Sessions

Paper Party: Exploring PaperSpecs

Paper is as distinctive as fonts—each type of paper has its own “voice” and personality. And yet, the only way to truly understand paper and printing is to feel it with your own hands. In the old days there were plenty of opportunities for design professionals to experience a wide variety of paper stocks, so they could make good decisions when it came to print. Of course, that’s very rare today.

So, we’re throwing a paper party! Join internationally renowned paper expert Sabine Lenz from PaperSpecs as she leads a fun and educational experience like no other.

Topics include:

  • Understanding paper terminology
  • Why choosing the right stock for your project matters
  • How a printed piece can make or break your sale
  • Why print means “Quality” (and how not to mess it up)

The Power of Paper and Print

Sure, digital is great, but in many situations, print is far more effective! Join us as we explore when and why print excels, as well as how best to take advantage of new (and old!) print techniques for phenomenal results and maximum visual impact.

Topics include:

  • Why print results in measurably better returns than onscreen experiences
  • Bringing your designs to life with coatings and varnishes that replicate the look and feel of any texture
  • Building instant brand recognition
  • Increasing perceived value through haptic response
  • How digital presses can create amazing analog experiences

Leveraging Metadata Across Adobe Apps

Did you know that every Adobe file you work with can contain hidden information that describes your file? Did you know that the Adobe applications give you the ability to leverage that metadata in other applications?

In this session, you’ll learn what metadata is and how to use it your everyday work. You’ll also learn how to leverage that metadata to automate tasks and streamline your workflow, to get jobs done faster and with less effort.

Making Sense of Creative Cloud Libraries

Creative Cloud Libraries sound great in theory, but don’t always work the way you might expect them to. However they are incredibly useful for storing artwork, colors, text, styles, patterns, and more, and then using this content across different Adobe apps. Join Keith Gilbert for strategies to make CC Libraries work for you, not against you.

Topics include:

  • How you can use CC Libraries to manage assets for specific projects and share them with stakeholders
  • How to leverage little-known features of CC Libraries to reduce friction when reusing content between Creative Cloud apps
  • How to use your libraries in non-Adobe apps like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Google Workspace

Buried Treasure: Mining Your Fonts for Gold

Don’t know your Unicode from a unicorn? Think Stylistic Sets are a Philadelphia soul group? This session is for you. We’ll discuss finding elusive glyphs, getting the most out of Adobe Fonts, understanding those obscure OpenType features, and explore when and why to use special fonts like Variable or Color Fonts.

Topics include:

  • Accessing alternate characters and ligatures
  • Figure styles and fractions
  • Add flair with picture fonts, ornaments and catchwords

Color Through the Lens of Culture

Do you think color is just about what looks good? Think again! There’s far more to color than a pretty palette or a fashion statement. Color gives rise to feelings, forges connections to one’s heritage, brings people together, and can be a key component of effective communication. We can create deeper relationships when we become more conscious of the color choices we make.

In this session, you’ll learn to make the most of color psychology as a powerful form of language, particularly when it comes to cross-cultural communication.

Topics include:

  • The powerful influence of color psychology
  • How cultural misappropriation can divide communities and affect brand perception
  • The Impacts of gendered marketing through color
  • Color’s role in cultural heritage

Resolution: How Well Do You Really Understand It?

Resolution is one of those things that you think you understand, until you have to explain it. So what exactly is it? How is it related to image size? When is an image big enough—and when is it too big? How do you know? Theresa takes you on a deep dive to deliver answers to all this and more along with workflow tips for Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.

You’ll learn:

  • How do you measure image size?
  • Does 72ppi always mean disaster for print?
  • Where did the universally accepted 300ppi for print come from?
  • Is resolution ever irrelevant?
  • How do you determine the correct resolution?
  • What are PPI, DPI, and LPI… and how are they related?

Adobe Express for Pro Designers

Adobe Express is not a replacement for the Adobe apps we all know and love, but rather, an additional tool that complements existing workflows while dramatically expanding your output and effectiveness. Social media posts, flyers, invitations, your next promotional video . . .  Adobe Express can do it all! And best part is that it all comes with your Creative Cloud.

Topics include:

  • How pro designers and marketers can use Adobe Express
  • Take your designs from still to animated in just a few clicks!
  • How Express integrates with Photoshop, Illustrator, and other apps

Designing Accessibly: Your Power to Make a Change Starts Today!

In this engaging session, we will explore the immediate impact designers can have on creating inclusive experiences for all users. Discover practical strategies, actionable insights, and the tools you need to initiate change in your design practices today. Join us as we shatter barriers, empower users, and unveil the immense potential within your grasp to craft a more accessible and inclusive digital landscape. It’s time to harness your creative influence and make a lasting impact — because accessible design begins with you, and it begins today!

You’ll learn:

  • The impact you can make with design choices
  • Actionable insights on empathy and awareness
  • How to make sure you’re designing inclusivity
  • Tools and resources

Bringing It All Together: CC Workflows

This session uncovers the secrets to maximizing your design prowess by highlighting the power of Creative Cloud’s online services. Adobe’s Bart Van de Wiele will teach you how to work faster, collaborate with others, and say goodbye to email reviews using a variety of possibilities.

Topics include:

  • Ideate and collaborate using generative AI with Adobe Firefly
  • Streamline your workflow using CC Libraries and Adobe Stock
  • Set up approval workflows using cloud documents and even Adobe Frame io (yes, you have this!)
  • Bring everything together as part of Adobe’s eco-system