Join Our Free Monthly Meetings
The Austin Adobe User Group has been meeting monthly since it was founded in 1993 as the Austin Macromedia User Group. It supports the use of the Adobe Creative Cloud with free presentations by experts in a wide variety of Adobe applications.
With the start of the pandemic, our meeting moved from being in-person to being on Zoom. We use the same Zoom room for every meeting. To get the address, please write to austinadobegroupmgr@gmail.com.
Recordings of each meeting are posted a few days after the meeting. Here are the topics we have recently covered and news of our next gathering.
Monthly Programs
from the Austin Adobe User Group
March 12, 2026: New Features in Adobe Illustrator, part 5
You are invited to join us online on Thursday, March 12th, 6 pm CST, for the FREE monthly Austin Adobe User Group meeting to learn more about the new features in Adobe Illustrator 2024 and 2025. This is the fifth of a multi-part series. We will pick up the program on item #11, the Smooth Slider. (Bolded items will be addressed in the next meeting.) These include: 1. Create a Pattern with a Prompt2. Generative Shape Fill3. Create a Gradient from swatches4. New Object on a Path Tool5. Text to...
Using Variable‑data in Adobe Illustrator®
February 12th, 6 pm CST, the Austin Adobe User Group presented this FREE monthly meeting. This presentation explores a class of recurring problems that arise when using Adobe Illustrator for variable, data-driven, or semi-automated artwork production. Many designers rely on manual duplication, copy-paste workflows, ad-hoc scripts, or Illustrator’s built-in Variables feature, often accepting fragility, inefficiency, and maintenance pain as “just how it works.” We’ll examine why these approaches...
Jan 8, 2026: New Features in Adobe Illustrator, part 4
Wishing all Happy Holidays, the Austin Adobe User Group is skipping the December meeting. We’ll start the new year returning to all the great new features in Illustrator. You are invited to join us online on January 8, 6 pm CST, for the FREE monthly Austin Adobe User Group meeting to learn more about the new features in Adobe Illustrator 2024 and 2025. This is the fourth of a multi-part series. We will pick up the program on item #9, The New Retype Tool. (Bolded items will be addressed in the...
3D in Adobe After Effects 25.5
On November 13, 2025, 6 pm Central, Jon Merrifield will present an in-depth look at the new 3D assets and environment tools in the recent release of Adobe After Effects 25.5. This release marks a significant step forward for motion design—introducing native 3D models, environment maps, materials, lighting, and real-time rendering improvements that bring full 3D integration directly inside AE. Jon will demonstrate how these new 3D workflows fit into compositing and design pipelines, how to...
Premiere Pro v2.5 Deep-Dive
New Motion Tools, Built-In Film Impact Effects, and Faster Audio/Timeline Workflows On Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 6 pm Central, online and free, Jon Merrifield will walk through what’s new in Premiere Pro 2.5—focusing on upgraded motion capabilities, audio editing, timeline playback improvements, and Adobe’s integration of more than 90 modern effects, transitions, and animations from Film Impact directly into Premiere Pro (no separate plug-in or subscription required). He'll also demonstrate...
September 11, 2025: New Features in Adobe Illustrator, part 3
You are invited to join us online on September 11, 2025, 6 pm CST, for the FREE monthly Austin Adobe User Group meeting to learn more about new Adobe Illustrator 2024 and 2025 features. This is the third of a multi-part series. We will pick up the program on item #8, Change Font Characteristics. (Bolded items will be addressed in this next meeting.) These include:1. Create a Pattern with a Prompt2. Generative Shape Fill3. Create a Gradient from swatches4. New Object on a Path Tool5....
July 10, 2025: New Features in Adobe Illustrator, part 2
You are invited to join us online on July 10, 2025, 6 pm CST, for the FREE monthly Austin Adobe User Group meeting to learn more about new Adobe Illustrator 2024 and 2025 features. This is the second of a multi-part series. We will pick up the program on item #4, New Object on a Path. (Bolded items are shown in the video of this meeting.) These include:1. Create a Pattern with a Prompt2. Generative Shape Fill3. Create a Gradient from swatches4. New Object on a Path Tool 5. Text to...
June 12, 2025 – New Features in Adobe Illustrator, part 1
You are invited to join us online on June 12, 2025, 6 pm CST, for the FREE monthly Austin Adobe User Group meeting to learn more about new Adobe Illustrator 2024 and 2025 features. This is the first of a two part series. These include:1. Create a Pattern with a Prompt2. Generative Shape Fill3. Create a Gradient from swatches4. New Object on a Path Tool5. Text to Vector Graphic6. Create Mockup7 Change Font Characteristics8. New Retype Tool9. 2D to 3D art (my favorite)10. Smooth Slider11....
Mastering Color Correction & Footage Repair in Adobe: Essential Fixes for Flawless Footage
2025 April Austin Adobe User Group Meeting Join us on April 10th, 6 pm Central, for an in-depth exploration of color correction and footage repair techniques that every video professional and content creator should know. In this comprehensive session, Jon Merrifield, an industry veteran in visual effects, compositing, and motion graphics, will walk through the essential tools and workflows for fixing color issues, balancing footage, and restoring problematic videos using Adobe Premiere Pro and...
Producing a Short Promo Video with Adobe Apps
February 2025 - Austin Adobe User Group Watch as a promo/social video is produced with various Adobe apps: Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Adobe Express. With tool demonstrations, in less than an hour, User Group Co-manager Jon Merrifield will produce a promo for the Austin Adobe User Group. Join us live on Zoom on Thursday February 13th for our monthly free meeting of the Austin Adobe User Group. The Presenter Jon Merrifield is a creative media professional with core...
About the Austin Adobe User Group
Become a member of the Austin Adobe User Group
Membership is free! Simply attend a live event online.
Management – Join Mailing List – Site Credit
Meetings
Each month, at 6 pm on the Second Thursday, an Adobe-related topic or demonstration is presented by a variety of group members (share your knowledge) or visiting experts. The meetings are free and open to anyone interested in learning about Adobe products and meeting other Adobe enthusiasts. Before the Covid Pandemic, our meetings were hosted at the New Horizon Learning Center, 300 East Highland Mall Boulevard #100, Austin, TX 78752; (512) 349-9555.
Now we meet on Zoom. For access details, please send an email to karen@austinadobeusergroup.com.
Miss a meeting?
Check the Presentations page and/or our YouTube channel. When possible we record our presentations.
Membership advantages
Why join the Austin Adobe User Group? Besides meeting other Adobe enthusiasts and learning how to use Adobe software (through demonstrations at meetings), there are
- special discounts that are available only for User Group members on
- Adobe products
- training:
- discounts from some of our training sponsors
- discounts on books from PeachPit and O’Reilly (request the discount)
- Members are eligible to win door prizes provided by sponsors and one of the twice-yearly Adobe software drawings; see below for details. Questions? Email austinadobegroupmgr@gmail.com
Management Team
The Austin Adobe Users Group is made possible through the continued service from volunteer coordinators and others.
Cornelius Chopin of Rich Media Services, Group Co-manager, Presenter
Jon Merrifield of Peli Studio, Group Co-manager, Presenter
Karen Kreps of Net Ingenuity Group Co-manager, Google Distribution List Manager/Website host
Join the Mailing List for News and Announcements from the Austin Adobe User Group.
The group maintains a “many-to-many” email list on Google Groups. Anyone may join. The list is used for official group announcements and members are welcome to use it to post news of interest to other Adobe users and well as provides a forum to pose questions and comments. Messages and replies sent to the list will go to all members. There are approximately 500 members on the list at any time.
Share your Skills and Talents
Showcase your skills by volunteering your skills and talents with website design, email management, and event coordination. Gain visibility for yourself and your company. Contact us about how you’d like to contribute.
Get Involved
Give a Presentation at a meeting
Speaking Opportunities for Adobe Users. Want to share tips and tricks of how you use Adobe products? Besides helping others learn, you can network with other Adobe enthusiasts. And you – and your contact info/website – will be listed as a presenter on this site. Contact us about your presentation
About the Group
Our mission is to:
- Provide a helpful and supportive environment for individuals who want to learn about web and multimedia design and development using Adobe products
- Provide opportunities for Adobe users to share information, tips, and tricks.
- Provide networking opportunities for web and multimedia professionals in the Austin, TX area.
Find other Adobe User Groups
All Adobe User Groups are listed at https://aem-augs.adobe.com/adobe-user-groups/
Twice-yearly Drawing for Adobe Software
To encourage people to join and participate in the local user groups, Adobe allows each user group to have a drawing twice a year for one Adobe software package valued up to $2,100. The Austin Adobe User group holds the drawings at the June and December meetings. All members who are present at the drawing are eligible to win their choice of an Adobe product that retails for up to $2,100.
How to increase your chances to win
- Attend the meetings. You must attend at least one meeting before the drawing to be a member and be eligible for the drawing. Each meeting you attend increases your chances.
- Do something that benefits the group – review a book, give a presentation, or contribute in another way. Giving a presentation at a meeting gives the most “bonus” tickets.
If you want to volunteer and earn extra tickets toward the drawing or have any questions, contact Karen Kreps, austinadobegroupmgr@gmail.com.
Website Credits
All work on the Austin Adobe User Group site is done by group members who volunteer their time. Many thanks to the following folks:
Karen Kreps, Net Ingenuity – hosting the site, maintaining the domain name, design team member
Jon Merrifield, Peli Studio – graphic design team member