The best Christmas gifts for artists and creatives

The best Christmas gifts for artists and creatives
Looking for some creative Christmas gift ideas this year? The big day is coming up, so we're here to help make sure your loved ones can express themselves right with a selection of amazing creative gifts this year. If you don't have a creative mind, it can be hard to know where to start. There are tablets, cameras or creative software, but what is the best option for your donation? Things can get expensive too quickly, which is why we've put together a list of a wide range of goodies to help support the creative pursuits of your artsy friends and family, at a selection of prices. Make the right choice and you can reap the rewards on Christmas Day. With a great value instant camera, your artsy friend can provide the photos to make a beautiful festive photo book this year, or a synthesizer to make a great Christmas soundtrack with a twist. Either way, we've got you covered. Here are the best Christmas gifts for artists.

Adobe Creative Cloud

(Image credit: Adobe)

Adobe Creative Cloud subscription

Nothing is more crucial to an artist than having the right tools. For graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, or video editors, Adobe Creative Cloud offers the industry standard for design excellence. Subscriptions don't have to be cheap and are purchased annually, rather than allowing you to subscribe by the month, but there's no denying the usefulness of what you get. You'll spend less on an individual program like Photoshop, although buying the complete package may be more cost-effective if you need access to several different programs. (Check out our guide to the best free painting software for no-money alternatives.) Today's best Adobe Creative Cloud deals

(Image credit: Apple)

iPad Pro 12.9 (2020)

The best large tablet of the moment

Features Weight: 641g Dimensions: 280,6 x 214,9 x 5,9mm OS: iPadOS Screen size: 12,9-inch Resolution: 2048 x 2732 pixels Processor: A12Z Bionic Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB microSD slot : No Battery: 9,720 mAh Rear Camera: 12MP Front Camera: 7MP Reasons to Buy + Mouse Support + Exceptional Processing Power Reasons to Avoid - Limited LiDAR functionality - Still not a laptop But its snazzy new set of editing tools it won't mean much without a big, beautiful screen to use it on. The larger iPad Pro 12.9 is exactly that, although you'll pay for the privilege of enjoying illustration work on this powerful and beautiful device. The latest 2020 version hasn't changed much - it's not much more powerful and the new camera technology is of little use even for creatives - but it's still the best large tablet on the market today. now with its super fast operating system. and unmatched processing power. It's a workstation, music player, portable theater, easel and more in one. Of course, you're paying for that extra screen real estate, so make sure your donor really needs it before paying the extra premium with the help of our best iPad guide. Either way, along with the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, the latest iPad Pro 12.9 is a creative powerhouse. Read more: iPad Pro 2020 review

Fujifilm Instax Mini 70

Another Instax Mini model at a very good price

Features Lens: 60mm Focus: Macro, Normal, and Landscape Flash: Built-in Self-timer: Yes Reasons to buy + Really easy to use + Selfie mode Reasons to avoid - Can hide limited flash control An instant camera makes a great gift for a budding photographer, with the satisfaction of seeing his designs printed in-camera after shooting. So, you no longer have to scroll through thousands of photos in your phone's gallery. The Instax Mini 70 comes with five shooting modes (including this all-important selfie mode), all of which are automatic and allow for easy focusing, exposure, and flashing. It's not too expensive for what it offers, although you'll have to factor in a certain budget to afford an Instax Mini film. Explore more options in our guide to the best instant cameras.

Littlebits Synth Kit

Modular synthesizer for the most adventurous

Reasons to Buy + For Beginners or Pros + Synths! Reasons to Avoid -Not the cheapest stocking stuffer -Can be intimidating to the uninitiated Aimed at professional musicians and complete hobbyists alike, this modular synth lets kids and adults alike "explore the science of sound, craft smooth rhythms, and create instruments". Once the mastery of tech wizards, synth building is now something anyone can do with the right kit, and you can see in the video above what makes it so magical in action.

(Image credit: future)

Nanoleaf Canvas

Smart lighting decor that can bring the funk

Reasons to Buy + Easy to Install + Smart Home Integration Reasons to Avoid -Hard to remove mounting tape If you need your smart home to look as good as the rest of your decor, these Nanoleaf Canvas smart lights should do the job. Comprised of touch and voice sensitive panels, allowing for customizable arrangements and capable of responding to music in time, it will illuminate your home like nothing else. It's easy to install, very difficult to remove, and if you can absorb the cost, it's one of the more imaginative smart lighting solutions we've had the pleasure of testing. Learn more in our Nanoleaf Canvas review.

Piano de Nintendo Labo

(Image credit: LaComparacion)

Nintendo Labo: Variety Kit

Cardboard and coding make a great combination

Reasons To Buy + Empty List Reasons To Avoid - Empty List Ah, Lab. Only Nintendo would find a way to make cardboard boxes fun again, with their line of Labo gear that combines the smarts of their Nintendo Switch console with pure fun. craft. You'll need a decent amount of space to store them, depending on the scale of the kit you buy, but the resulting joy is worth it. There are a few other kits to consider, including the Toy Kit, Vehicle Kit, and Virtual Reality Kit, depending on what the creative soul in your life is after, but the Variety Kit is a great place to start, especially with a musical piano option alongside a motorcycle, fishing rod and more. And yes, this is mostly for kids, but as a shared family activity, it should scratch anyone who's still a kid at heart. (However, it is not compatible with the smaller Switch Lite console.) Roundup of today's best deals Apple iPad Pro (32GB, Wi-Fi, ... Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 -... Korg LittleBits Nanoleaf Synth Kit - Canvas Smarter Kit ... Nintendo Labo - Assorted Kit