Similarly, the slider tool can be used to manipulate the color spectrum to narrow down color choices and hex codes will be displayed here as well.

Choosing Hex Codes From the Color Panel

Hex codes in Illustrator can also be viewed for any displayed color from the Color panel itself without having to navigate to the Color Picker. Here’s how:

  1. Open the Color panel from the Window tab on the top menu bar
  2. From the Color panel open the side menu (click on the button with the three horizontal lines)
  3. Select either the “RGB” or the “Web Safe RGB” color schemes
  4. The corresponding sliders for either color system will populate the panel (i.e., a slider for R – red, G – green, and B – blue)
  5. At the bottom of the panel in a white rectangular box will be displayed the hex code for whatever color is selected

It should be noted that the hex code box will not appear in the panel unless either the “RGB” or “Web Safe RGB” option is selected. This is because the hex code color system is also structured on combinations of red, green, and blue, as base primary colors. In fact, the six digits in a hex code consist of three two-digit groupings and each pairing corresponds to varying hues of red, green, and blue.

The first two digits in a hex code correspond to red, the next two to green, and the last two to blue. By utilizing a unique alphanumeric character system (0 through 9 followed by A through F), 256 values can be expressed using only two digits. Thus, the hex code color system allows for 256 (red) x 256 (green) x 256 (blue) possible combinations resulting in a mind-boggling 16,277,216 colors.

Manually Inputting a Hex Code in Illustrator

Aside from selecting a color and viewing its corresponding hex code, Illustrator also enables users to input a hex code value and view the resulting color. Especially for users who are familiar with the hex code system and able to manipulate the red, green, and blue values to hone down a color selection to the exact hue, this method is invaluable.

These are the steps to manually input a hex code in Illustrator:

  1. With a document open, access the Color panel from the Window tab (or press the F6 button)
  2. Open the Color Picker tool by double-clicking on the Fill or Stroke color boxes
  3. Double-click inside the hex code box at the bottom of the Color Picker dashboard
  4. You can now type in the six-digit hex code for the color you are specifying
  5. The corresponding color will be displayed once you click “OK”

Because Illustrator is a versatile graphic design platform that is used to create documents for print, the web, and other means of consuming visual content, built-in support of hex color codes is critical. Being able to manually input hex codes is a particularly valuable feature when color coordination between different viewing platforms is necessary.

This important function ensures color fidelity whether Illustrator is used to create a graphics file that will be passed down the line to final delivery or serve as the final editing stop before publishing.

Conclusion

Color schemes can make or break the impact of visual content regardless of where it is displayed or how it is consumed. The hex code system is a widely used color scheme, particularly where digital files created with HTML or CSS are concerned.

It, therefore, comes as no surprise that Adobe Illustrator, the premier graphic design program and the gold standard in creative platforms, enables users to view hex codes for the colors in their files and input hex colors of their choosing.