Creating Adobe Spark images and videos
Do you create images for your social media? I’ve used Canva in the past, (read my review here) adding a writing quote to an image (with my web address at the bottom) and posting to Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Pinterest each morning. I’ve now switched over to Adobe Spark, a FREE program that integrates the professionalism of the Adobe look with an easy-to-use interface.
Sign up at Spark.Adobe.com for free using your Facebook or Google ID, email, or create an Adobe account. A free account includes:
- Create stunning graphics, web pages, and video stories
- Available on desktop, iPhone and iPad
- Sync projects across devices
The $9.99 USD per month plan adds:
- Replace the Adobe Spark logo with your own
- Add your brand to Spark graphics, web pages, and video stories
- Select colors and fonts that reflect your brand
- Leverage personalized branded templates
- Manage your brand in one place
- Update branding across templates in one click
- Live phone and chat support
And the $19.99 USD plan adds:
- Company ownership of user licenses
- Consolidated billing for all licenses on the account
- Web-based license management tool with ability to reassign licenses
- Dedicated 24/7 technical phone support, email, chat and forums
I’m all for free, and my business isn’t big enough (nor is my budget) to need the perks of the other features.
The 3 things you can make with Adobe Spark
1.Post
I’ve used this numerous times to make my “morning images”. Adobe Spark offers so many sizes—Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Etsy, Pinterest, blog post, YouTube, and poster sizes. They also offer different categories—food, school, lifestyle, seasonal, collages, and travel, all with nifty graphics.
Of course, you’re treated to the Adobe pallet, with professional color matching. In addition, they’ve thrown in features like contrast, darken, lighten, greyscale, matte, colorize and multiply, and scaling and rotating sliders.
Collage:
I especially like the collage layout. Here’s what I did for my upcoming Cinderella re-telling, The Brass Slipper:
2. Page
I have not used Adobe Spark to create a page. From what I’ve read, it creates a static page only, not a web page. The article I found says it’s great for creating a magazine type page.
3. Video
I used this to promote my AtoZChallenge book, Twilight, Arizona. It was fairly easy. The only problem I ran across is the template didn’t give me enough time on each frame for the average viewer to read the caption. I solved that by holding down the record button but didn’t say anything. Here’s the result:
(Twilight, Arizona is a fictional retirement village, the setting of twenty-six supernatural short stories. I wrote them as part of 2018’s AtoZChallenge.)
Purchase the collection for 99¢ at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/yb3u6ahm
Now that I know what I’m doing, I could probably, and will, make a new video in a few minutes.
There you go! Alternate, professional looking images and videos courtesy of Adobe Spark.
This is my blog post for May’s AuthorToolBoxBlogHop.
The #AuthorToolboxBlogHop is a monthly event on the topic of resources and learning for authors. Feel free to hop around to the various blogs and see what you learn! To join, visit Raimey Gallant’s website or follow the #AuthorToolboxBlogHop hashtag on Twitter.
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I deleted Adobe Spark off my phone today as it happens, because my phone told me I was at my space limit. But I’d totally sold now that I’ve seen your video. It’s so great, Cheryl! Love!
I’ve been using Canva for a while. Thanks for introducing me to Adobe Spark — I’ll definitely check it out.
I didn’t realise you could make videos using Adobe Spark!
Yours is so cool, I love the music 🙂
Thanks for sharing, I’ll check it out as I’ve wanted to try making videos for a while!
I’ve been really struggling with Canva’s limitations, so this is great! I’ve signed up to try out the free version. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing. I’ve just discover wordpress has free photos to use as well. I guess the sky’s the limit with art these days. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Louise, Spark gives you different selections of music to set the mood for the video. The one I used in the video was the spookiest they had.
Good luck with your videos.
I’d never heard of this tool! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for telling us about Adobe Spark. I like that it’s initially free, but I definitely wouldn’t want their logo on my images, and I monthly plan as really worth it for what I’d do, but this is certainly great for those who create a lot of images. The fact you can make video stories with the free one, though…YES! I love that! Thanks for sharing!
Raimey,
Thanks! It was easy to use once I figured out how to make it longer.
Ronel,
Spark gives it the Adobe look of professionalism. I love their color palettes.
Canva has its perks, too. I’ve yet to find a way to make a layover in Spark. (a transparency box that lays over the background, masking it and making the text put on it stand out instead of getting lost). Still experimenting.
I can import Pixabay images direct from my WordPress toolbar. Is this what you’re referencing?
Your images are beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I’m way behind on this topic. I’ll have to check out Adobe Spark.
I’m a big Canva fan. Can you share why you’ve switched? Was it just the ability to do video, or was there something about Canva that was bugging you?
Also, are you on the free or paid plan for Adobe Spark?
I’m on the free plan for Adobe Spark. I’m switching between Canva and Spark, but I love the palettes on Spark. Canva also has more layouts. Right now, I can’t do a ebook cover on Spark. I guess I’m a hybrid. 😉
I’m stubborn and won’t take no for an answer, so I chip away at learning until I’m at least adequate at anything. It’s also called writing procrastination.