Git Good Practices Essential Git practices for developers, covering branch management, naming conventions, and commit strategies to enhance collaboration and code management.
jQuery 4.0.0 Beta jQuery 4.0.0 beta has been released, and brings performance boosts, drops support for Internet Explorer below version 11, and removes deprecated APIs.
Free Display Fonts with a Creative Flair Download one of these highly creative free display font families and grab the attention of the viewer and make sure your message gets noticed.
Ordena.js: Nested Lists Made Easy A new JavaScript library for creating and managing nested lists, focusing on simplicity, no dependencies, and modern browser compatibility.
A CSS Project Boilerplate Andy Bell’s CSS boilerplate using CUBE CSS methodology, emphasizing consistency, scalability, and the integration of Tailwind CSS for utility classes.
What is Utility-First CSS? Heydon Pickering explores utility-first CSS, comparing it with traditional CSS methods, highlighting its focus on component-specific styling and its impact on design consistency and code verbosity.
WordPress block patterns are among its most versatile design features. They provide readymade layouts for all manner of uses. And it seems like there is no end to their possibilities.
Want to add a pricing table? Check. How about a custom photo gallery? Check. What if you’d like an entire About Us page? Check. We’re only scratching the surface here.
Block patterns are also undergoing constant improvement. They were once included only in themes and plugins, for instance. Then came the Block Pattern Directory, which publishes patterns for anyone’s use.
Well, hold onto your hats. Things have gotten even better. WordPress now has a way to create, manage, and share block patterns – all from within the Block Editor.
Want to see how it works? Check out our quick guide to creating and managing block patterns in WordPress.
Why Create a Block Pattern?
Before we dig into the tutorial, let’s define who this feature is for. Creating block patterns makes sense for those wanting to use the same group of blocks multiple times.
A call-to-action (CTA) interface is one example. Let’s say you want to place it in various areas of your website. A block pattern will help you maintain a consistent look across your site. Thus, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel for each use.
You can also choose whether to “sync” a block pattern. You’ll edit a synced pattern from a singular location. Those changes will take effect everywhere the pattern is being used. So, change the CTA’s background color once and see it reflected all over.
An unsynced pattern provides a basic layout framework. You’ll edit each instance of the pattern – giving it unique content. In this case, our CTA might have the same layout – but with different text, colors, and imagery. The unsynced pattern serves as a starting point.
You might also want to create a block pattern of a full-page layout. Use it as the basis for future pages. Or use it as a backup. You know, in case someone breaks your carefully crafted page.
The bottom line? Create a block pattern for anything you might want to use again.
Example: A Product Profile Block Pattern
Let’s move on to a basic example. Our fictional website will have a “Products” page. We’ll use it to showcase each product our client sells.
Each product on the list will use the same layout. So, why not create an unsynced block pattern? It will provide a more efficient way to build our page.
Plus, adding products in the future will be easier – even if we decide to give each product a separate page down the road.
Step 1: Create a Layout
The first step is to create a layout in the WordPress Block Editor. Here, we’ve built an example of what each product should look like. And we’ve done so directly on the Products page.
Each product will feature a title, description, and image. From there, we’ll add buttons that point to related resources.
Note: We used the free version of GenerateBlocks to create some layout elements. However, you can create patterns using any blocks you like.
Step 2: Select the Blocks We Want in Our Pattern
Next, we’ll need to select blocks to include in our pattern. We’ll use the List View feature to make our selections.
Step 3: Create a Pattern
Now, it’s time to create our block pattern. We’ll click on the block options button to open a menu. Then, we’ll click on the Create pattern entry.
The dialog box asks us to give our pattern a name. Also, note the toggle for syncing the pattern. It’s also possible to assign your block pattern to a category.
We’ll call our pattern “Product Profile” and choose not to sync it.
That’s all there is to it! We now have an unsynced block pattern for adding products to our page.
Step 4: See It in Action
We have our first product set up. Now, let’s use our new block pattern to add another.
We’ll place our cursor below the first product. Then, we’ll add our pattern. We can search for it by name or select it from the My patterns category.
That was quick! Now, we’ll make the necessary edits. We changed the title, description, and image to match our new product. We also changed the button colors.
How to Edit Your Block Pattern
So, what if you want to make changes to your block pattern? WordPress provides an area to do so – but it’s somewhat hidden.
Here’s how to find it:
Via the WordPress Block Editor: Click the Options menu on the upper right of the screen. Then, select Manage patterns.
Via the WordPress Site Editor: Note that this will apply to those using a block theme. Access the Site Editor by going to Appearance > Editor in the WordPress dashboard.
Click on Manage all of my patterns at the bottom of the menu sidebar.
The Patterns Screen
The Patterns screen houses your custom block patterns. It looks similar to other pages and post listings. However, there are a few items we wanted to note.
First, it’s possible to export your block patterns. Hover over your pattern and click the Export as JSON link.
As you might expect, you can also import these patterns. Use the Import from JSON button at the top of the screen. You’ll be able to upload the JSON file containing your pattern.
This function provides a path to share your patterns across multiple websites.
Making Changes
Let’s say we want to edit our Product Profile block pattern. We can do so within the same Block Editor interface.
Here, we’ve changed the text headings and made the image smaller.
As a reminder, this is an unsynced pattern. Therefore, our changes will only be visible when adding a new instance.
A synced pattern would immediately display the changes throughout the website. However, we wouldn’t be able to edit the content individually. The contents would be the same everywhere the pattern is used.
Despite this fact, we’re not stuck. We can create a new block pattern if we outgrow the current one. Still, it’s good to know the difference between synced and unsynced patterns.
Note: A new feature in WordPress 6.5, synced pattern overrides, will allow for changes for each instance. See this tutorial for details.
Use Custom Block Patterns to Increase Consistency & Efficiency
Block patterns keep getting better. And creating and managing them within WordPress adds another layer of convenience.
Having an archive of patterns on a per-site basis comes in handy. It can be a huge time saver. They can speed up the build process. Plus, they’ll make content updates easier.
If you want to share your work, that’s easy to do via the export and import features. You can install patterns on additional sites or submit them to the Patterns Directory.
Take some time to experiment with creating custom block patterns. You might be surprised at what you can accomplish!
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, captivating visuals are key to grabbing attention. Adobe Premiere Pro offers a treasure trove of slideshow templates, but diving into this vast selection can be overwhelming. That’s where we step in. We’ve sifted through the myriad of options to bring you the cream of the crop in slideshow templates.
Whether you’re looking to showcase your latest travel adventures, highlight a recent event, or present a new product, the right template can transform your footage into a compelling narrative.
Our focus today is not just on aesthetics but also on usability. The templates we’ve selected stand out for their ease of use, making them accessible to both beginners and seasoned editors alike. They’re designed to save you time while ensuring your projects look polished and professional.
Let’s dive into the best slideshow templates available for Premiere Pro that can help your projects stand out. With these templates at your fingertips, you’re well-equipped to create stunning visual stories that resonate with your audience.
Modern & Clean Slideshow Templates
These templates shine when it comes to crafting presentations that demand a polished and professional look. Thanks to their flexible design, you can tweak colors, text, and transitions to match your style. Perfect for business presentations, personal portfolios, or school projects, these templates simplify the process of delivering your message with precision and sophistication.
This slideshow template includes two duration options to fit various project needs, with 70 media and 40 text placeholders for comprehensive customization. The template’s modular structure allows for easy adjustments, making it an excellent choice for presenting fashion projects with a clean and modern aesthetic.
This Premiere Pro slideshow is characterized by its clean and contemporary look, making it a great choice for anyone looking to craft slideshows that mirror the polished, engaging feel of posting on Instagram. This template offers a simple way to create visually appealing presentations that fit right in with today’s social media style.
Designed for ease of use, this slideshow template stands out with its seamless and artistic ink-style transitions, creating a visually stunning effect for merging photos and videos. This template is ideal for users of any skill level who want to add a creative touch to their storytelling. It is compatible with Premiere Pro 2021 and above.
Dynamic & Engaging Slideshow Templates
These slideshow templates demand attention. They’re perfect for video projects that aim to entertain or inform with energy and movement. You can quickly customize them and add your personal touch. They’re suitable for marketing videos, event recaps, or educational content. They will help your projects stand out by adding a lively and engaging visual appeal.
This Premiere Pro template has over 100 placeholders (photo, video, and text) and ten color presets to customize the slideshow style. The design stands out with dynamic title animations and smooth, Polaroid-style stacking animations, offering a visually appealing way to present memories or projects.
This simple Premiere Pro template stands out for its dynamic glitch effect, infusing your slideshows with an energetic feel. It’s an excellent choice for quickly creating a compelling slideshow. It is free to download and comes with 30 media files and text placeholders.
Dubstep will bring your slideshow projects to life with its rapid animation and modern design. Its design features include duotone color overlays and a fast-paced, glitchy aesthetic inspired by dubstep, making it perfect for creating energetic and contemporary presentations or videos. This template supports 4K and full HD versions.
This free Premiere Pro slideshow template, is the perfect choice for capturing the essence of summer. The design is distinguished by its bright, colorful gradients and unique brushstroke reveals, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere ideal for showcasing summer memories, events, or promotions.
Elegant & Sophisticated Slideshow Templates
These templates are ideal for video projects that demand a refined and stylish look, such as wedding videos, high-end product showcases, or corporate events. They feature smooth transitions, subtle animations, and customizable options to fit the theme of your project perfectly.
This Premiere Pro gallery slideshow features a stacked photo style, offering four duration options and 267 photo placeholders across 30 ready-to-use scenes. This template is suited for special occasions such as weddings and birthdays, allowing for a personalized and touching display of cherished memories.
This slideshow template includes 28 placeholders for media and 13 for text, complemented with colorful and smooth transitions, and multiscreen and split-screen layouts. It is perfect for professional photographers looking to showcase their work elegantly.
This Premiere Pro template stands out with its epic yet clean and elegant design. It features panoramic views paired with smooth transitions, creating a visually stunning effect. It is designed for ease of use, allowing anyone to build an impressive video slideshow. This template is a perfect blend of sophistication and simplicity.
Vintage & Retro Style Slideshow Templates
These Premiere Pro templates are perfect for projects aiming to evoke memories or pay tribute to past eras, featuring old-school transitions, classic filters, and period-appropriate effects. Customizable to fit your specific project needs, they add a unique and memorable touch to presentations, family photo slideshows, or historical documentaries.
This stunning slideshow template has been designed for those looking to create presentations with a historical or documentary theme. This template is infused with a vintage feel, making it ideal for video projects that aim to convey a sense of history and depth. It is an ideal choice for storytelling with a rich historical context.
Compatible with Premiere Pro CC 2021 and above, this slideshow template offers a unique blend of nostalgia and energy. With 67 media holders, it’s flexible and easy to customize to your project’s needs. The design features a retro aesthetic enhanced by hand-drawn elements, making it ideal for projects that require a vintage yet dynamic feel.
With its retro design, this Premiere Pro template will bring a classic touch to your slideshows. It includes four duration options to fit various project needs and is equipped with over 50 photo placeholders, making it versatile for different storytelling needs. Its retro-style photo design makes it perfect for projects looking to evoke a sense of nostalgia.
Simple & Minimalistic Slideshow Templates
These video templates are designed for clarity and ease of use. Perfect for projects that prioritize clear messaging, such as business presentations, educational content, or minimalist design portfolios. They will ensure your message is communicated effectively without unnecessary distractions.
This slideshow template is a beautifully minimalistic option for those looking to highlight travel or special occasions. With 33 photo and video placeholders and 23 for text, this Premiere Pro template is ideal for photo galleries that demand a delicate touch.
This template has a sleek, elegant design with dynamic animation and smooth slide transitions. Perfect for use as a slideshow, an opener, a model portfolio, or anything that needs a multiscreen layout. This template embodies minimalism, making it an excellent choice for presenting content in a polished and understated style.
This Premiere Pro template offers a fast-paced, dynamic approach to video slideshows. With colorful transitions, it includes 34 placeholders and 23 text holders, giving you plenty of customization options. This free template is ideal for creating lively photo slideshows with a simple yet impactful visual style.
How to Customize Your Premiere Pro Slideshow Template
Select the Right Template: Consider the mood, style, and narrative of your project. Picking a template that closely matches your vision will reduce the amount of customization needed later.
Import Your Media: Once you’ve chosen a template, import your own images, video clips, and any other media you plan to use. Most templates come with placeholders; simply replace these with your own content. Pay attention to your media’s resolution and aspect ratio to ensure high-quality visuals.
Customize Text Elements: Text is a critical element in slideshows, conveying key messages or captions. Edit the text layers within the template to reflect your script or descriptions. Consider the font size, type, and color to make sure it’s readable against your background and aligns with the overall aesthetic of your project.
Adjust Colors & Fonts: Many templates offer customizable color schemes and font choices. This is your chance to inject your personal or brand identity into the slideshow. Adjust these elements to create a consistent look that resonates with your audience.
Fine-tune Transitions & Effects: Transitions between slides and effects within the slideshow can greatly impact the viewer’s experience. Experiment with different transitions to find what best suits your narrative pace and style. However, it’s important not to overuse effects, as this can distract from the content.
Keep It Simple: While using all the features available in a template is tempting, the best slideshows often come from a less-is-more approach. Focus on clarity, message delivery, and visual appeal. Avoid overcomplicating your slideshow with unnecessary elements.
Preview & Adjust: Regularly preview your slideshow as you customize it. This allows you to catch any inconsistencies or design issues early on. Adjust timing, alignment, and overall flow to ensure a smooth viewing experience.
Premiere Pro Slideshow Template FAQs
What are Premiere Pro slideshow templates?
They are pre-designed project files that allow you to create professional slideshows by inserting your own photos, videos, and text. They come with various layouts, transitions, and effects.
Why should I use a slideshow template in Premiere Pro?
They save time and ensure your project looks polished and professional. It’s especially helpful if you’re new to video editing or if you need to complete a project quickly without sacrificing quality.
Can I customize these templates to fit my project?
Yes, all templates are fully customizable. Some knowledge of Premiere Pro is helpful, but many templates are designed for easy editing.
Are these templates suitable for beginners?
Most templates are beginner-friendly and come with instructions on how to make edits. As long as you’re familiar with the basics of Premiere Pro, you should be able to use these templates without any issues.
Do I need a specific version of Premiere Pro to use these templates?
Template compatibility varies. Most template descriptions will specify which version of Premiere Pro is required. It’s important to check this before downloading to ensure compatibility with your software version.
Can I use these slideshow templates for commercial projects?
Most templates allow for commercial use, but it’s crucial to review the license or terms of use provided with the template. Always verify to ensure you’re in compliance.
How do I add music to my slideshow?
Premiere Pro makes it easy to add background music to your slideshow. Import your chosen music file into Premiere Pro, then drag it into your timeline, where you can adjust its duration and volume.
Will using a template make my project look unoriginal?
Not at all. While templates provide a starting point, the way you customize the template with your own media, text, and personal touches will make your project unique. Use the template as a foundation and build upon it to reflect your vision.
Conclusion
Choosing the perfect Premiere Pro slideshow template is crucial to achieving the look and feel you desire for your project. It’s about finding a balance between your creative vision and the practical aspects of your presentation.
Explore and experiment with different templates. You will discover which templates resonate most with your personal taste or brand identity. This exploration can be both fun and rewarding, leading you to your perfect template match.
Remember, the goal is to tell your story in the most engaging and visually appealing way. With these Premiere Pro slideshow templates, you’re sure to find one that not only meets your needs but also enhances your content, making your message unforgettable.
It’s a New Year, but one thing hasn’t changed. The number of web design resources and tools just keeps on increasing. That’s a good thing. But it does make it that much more difficult to find a theme, plugin, or resource you really have a need for if you are to stay abreast of or leapfrog the competition.
We are in a position to make your search easier. Much easier in fact. We reviewed and tested web design tools & resources we believe many users, designers, and developers have a genuine need for. The types we believe to be essential, and that you will see in our final list of 15 are:
website builders for building landing pages and multiple-page websites quickly, easily, and without any need for coding.
WordPress plugins that can incorporate potentially game-changing functionalities, that are challenging to design, into websites.
WordPress themes for building complex and high-conversion rate websites and online stores.
Vector illustrations that can give a website a whimsical or entertaining aspect.
font identifiers to identify and provide access information to a “must have” font or fonts.
A majority of the web design resources and tools in the following list have a free or trial version:
What are a few of the important attributes these Excellent Web Design Tools & Resources for Designers and Agencies share?
They look premium. There is something about a top tool or resource that makes you wish you had acquired it a long time ago, e.g., how enjoyable it is to use.
They are intuitive. From signing up, to downloading, using, cancelling, and anything in between, everything needed is placed precisely where it should be.
They add real value. They facilitate getting more and higher paid assignments by helping you deliver web design projects faster, making your final deliverables more attractive, or both.
15 best web design Tools & Resources for Designers and Agencies
To help you in your research, we’ve included top features, customer average grade on non-biased platforms such as Trustpilot, Capterra or WordPress.org, and client feedback.
Brizy is the best website builder for Agencies, Designers, and anyone else in need of a White Label solution.
Brizy’s top feature is without a doubt its 100% customizable White Label solution that allows its users to add their own branding, including the builder name, builder logo, domain URL, support link, about link, and project subdomain.
Brizy Builder’s library of demo/template/prebuilt websites is also highly popular with its users. Soulful and Cuisine is one of the 5 most downloaded pre-built websites. It is attractive and inspirational, and while it provides an ideal foundation for a restaurant or bistro, the layout can be used for other service-oriented website types as well.
There’s more to like as well. New users quickly become aware of Brizy’s intuitiveness, and their ability to edit any type of content in place. Many competing builders force their users to create their content in a disjointed sidebar. That’s not the case with Brizy.
Customer Average Grade: 4.6/5 on Trustpilot
Client Feedback: “I am amazed by my experience with Brizy. The tool is easy to use, and the support is one of the best I have ever experienced. Fast replies and my contact really went the extra mile in helping me solve my problem. I can only recommend Brizy to everyone who’s looking to build their own website”!
Instant Support Materials: Documentation, Brizy Academy, Useful Blog Posts and YouTube videos
The Best Free Scheduling Online Software Solution for Business Owners.
Flexibility is always important when selecting a theme or plugin. The top feature of this software solution is the ability to operate in a wide range of languages because of its powerful Multilingual Notifications System.
This user favorite:
facilitates the effective management of appointments and events using email, SMS and/or WhatsApp messages.
keeps users informed about the status of appointments or events.
offers custom notifications that enable users to tailor alerts for specific services or events.
The library of prebuilt websites also plays a significant role in making working with Trafft a pleasant experience. The Career Mastery Coaching prebuilt website illustrates what an effective event booking system might look like.
Key features users notice once they start using Trafft include easy backend and frontend interface navigation and the power the customization options bring to the table.
Web developers and digital design agencies can be expected to be more than pleased to discover that Trafft offers a White Label option.
Customer Average Grade: 5 stars on Capterra
Client Feedback: “ I love that Trafft has so much included – and that you can customize literally everything, including the email & SMS notification wording (which is a big deal for me since I like communications to be in my brand voice).”
Support Materials: Trafft’s ticketing system. Support manual, YouTube videos, social media, and email.
wpDataTables offers an ideal solution for businesses and individuals who need to create tables and charts.
The wpDataTable plugin’s top feature, its Multiple Database Connections capability, represents a data management breakthrough by empowering every table to become a data hub that can pull information from different databases or servers.
By simplifying data management tasks, wpDataTables allows its users to create custom, responsive, easily editable tables and charts with ease. A bookseller could probably put this Responsive Catalog Table with Books to good use.
Features new wpDataTables users will discover include:
an abundance of useful functionality wrapped in an intuitive package.
the ability to adroitly manage complicated data structures.
wpDataTables also supports separate connections for working with specialized database systems and features chart engines for displaying data for marketing, financial, and environmental uses.
Customer Average Grade: 4.5/5 pm WprdPress.org
Client Feedback: “WpDataTables is an excellent WordPress Plugin. What you are able to accomplish with this plugin is nothing short of amazing. Their support is even better! Highly, highly recommend using this product and supporting this company.
I have tried different utilities for creating charts out of a series of CSV files I use for weather data, but it has been a hassle until I discovered wpDataTables which does exactly what I need. Very user friendly and versatile. And it also understands that there are other standards for date, decimal, and time apart from the Americas.”
Instant Support Materials: Support manual, the Facebook community, and YouTube videos
Uncode is the #1 WordPress and WooCommerce theme for creatives, professional designers, and agencies looking for an ideal solution for any project.
While Uncode’s ensemble of website building tools and options would seem to more than justify its popularity, most of its users say the demo library is its #1 feature. The demos not only exhibit exceptional attention to detail but have proven to be excellent sources of inspiration as well.
Uncode’s classic Web Experiences is one of the 5 most downloaded demos. Just imagine what you could do with it.
New users are impressed with the value inherent in Uncode’s demos and wireframes, the level of customization, and the top-notch customer support.
Uncode’s principal users are:
Agencies and Freelancers, because of the multitude of options that cover the needs of every customer or client.
Shop creators, who can easily make effective use of Uncode’s advanced WooCommerce features.
Customer Average Grade: 4.89/5
Client Feedback: “I have used Uncode on 6+ websites now, and it’s absolutely my go-to theme! The features, quality, and customer support are outstanding. The developers do an incredible job of keeping the theme up to date and stable, constantly implementing new features and optimizing the theme. A solid product with great documentation and responsive support team. Kudos!”
Instant Support Materials: Support manual, Facebook groups, YouTube videos
LayerSlider, the top-rated WordPress slider plugin, empowers web designers to effortlessly enhance websites and make them truly shine.
LayerSlider’s scroll effect has emerged as its top feature. You can find it prominently displayed in the recent batch of full-size hero scene and whole website templates. Scroll through the Flavor Factory pre-built web page and see how easy it can be to use LayerSlider to help capture and engage visitors.
LayerSlider easily accommodates a range of uses, from creating simple sliders or slideshows to sprucing up your site with captivating animated content.
Newer users appreciate:
LayerSlider’s customizable interface that suggests the plugin was created specifically for their use only.
easy access to millions of stock photos and videos plus other integrated online services.
the Project Editor that ensures that what you need is right where you need it.
LayerSlider also really shines when there is a need to create content for marketing purposes. Marketers are impressed with the mind-blowing effects that can be incorporated into their popups and banners.
Client Feedback:“A fantastic slider plugin with regular updates to make sure compatibility is never a problem. Keep up the amazing work!”
Support Materials: Product manual, In-editor help, support tickets, and email.
Amelia is the best WordPress plugin for Agencies and Businesses in need of a streamlined booking solution.
The automated notifications system is Amelia’s top feature. Users could tell you how easy it was to categorize and position appointments as pending, approved, cancelled, rejected, or rescheduled. Special notices such as upcoming events or birthday congratulations can also be forwarded via the notifications system to assist clients and enhance their loyalty.
Amelia offers a number of templates that can be customized to help businesses grow. Yoga Studio is a notable example of how a template can be put to use to advertise a business.
Those new to Amelia could tell you about:
the ease of navigation they discovered, the innovativeness exhibited in the backend and frontend interfaces, and its functionality and user-friendly design.
the value its transparent pricing policy offers.
the extent of the customization options.
The Amelia plugin offers an ideal booking solution for service-oriented businesses including those specializing in ticket sales and/or events. Programming agencies and developers could also profit from having Amelia in their design toolkits.
Customer Average Grade: 4.8 on Capterra
Client Feedback: “Great plugin, I have tested similar, but Amelia seems to be the best for my site, I have many customers through the site, and everybody is satisfied with this appointment system. Sometimes there are a few bugs but quickly corrected through regular updates. Globally very good notation.”
Instant Support Materials: YouTube videos, Discord Group, and Support Manual
The most powerful and accurate free font identifier.
This tool’s top feature is its accuracy. WhatFontis users have a 90%+ chance of finding whatever free or licensed font they want identified.
No other system can claim that accuracy, and most of them charge a fee for whatever service they provide. It is worth noting that the ability of WhatFontis to identify a given font correctly can be compromised if the quality of the submitted image is subpar, and that is what accounts for some of the roughly 10% of missed identifications.
WhatFontis can do what it does best in part because of its database of 990K+ free and commercial fonts. This is nearly 5 times as many fonts as that attributed to the nearest competitor.
Whether the goal is to identify a specific font sent by a client, or simply because it is attractive, a customer wants to know what it is and where to find it. A search can be conducted for a font regardless of its publisher, producer, or foundry.
The process is as easy as can be.
Upload a clean font image.
In response, an AI-powered search engine identifies the font and as many as 60 close neighbors.
Links are provided that show where a free font can be downloaded or where a commercial font can be purchased.
Note: Cursive font letters must be separated before being submitted.
Client Feedback: “I came across this website courtesy Google search, used their services successfully; and today I find out it’s on product hunt! If you are ‘driven’ by the need to discover what font ‘that person/ company’ uses, then this should be your go-to solution site. For most of us it would be a once in a blue moon need, except for the professionals.”
Slider Revolution is the best WordPress plugin for Designers, Web Developers and anyone seeking a way to create jaw-dropping animated sliders.
This plugin’s top feature is the ability it gives to its users to visually create stunning animated effects for WordPress.
The Slider Revolution plugin is not limited to creating sliders. It can be used to:
create stunning home pages that immediately engage its visitors.
create portfolios that will be viewed a second, or third, time because of the method of presentation.
design eye-catching sections anywhere on a website.
A stroll through Slider Revolution’s library of 250+ templates may be all that’s necessary if you need a little inspiration to get started. These templates have been 100% optimized for different screen configurations and feature special effects you won’t see on most websites. The Woodworking Website template for example, makes clever use of the hover effect to highlight both text and images. The layout itself can be used for a wide variety of website types or niches.
The Slider Revolution plugin is tailor made for individual web designers and developers, web shops, and small agencies.
Customer Average Grade: 4.6/5 on Trustpilot
Client Feedback: “I absolutely love the Slider Revolution. It does wonders for my projects. I am super excited about all of the templates that are ready for use. Their support has been incredible”.
Instant Support Materials: Support Manual, YouTube videos
The best resource for designers who are looking for top quality illustrations with terrific attention to detail.
Getillustrations’ top feature is three things in one; 21,500+ vector illustrations, free updates for one year, and new illustrations added every week. In other words, once you get started, good things keep coming your way!
You will have 40+ nicely arranged categories to select from. Most categories have several hundred illustrations, a few have more than 1,000.
These illustrations appeal to clients ranging from students and businesses to designers and developers. You’ll find pencil and basic ink illustrations, several 3D illustration categories, and fitness, logistics, and ecology illustrations to name but a few, and since they are exclusive to Getillustrations you will have an edge over those using other stock illustration resources.
You can purchase illustrations by the pack if you choose to. The Motion Illustrations pack is one of the larger ones with 1,090 vector web illustrations at latest count .These Motion illustrations feature a diverse range of themes, each of which makes a statement.
Client Feedback:“I really like the different styles available in this library. I used it to illustrate some of my blog posts. Since you get vector files, you can also recolor them to have them match your brand and product identity!”
Support Materials: Vector stock illustrations in .Ai .Figma .PNG and .SVG
The best tool for creating and downloading full page websites using prompt commands only.
The Mobirise AI website builder is a revolutionary tool that uses intelligent algorithms to generate beautiful websites. Its top feature enables its user to generate a website using a single prompt.
The super-intuitive single prompt interface makes Mobirise AI an ideal choice for anyone looking for a simplistic yet efficient design approach.
Describe in detail what your site is all about, and this AI website builder will take your data and through the use of intelligent algorithms auto-generate a basic layout.
Once that is accomplished you can use prompts to customize style, colors, fonts, etc., and edit pre-generated content to suit your needs.
When you have the beautiful, optimized for Google and mobile devices website you want you can launch it with a single prompt.
Note: Even though Mobirise AI does much of the work, you retain full ownership of your website.
Client Feedback: “The AI website builder was astonishingly intuitive. What I appreciated the most was the seamless drag-and-drop interface which allowed me to position elements anywhere on my site. The AI’s design recommendations saved me hours of second-guessing my layout choices. Not to mention, the automatic SEO feature was a godsend–it optimized my site without me having to learn the complex ins and outs.”
Instant Support Materials: Support Manual, User Forum, YouTube Videos
XStore is the best WooCommerce theme for anyone looking to quickly build a high-converting online store.
XStore is obviously tailored for use by shop owners and prospective shop owners who seek an online presence. While the selection of ready-made stores (pre-built websites) has always been highly popular, the recently introduced selection of Sales Booster features has emerged as the top favorite.
New users soon come to appreciate the Builders Panel and the intuitive XStore Control Panel, both of which give them the store-building and customization flexibility needed to create the custom store they envision.
They also like the solid start XStore’s pre-built websites make possible. The layout of the Marseille prebuilt website is an excellent example of why it’s possible for a novice to get a store up in running in a few hours.
XStore doesn’t stop there. Its users have instant access to the powerful family of Single Product, Checkout, Cart, Archive Products, and 404 Page Builders; all favorites of shop owners.
Customer Average Grade: 4.87/5
Client Feedback:“I love this theme! There’s a wider learning curve to go through before getting a hang of the features, but the overall versatility and aesthetic factor is excellent.”
Instant Support Materials: Support Manual, YouTube videos
Blocksy is the best free WordPress theme for building attractive, lightweight websites in 2024.
There doesn’t appear to be much about Blocksy that its users don’t love. Consequently, when it comes to identifying this premium WooCommerce WordPress theme’s top feature, there’ s a 4-way tie.
Blocksy’s footer and header builders are super-user friendly.
Gutenberg support ensures top performance.
Developers love the advanced hooks and display conditions.
Everyone appreciates seamless WooCommerce integration together with its associated features.
And on top of it all, Blocksy is free!
Several of the things new users quickly recognize is that Blocksy:
uses the latest web technologies.
provides exceptional performance.
integrates easily with the most popular plugins.
Cosmetic is a beautiful, meticulously crafted starter site with a pleasant design that lets products take center stage. While centered on beauty products, its layout can be used for a wide variety of website niches. Cosmetic is one of the 5 most commonly used starter sites.
Customer Average Grade: 5/5 on WordPress.org
Client Feedback: “Blocksy is fast and light, responsive and beautiful. Blocksy has nothing superfluous and has everything you need. I love Blocksy, and Blocksy loves me.”
Instant Support Materials: A readily accessible Documentation Section, Support Manual, YouTube videos. Facebook Group
Total is the best WordPress theme for web designers and developers seeking the flexibility required to design from-scratch.
Total’s top feature is its seemingly unlimited flexibility. Its assortment of design tools and options makes it a Swiss Army knife of website design and is one reason its name is so appropriate. A well-deserved reputation for amazing support also tends to set Total apart.
Not long after becoming acquainted with Total, its users could tell you about a number of things they discovered and like including the fact that:
Total has settings for everything, tons of page building options, a font manager, custom post types, and more.
Total is speed optimized.
Total provides dynamic templates for posts and archives.
Total’s pre-built website collection is another favorite. Synergy’s minimalistic design lends itself to a wide range of uses and is one of the 5 most widely used pre-built websites.
Total is tailored for beginners, developers, and DIYers. Advanced designers like Total as well, and for all intents and purposes, anyone else will too.
Customer Average Grade: 4.86/5
Client Feedback:“I have been using Total for several years now for several (10+) websites. Out of the box it’s already a great theme and very well documented. Some websites required specific functionality and so far, there was nothing I couldn’t provide. If I can’t figure it out myself, support is always willing to help. I don’t need another theme anymore.”
Essential Grid is the best WordPress Gallery Plugin for businesses who want to capture visitors’ attention with breathtaking galleries.
Essential Grid is the best WordPress Gallery Plugin for anyone who wants to create a unique, attention-getting gallery.
Essential Grid’s library of 50+ unique grid skins is its top feature and is what this WordPress gallery plugin is all about. Why these skins are such a favorite is easy to see. Most web designers and developers would not want to have to take the time to create a gallery from scratch and the grid skins offer an excellent alternative approach.
In addition to making it easier to create a gallery layout you want, it’s also possible you’ll come across a grid skin layout you haven’t even thought possible and can’t wait to put into use. The YouTube Playlist layout for example shows how the hover effect can transform a seemingly run-of-the-mill gallery into a real attention getter.
Essential Grid’s users will tell you how much of a time saver this plugin can be, and how effective it is at helping them organize their content streams.
Customer Average Grade: 4.7/5 on Trustpilot
Client Feedback:“I have to say that the level of support I received is definitely one of the best I have ever experienced. Big thumbs up!”
Instant Support Materials: Support manual and YouTube videos
WoodMart is the best WooCommerce theme for niche ecommerce design.
Just a glance at the WoodMart website is enough to grab your attention. Woodmart’s top feature, super-realism, pops right out at you. The custom layouts for shop, cart, and checkout pages are so well done that it’s easy to forget where you are and start window shopping.
There is plenty more to about WoodMart too, for example:
A multiplicity of available design options.
Easy customization to fit the brand.
The time-saving Theme Settings Search and Theme Settings Performance Optimization features.
Widely used “Frequently Bought Together”, “Dynamic Discounts”, and social integrations options.
WoodMart also has a White Label option.
Finding the most popular demos isn’t easy since most of them enjoy lots of usage. WoodMart Organic Baby Clothes is one of the 5 most downloaded demos.
Customer Average Grade: 4.93/5
Client Feedback:“This theme is perfect. It has all the options you can imagine and tooltips to help you understand what you are about to change. It’s fast out of the box and makes a great use of Elementor. Great responsive design.”
Instant Support Materials: Support Manual and YouTube Videos
Do you see one or more web design resources and tools you would like to add to your toolkit? It would certainly be easier than having to sift through hundreds on your own. That is why we did the vetting process for you. You still will want to preview those that interest you and try them out if possible. The free ones are of course for the taking.
What will you be looking for? These 15 excellent web design tools & resources have several characteristics in common. Characteristics that are necessary to be considered as “best-in-class”. Those characteristics are as follows.
Plugins, themes, and resources are easy to install or set up and are user friendly.
They give your website an edge in terms of design, functionality, or visitor appeal; or all three.
Customer support is friendly, fast, and competent.
They allow you to test the product for free. Or give you enough information to ensure that won’t end up feeling like the product you purchased is markedly different from the one you saw advertised.
Check out any or all of the 15 best web design tools and resources you believe you could put to good use. Test them out if you can and either add them to your toolkit or write them off.
Are you done? Not really. Since there are many new web design tools & resources coming into the marketplace every day, some of which might offer greater opportunities, your search will never really end.
Apple has spent years and billions of dollars not-so-secretly preparing for the release of a luxurious electric vehicle with self-driving features. After years of work, the project is ultimately being canceled.
In a meeting earlier today, the company announced the change and noted that many of the engineers who were involved in “Project Titan” will join Apple’s artificial intelligence division.
Apple’s artificial intelligence
Since ChatGPT’s launch, Apple has been conspicuously quiet on the topic of artificial intelligence. That doesn’t mean that the company doesn’t have big plans in store though…
The company is developing a chatbot of its own – internally known as Apple GPT. The tool operates on a proprietary foundational model, which experts speculate will align with its brand, user experience and privacy standards.
Apple senior vice presidents John Giannandrea and Craig Federighi are leading this AI initiative. Eddy Cue, Apple’s head of services, is also involved. The group is expected to spend roughly $1 billion per year on product development.
iOS and AI
In other Apple AI projects, at least one software engineering group has been tasked with adding AI to the next version of iOS. Features will be built using the company’s LLM, trained on an extensive and diverse dataset.
The new features may improve how Siri and the Messages app can answer questions and auto-complete sentences.
For example, for Siri, AI could lead to better responses to multi-step questions. If you were to ask Siri “Who directed the movie ‘Inception’ and what other films did the director create?” with AI, Siri might be able to provide a concise, audio-based answer, followed by additional details about the director’s cinamatography.
And the Messages app could become better at predicting what users intend to type. As inputs are given, it might offer more context-aware suggestions with which to complete sentences.
Apps and AI
Apple’s software engineering teams may also integrate generative AI into development tools such as Xcode – this type of transformation could enable app developers to produce applications more quickly.
AI is expected to be added to as many apps as possible. Apple is exploring new features for Apple Music, including auto-generated playlists, a function that Spotify and OpenAI have previously collaborated on.
On-device vs. cloud deployment
One internal Apple conversation centers around how to deploy generative AI. Should it be an on-device experience in entirety, a cloud-based set-up or split between the two?
The on-device approach would operate more efficiently and help safeguard privacy. Yet, deploying Apple’s LLMs through the cloud would allow for greater agility and perhaps more advanced pursuits.
But the on-device strategy would render it more challenging for Apple to update its technology – thus, experts currently anticipate a combined approach.
Additional AI insights
At this point, generative AI is so much more than a buzzword. For more generative AI insights from experts, please see CyberTalk.org’s past coverage.
Lastly, subscribe to the CyberTalk.org newsletter for timely discussions, cutting-edge analyses and more, delivered straight to your inbox each week.
NetEase Games has pulled back the curtains on its newest studio, BulletFarm. Led by David Vonderhaar, whose experience includes leading the teams behind the Call of Duty: Black Ops series, BulletFarm aims to develop a new triple-A game that utilizes first-person gameplay with an emphasis on co-op in Unreal Engine 5. It will be set in an original universe.
This unannounced and untitled game will “craft a more intimate and relatable experience while offering a fresh take on first-person gameplay,” according to a press release.
BulletFarm is taking a remote-first approach to game development but considers itself a triple-A studio headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Joining Vonderhaar is the studio’s creative director Chris Cowell. The studio is currently looking to hire in various roles to fill out the founding team.
“Starting this new studio has given me a chance to step out of my comfort zone and try my hand at making something entirely new and different,” Vonderhaar writes in a press release. “This is a departure from the games I’ve worked on, but one that showcases my passion for rich characters, precise mechanics, more intimate storytelling, and plenty of action. NetEase has provided us an incredible support structure to explore these new avenues and allow true freedom to begin building the concept and ideas for our game.”
NetEase president of global investments and partnerships Simon Zhu says the company is fully dedicated to giving BulletFarm the resources and support it requires to build its new first-person experience. “David’s leadership and the early collection of game development talent assembled at the studio is set to offer something truly unique for his existing fans along with a new audience.”
BulletFarm is currently developing its first title, but there’s no word on when to expect to see it.
What kind of game do you hope BulletFarm makes? Let us know in the comments below!
Life is Strange: True Colors developer Deck Nine has announced it is laying off 20 percent of its staff. In the statement announcing this news, Deck Nine didn’t name a specific reason for the layoffs, instead stating the studio has been affected by the industry’s worsening conditions. Twenty percent of Deck Nine’s staff is equal to roughly 30 employees, according to a report from Eurogamer.
Here’s Deck Nine’s statement, in full:
“Like many others in the games industry right now, Deck Nine has been affected by the games industry’s worsening market conditions. Today we made the difficult decision to lay off 20% of our staff. These people are amazing, talented, and awesome developers. They have made a huge impact during their time at Deck Nine Games and we did not take this decision lightly. Please hire these people if you can, they’re amazing.”
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Deck Nine game director Stephan Frost said on X (formerly Twitter) that leadership within the studio took pay cuts to keep the number of layoffs down as much as possible. “This is the strongest team [Deck Nine] has ever been and it absolutely sucks that the industry is in the state that it is presently,” Frost adds.
These job cuts join a string of other disheartening 2024 layoffs, which total more than 6,5000 in just the first two months of the year. Yesterday, we learned PlayStation was laying off 900 employees across Insomniac, Naughty Dog, Guerrilla, and more, closing down London Studio in the process, too. The day before, Until Dawn developer Supermassive Games announced it is laying off 90 employees.
The games industry will surely feel the effects of such horrific layoffs for years to come. The hearts of the Game Informer staff are with everyone who’s been affected by layoffs or closures.
