Virtual exhibitions online - what about the software / webware?

Two things became very apparent during the Pandemic

• art galleries had their galleries closed - and finally appreciated why websites are important - and why you need more than just small thumbnail images of the artwork on your website - if you've got one.
• art societies had their exhibitions cancelled - and finally got the point of the "virtual online art exhibition" - but haven't always known how to go about creating one

So........

I plan to write something about how to develop an "online art exhibition" (as a replacement / add on for art gallery / art society exhibitions).

To this end I'm trying to identify relevant website software and/or webware platforms which have the functionality to deliver efficient and effective virtual exhibitions online.  
I'm also contacting software agents re "online art exhibition gallery" software/webware and pricing plans and how they work.

Help please

Can you please 

• either CONTACT ME if you can help - 
• or leave a comment on the post on my Making A Mark Facebook Page (spot the image at the top of this page!)

I'd much appreciate it, if those people who have been involved in developing an online exhibition told me

• What software / platform host have you used - and what were the pros and cons?
• When choosing which software / platform option to use what sort of criteria did you use to make a decision?
• What did you learn from the experience?
• What would you have done differently and/or spent more time on?

Plus for all those who want to know more about what you need to do to create a virtual online exhibition for an art gallery or art society

• What do you want to know re how to develop an online art exhibition?

If you just need help with websites

For those wanting to know more about how to develop a better website more about see my HUGE section on Websites for Artists on my Art Business Info for Artists website

Adobe "on the rocks" of Apple macOS Catalina

Yesterday I got a brand new 27" iMac with a 5K Retina screen (because my old one died last week). This morning I set it up including upgrading to macOS Catalina which, as you may be aware, is a 64 bit application which does not work with 32 bit applications.

Which is when I found out that Adobe is obviously not equipped or staffed to cope with a very well signalled Apple upgrade to 64bit apps - and six months after Catalina was released has still not resolved the problems.

Bottom line Photoshop Elements - which I have been using since version 3 some 15+ years ago - is INCOMPATIBLE with Catalina!

I could not believe it when I read the following....

Adobe does not recommend that customers using old versions of Photoshop upgrade to macOS Catalina.


Incompatible versions (version 19.x and earlier) will not display in the ‘Older Versions’ list within the Creative Cloud desktop app.


Older versions use 32-bit licensing components and installers. Therefore, they cannot be installed and activated after upgrading to macOS Catalina. Upgrading to macOS Catalina with an older version already installed on your computer may allow the application to function in some capacity; however, you will not be able to reinstall or activate the application after the macOS upgrade.

from the Adobe website - Photoshop and macOS Catalina (10.15) known compatibility issues

This was somewhat galling to say the least given that 11 months ago, on 31st March 2019, I purchased Adobe Photoshop 19 from Amazon and installed via my Adobe Account - and in less than a year it is now UNUSABLE as it will not download to my new computer without problems.

Reinstalling does not work. That's because the installer works with a 32 bit system!!!!!

Adobe needs to get to grips with the fact that not everybody has the scope to wait around for ages while they work out to make their software work properly!

At first I thought I was going to have to shell out for PS Elements 2020 - but then I read the problems that version of the software has with Catalina.

Photoshop 21.0 & Photoshop 20.0.7 work with macOS 10.15 (Catalina) but have these known compatibility issues. You may want to remain on your current version of macOS until these issues have been resolved.

So basically Adobe is very definitely losing customers to alternative products. I'm absolutely certain I'm not the only one who has experienced problems just by the quantity of info I found online after running into this problem.

Pixelmator Pro - the cheaper alternative to Photoshop Elements

I've just downloaded Pixelmator Pro - which is fully compatible with Catalina macOS - from the Mac App Store - and paid less than half the price of PS Elements!

• It's an Mac App Editor's Choice app
• It's currently rated #1 in the Graphic and Design category
• These are the technical specifications of Pixelmator Pro 
• These are the Pixelmator Pro tutorials
• You can also try it for free for 15 days on your Mac.

VIEW FULL SIZE Pixelmator Pro on Mac App Store

So far it seems to work - although it will take a little bit of getting used to after 15+ years of Photoshop Elements!

Guess who won't be taking out any sort of subscription to Adobe in the foreseeable future!