NFTs Explained - What is NFT Art?

What is an NFT? What does NFT stand for?

An NFT, meaning non-fungible token, is a digital representation of an asset, existing either online or in the real world, that resides in ‘blockchain’ data. Within this blockchain series, distinctive metadata and identification codes make an individual NFT entirely unique.  

Whereas ‘fungible’ means something that can be replaced by another identical item, non-fungible tokens are assets that cannot ever be identical to something else, substituted or copied. Therefore, there can only ever be one-of-a-kind NFTs - which makes them an interesting proposition in the digital art space.

How do NFTs work?

The unique data and coding used to construct NFTs make each token entirely unique. This means that each piece of NFT artwork, for example, can be considered an extremely rare collector’s item. On a more personal note, it means each token is incredibly personalised, so they can make for amazing gifts or special mementoes. 

What makes NFTs more exclusive is the piece of code within the blockchain that dedicates ownership and creatorship to only one person. Think of this unique identifying code as a certificate of authenticity. So, in the same way an artist signs their name on a painting, you can effectively sign your name in the NFT’s metadata.

What are NFTs used for?

NFTs exist in an entirely digital landscape, so they present several exciting opportunities for creators and digital artists.  

• The online world acts as an instantaneous sharing platform with far fewer limitations than traditional art. NFTs can therefore be far more discoverable, especially among collectors, than more traditional ways of showcasing and sharing art.

• Not only this, but the way non-fungible tokens are structured - i.e. with their unique blockchain code, means that NFTs can enable artists to authorise and copyright their work freely and easily. This eliminates the fear of plagiarism, which can be quite common among less protected creative platforms. Once your name is coded or ‘signed’ on your NFT, you are the original creator - no doubt about it.

Whatever type of creator you are and whatever type of art you create, you can turn these assets into NFTs. Here are just a few examples of the forms NFTs can take:

• Digital Art images

• Gifs

• Animations

• Memes

• Virtual Avatars

• Videos

• Music

The beauty of NFTs is that anyone with the right tools (and enough creativity) can make them. The opportunities are quite endless - whether you’re a pen-to-pad artist, top meme-maker or even a musician.

Learn how NFTs are becoming a digital art revolution.

What is NFT art?

Simply speaking, NFT art is a form of digital art and, like all other creative plug sockets, can be used for authentic artistic expression. 

That said, it also has the added twist of it being truly unique. Non-fungible tokens are quickly changing the way the art world works, by allowing creators to revolutionise the way they share and take ownership of their work.

Why create NFT art?

So, why exactly might you want to create NFT art? Well, NFTs allow you to:

• Make your art collectable

• Create art free from physical boundaries

• Retain full ownership and creative rights to your work

• More easily share your work online

• Be a part of something new and exciting - some believe NFTs are the future of digital art

However, while NFTs are innovative in some respects, there’s still room to be a little cautious - as with any new technology. As non-fungible tokens are still quite novel to the digital world, the security of their data is not yet totally assured. And while blockchain itself is a secure method of storing information, it also means that information cannot ever be deleted.

Furthermore, as NFT data is 100% unique and often contains specific, personal information, there are still questions surrounding how easy it is to identify a person through this blockchain data. This is certainly something to be considered.

How do I get started with NFT Art?

While this new technology can seem difficult to grasp for first-timers, getting into NFT art is actually quite simple when you break it down. As with any form of digital artwork, it relies on your creativity. To help you out a little, we’ve made it so using Adobe for NFT creation can be your one-stop shop for everything, from getting that first design down to exporting your NFT creation.

Here's how you do it:

Step 1: Decide on your design. Are you a creator of masterpieces, animator of worlds or musical maestro? The first step is to decide what one-of-a-kind piece you want to bring to life in the form of an NFT.

Step 2: Choose the right software. Whether you’re creating digital art, GIFs or animations, we’ve got you covered. For example, with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, there’s a world of creative tools at your fingertips to help you to create amazing art. Whereas Adobe Animate allows you to create and capture every angle of your innovative animations. We’ve got everything you need to create that first draught, perfect and finalise your digital masterpiece.

Step 3: Create your piece. Here comes the fun part. To make an NFT from your art, you first need to create the art. Start exploring all the tools on offer on your chosen application. Draught, tweak, perfect, fill in all the lines - perfect.

Step 4: Export your NFT art. Once you’re happy with your creation, it’s time to export it. There’s not much to this step - simply export your work as you normally would and save it to your desktop. Easy.

Step 4: Choose a blockchain. Now for the slightly more technical bit. Choosing the right blockchain for your NFT art to run from is important, depending on how and where you want to share your creation.

As discussed before, the blockchain code is what makes your NFT incorruptible and one-of-a-kind, so take your time and do your research when looking for the right one. There are a few things to consider, for example:

• How secure is the blockchain?

• What is the blockchain speed?

• How much does it cost?

Step 5: Select an NFT platform. Your chosen NFT platform will be where you can share your art with the world. Each one will usually specialise in different things, for example:

• Artwork

• Video games

• Music

• Literature

• Collectors’ items

Try to decide where your digital creation best fits and have a look around to see where you might find the most success. There are plenty of platforms out there for you to explore.

Step 6: Upload your NFT art. So, you have your NFT art, your blockchain and your platform of choice - now it’s time to upload or ‘drop’ it, onto the web.. This is the big moment, so make sure that everything is perfect and ready to go. It’s time to share your art with the world.

Useful tips, tricks and tools.

NFTs can take many shapes and forms. From GIFs to JPGs, MP4s, WebMs and more, Adobe Creative Cloud applications are made to support all types of creative projects. Using Adobe software for NFT art allows you to create eye-catching digital pieces and truly express your creativity.

Let’s take a look at what you can use Adobe platforms for when making an NFT:

Explore Adobe Creative Cloud to see which application will be your best home for NFT digital art creation.

• Discover how Adobe Photoshop can help you to create anything from perfect NFT photography to animated artwork.

• Get started telling your story with unique NFT characters and amazing graphics with Adobe Illustrator.

• Find your creativity in the folds of a digital document and begin creating NFT literature with Adobe InDesign.

• Discover animation beyond your imagination right at your fingertips and create vivid NFT worlds with Adobe Animate.

• Tell your story with exciting digital prototypes and design the next big thing with Adobe XD.

• Create the perfect shot with a studio in the palm of your hand - learn more about Adobe Substance 3D Stager.

What’s an NFT? FAQs.

What is a non-fungible token?

A non-fungible token (NFT) is a digital asset or digital representation of an asset - i.e. digital art, music or collectors‘ items - made up of unique blockchain code. This unique blockchain code comprises specific metadata and identifiers that make an NFT one-of-a-kind.

What is the point of NFTs?

An NFT exists within unique blockchain code, meaning that there can only ever be one of its kind in existence. Because of this, NFTs or non-fungible tokens, cannot be substituted or copied and all creative rights belong to the original owner. Due to their rarity, NFTs make popular collectors‘ items or great personal mementoes.

What can you do with an NFT?

Due to them being one-of-a-kind, NFTs are most commonly collected. They can be shared on digital platforms and can help creators get their work seen by like-minded artists and collectors. They can also be made as personal gifts and keepsakes as specific owners can be inscribed in the unique blockchain code.

Discover more information and guides on NFT design and creation 

• Learn how to create NFT art in depth 

• Discover everything you need to know about NFT copyright

• Explore the different ways to make an NFT from your art

• Learn all about NFT drops and launches