Meta advances open source AI with ‘frontier-level’ Llama 3.1

Meta has unveiled Llama 3.1, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to open source AI. This release, which Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls “the first frontier-level open source AI model,” aims to challenge the dominance of closed AI systems and democratise access to advanced…

15+ Free Procreate Color Schemes & Swatches for Digital Artists – Speckyboy

One of the most important aspects of digital art is the selection of color. Color can transform a piece, set the tone, and create harmony. Color choice is not just about aesthetics but also about improving your artwork’s overall composition and cohesion.

Installing and creating custom color schemes in Procreate is easy. You can import swatches from various sources (like the ones below) or create palettes directly within the app. Procreate’s intuitive color wheel and palettes allow for quick adjustments and seamless integration into your workflow, making it easy to experiment and find the perfect color scheme for your projects.

This collection has some of the best free color schemes and swatches available for Procreate. These curated palettes are designed to simplify your color selection process and give you the tools you need to create professional-grade digital artwork.

Whether aiming for vibrant contrasts or subtle harmonies, these free color resources offer valuable inspiration that will help improve your digital creations in Procreate.

If you’re new to Procreate, you might like to take a look at this collection of tutorials. And if you’re looking for brushes, you will love our collection of free Procreate brush sets.

The Top Color Schemes for Procreate

Procreate Color Swatches for Painting & Drawing (37 Palettes, Free)

This download includes over 35 color schemes. The free palettes offer vibrant hues for cartoon characters, dramatic contrasts for action-packed comic scenes, and delicate tones for expressive manga illustrations.

15+ Free Procreate Color Schemes & Swatches for Digital Artists – Speckyboy

2024 Colors of the Year Procreate Palettes

This small Procreate download includes two swatches inspired by Peach Fuzz, the 2024 color of the year. Perfect for creating warm, inviting designs with a contemporary twist. These color schemes will bring freshness and energy to your art.

2024 Colors of the Year Procreate Palettes

Lipstick & Ice Cream Procreate Color Palettes (4 Palettes, Free)

This collection includes four unique color schemes: Vintage Pastel, Lipstick Colors, Enchanted Woods, and Ice Cream Colors. They are perfect for creating nostalgic designs, fashion illustrations, and playful artwork. In addition to the swatches, you will also get free PNG images.

Lipstick & Ice Cream Procreate Color Palettes Free

Synthwave Procreate Color Palette & Swatches (3 Palettes)

This small collection of three color schemes has been inspired by retro 80s Synthwave designs. They are perfect for creating vibrant, neon artwork and retro-futuristic digital illustrations, as well as projects that need a nostalgic feel.

Synthwave Procreate Color Palette & Swatches

Landscape Color Palettes for Procreate (10 Palettes, Free)

This collection includes ten color schemes designed for landscape digital art. These free palettes are perfect for creating natural environments, from lush forests to serene deserts, offering a variety of hues for different scenic creations.

Landscape Color Palettes for Procreate Free

Sunflower Fields Procreate Color Palette (Free)

This free Procreate color scheme has been inspired by sunflower fields in the summer. Use these vibrant yellows and greens to create bright, cheerful digital art.

Sunflower Fields Procreate Color Palette

Color Palette Collection for Procreate (234 Palettes)

This extensive Prcreate collection includes over 200 palettes and over 7,000 colors, covering a wide range of digital art styles. Ideal for any creative project, these swatches provide numerous options for all your artistic needs.

Color Palette Collection for Procreate

Skin Tones Procreate Color Palette (Free)

This Procreate color scheme includes 30 skin tones. This swatch covers a broad range of shades, perfect for portrait and character design, allowing you to paint realistic and varied human figures.

Skin Tones Procreate Color Palette Free

Chase The Stars Procreate Color Swatch & Palette (Free)

The free Chase The Stars color scheme aims to capture the beauty of the sky with bright pinks, deep purples, and other celestial hues. It is perfect for creating atmospheric sky-themed digital artwork.

Chase The Stars Procreate Color Swatch & Palette Free

Bright Candy Procreate Color Palette

This Procreate color scheme has been inspired by the bright colors of candy. Use the vibrant hues to create playful designs. It is perfect for illustrations that need a fun and energetic touch.

Bright Candy Procreate Color Palette

Various Procreate Color Palettes (6 Palettes, Free)

This collection includes six Procreate color schemes: Mutemath, Sweetheart, Cold Winter Air, Botanical Romance, Blinded by the Light, and In the Bubble. These schemes are great for creating diverse themes, from soft and romantic to bright and vibrant digital art.

Various Procreate Color Palettes Free

Christmas Mood Procreate Color Palettes & Swatches

This collection includes seven Procreate color schemes: Cozy Christmas, Evergreen, Traditional Christmas, Christmas Mood, New Year Evening, Warm Wishes, and Golden Christmas. These schemes are perfect for creating festive holiday designs and art.

Christmas Mood Procreate Color Palettes & Swatches Free

Procreate Color Palette Collection (200+ Palettes, Free)

This collection includes over 200 Procreate color palettes covering landscapes, still life, portraits, skin tones, metallics, manga, Pantone, pop art, art deco, impressionism, and more. They’re great for various digital art styles.

Procreate Color Palette Collection Free

Valentine’s Day Procreate Color Palettes

This Procreate color palette is perfect for Valentine’s Day artwork and designs. With these carefully selected colors, you can create romantic art that is excellent for cards and illustrations.

Valentines Day Procreate Color Palettes

Trick or Treat Halloween Procreate Color Palette (Free)

Entitled Trick or Treat, this free Procreate color scheme is inspired by Halloween. Use these spooky hues to create eerie Halloween-themed designs and illustrations.

Trick or Treat Halloween Procreate Color Palette Free

Light Pastel Procreate Color Palette & Swatch

This Procreate color scheme of light pastels offers soft, gentle hues. It is ideal for creating delicate, soothing designs, and is perfect for backgrounds, portraits, and minimalist artwork.

Light Pastel Procreate Color Palette & Swatches Free

Seasonal Color Schemes for Procreate (4 Palettes, Free)

This collection includes four seasonal color palettes for Procreate: Snowy Landscape, New Year’s Fireworks, Christmas Art, and Autumn Palette. Each palette offers unique schemes for creating seasonal and festive artwork.

Seasonal Color Schemes for Procreate Free

Gorgeous Procreate Color Palettes (4 Palettes, Free)

This collection includes four free color palettes for Procreate: Bouquet, Sunset, Coral, and Landscape. They offer a range of colors for floral designs, dramatic skies, ocean themes, and natural scenes.

Gorgeous Procreate Color Palettes Free

Artist’s Favorite Procreate Color Palettes (20 Palettes, Free)

This free Procreate collection includes the favorite color schemes from 20 popular and talented digital artists. They offer a variety of expertly chosen palettes to inspire and bring something new to your digital art projects.

Artists Favorite Procreate Color Palettes Free

Autumn Inspired Procreate Color Palette (Free)

This free Procreate color scheme, Autumn Allure, is perfect for warm, fall-inspired digital art. Use the rich, seasonal colors to create autumn-themed designs.

Autumn Inspired Procreate Color Palette Free

Neon Lights Color Palette for Procreate (Free)

This free Procreate color palette, inspired by bright neon lights, is perfect for creating vibrant digital art. A Photoshop version is also available.

Neon Lights Color Palette for Procreate Free

How to Install & Create Color Schemes in Procreate

Installing Color Schemes:

  1. Download the Swatches: First, find and download the swatch file (.swatches) you want to use from above.
  2. Import Swatches into Procreate: Open Procreate and navigate to the color panel by tapping the color circle at the top-right of the screen. In the color panel, go to the Palettes tab. Tap the + icon to add a new palette, then select New from File. Locate the downloaded swatch file on your device and tap on it to import the swatches into Procreate.
  3. Good to go: Your color palette is ready to use!

Creating Custom Color Schemes:

  1. Open the Color Panel: In Procreate, open the color panel by clicking on the color circle at the top-right corner.
  2. Select the Palettes Tab: Within the color panel, switch to the Palettes tab to manage your color schemes.
  3. Create a New Palette: Tap the + icon and choose Create New Palette from the options. This will generate an empty palette ready for customization.
  4. Add Colors to the Palette: Use the color wheel or sliders to select a color that fits your scheme. Tap on an empty square within your new palette to save the color. Repeat this process to add additional colors, building your custom palette.
  5. Organize and Name the Palette: To make the palette easier to identify, tap on its title to rename it. You can also drag and drop colors within the palette to organize them according to your preferences.

Procreate Color Scheme FAQs

  • What are Procreate color schemes and swatches?

    They are predefined sets of colors designed to work well together, while swatches are individual color samples within these schemes. They help maintain consistency and harmony in your artwork.

  • Are these color swatches compatible with all versions of Procreate?

    These color swatches are compatible with the latest versions of Procreate, but always check the source for specific compatibility details.

  • How many colors can a single Procreate palette hold?

    A single Procreate palette can hold up to 30 colors, giving ample room for a wide range of hues.

  • Can I organize my color palettes in Procreate?

    You can manage your palettes by dragging and dropping them within the Palettes tab. You can also rename them for better identification.

  • Can I share my custom palettes with others?

    Yes, you can share your custom palettes by exporting them. Go to the Palettes tab, swipe left on the palette you want to share, and select Share.

  • Can I edit imported swatches in Procreate?

    Yes, you can edit imported swatches. Open the palette, select a color, and use the color wheel or sliders to make adjustments. Save the changes by tapping on the palette again.

Conclusion

These curated color schemes and swatches for Procreate offer numerous benefits by simplifying your design process and improving the visual quality of your digital artwork.

These palettes will inspire new ideas, spark creativity, and help bring fresh perspectives to your projects. By experimenting with these color schemes, you may discover new styles that inspire you to create even more unique art.

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How to Stay Safe When Updating WordPress – Speckyboy

Choosing WordPress to power your website is a smart move. You’ll gain access to a world of themes, plugins, and possibilities.

There are also some responsibilities, though. Making sure your installation is up-to-date is among them. And software updates come frequently. Experts tell us to apply updates as they are released. Doing so improves website security, squashes bugs, and adds features.

We may assume that hitting the update button is the right thing to do. But what could go wrong? Is there a potential for harm?

That came to light during a supply chain attack on multiple WordPress plugins. Hackers infiltrated each plugin’s code repository. From there, they added malicious code to otherwise legitimate software. Once installed, that code created a shadow administrator account. It’s scary stuff.

Perhaps this isn’t a common scenario. But it’s a reminder to take precautions before installing an update.

Here are some tips to keep your site safe when updating WordPress.

Find out What’s Changing

Yes, you can automatically update WordPress core, plugins, and themes. That puts you at risk for a supply chain attack, however.

There’s nothing wrong with automatically updating minor versions of WordPress core. They often contain security fixes. But it’s safer to update plugins and themes manually.

You’ll want to know what’s changing and why. A little research will tell you everything you need to know.

First, take a look at what updates are available for your site. Navigate to Dashboard > Updates to see what’s available.

Next, take note of any plugin and theme updates. Plugins offer version details. Click the link next to each item to see them.

Plugins hosted on WordPress.org also have a support forum. Check them to see if other users have reported issues. You may also find notes from the developer.

It will take a bit more research for items hosted elsewhere. You might check their documentation, private support forum, or GitHub repository.

These details will help you make an informed decision. Seeing bug reports, for example, may lead you to hold off on updating.

Feel free to ask questions if you have concerns. Knowledge is power, as they say.

How to Stay Safe When Updating WordPress – Speckyboy

Back up Your Website Frequently

Security isn’t the only potential issue here. A software update could cause other problems. You might find a compatibility issue. Or an update might introduce a conflict with another plugin or theme. There’s also a chance that the update will fail.

It’s never a bad idea to back up your site before applying updates. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you can roll back if needed.

Your web host may provide backup capabilities. If not, you can also use a backup plugin. These options are usually seamless. Choose one that fits your desired workflow.

A tool that creates incremental backups is preferred. The feature improves the efficiency of both backing up and restoring your site.

And don’t forget about backing up your database! Some updates make changes there as well.

Site backups serve as a safety net when an update goes wrong.

Test Each Update for Issues

Don’t update and walk away. You’ll never know what sort of trouble you left behind. At least, not until a client discovers it.

Be sure to test updates after installing them. Ideally, you’ll have a staging environment to work with. That gives you the freedom to test without impacting users.

So, what should you test? That depends on the type of updates you installed.

If you updated WooCommerce, look at your site’s products. Add an item to your cart and test the checkout process. Edit a product or setting from the WordPress dashboard. Be on the lookout for anything that doesn’t work as expected.

Follow the same pattern for other items. Determine what could be impacted by the update. Then, test on both the front and back ends.

You can use your browser’s developer tools to help. For example, the console tab will alert you to issues like 404 and JavaScript errors. These can affect stability and site performance.

The process shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. And you’ll rest easy knowing that everything is working correctly.

Check the front and back ends of your site after updating.

A Holistic Approach to Updating WordPress

We all appreciate convenience – especially with mundane tasks. Such is the case with updating WordPress. It’s easy to hit the update button without a second thought.

That puts your site at risk, however. There are a myriad of things that can go wrong. Therefore, it’s worth paying attention.

Perform some research regarding each update. Get a sense of what is changing. From there, you can gauge the potential impact.

In some cases, you might want to delay installing an update. That’s OK. Only security-related updates should be considered an emergency.

Being proactive also means keeping site backups. That will be your safety net should something go wrong. Testing on a staging environment is also recommended.

The bottom line is to pay attention. Your site and its users will be glad you did.

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Mistral AI and NVIDIA unveil 12B NeMo model

Mistral AI has announced NeMo, a 12B model created in partnership with NVIDIA. This new model boasts an impressive context window of up to 128,000 tokens and claims state-of-the-art performance in reasoning, world knowledge, and coding accuracy for its size category. The collaboration between Mistral AI…

Meta joins Apple in withholding AI models from EU users

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The Fight to Own Your Creative Content – Speckyboy

As a platform, the web caters to creators. It’s a place to publish and share whatever we want. We’ve used it to fuel the rise of everything from blogs to influencer videos.

The results are impressive. Think of all the careers kickstarted by online publishing. I am living proof. Writing and web design have provided me with income and a platform. I’m forever grateful.

However, the rules of content ownership seem to be changing before our eyes. And it’s not the familiar trope of a spammer copying your text and images.

These days, large companies are trying to stake a claim. Social media has been doing this for years. And now artificial intelligence (AI) is putting the practice into overdrive.

Not everyone wants to own our content outright. Various platforms are looking to profit from what we create, though. Let’s take a look at what’s happening and what it means.

A Misunderstanding That Made Creators Think

Imagine a tool that helps you create compelling content. It then takes your content and profits from it. A recent change to Adobe’s Terms of Use seemed like it might do just that.

Users were up in arms regarding the revised language in the agreement:

4.2 Licenses to Your Content. Solely for the purposes of operating or improving the Services and Software, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free sublicensable, license, to use, reproduce, publicly display, distribute, modify, create derivative works based on, publicly perform, and translate the Content. For example, we may sublicense our right to the Content to our service providers or to other users to allow the Services and Software to operate as intended, such as enabling you to share photos with others. Separately, section 4.6 (Feedback) below covers any Feedback that you provide to us.”

I’m no lawyer or legal expert. But it sounds like the company is permitting itself to use your content. Theoretically, Adobe could use content created in Photoshop to feed its AI model.

Adobe has since clarified that this is not the case. The changes relate to allowing their cloud-based AI tools to modify your content – at your request. Furthermore, the language is there to facilitate the sharing of files via Adobe apps.

Perhaps it was all an honest misunderstanding. But can you blame anyone for being suspicious of the change?

The Fight to Own Your Creative Content – Speckyboy

Content Isn’t Just for User Consumption

The relentless pace of AI is making some people uncomfortable. Tools are scraping our websites to feed their models. Opting out isn’t straightforward.

It’s also different from social media. The workaround there has been to create content on a platform you control (a website) and promote that content on social media. We’re merely funneling traffic from a proprietary platform—not allowing it to own our creations.

AI has changed the game. The platforms are meeting us where we are. They’re indexing what we’ve published to improve their product.

All of this happens in the background. It may not be a big deal to some. If you can’t see it happening, what’s the harm?

We may not immediately see the effects. But the long-term ramifications could be significant.

What happens when a company chooses AI instead of a copywriter? Or let ChatGPT generate all of its custom code? Or replace a graphic artist with a text-to-image tool?

These things are already happening. Maybe they haven’t impacted you just yet. But pessimists will see this as feeding the machine that will take your place.

Companies including Google are developing AI tools. They are using the web to train their models.

Rethinking the Role of Apps in Content Creation

I can’t say that I ever considered the role apps play in what I create. For example, I’ve used Photoshop since the 1990s. It was a great tool that helped me accomplish my goals. It still is.

The misunderstanding surrounding its Terms of Use has me wondering. How far will an app go to serve us and itself?

It’s no longer paranoia to think a software company would use our content for profit. And governing bodies can’t act swiftly enough to stop it. It’s the wild west out there. Companies will experiment and go as far as they can.

So, perhaps it’s no longer about using the most powerful tool for the job. Now, it’s about using tools that respect users.

App developers should be clear about their intentions. And, if they are feeding content to AI models, they should allow users to opt out. The process for doing so should be simple.

There’s a market for apps with a privacy-first focus. We see this with web browsers like Firefox and DuckDuckGo. That’s a roadmap for creative apps and publishing platforms to follow.

Choose apps that respect your privacy and rights to own your content.

The New Reality of Content Creation

There’s always been some risk when publishing online. Anyone could copy your work and call it their own. Or they could redistribute your work in an unapproved manner. It’s frustrating, for sure. But we’ve learned to live with it.

These days, the concern is how and where we create. Do we own our content – or are we expected to share ownership? What rights do we have? What does all of the legalese in the Terms of Service mean?

The answers may deter some of us from publishing. That’s a shame because the internet is the perfect medium for sharing ideas.

In reality, we should think twice before using a tool or platform. As creators, we need to know what we’re getting into.

The situation also underscores the importance of free, open-source software (FOSS). Platforms like WordPress ensure content ownership and portability. Integration with AI is optional – even if blocking content scrapers isn’t automatic.

The bottom line is to do your homework. Find tools that respect your privacy and rights to ownership, and avoid the ones that go too far.

We can’t control everything in this industry, but we can make informed choices. For now, it’s our best option.

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How to Explain WordPress Maintenance to Your Clients

There’s more to website ownership than meets the eye. However, our clients may not realize this. They might think that the work ends when the site launches.

An experienced web designer knows better. A site launch is just the beginning. Content management systems (CMS) like WordPress are a case in point. A steady stream of updates keeps us on our toes.

It’s one reason why I believe a professional should manage WordPress sites. Even the tiniest of websites have significant maintenance needs.

Still, clients don’t always understand the stakes or the costs involved. Until something goes wrong, that is. But let’s not go that far.

The key to avoiding problems starts with education. Teaching clients the hows and whys of WordPress maintenance can do the trick. With that, here are some points worth driving home in your discussions.

Website Maintenance Is an Investment

There are two types of website investments. The first is the cost of the initial design and build. It covers everything from the idea phase to the site launch. That’s the big, expensive part.

The second comes after the site goes out into the world. It ensures both content and software are current. Clients can get tripped up by this one.

What clients may not understand is that websites require care – regardless of whether the content changes. They’re viewing the phrase “website updates” through a different lens.

How do we change their perspective? You could compare website maintenance to that of a car.

Cars need regular care to keep things running smoothly. Doing so prevents problems down the road. It’s an investment in safety and stability.

Websites need the same kind of investment. The goal is to keep it in tip-top shape – and avoid common pitfalls.

WordPress sees frequent updates to plugins, themes, and the core software. Together, they improve the overall security and performance of a website. It’s too important to ignore.

How to Explain WordPress Maintenance to Your Clients

Standards and Best Practices Change

The web’s standards and best practices are subject to change. So, that shiny website from a few years ago is now behind the times.

We’ll see this in several areas of a typical WordPress site. Accessibility is a big one. An older WordPress theme may not be up to the current standard. Old or abandoned plugins might also lack accessible features.

Server technology also marches on. A website may run on an outdated version of PHP, for instance. That means you’re missing out on better performance and security.

These issues go beyond a website’s aesthetics. They are fundamental to things like usability and legal compliance. The more you fall behind, the greater the risk.

Resolving these issues requires time and money. We’ll need to review the website and determine what needs to be changed or fixed. From there, it’s time to perform the necessary tasks.

Clients may have a hard time grasping this concept. They can’t always see the need for such changes. Nor can they always measure the results.

However, it’s one of the costs of website ownership. Think of it this way: Brick-and-mortar locations must keep up with building codes. Websites need to do the same.

The technology behind a website changes frequently.

Vigilance Is an Important Part of the Plan

Website maintenance is not a once-per-year type of task. It’s an ongoing commitment. WordPress releases a new major version every few months. Plugin and theme updates can drop at any time.

Each update opens the door to potential change. For example, a plugin update might require a new version of PHP. You might also need to update any custom code.

Security is also a key factor. New vulnerabilities pop up frequently. They require us to act quickly. Otherwise, we increase the risk of a compromised site.

Vigilance is important. It comes at a cost, though. Web designers need to keep a watchful eye. That means a combination of manual intervention and automated tools.

These acts won’t guarantee a problem-free experience. But they can prevent a small problem from becoming a major one.

That peace of mind is worth the price – particularly for clients who depend on their website for sales. A broken or hacked eCommerce site could spell disaster.

It takes a watchful eye to keep your website safe and secure.

A Well-Maintained Website Benefits All

In a nutshell, everyone benefits from a well-maintained website. Web designers can use it as a vehicle for recurring revenue. Users are less likely to encounter problems. And that should make website owners happy!

The other side effect is taking advantage of new features. WordPress is continually refining its core. The same goes for its theme and plugin ecosystem.

It’s an opportunity to do more online. Features that enhance performance, accessibility, or ease of use can mean more sales. That’s one way to increase the chances of customer loyalty.

Make an effort to discuss WordPress maintenance with your clients. Help guide them on the importance of staying on the cutting edge.

They’ll be more likely to commit once they learn the hows and whys. And they’ll be better prepared to adapt to the web’s ever-changing landscape.

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5+ Useful WordPress Plugins You Should Check Out in 2024

5+ Useful WordPress Plugins You Should Check Out in 2024

WordPress’s immense popularity stems from its robust ecosystem of tools, ease of use, and flexibility. Themes and plugins are central to its versatility. Plugins, in particular, allow users to extend the functionality of their WordPress sites effectively.

Plugins are, in fact, indispensable for adding complex features to a site, eliminating the need for extensive coding or high development costs.

If the term plugin is new to you, you can think of it as an app or add-on for your website. The WordPress library, with over 50,000 plugins, offers extensive design capabilities, allowing you to unlock the full potential of WordPress itself.

A general understanding of what WordPress plugins can do and how they can leverage a website’s value and operational efficiency is key to successful website design and development.

In this collection, you’ll examine seven top WordPress plugins, each excelling in its specific area of functionality.

What You Need to Consider When Selecting a WordPress Plugin

  1. Purpose & Requirements: Clearly define what you are looking for, e.g., SEO, social media integration, eCommerce capabilities, etc.
  2. Plugin Ratings & Reviews: Make it a point to find out what other users experienced, e.g., excellent results, problems encountered, and the level of support received.
  3. Compatibility: Make certain the plugin is compatible with the version of WordPress you are using and also compatible with themes or other plugins your website is using.
  4. Update Frequency: Plugins should have been updated frequently enough to incorporate improvements, fix bugs, and remain compatible with WordPress.
  5. Support & Documentation: Good documentation can help you troubleshoot issues and make the most of the plugin’s features. Robust customer support is also important.
  6. Security: Choose plugins from developers that deliver high-quality, secure code.
  7. Performance Impact Poorly coded plugins or those overloaded with extra features could slow down your site (and add to your design workflow).
  8. Cost: Free is great if you are certain that that option meets your needs. It’s always a good idea to see if the extras a premium version offers will work to your advantage.

The Best WordPress Plugins in 2024 for Your Website Projects

1. Amelia – WordPress Booking Plugin for Appointments & Events

TL;DR: Amelia is the best choice for service-oriented businesses needing to automate and streamline their appointment booking operations.


Click the video to see this plugin in action.

Spas, fitness centers, photographic studios, and other service-oriented businesses can save time and money by installing Amelia’s capabilities while at the same time profiting from increased customer or client satisfaction. With Amelia, event and appointment booking can be managed at multiple locations from a single website platform.

Veterinarian services including dog-walking, vacation care, and other special services can also make excellent use of Amelia, Petcare template.

  • User Experience: “Amelia is a great booking tool that has a nice look and feel right out of the box. It is a bit overwhelming at first because of the many settings you have but the customer service support is great. I can’t recommend this plugin enough.”
  • Client Avgerage Grade: 4.8 on Capterra.
  • Types of Support Material: Discord Group, documentation, and YouTube videos.

View Amelia

2. wpDataTables – WordPress Table Plugin

TL;DR: wpDataTables’ ease of use and powerful data management features allow users to quickly create editable and responsive tables and charts.


Click the video to see this plugin in action.

The wpDataTables plugin has long been known for allowing users to work with massive amounts of complex data. Its new Multiple Database Connections functionality goes a step further by enabling users to simultaneously connect to diverse servers.

Users have the ability to create a virtually unlimited variety of tables and charts. This pricing table template, for example, features nine different formats ranging from simplistic to more complex. wpDataTables’ conditional formatting and other customization options provide a powerful means for highlighting critical data.

  • User Experience: “The support team helped resolve the compatibility issues with my theme. Really helpful and willing to go the extra way to ensure that the plugin works well in any environment.”
  • Client Avgerage Grade: 4.83/5.
  • Types of Support Material: Documentation and YouTube videos.

View wpDataTables

3. Classic Editor WordPress Plugin

TL;DR: The Classic Editor plugin restores the long-time favorite WordPress editor and “Edit Post” screen.


Click the video to see this plugin in action.

Classic Editor will continue to be supported for as long as it is needed. The plugin allows users to manage default editors or give users the ability to make changes on their own.

  • User Experience: “Thank you for this plugin. I deactivated it a few months ago, trying to get used to the block editor. A nightmare. No more! I have wasted enough time already in frustration, trying to figure out how to put it to use. Back to classic!”
  • Client Avgerage Grade: 4.9/5.

View Classic Editor

4. Slider Revolution – More Than Just a WordPress Slider

TL;DR: The Slider Revolution plugin is an excellent choice for anyone interested in creating animated sliders that range from engaging to jaw-dropping.


Click the video to see this plugin in action.

Slider Revolution’s top feature isn’t a single tool or function, it’s the many different ways it can be used to create sliders and web page content that will absolutely “wow” its visitors.

Designers or developers can upgrade a run-of-the-mill website to something special in minutes. Think of the last time you saw an advertisement for a Horsemanship training center: still images of happy-looking people on horseback. Now see what Slider Revolution can do with this Professional Training slider template.

Needless to say, Slider Revolution is ideal for one-page websites and portfolio websites.

  • User Experience: “Great plugin with some impressive features! Support reps are top notch all around and Abid was especially helpful.”
  • Client Avgerage Grade: 4.2/5 on Trustpilot.
  • Types of Support Material: Support manual and YouTube videos.

View Slider Revolution

5. LayerSlider – Best WordPress Slider Builder Plugin

TL;DR: LayerSlider is the best WordPress plugin for making creative sliders, slideshows, and popups.


Click the video to see this plugin in action.

LayerSlider enables its users to create a live connection between a site’s content and its visitors, whether the animated content is in a slider, a page section, a popup, or a banner for marketing purposes. Its highly customizable interface and advanced features were designed to make beginners and experts alike feel right at home.

The features and templates of LayerSlider provide a universal multi-purpose solution for all kinds of websites. “Fragrance Fantasy” for example, is a template tailored for salons and lifestyle blogs where perfume comes to life in a symphony of colors and scents. This and other templates can be easily customized by adding your own content.

  • Client Insight:“Super easy to use and the animations are just wow.”
  • Types of Support Material: Support manual, built-in help in LayerSlider’s Project Editor, direct email, and ticket system.

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6. Essential Grid – WordPress Gallery Plugin

TL;DR: Essential Grid is an easy to work with WordPress Gallery Plugin for businesses and creatives looking for a way to create breathtaking galleries.


Click the video to see this plugin in action.

If you envision any gallery layout, you can create it with Essential Grid. If you can’t envision one, Essential Grid will also be able to help you.

All the tools you need are at your fingertips, plus you can use any of 50+ customizable templates designed to help you create an impressive gallery at a lightning-fast speed. Check out Essential Grids’ Dark Portfolio template with its impressive hover effects.

You can create as many skin variations as you want, choose masonry, cobbles, or any other type of layout, and mix and match the grids until you’re satisfied.

  • User Experience: “The tool is powerful and very well designed. The support team is incredibly fast, friendly and efficient! All the best to you!”
  • Client Avgerage Grade: 4.8/5 on Trustpilot.
  • Types of Support Material: YouTube videos and Support manual.

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7. Brizy Website Builder

TL;DR: The expertly crafted Brizy WordPress website builder is great for those new to website building, but powerful enough for tech-savvy users as well.


Click the video to see this plugin in action.

Brizy is well suited for small businesses, freelancers, and agencies looking to launch a small to medium-sized website. Distinct PRO features for marketers include 3rd party tool integrations, popups, and membership features.

The design kit includes a collection of 500+ blocks designed to make it possible to create a website in minutes.

Brizy’s SAAS landing page template shows how easy website creation can be, especially when you have the needed content at your fingertips.

  • User Experience: “I’ve been using Brizy for a while now, and their support team is outstanding. Quick, knowledgeable, and always ready to help. They’ve made our website design experience a breeze. Highly recommend Brizy for their exceptional support and user-friendly platform.”
  • Client Avgerage Grade: 4.4/5 on Trustpilot/
  • Types of Support Material: Academy with Video Courses, Written DocumentationSupport Manual, Ticket Help-desk, YouTube videos & Facebook Group.

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Choosing the Right WordPress Plugin

Choosing the right WordPress plugins for your website is crucial for maximizing its potential in terms of functionality and overall performance. Knowing upfront what you need in a plugin, checking its compatibility, and assessing user reviews are crucial to making the right acquisition. The plugins featured here offer robust solutions for various website requirements and represent the best in their respective niches.

Whether you choose Amelia’s all-inclusive booking system or wpDataTables’ powerful data management system or elect to take advantage of the WordPress Classic Editor, the Revolution Slider or LayerSlider dynamic content tools, or what Essential Grid and Brizy offer, you can appreciably improve your website’s functionality, user experience, or visual appeal.

Quick Recap

WP Plugin Summary Standout Feature
Amelia The best plugin for service-oriented businesses needing to automate and streamline their appointment booking operations. Great selection of booking and appointment services.
wpDataTables Powerful data management plugin for quickly creating editable and responsive tables and charts. A Multiple Database Connections capability.
Classic Editor Classic Editor plugin restores the long-time favorite WordPress editor and “Edit Post” screen. Used to extend post screens and add old-style meta boxes.
Slider Revolution Excellent plugin for creating animated sliders that range from engaging to jaw-dropping. The ability to add visual “wow” effects without having to rely on coding.
LayerSlider The best WordPress plugin for making creative sliders, slideshows, and popups. Highly customizable interface.
Essential Grid Easy to work with WordPress Gallery Plugin for businesses and creatives looking for a way to design breathtaking galleries. 50+ unique grid skins.
Brizy The expertly crafted Brizy WordPress website builder is especially suited for use by non-technical users. Perfectly suited for non-techies.

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