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LEMON BLOG

Illustration in 2026: Human, Imperfect and Proud of It

Designs & Artworks | 29 December 2025
As AI floods our screens with perfectly polished visuals, something fascinating is happening in the world of illustration. Creatives are pushing back. Instead of chasing flawless digital precision, many illustrators are deliberately leaning into humanity — embracing rough lines, awkward charm, emotional storytelling and unmistakably hand-made energy.

Why 2026 Could Mark the Beginning of the End for Photorealism

Designs & Artworks | 29 December 2025
Photorealism has always been a bit like a magic trick in the art world. You walk up to a painting, stare at it for a few seconds, and your brain insists, "That has to be a photograph." The entire charm of the style lies in its almost obsessive dedication to recreating reality exactly as a camera sees it — reflections, shadows, imperfections and all. For decades, that level of technical precision has been both fascinating and deeply respected.

Choosing the Right Logo Style for Your Brand

Designs & Artworks | 17 December 2025
If you're starting a new brand, one of the very first decisions you'll face is your logo. Whether it's for a growing business, a side project, or even a personal blog, your logo plays a major role in how people perceive you. It's often the first visual impression someone has of your brand, so getting the style right really matters.

Why Color Matters More Than You Think in Branding

Designs & Artworks | 17 December 2025
Color isn't just decoration. Long before someone reads your tagline or understands what your business offers, they feel something about your brand, and color plays a major role in shaping that first impression. Our brains are wired to react emotionally to color, often without us even realizing it.

Disney Opens the Door to AI-Generated Characters

Designs & Artworks | 15 December 2025
Disney is taking a significant step into the generative AI space, and it's doing so in partnership with OpenAI. In a newly announced licensing agreement, Disney will allow its iconic characters to appear in AI-generated content created through Sora and ChatGPT. For fans, this means familiar faces from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars could soon show up in short AI-generated videos and images, officially and with Disney's approval.

This Clever Free iPad App Unlocks a Feature Apple Should Have Built Themselves

Designs & Artworks | 08 December 2025
The Apple Pencil has become an essential tool for artists, designers, note-takers and anyone who appreciates precision on the iPad. In fact, multiple generations of the Pencil top most "best stylus for iPad" lists. But despite how powerful it already is, it turns out the Apple Pencil might still have untapped potential — and a new third-party app proves it.

The Evolution of CorelDRAW: From Classic Vector Suite to Modern Design Powerhouse

Designs & Artworks | 30 November 2025
If you grew up in the design scene during the 90s or early 2000s, chances are CorelDRAW was one of the first vector tools you ever touched. It was the go-to software in print shops, computer labs, signboard studios, and even those old cyber cafés that doubled as DTP hubs. While Adobe Illustrator often dominated the spotlight among creative agencies, CorelDRAW had a loyal following — and for very good reasons. Let's take a casual walk through how CorelDRAW evolved over the years and how it continues to hold its ground today.

The Evolution of Adobe Illustrator: From CS4 to Today

Designs & Artworks | 30 November 2025
If you've been around long enough to remember the days of Adobe Illustrator CS4, you'll know exactly how far the software has come. Back then, vector graphics felt a bit more… rigid. Tools were powerful but rough around the edges, hardware was slower, and designers had to work around the limitations of the era. Fast forward to today, and Illustrator has evolved into a sleek, cloud-connected, performance-optimised creative machine. Let's take a relaxed walk through its journey.

Why Paint.NET Might Be the Free Photoshop Alternative You’ve Been Missing

Designs & Artworks | 21 November 2025
Anyone who has tried walking away from Adobe Photoshop knows the struggle: you want something powerful, reliable, and free—but finding that magical combination is harder than you think. The obvious first stop on that journey is usually GIMP, a name that always pops up whenever Photoshop alternatives are mentioned. It's feature-packed, respected, and extremely capable. But let's be honest, switching to it isn't exactly seamless.

Canva Makes Affinity Free: A True Photoshop and Illustrator Alternative

Designs & Artworks | 03 November 2025
For years, the Affinity suite has been a favorite among creative professionals who wanted Adobe-level power without the recurring subscription. Now, Canva—the online design giant—has taken things one step further by making Affinity completely free to use. That's right: no subscriptions, no one-time license fees, and (according to Canva) no hidden catches.

Replacing Adobe Lightroom: Why Darktable Is a Powerful Free Open-Source Alternative

Designs & Artworks | 28 October 2025
Adobe Lightroom has long been considered the gold standard for photo management and RAW image editing. Its seamless workflow, extensive toolset, and deep ecosystem integration make it a go-to solution for both professionals and hobbyists. However, many users have begun exploring alternatives — driven by increasing subscription costs, concerns about cloud dependency, and the desire for more control over their creative workflows.

How Graphic Designers Can Leverage AI to Boost Creativity and Productivity

Designs & Artworks | 24 October 2025
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant buzzword—it has become a powerful ally for creative professionals. For graphic designers, AI represents both a challenge and an opportunity: it can automate repetitive tasks, suggest design ideas, and even generate complex visuals in seconds. The key lies in using AI as a collaborative partner, not a replacement.

GIMP Developers Take Over Official Snap Package — What It Means for Linux Users

Designs & Artworks | 21 October 2025
For years, GIMP has been the go-to open-source alternative to Photoshop — a powerful, free image editor used by millions across the world. But when it came to getting GIMP on Linux through Snap, something always felt a bit off. While you could install it from the Snap Store, the version there wasn't actually maintained by the official GIMP team. Instead, it came from the Snapcrafters community, a group of volunteers who package software for Snap.

The Best Tech Gadgets for Graphic Designers in 2025

Designs & Artworks | 07 October 2025
Finding the Perfect Tools for Creative Flow - It's 2025, and technology for creative professionals has evolved at an incredible pace. Yet even with AI design assistants, cloud rendering, and real-time collaboration tools at our fingertips, the gadgets we use still play a huge role in how efficiently — and comfortably — we create. For graphic designers, hardware isn't just about power anymore. It's about precision, portability, and how seamlessly each device fits into your creative rhythm.

Top 5 Tips and Tricks to Master Adobe Illustrator

Designs & Artworks | 03 October 2025
Adobe Illustrator can feel overwhelming when you first launch it—the endless panels, tools, and options can easily intimidate even creative professionals. But the truth is, once you learn a few essential tricks, Illustrator transforms into a powerhouse for creating logos, illustrations, icons, and even complex vector artwork.

Adobe Photoshop Tips & Tricks Every Beginner Should Know

Designs & Artworks | 01 October 2025
Why Photoshop Feels Overwhelming at First - Adobe Photoshop is often called the "industry standard" for image editing, and for good reason. Whether you're a professional photographer touching up portraits, a designer creating graphics, or a digital artist blending multiple images into surreal artwork, Photoshop gives you the tools to bring your vision to life.

Turning Images into Vectors: How AI Makes It Easier

Designs & Artworks | 17 September 2025
If you've ever tried scaling up a JPG or PNG image only to watch it turn into a pixelated mess, you already know the frustration of raster graphics. That's where vector images come in. Unlike pixel-based images, vectors are built with mathematical paths, meaning they stay crisp and sharp no matter how much you zoom in or resize them.

Adobe Premiere vs Adobe After Effects: Understanding the Difference

Designs & Artworks | 17 September 2025
When people first step into the world of video editing and motion graphics, two Adobe names always pop up—Premiere Pro and After Effects. At first glance, they both look like tools for making videos, but in reality, they're designed for very different purposes. Think of them like two teammates on the same production crew—each with its own specialty.

Understanding the Difference Between Gap, Margin, Line Height and Padding

Designs & Artworks | 17 September 2025
When building a website or designing a UI, we often get tangled up in the small details that control how elements are spaced. Four of the most commonly misunderstood CSS properties are gap, margin, line-height, and padding. At first glance, they all seem to "add space." But in reality, they do so in very different ways, and knowing how each works can make your designs look polished instead of messy. Let's break them down in a practical, easy-to-follow way with examples.

Understanding Colour and Design Thinking: A Complete Guide

Designs & Artworks | 17 September 2025
Design isn't just about making things look good—it's about creating an experience that communicates, persuades, and connects with people. Two big ideas sit at the heart of design: Colour Theory and Colour Technical (the science of applying colour correctly) and Design Thinking (the mindset and process behind creating user-focused solutions).

The Best Graphic Design Tools to Explore in 2025

Designs & Artworks | 17 September 2025
Graphic design in 2025 isn't just about drawing logos or editing photos anymore—it's about blending creativity with speed, collaboration, and AI-driven innovation. Designers today expect their tools to do more than just paint on a canvas; they want intelligent assistance, cloud accessibility, and flexible pricing options that suit freelancers, agencies, and enterprise teams alike. 

How AI in 2025 Changed the Designer Workflow with Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects

Designs & Artworks | 16 September 2025
The year 2025 has marked a turning point for creative professionals. Artificial Intelligence is no longer an optional add-on or a quirky experiment hidden in a beta tab—it's now baked into the very foundation of tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects. For many designers, this shift has felt less like upgrading to new software and more like hiring a highly skilled assistant who never sleeps, never tires, and constantly pushes fresh ideas.

When Malaysian Heroes Enter Gaming Worlds: AI Image Generations in Action

Designs & Artworks | 10 September 2025
Artificial Intelligence (AI) image generation has opened the doors to wild creativity—and sometimes, unexpected humor. Recently, I decided to test this out by giving three popular games—Mobile Legends, DOTA 2, and Diablo 2—a Malaysian twist. The goal was simple: reimagine their iconic characters as if they were local heroes. The results? Equal parts fascinating and funny.

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