Technologies and creativity fit together in the digital and graphic arts world. Computing has expanded the fields of architecture, art, the history of art, music, theater studies, and many more other areas. Digital technologies are promoted as tools of artistic expression. They have led to the creation of many tools and apps that have become ever more accessible to the average person.

There is a lot of software and tools that are developed with the purpose to help people to be creative. Video and photo editing software, DAW’s (digital audio workstation) for music production, motion graphics, and visual effects tools like Adobe After Effects. Out of hardware, we can find cameras, drones, PCs which is the universal tool for any kind of creativity, drawing tablets graphic designers. There are many more tools to explore for any kind of creativity so, I will tell you about the main ones in different areas.

DAW (Digital audio workstation).

When you think about how famous artists make songs, you might imagine that it all happens in a big, professional studio — one with a fancy mixing board, perhaps with a soundproofed vocal booth attached — and you are not wrong. Most music has been recorded this way, and there are still plenty of studios like this. But they are not as necessary as they used to be. With how quickly technology has advanced, we are now at the point where many of the tools needed to build a song can fit in the palm of your hand. You no longer in need of a degree in music theory to create music (even though it will help a lot and it will be much easier to get used to something like DAW).

A digital audio workstation, or DAW, is an electronic device or piece of software that allows you to record, manipulate, and create audio. Within the music realm, popular software DAWs include Ableton, FL Studio, Logic, etc.

FL Studio

Advantages:

  • No need for the music theory knowledge
  • Possible to run almost on any computer
  • No expensive equipment needed to start
  • Accessibility. There are free DAWs that will let you start and learn music production
  • Huge variety of DAWs
  • All the world’s instruments in one software

Disadvantages:

  • Hardly accessible
  • Good DAWs are expensive
  • Expensive equipment will be needed for serious production
  • Quality plugins (instruments) and sound banks cost a lot more than actual DAW

Music Streaming Platforms

When you create something, you obviously want to share it, so there is a lot of music streaming platforms, where you can upload your music and try to be heard. Some of those platforms are YouTube, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music…

Music Streaming Platforms Function

The first 3 options are the platforms where musicians/artists can share their music independently without any distributor needed. The other 2 – Apple Music and Spotify requires the distributor to upload your music. For example, let’s take the first 2 listed – YouTube and SoundCloud. These platforms in my opinion are the easiest to use, the most user-friendly. YouTube and SoundCloud give independence by allowing creators to work and upload music independently. SoundCloud basically does the same thing as YouTube – allows to upload and get heard by millions of users.

Main photo editing software – Photoshop

 It started as a simple computer program, only able to display a black and white image on a computer screen. Now 30 years later, Adobe Photoshop is one of the most powerful images editing tools in the world. And the software seems to be everywhere: on our computers and smartphones, social media, in fashion magazines, newspapers, and even our subconscious. The Adobe image editing software is a digital vessel on how society perceives reality. From making overweight people appear thin to removing skyscrapers in the background of an image, it can almost do any type of modification to an untouched photo.

Photoshop has affected society in both negative and positive ways. In a negative sense, it is created a culture of unrealistic perfection that does not exist. With retouched models, thinned stomachs, and spotless skin, this serves as a direct hit to people’s self-esteem. On the other hand, it has created a positive by allowing artists and photographers to get more creative with images. From an artistic standpoint, Photoshop is a valuable creative asset.

Photoshop

Advantages:

  • Unlimited creative playground
  • There is free photoshop like apps to use, so it is easy to access
  • Relatively easy to learn
  • It made art more accessible and wider

Disadvantages:

  • Photoshop made it easy to create fake news and spread them
  • It is created a culture of unrealistic perfection that does not exist
  • The Photoshop itself is quite expensive to get. Subscription-based monthly payment

Digital Art sharing Platforms

Here is the same how with music: when you create something, you want to share it, so there is a lot of digital artists streaming platforms, where you can upload your works and try to be seen. Some of those platforms are DeviantArt, ArtStation, Instagram, Pinterest, Behance…

Digital Art sharing Platforms Functions

            Whether you are an aspiring artist or an established art master without any online presence, you should start to think about sharing your art online. In this progressive internet era, there are tons of websites where you can post your work and wait for the glory. The listed platforms above are the most common for digital artists to share and get recognized. Some of them like DeviantArt and ArtStation allows you to sell and get paid for your creativity.

Video editing actuality nowadays

Over the last few years, the video medium has become the most effective means of online content delivery. The success of video-sharing networks such as YouTube and social media platforms such as Snapchat are just two examples of how the world has come to adopt the new reality of digital video, which internet users clearly prefer over other types of content.

Almost all the software provides quite similar functions. The only difference between them is the comfortability of the usage which depends on a person. Also, the price. There are tons of different editing apps like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X (Mac Only), DaVinci Resolve 16 (Free), Filmora9, CyberLink PowerDirector…

DaVinci Resolve 16

Advantages:

  • Easy to learn the basics.
  • There are free professional level apps like DaVinci Resolve.
  • There is always work for video editor.
  • Because of the widespread, its accessibility video editing brought to us countless amount of content.

Disadvantages:

  • Video editing software is hardware-demanding and requires an enormous amount of computer power
  • Most high-quality video editing soft is expensive. Even DaVinci’s free version is not full
  • To get full out of it you must pay $300

Video Streaming Platforms

Like with all things you do – you want to share it, so there is a lot of video streaming platforms, where you can upload your videos and try to be seen. Some of those platforms are YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, IGTV, Vimeo…

Video Streaming Platforms Functions

I will take YouTube as an example of what video sharing platform does. So basically, YouTube and all platforms alike allow you and any other person on earth to upload their video. The video can contain anything that is allowed by YouTube’s rules. Anything you film, edit or create can be uploaded there so people can share their creativity and opinions to improve. Such platforms bring creators from all over the world to the communities which have, we believe, a huge impact on creative society’s expansion.

With all that is said, to conclude, I think that the fact that all these platforms exist created a countless number of communities, gave the infinite amount of opportunities and the impact it has on creative society are immeasurable. So maybe you will find something you like and will start to be creative as well. Good Luck!