FRESCO • HOW-TO
Your Turn: Collaborate with a friend in Fresco.
Share a single doc in the mobile app to create a unique, unified work of art.
By Jordan Kushins and Andy Wright
FRESCO • HOW-TO
Your Turn: Collaborate with a friend in Fresco.
Share a single doc in the mobile app to create a unique, unified work of art.
By Jordan Kushins and Andy Wright
RESOURCES
Add a folder of underwater assets to your library.
Copy a finished Photoshop file to your work and open up in Fresco to see how our collab came together.
Tips and tricks:
● Use layer groups to stay organized. If you’re working on an element with multiple layers, tap and hold the top layer; drag it over the next one down; and let go. (You can add as many layers as you like.) You’ve now created a group that you can name and continue to manipulate. Double-tap the group to see and edit individual layers, and open the Layer Actions menu — tap the three dots on the bottom of the right-hand toolbar — to make adjustments to the set.
● Copy and paste layers — and layer groups! — from other Fresco files. If you’d like to keep noodling while it’s your partner-in-art’s turn in the shared doc, create a new file and start drawing. Open the Layer Actions menu > Copy layer, or Copy layer group; when it’s your go again and you’re back in your shared doc, open the same menu > Paste layer, or Paste layer group. Your work will appear, and you can resize and continue to edit as desired.
● Add more collaborators. Try plussing in more people! (Note: Trial users can only invite one person.)
Want to supercharge your creative powers and make something surprising, delightful, and really (really!) fun? In Adobe Fresco, it’s easy to add multiple collaborators to a single doc, which means you and a friend can team up on a shared work of art.
I invited my pal Andy to join me on what turned into a deep dive under the sea. The premise was simple — I drew something; then she drew something; and so on — and the process was a blast. It was such a thrill to see, and experience, the piece evolve: how my contributions inspired her, and what hers sparked in me.
Here’s how we did it — and how you can, too!
Directions for artist #1:
Step one: Open Adobe Fresco and create a new doc.
Don’t forget to give it a name. (This will show up in all email notifications and correspondence, and it’s nice if it’s something more evocative than “Untitled.”) We called ours “Your Turn Fresco.”
Step two: Start drawing.
You can both decide on a theme before you begin, or just go for it. You can make a minimal mark for your partner to build on, or kick things off with a fully realized character. It’s up to you.
Step three: Invite to edit.
All set with your sketch? Tap the Invite to Edit button in the top toolbar; type in your creative partner’s email address; and tap Invite to edit. They’ll receive an email from you, via Adobe Creative Cloud, with the subject line: Invitation to Your Turn Fresco.psdc. (Or whatever you called your doc.) Exit the doc to save your changes and allow them to pop in. (Both of you can’t be in there at the same time). This is their moment!
Directions for artist #2:
Step four: Add your art.
After you’ve received the email notification, log into Fresco; you’ll find the doc under Your work > Shared with you. Open it up; admire your partner’s work; and do your doodle.
Step five: Comment to hand-off.
When you’re happy with your contribution, tap the Comments button in the right-hand toolbar. Make a comment — emojis work here too! — and @ your partner’s email. They’ll receive an email from Adobe Creative Cloud with the subject line: New comment on TKdoc.psdc. Exit the doc. It’s their turn!.
Directions for both artists:
Keep it up! Repeat steps four and five — passing the doc back and forth — until you feel it’s done.
That's it — have fun!
Jordan Kushins writes and edits, draws stuff, and makes things in San Francisco, California.
Andy Wright is a Senior Editor for Discover.
