Kevin Shawley

Multimedia Design & Communications

Tools for a Digital Creative

Today’s creative communication requires proficiency in a wide range of tools to navigate a diverse media landscape. This includes high-end 2D and 3D software for digital design and VFX, as well as web, writing, and collaboration tools for social marketing and creative teamwork.

The apps below are the ones I rely on most for my work.

Tools for a Digital Creative

The apps below are the ones I rely on most for my work.

Tools for a Digital Creative

The apps below are the ones I rely on most for my work.

Photoshop

Raster Graphics

The image editing workhorse I’ve used since the beginning of my career for painting, removals and manipulation of both still images and video.

Photoshop

Raster Graphics

The image editing workhorse I’ve used since the beginning of my career for painting, removals and manipulation of both still images and video.

Photoshop

Raster Graphics

The image editing workhorse I’ve used since the beginning of my career for painting, removals and manipulation of both still images and video.

Illustrator

Vector Graphics

My program of choice for logo design, line art, signage or any place where vector graphics must be used for infinite scale or efficient file size.

Illustrator

Vector Graphics

My program of choice for logo design, line art, signage or any place where vector graphics must be used for infinite scale or efficient file size.

Illustrator

Vector Graphics

My program of choice for logo design, line art, signage or any place where vector graphics must be used for infinite scale or efficient file size.

Premiere Pro

Video Editing

My go-to program for video editing, though I dabble in DaVinci Resolve when I have free time to explore.

Premiere Pro

Video Editing

My go-to program for video editing, though I dabble in DaVinci Resolve when I have free time to explore.

Premiere Pro

Video Editing

My go-to program for video editing, though I dabble in DaVinci Resolve when I have free time to explore.

InDesign

Desktop Publishing

I originally learned desktop publishing with Aldus PageMaker before it was bought by Adobe and rebuilt from the ground up as InDesign.

InDesign

Desktop Publishing

I originally learned desktop publishing with Aldus PageMaker before it was bought by Adobe and rebuilt from the ground up as InDesign.

InDesign

Desktop Publishing

I originally learned desktop publishing with Aldus PageMaker before it was bought by Adobe and rebuilt from the ground up as InDesign.

Framer

Web Design

My web design tool of choice for building sites with great functionality while not requiring heavy backend coding skills.

Framer

Web Design

My web design tool of choice for building sites with great functionality while not requiring heavy backend coding skills.

Framer

Web Design

My web design tool of choice for building sites with great functionality while not requiring heavy backend coding skills.

After Effects

2D/3D Compositing

After Effects and its many 3rd party plug-ins is the Adobe app I've used the most for VFX work over the years.

After Effects

2D/3D Compositing

After Effects and its many 3rd party plug-ins is the Adobe app I've used the most for VFX work over the years.

After Effects

2D/3D Compositing

After Effects and its many 3rd party plug-ins is the Adobe app I've used the most for VFX work over the years.

Houdini

3D VFX

I’ve been learning parts of this high-end VFX software off and on for several years. It is renowned for particle effects, fluid simulations and a procedural workflow.

Houdini

3D VFX

I’ve been learning parts of this high-end VFX software off and on for several years. It is renowned for particle effects, fluid simulations and a procedural workflow.

Houdini

3D VFX

I’ve been learning parts of this high-end VFX software off and on for several years. It is renowned for particle effects, fluid simulations and a procedural workflow.

Unreal Engine

Real Time VFX / Game Engine

Far more than a gaming engine, this software now finds use in multiple creative industries, including archviz and realtime, on-set Hollywood VFX. I feel this is the future for digital artists desiring real-time iteration and has become the tool I have focused most recently on mastering.

Unreal Engine

Real Time VFX / Game Engine

Unreal Engine

Real Time VFX / Game Engine

Blender

3D VFX

Given the broad use of Blender with Unreal Engine, there are limitless training resources available for both programs. A search of any question nearly always results in a solution, which has accelerated the learning of both programs.

Blender

3D VFX

Blender

3D VFX

Mocha & Syntheyes

Tracking

Most of the shots on my VFX reel required some form of tracking. I use Mocha for 2d planar tracking and Syntheyes for more difficult 3d object or camera tracking.

Mocha & Syntheyes

Tracking

Most of the shots on my VFX reel required some form of tracking. I use Mocha for 2d planar tracking and Syntheyes for more difficult 3d object or camera tracking.

Mocha & Syntheyes

Tracking

Most of the shots on my VFX reel required some form of tracking. I use Mocha for 2d planar tracking and Syntheyes for more difficult 3d object or camera tracking.

Final Draft & Scrivener

Writing

For creative writing, Scrivener is my choice for longer-form and Final Draft for scripts and formats suited to templates and autoformatting tools.

Final Draft & Scrivener

Writing

For creative writing, Scrivener is my choice for longer-form and Final Draft for scripts and formats suited to templates and autoformatting tools.

Final Draft & Scrivener

Writing

For creative writing, Scrivener is my choice for longer-form and Final Draft for scripts and formats suited to templates and autoformatting tools.

Google Docs

3D VFX

From slide shows and simple websites to receiving data from spreadsheets, I need to know how to use the tools my clients work with and it is often Google Workspace apps.

Google Docs

3D VFX

From slide shows and simple websites to receiving data from spreadsheets, I need to know how to use the tools my clients work with and it is often Google Workspace apps.

Google Docs

3D VFX

From slide shows and simple websites to receiving data from spreadsheets, I need to know how to use the tools my clients work with and it is often Google Workspace apps.

Operating Systems

I use both MacOS and Windows extensively and comfortably troubleshoot and resolve most OS-level issues I encounter.

Operating Systems

I use both MacOS and Windows extensively and comfortably troubleshoot and resolve most OS-level issues I encounter.

Operating Systems

I use both MacOS and Windows extensively and comfortably troubleshoot and resolve most OS-level issues I encounter.