Psdtuts+ Updates - Adobe Adds New Choices With the Adobe Creative Cloud; Changes Upgrade Policy

Adobe Adds New Choices With the Adobe Creative Cloud; Changes Upgrade Policy

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 09:30 AM PST

Earlier this week, Adobe revealed some new details about the Adobe Creative Cloud, a new initiative that they believe will "radically redefine the creative process." It will allow users to purchase a subscription for most of Adobe’s products for about the same price as your current monthly mobile phone plan. In addition, Adobe also announced some changes to their upgrade policy. In this article, we’ll explain what this means for you and how it may affect your plans to upgrade to the next version the Adobe Creative Suite.

What exactly is the Adobe Creative Cloud? The Adobe Creative Cloud is a subscription service that will give you access to every tool that is currently in the Adobe Creative Suite Master Collection such as Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Premiere Pro, After Effects, as well as all the apps that are currently in beta such as Adobe Edge and Muse.

You will also have access to the following touch apps including: Adobe Collage, Adobe Kuler, Adobe Carousel, Photoshop Touch, Adobe Debut, Adobe Proto and Adobe Ideas.

In addition, they are also giving members access to the Adobe Publishing Suite for building interactive publications on tablets, and even access to cloud-based fonts from their recent acquisition of Typekit. You will also be able to use their community collaboration features to share your work with other creative cloud members.

Membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud will cost you $49.99 per month for individuals and $69.99 per month per seat for workgroups, both for an annual plan.

What does this all mean? It means that you will be able to rent Adobe’s tools for a monthly fee and use them in the cloud. Subscribers will be able to use any of Adobe’s tools anytime, anywhere, on any computer.

Update: It appears that many of the Adobe apps will not be cloud based. From the FAQ page:

The components included in the Adobe Creative Cloud membership are accessed in multiple ways and are not all "in the cloud." First, the Creative Suite products will not be cloud based; in fact, the CS applications, Adobe Edge, and Muse will continue to be installed directly on your computer just as they are today. You will not need an ongoing Internet connection to use these products on a daily basis. The Adobe Touch Apps will be downloaded onto your tablet from the Android Marketplace or the Apple App Store. The Digital Publishing Suite and Business Catalyst services are accessible on the Internet. And lastly, the file syncing and sharing features will be in the cloud.

This may be exciting news for those of you who would like to use the latest Adobe apps but can’t afford to invest in the full suite of products, but what about those of you who would prefer to install a local copy of the software on your machine?

The good news is that Adobe will still stick with their current licensing model. So if you would like to purchase your own local copy of the software, you’ll still have that option. The change will be the way in which you can qualify for future upgrades. In order to qualify for upgrade pricing for CS6, you will need to be using CS5 or CS5.5. If you’re not using those versions, Adobe is offering a 20% discount through December 31, 2011 on CS5.5, which would then qualify you for upgrade pricing.

What Does This Mean for You?

Adobe has certainly given us some new options to choose from. The Creative Cloud is an exciting new product that will give us lots of flexibility. Cloud users will never need to upgrade again as long as they maintain their subscription to the cloud. You will also get all the benefits associated with working in the cloud: all your Adobe apps on any machine, across all platforms, both Mac and PC, anywhere in the world. And don’t forget all the touch apps, Typekit, and more.

While there certainly are some new added benefits of the cloud, those of you who prefer to work locally may be at a disadvantage, especially if you chose not to upgrade to CS5. Their new upgrade policies mean you’ll have to upgrade to every new version if you don’t want to pay full price for the full version of the suite the next time around.

What Do You Think?

Tell us your thoughts. What do you think of these new announcements? How will this announcement affect you? Will you be more likely to upgrade? Will you subscribe to the cloud or do you prefer the traditional licensing method?

Create a Powerful Human Disintegration Effect in Photoshop

Posted: 11 Nov 2011 08:35 AM PST

In this tutorial we will create a powerful, and emotional human disintegration effect in Photoshop. Let’s get started!

Tutorial Assets

The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial.

Step 1

Let’s start by creating a new document in Adobe Photoshop. Choose the size of document you prefer, but try to keep it in a vertical shape, with a transparent background.

Step 2

Then, find a good stock image of a cloudy sky that you can use as a background. You can also do like I did by interweaving several pictures of clouds to create the background you prefer. Make sure that the clouds are "dark" enough for a final atmosphere that will fit with the other elements you will be adding to your creation.

Step 3

The next step is very important since you will have to choose the character that will be the main focus of your whole piece. To do this, go to websites like SXC, Fotolia, iStock, etc.., and choose a model that projects a strong emotion. Be sure to pick a character that really inspires you, as it will be the main focus of your creation and it will play a major role in your final outcome. Once you’ve selected it, cut out the character carefully by using the pen tool (P) and place it in the middle, slightly shifted downwards.

Step 4

Then, using the eraser tool (E) with the “Splatters” shape – which can be found in the tutorial assets – slightly erase the character’s legs.

Step 5

Now, if you are like me and like to change your character’s colors, take the lasso tool (L) and surround the selected areas from your character that you would like to modify. Afterwards, create a layer of fill or adjustment by clicking on the black and white circle situated in the layers tab. In the said tab you will be able to select the method that suits you best. I personally recommend changing the colors with a Gradient Map layer and a Selective Color layer. A tip: avoid fluorescent colors and choose those that resemble your background’s colors.

Step 6

Always with the “Splatters” shape, take your brush tool (B) and, on another layer, create shapes that go above, but also behind the model, as seen in the picture bellow. It is important to use the same colors and shades that you’ve used on your character to create the desired effect of disintegration.

Step 7

There are numerous ways to give a darker aspect to your character and create the impression that he is possessed. Personally, I usually prefer to draw intense red veins on his arms, neck and face, as well as slightly darkening the eyes and mouth with a small black brush adjusted to “Soft Light”.

Step 8

Here, I decided to create a necklace that will later have a supernatural look, suggesting that the character is flying up due to the strength of the accessory. Everything is done with a small brush, by using a graphic tablet.

Step 9

Now this step will give the necklace a supernatural look. In order to achieve that, you will need to create "power waves" emitting from the necklace. On another layer, apply a white area on the necklace using a soft round brush, and then with a smaller soft round shape, erase the middle of that white area. When it’s done, “double click” on the layer to open the “Layer Style” box and enter the data as shown in the picture. Once you’ve done all that, duplicate the layer (Command/Ctrl + J) twice and make them bigger than the previous one. Remember, the more the wave is away from the necklace, the more it’s big and less opaque.

Step 10

To complete the work on the necklace, select the shapes titled “Light” available in the tutorial assets, select your brush (B), and on another layer create a white "light beam" effect coming out of the necklace.

Step 11

With the same brush shapes, create a white "light beam" effect coming out of the model’s torso, as shown in the image. This effect will give out the impression that your character is liberating some sort of supernatural strengths while disintegrating.

Step 12

Now that most of the work on the character is done, you will need to work a little bit more on the atmosphere. With the fill or adjustment layer, at the bottom of the layers tab, darken the colors and make them closer to those of your character. Again, there are several ways to do so, but I suggest the Gradient Map layer and the Selective Color layer.

Step 13

Afterwards, put some action in the scenery by adding meteors coming down from the top. You will find a pack of meteorites in the tutorial assets. Insert them one by one, making sure that their sizes vary and that their colors stick with the atmosphere.

Step 14

This next step will consist in using the blur tool on the meteorites to make them look either close or far. Those that will be situated at the same distance as your character will remain untouched. Basically, the more a meteorite is far from the model, the greater the blur.

Step 15

Now, take the Smudge tool with strength of 5 to 10% and apply it on each of the meteorites, using little movements from bottom to top, to give them a speed effect.

Step 16

To create a source of light coming from above of your character’s body, take a white brush tool (B) with the same “Light” shape used in Step 10 and 11. It is important that the rays coming from above are more intense than those coming from your character’s torso. You can also draw various small shapes that follow the same rays’ movements to make it look more magical.

Step 17

Once you’ve completed the previous step, return to your character to improve it. With the presence of the new light source from above of your character’s body, you must increase the light reflected on its torso and face area by using a soft round white brush adjusted to “Overlay” mode.

Step 18

Now, draw some light effects passing around your model’s body so he can be integrated better within the scenery and be surrounded by more power.

Step 19

You can always add more “Splatters” if you find that the model does not disintegrate the way you want it to.

Step 20

To finalize everything, you can return to the colors, contrast and even intensify the bright areas with the same techniques you’ve used before. Basically, this step consists in putting your last personal touch to your piece! When you feel that your piece is finished, use a sharpness filter, to ensure a better overall quality, by duplicating your final image and by going to Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen.