This week’s Creative Brief features bold new moves in advertising and a scary machine-learning tool...

Update to Adobe XD enables Photoshop and Sketch integration

Following a recent update, it's now possible to import Photoshop and Sketch assets into Adobe XD CC 2018.

With Photoshop and Sketch files automatically converted to XD files, users can create interactive prototypes more quickly and efficiently. You can also copy and paste symbols between XD documents in one simple step.

"We’re happy to announce that we are delivering more of the features that you’ve been asking for, including the ability to bring Photoshop and Sketch files into XD, copying symbols between documents, styling grouped elements, and editing scrollable artboards faster," said Dan Tuhoarca in an Adobe blog post.

Family Guy to air with no commercial interruption thanks to Sony sponsorship

This Sunday, television viewers in the US can enjoy a whole episode of Family Guy without commercial interruption due to a sole sponsorship from Sony.

Before and after the episode, a 60-second spot for the new PlayStation video game God of War will be shown. It's the very first time a Family Guy episode will run without ad breaks in the US.

"This format, versus buying a 30-second ad unit, is appealing as it creates an event feel and offers a more unique approach on how we reach existing and new fans,” said Asad Qizilbash, VP of marketing for PlayStation. "The more we are able to eventise media buys, the bigger impact we see to present PlayStation as a leader in gaming content.”

Snapchat to allow branded content ads from publishers

Snapchat will now allow publishers to run branded content ads between articles and videos in the app's Discover section.

"Snap Ads are familiar to users as ads, and are clearly marked to distinguish them from editorial content," a Snapchat spokesman said in an emailed statement. "In the Snap Ad context, Snap also believes branded content can make for compelling ads users will enjoy."

In 2017, Snapchat Discover generated more than $100 million for its media partners. However, the platform still has a reputation for struggling to hold the attention of users for more than a second before they tap for the next video.

Machine-learning tool turns 2D images and video into 3D

A new machine-learning tool features the ability to convert 2D images and video into 3D assets from a single view. 

Currently under development by Or Fleisher and Sirin Anlen, Volume is being built as an end-to-end solution for users wanting to generate assets for 3D environments.

"It is still work in progress, but we hope to keep on training the [artificial neural] networks to acquire more knowledge required to reconstruct 3D human figures and environments from 2D images and videos," Fleisher told The Next Web.