Look Out, Canva: Here Comes Adobe Spark

The graphic design software space is getting more and more interesting by the minute. Today Adobe announced their new "one-stop content shop for creating and sharing visual stories". Offering simple features to create social graphics, pages, and even videos, Adobe Spark is trying to empower visual content creators — no matter their level of expertise.

While designers are comfortable working with more complex tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, it can be challenging for small business owners to tackle the added functionality. Sometimes all you need is a simple tool to whip up a social media graphic quickly. If this is you, watch entrepreneurs and teachers share how they're using this free new tool:

Unlike existing WYSIWYG design tools like Canva, DesignerFeed, Pablo, or PicMonkey, Adobe's Spark introduces three different content types:

1. Spark Post

   Specifically created to help you build social media graphics, Spark Post combines simple typography, layout and image tools.

2. Spark Page

   This one focuses on page-type layouts that feel like interactive magazines. Spark Page combines text, photos and videos in animations Adobe calls "Glideshows". This app was formerly known as Adobe Slate.

3. Spark Video

   Bring photos, videos and your own voice together in seconds. Spark Video adds cinematic motions and soundtracks. This app was formerly known as Adobe Voice.

Get inspired

People are already starting to create some pretty stellar graphics using Adobe Spark Post. They've collected some of the most inspiring pieces by industry in this gallery.

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How it works

One of Adobe Spark's most interesting characteristics is how seamlessly it switches between a desktop and mobile experience. You can start your design on your phone and move to your laptop to finalize it, or viceversa. Here's a quick walkthrough of the Spark Video app on an iPhone 6 Plus.

A small business might use Spark Pages to display product specs, Spark Post to feature special sales on social media, and Spark Video to share the product in action. Here's the story of a small bike shop that was able to repurpose different kinds of visual content using Spark apps:

Have you tried it already?

Will Spark ever replace more complex design software like Photoshop? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!

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