WordPress theme development has evolved. There are now two distinct paths for building your perfect theme.
So-called “classic” themes continue to thrive. They’re the same blend of CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and PHP we’ve used for years. The market is still saturated with and dominated by these old standbys.
Block themes are the new-ish kid on the scene. They aim to facilitate design in the browser without using code. Their structure is different, and they use a theme.json file to define styling.
What hasn’t changed is the desire to build full-featured themes quickly. Thankfully, tools and frameworks exist to help us in this quest – no matter which type of theme you want to develop. They provide a boost in one or more facets of the process.
Let’s look at some of the top open-source WordPress theme development tools and frameworks on the market. You’re sure to find one that fits your needs.
Block themes move design and development into the browser. Thus, it makes sense that Create Block Theme is a plugin for building custom block themes inside WordPress.
You can build a theme from scratch, create a theme based on your site’s active theme, create a child of your site’s active theme, or create a style variation. From there, you can export your theme for use elsewhere. The plugin is efficient and intuitive. Be sure to check out our tutorial for more info.
TypeRocket saves you time by including advanced features into its framework. Create post types and taxonomies without additional plugins. Add data to posts and pages using the included custom fields.
A page builder and templating system help you get the perfect look. The pro version includes Twig templating, additional custom fields, and more powerful development tools.
Gantry’s unique calling card is compatibility with multiple content management systems (CMS). Use it to build themes for WordPress, Joomla, and Grav. WordPress users will install the framework’s plugin and one of its default themes, then work with Gantry’s visual layout builder.
The tool provides fine-grained control over the look and layout of your site. It uses Twig-based templating and supports YAML configuration. There are plenty of features for developers, but you don’t need to be one to use the framework.
Unyson is a popular WordPress theme framework that has stood the test of time (10+ years). It offers a drag-and-drop page builder and extensions for adding custom features. They let you add sidebars, mega menus, breadcrumbs, sliders, and more.
There are also extensions for adding events and portfolio post types. There’s also an API for building custom theme option pages. It’s easy to see why this one continues to be a developer favorite.
You can use Redux to speed up the development of WordPress themes and custom plugins. This framework is built on the WordPress Settings API and helps you build full-featured settings panels. For theme developers, this means you can let users change fonts, colors, and other design features within WordPress (it also supports the WordPress Customizer).
Available extensions include color schemes, Google Maps integration, metaboxes, repeaters, and more. It’s another well-established choice that several commercial theme shops use.
Kirki is a plugin that helps theme developers build complex settings panels in the WordPress Customizer. It features a set of custom setting controls for items such as backgrounds, custom code, color palettes, images, hyperlinks, and typography.
The idea is to speed up the development of classic themes by making it easier to set up options. Kirki encourages developers to go the extra mile in customization.
Get a Faster Start On Your Theme Project
The idea of what a theme framework should do is changing. Perhaps that’s why we’re seeing a lot of longtime entries going away. It seems like the ones that survive are predicated on minimizing the use of custom code.
Developers are expecting more visual tools these days. Drag-and-drop is quickly replacing hacking away at a template with PHP. We see it happening with a few of the options in this article.
Writing custom code still has a place and will continue to be a viable option. But some frameworks are now catering to non-developers. That opens up a new world of possibilities for aspiring themers.
If your goal is to speed up theme development, then any of the above will do the trick. Choose the one that fits your workflow and enjoy the benefits of a framework!
WordPress Development Framework FAQs
What Are WordPress Development Frameworks?
They are a set of pre-built code structures and tools used for developing WordPress themes. They offer a foundational base to work from that will help to streamline the theme creation process.
Who Should Use WordPress Frameworks?
These frameworks are ideal for WordPress developers, both beginners and experienced, who want a simple, reliable, and efficient starting point for creating custom themes.
How Do Open-Source Frameworks Simplify WordPress Theme Creation?
They offer a structured, well-tested base, reducing the amount of code you need to write from scratch, which will lead to quicker development and fewer errors.
Are Open-Source Frameworks Suitable for Building Advanced WordPress Themes?
Yes, they are robust enough to support the development of highly advanced and feature-rich WordPress themes.
Do Open-Source Frameworks Offer Support and Community Input?
Being open-source, these frameworks often have active communities behind them. You can access community support, documentation, and collaborative input.
Glow effects are a staple of design. They add to the aesthetic and create a mood. Everything from a buzzing neon sign to a sci-fi thriller movie comes to mind.
The web is a perfect medium to take advantage of them. We can use them to enhance large presentations. Glow effects are also at home on small micro-interactions like hovering on a button. They’re incredibly versatile.
Crafting these effects can be as simple as using CSS. Want to kick things up a notch? JavaScript libraries like GSAP will get you there. Either way, the possibilities are immense.
Speaking of possibilities, let’s explore a collection of radiant glow effects. Each snippet has something unique to offer. They also run the gamut of use cases. Let’s get started!
Neuro Noise Animated Background with GLSL Shader
Created by Ksenia Kondrashova
Talk about creating a spooky vibe! This animated background looks like it came straight out of the X-Files. The presentation is also interactive. Move your pointing device and watch the green glow shift.
Card layouts are endlessly flexible. Here, glow effects are the star of the show. GSAP is used to apply a new color to each card as you scroll. The light and shading make things both mysterious and legible.
A beautiful cobalt glow perfectly compliments a digital clock. Notice how the characters within the shadow change along with the hours, minutes, and seconds. It’s a powerful way to display the time.
Here’s a more practical example of glow effects in action. Choose between a half-dozen different hover effects on this glowing button. Its border progressively lights up with the chosen pattern. It’s a surefire way to get a user’s attention.
Who wants something bubbly to drink? This smooth-scrolling example adds luminescence to the mix. Each virtual smoothie has a color identity of its own. Gradients help give them a glow, while the navigation also sports a hover effect.
Check out the mesmerizing details of this virtual ticket. The lighting-bolt icon features a color-changing effect that looks prismatic. A glass-like style ties the entire presentation together.
This animation offers a haunting retro look. The pulsing gray glow gives a sense of moving through space at high speeds. We’re not sure where this spaceship is going. But it looks like we’ll get there quickly.
Here’s an example of how glow effects can dress up a page. Soft colors appear behind the hero text and buttons. They’re little details that add personality to otherwise generic elements.
Glow effects are the perfect finishing touch to a component. They make even small elements stand out. We can also use them to improve the user experience (UX).
CSS has come a long way in making these effects easy to implement. Plus, adding a bit of JavaScript can help you create something immersive.
The examples above demonstrate the possibilities. Hopefully, they inspire you to use glow effects in new ways!
If you want to see even more glow effect snippets, check out our CodePen collection.
OpenAI and Google are each urging the US government to take decisive action to secure the nation’s AI leadership. “As America’s world-leading AI sector approaches AGI, with a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) determined to overtake us by 2030, the Trump Administration’s new AI Action Plan can…
WordPress and social media are a powerful combination. And there are plenty of ways to integrate platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, or TikTok into your website. You can display social content on your site, allow users to share your content, or add functionality like social logins.
The social platform landscape is also changing. The Fediverse makes it easier to integrate with services like Mastodon or Bluesky. It allows you to publish in multiple places via a unified protocol. The WordPress ecosystem has embraced this model.
Social media’s importance is evident in the number of available plugins. You’ll find options for top platforms that offer a variety of functions. There’s something available for every niche.
With that in mind, let’s look at some top social media plugins for WordPress!
ActivityPub turns your WordPress website into a federated profile. It publishes your content to multiple platforms that support the Fediverse (Mastodon, among others). Followers will then see your blog posts in their feeds. The neat aspect is that your profile name is consistent across federated platforms.
Users follow you on the service of their choice and enjoy your content. It’s a great way to nurture an online community.
This plugin solves a longstanding problem for those posting to multiple social networks. It combines your Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter/X profiles into an attractive grid layout embedded on your site. It creates better awareness of your profiles and ensures users won’t miss anything.
AddToAny is a longtime favorite that makes it easy for visitors to share your content. It works with every social platform you can imagine – there’s also an option to share via email. In addition, you can customize the design and location of the plugin’s sharing UI. This plugin is perfect for taking full control of social sharing.
Open Graph is a protocol for sharing rich content on social platforms like Facebook and Twitter/X. This plugin allows you to customize the Open Graph tags generated by your content.
Thus, content looks how you want when embedded into social media. The plugin works with all WordPress content and integrates with WooCommerce, Yoast SEO, and others.
Posting links to your content across multiple platforms is a pain. Blog2Social makes it easier by automating the process.
The free version works with Bluesky, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and more. There’s also an add-on that works with Twitter/X and a premium version with advanced features. It turns a tedious task into a piece of cake.
WP Social is a suite of tools for adding social media to your WordPress website. First, you’ll find sharing buttons that work with a selection of social platforms. You can customize the layout and services displayed.
A social counter shows how many times your content was shared on a particular service. Lastly, a social login/registration function lets users create an account using one of nine compatible services (Facebook, GitHub, Google, etc.). It may be the only social plugin you need.
You can use Jetpack Social to automate content sharing and increase engagement. Share posts and WooCommerce products automatically and use the included scheduling tools to choose the perfect timing.
The plugin integrates with multiple services and adds helpful tools to the Block Editor. If you have a Jetpack Social plan, you’ll have access to the social image generator feature.
Here’s a plugin that helps spread the word about your WooCommerce products. It adds a custom set of social sharing icons to individual product pages.
Here are options for icon placement, shape, and order. There’s also a handy “copy to clipboard” option so users can grab your product’s URL. The pro version includes a “floating” icon bar, tooltips, and more.
Video creators will love Feeds for YouTube. It’s a tool for easily embedding a YouTube channel into your WordPress website. You can customize the look of your feed and even display multiple feeds.
The plugin will check for new videos hourly (or choose a custom interval), so your site will always show the latest content. The Pro version adds compatibility with live broadcasts via the YouTube Live API.
Use AdTribes to expand the reach of your WooCommerce store. The plugin creates product feeds that integrate with services like Facebook and Google. Filtering options let you choose which products and what product data is included in your feed. Now, customers can view your products right from their social feeds.
Seamlessly Add Social Media to WordPress
Integrating social media into your website has real benefits. For example, embedding a feed adds dynamic content and builds awareness. Even better is that feeds are relatively simple to set up. From there, it’s smooth sailing.
The other big benefit is the opportunity to add functionality. Social logins make it easier for users to register for your site. And product feeds entice users to visit your online shop.
The idea is to reach people where they are. The options above (and the untold number of other social plugins) help you do so. The possibilities are almost limitless.
Social Media WordPress Plugin FAQs
What Are Social Media Plugins for WordPress?
They’re plugins that allow you to connect your WordPress site with various social media platforms. They offer sharing buttons, auto-posting to social media, and allowing you to display your social feeds on your site.
Who Should Use Social Media Plugins?
They’re perfect for website owners who want to improve their social media presence, like bloggers, businesses, and online retailers, or anyone looking to increase their site’s engagement through social media.
Can Social Media Plugins Help in Growing My Site’s Audience?
Yes, by making sharing effortless and displaying your social activity, these plugins can attract more visitors and encourage them to interact with your content.
If you want to add unique elements to your illustrations or take your digital art to a higher level, Illustrator brushes are what you need. Despite the popularity of Illustrator, finding the perfect brush pack can be time-consuming, especially when compared to the multitude of brushes available for Photoshop.
Illustrator brushes can add creative elements to your artwork that would be difficult to achieve manually. They allow you to quickly add textures, patterns, shapes, and lines to improve your designs and make your projects stand out.
We’ve curated this collection of the best high-resolution brush packs for Illustrator to save you time and effort. Within this collection, you’ll find a diverse range of free Illustrator brushes in various styles, including brush, stipple, grunge, vintage, doodles, and many more.
Free to Download, 19 Illustrator Brushes
This free set consists of ten hand-drawn Illustrator brushes that will add a vintage touch to your illustrations. Perfect for retro-inspired posters, website banners, and social media graphics.
330 Illustrator Brushes
This pack is a must-have for any project. This huge collection of Illustrator brushes contains over 330 strokes, speech bubbles, swooshes, splashes, and tons of other high-resolution drawings and paintings.
Free to Download, 29 Illustrator Brushes
With the Preppy Art Illustrator Brushes Kit, you can add a touch of elegance to your work. This free set includes 24 high-quality brushes, each with a preppy, sophisticated look and feel. These brushes are perfect for adding delicate details and subtle textures.
42 Illustrator Brushes
This set of Illustrator brushes includes 42 watercolor brushes and a bonus set of 42 black pattern brushes. You can easily use them to create mandalas, wreaths, or borders.
Free to Download, 40 Illustrator Brushes
If you’re looking to add a naive charm to your designs, then look no further than this free chunky texture brush set. There are a total of 40 wax crayon brushes in the free pack. You can also use this brush pack in Affinity Designer.
50 Illustrator Brushes
As well as including 50 Illustrator brushes, this pack also comes with seamless patterns. With this Illustrator brush pack, you can make simple illustrations look beautiful.
Free to Download, 12 Illustrator Brushes
This free set has 12 high-quality Illustrator brushes that will add a realistic spray paint effect to your designs. Perfect for creating edgy artwork such as graffiti-style posters, punk rock album covers, and urban landscapes.
44 Illustrator Brushes
This set of 44 Illustrator brushes is perfect for any primitive-looking artwork or childlike drawings. You’ll find various elements that are easy to apply and edit to suit the needs of your project.
Free to Download, 20 Illustrator Brushes
This free Illustrator texture package includes ten spray and ten hatch brushes. These brushes allow you to create volume and shadowing, highlight details, and point out composition elements.
Free to Download, 35 Illustrator Brushes
Are you working on a design project for a chemistry lab? This set includes scatter shader brushes, textured and clear line brushes, grain and stipple brushes, and, as a bonus, retro texture brushes for Photoshop.
Free to Download, 25 Illustrator Brushes
This brush pack features a lovely collection of floral pattern brushes for Illustrator. You’ll find 25 pattern brushes and 25 individual illustrations for your projects.
Free to Download, 5 Illustrator Brushes
Consider this free pack for Illustrator if you need a unique vector brush for a fashion or beauty project. The pack contains five individual brushes and is free for personal and commercial use.
56 Illustrator Brushes
This pack includes a set of 56 various Illustrator brushes, including stipple brushes, chalk and pastel, ink, flourish, patterns, and more. The download also contains four distressed stipple seamless vector swatches.
Free to Download, 5 Illustrator Brushes
This brush pack includes a hand-drawn rope brush that’s perfect for any design. You can easily adjust the width of the rope and change its color. The brush set is free for personal and commercial projects.
30 Illustrator Brushes
This brush pack is a perfect choice if you need to give your illustrations a real-life hand-drawn feel. The free pack contains 30 brushes with infinite lengths.
Free to Download, 10 Illustrator Brushes
These ten free texture brushes will allow you to add depth to your illustrations. They’re perfect for adding realism to your work.
Free to Download, 38 Illustrator Brushes
Try this floral watercolor brush pack if you’re working on a wedding project. These brushes can create unique backgrounds or trims for wedding invitations. The free package contains 38 brushes, and they can be used in personal and commercial projects.
Free to Download, 4 Illustrator Brushes
With the help of this doodle brush pack, you’ll be able to create unique wreaths and borders. The package contains four different brushes, and you can easily change the colors to match the project you’re working on.
Free to Download, 5 Illustrator Brushes
Consider this brush pack of halftone vector brushes to add a grungy feel to your digital art. The package includes five brushes, and can be used in both your personal and commercial projects.
Free to Download, 4 Illustrator Brushes
If you’re trying to achieve a printed look for your design project, then this brush pack is the perfect choice. The package contains four brushes that give your artwork a “jagged edge” printed look.
Free to Download, 140 Illustrator Brushes
Finding high-quality gradients for Illustrator can be challenging. With this set, you will no longer find yourself lacking. The pack comes with 140 free brushes.
Free to Download, 64 Illustrator Brushes
This set contains 64 high-quality brushes of marker pen strokes and scribbles. You can use them in both personal and commercial projects, and attribution is not required.
Free to Download, 16 Illustrator Brushes
This is another excellent set for adding a hand-drawn feel to your designs. You’ll find various doodle lines and can freely use them in any personal project.
Free to Download, 8 Illustrator Brushes
This set of 8 furry brushes is perfect for any design project featuring pets and animals. The brushes are free for personal use and work best when applied gradually in different tones.
Free to Download, 10 Illustrator Brushes
Add a unique touch to your designs with this free urban square brush pack. These brushes can be used in personal and commercial projects, with attribution appreciated but not required.
Free to Download, 30 Illustrator Brushes
If you want to add an etched or vintage look to your designs, check out this shading brush pack for Illustrator. It contains 30 different free brushes that can be easily applied using the brush, pencil, or line tool.
Free to Download, 8 Illustrator Brushes
These grunge brushes are perfect for adding a grungy aesthetic to your artwork. The pack contains various brushes for personal and commercial projects.
How to Install Brushes in Illustrator
Installing Illustrator brushes is a straightforward process, here’s how to do it:
Download Brushes: Download one (or all) of the brush sets from this collection, or you can create your own. Brushes often come in AI, EPS, or ABR file formats.
Locate Brushes Folder: Open Illustrator and go to the Brushes panel (Window > Brushes). Select Open Brush Library in the panel menu and then choose Other Library.
Import Brushes: Navigate to the downloaded file and select the corresponding brush. Click Open to import the brushes.
Organize Brushes: After importing, the brushes will appear in the Brushes panel. You can now create new brush libraries and organize brushes into categories for easier access.
How to Use Brushes in Illustrator
Illustrator brushes offer many creative possibilities and can add depth and texture to your illustrations, designs, and artwork. Here’s how to use them:
Select Brush Tool: Choose the Brush Tool from the Tools panel on the left.
Select Brush: In the Brushes panel, select the brush you want to use. You can preview the brush strokes by hovering over the brushes.
Adjust Brush Settings: Customize the brush settings using the Brush Options panel (Window > Brush Settings) to control the size, opacity, color, and more.
Start Drawing: Click and drag on the artboard to create brush strokes. Experiment with pressure, speed, and direction for different effects.
Change Stroke Color: You can change the stroke color of the brush by selecting the stroke and using the Color panel.
Modify Strokes: After creating a brush stroke, you can modify its appearance using the Stroke panel (Window > Stroke) to adjust stroke weight, style, and more.
Expand Appearance (Optional): If you want to convert the brush strokes into editable paths, you can select the strokes and go to Object > Expand Appearance.
How to Create Your Own Illustrator Brushes
Creating your own Illustrator brushes allows you to add unique textures, patterns, and strokes to your designs. Here’s how to create custom brushes in Adobe Illustrator:
Design Your Element: Create the design, shape, or pattern that you want to turn into a brush. This could be a line, texture, scatter of objects, or even calligraphy.
Select and Define: Select the artwork you want to turn into a brush and open the Brushes panel (Window > Brushes).
New Brush: In the Brushes panel menu, choose New Brush. A dialog box will appear with different brush types: Scatter, Art, Pattern, or Calligraphic.
Choose Brush Type: Select the brush type that matches your artwork. Each type has unique properties for applying the brush stroke.
Brush Options: Customize the brush settings based on the brush type you selected. Adjust settings like size, spacing, angle, and scattering.
Preview and Name: Click OK to create the brush. You’ll see a preview of the brush stroke. Give your brush a descriptive or memorable name.
Save and Use: Click OK again to save the brush, and it will appear in the Brushes panel and be ready to use.
Mastering transition effects can take your videos to the next level. Whether creating an intro, a slideshow, or needing to add flair to your project, understanding and knowing the most popular transition effects is a hugely important area of the video creation process.
Transitions are a way to smoothly blend or animate between different elements, layers, or scenes in a video or motion graphics project. They help create a seamless flow between scenes, making the video visually appealing and engaging.
This article explores and shares After Effects tutorials of the most popular transition effects, including wipe, dissolve, mask, zoom, and many more. Additionally, we’ll share some valuable tips for choosing and using these transition effects in your videos.
Wipe transitions offer a seamless way to transition from one scene to another. You can create professional transitions that capture your audience’s attention with options like linear, radial, or gradient wipes.
Linear wipes, as the name suggests, provide a smooth and linear movement, while radial wipes add a circular or elliptical motion. Gradient wipes offer a gradual blending of colors for a seamless transition.
This After Effects tutorial will show how to create simple wipe transitions in After Effects. You can also download the free project files and presets that accompany the video.
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Dissolve Transitions in After Effects
Dissolve transitions give you a smooth and gradual shift between scenes. By fading out one scene while simultaneously fading in the next, you can achieve a subtle transition that maintains the flow and continuity of your video.
This gradual blending creates a seamless connection between scenes, improving the overall viewing experience for your audience. With dissolve transitions, you can achieve a polished and professional look while providing a smooth transition from one moment to the next.
Dissolve Transition After Effects Tutorial
Learn how to create a smooth dissolve transition by keyframing the opacity property of two video clips. Download the free project files for reference, and follow along to master the dissolve transition effect.
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Mask Transitions in After Effects
Mask transitions offer a way to reveal or conceal parts of your video. Using shapes or custom masks, you can create intriguing transitions that draw the viewer’s attention to specific elements or objects within your scenes.
With mask transitions, you have the creative freedom to control the visibility of specific areas, adding a layer of interest and focus. Whether it’s a gradual or a sudden reveal, mask transitions offer a way to push the storytelling forward.
In this After Effects tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a ‘Walk By Transition’ using simple masks. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this quick-start guide will teach you how to achieve smooth masking transitions in no time.
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Zoom Transitions in After Effects
Zoom transitions bring a sense of depth to your videos by zooming in or out of a particular area or subject. This transition effect allows you to emphasize details or smoothly transition between different perspectives.
Whether you want to draw attention to a specific element or provide a seamless transition between scenes, zoom transitions offer a versatile method for creating impact.
Learn to create a smooth zoom transition in After Effects in just under 2 minutes! With this tutorial, you’ll swiftly learn the concept of zoom transitions and be able to create and incorporate them into your own videos.
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Blur Transitions in After Effects
Blur transitions create a dreamy and cinematic look by applying a blur effect during scene transitions. This effect can add a touch of elegance to your video.
By temporarily blurring the visuals, blurs help soften cuts between scenes, creating a seamless transition. They serve as a bridge, guiding the viewer from one scene to the next with a subtle effect.
By following along with this After Effects tutorial, you’ll learn the techniques to achieve stunning results with zoom blur transitions.
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Glitch Transitions in After Effects
Glitch transitions can add an edgy feel to your videos, giving them technological intrigue and excitement. Using digital glitches, distortions, or VHS effects, you can create stunning transitions that will captivate the viewer.
These transitions mimic the aesthetic of technical malfunctions or digital artifacts, lending a unique and dynamic effect to your video. Glitch transitions are particularly effective when you want to create a futuristic or experimental feel or a sense of disruption or transformation within your video.
This AE tutorial teaches you how to create a custom glitch transition without plugins. With this short video tutorial, you can expand your editing capabilities and add an exciting element to your videos.
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Fade Transitions in After Effects
Fade transitions offer a smooth way to transition between video scenes. They add an elegant and cohesive touch to video projects, whether narrative, promotional, or music videos.
With a fade-in, the next scene gradually emerges as opacity increases, maintaining flow and coherence. A fade-out smoothly transitions the current scene out of view by reducing opacity.
In this tutorial, you’ll be taken through the simple steps of creating a fade effect (fade-in and fade-out) at the beginning and end of a video clip. You don’t need any prior knowledge of After Effects for this tutorial.
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Textured Transitions in After Effects
Textured transitions bring a unique and artistic touch to videos. By overlaying textures or patterns during transitions, you can create rich effects. Whether grunge, film grain, or abstract shapes, textures can add depth to your videos.
Timing and duration are key to ensuring a seamless transition. Experiment with blending modes, opacity, and layering techniques to achieve the desired impact.
Textured Transition After Effects Tutorial
This tutorial will show you how to create textured transitions, learning how to use texture and grit to improve the quality of your motion design videos.
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Push Transitions in After Effects
Push transitions give you a dynamic method to transition between scenes. By sliding or pushing the frames in a specific direction, this effect adds a sense of movement and energy to your videos.
The speed and direction of the push transition can add to the impact. A fast push creates a more dramatic effect, while a slower push offers a smoother transition.
Push Transition After Effects Tutorial
In this tutorial, learn how to create a stunning push wipe transition in After Effects. You will be able to master the technique in under 5 minutes!
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Ripple Transitions in After Effects
Ripple transitions can add a touch of magic to your videos by creating a ripple effect that expands or contracts across the screen, revealing the next scene.
The ripple effect can add a sense of wonder to your video, making it particularly suitable for fantasy, surrealist, or imaginative themes. With ripple transitions, you can add an extra layer of intrigue.
Ripple Transition After Effects Tutorial
This After Effects tutorial will show you how to create an initial ripple and then how to animate it for maximum impact. These techniques will teach you how to add depth, motion, and energy to your videos.
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Tear Transitions in After Effects
Tear transitions provide a dramatic effect by simulating the tearing or ripping of the screen to reveal the next scene. This transition adds a sense of intensity to your videos, making them a powerful choice for storytelling or dramatic sequences.
As the screen tears apart, it creates an attention-grabbing effect, heightening the impact of the transition. Tear transitions can convey moments of conflict, revelation, or transformation, pushing the narrative forward and potentially creating an emotional response from the audience.
With step-by-step instructions, this After Effects tutorial takes a straightforward approach to incorporating torn paper transitions effect into any video editing project.
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Tips for Choosing & Using Transition Effects
When selecting transition effects for your video, consider the tone and mood you want to convey. Choose transitions that align with your video’s overall style and theme, ensuring they complement the atmosphere.
While variety can be appealing, avoid using too many different transition effects within a single video. Maintaining consistency in your transitions is important for a polished and professional look. Stick to a select few that work well together and serve the purpose of your video.
Experimenting with the timing and duration of your transitions can impact your video’s pacing. Adjust the speed and length to create the desired impact, whether a quick transition or a slower, more gradual shift.
Don’t be afraid to combine multiple transition effects for added creativity. Layering different effects or using them in conjunction can at times produce stunning results. Experiment with blending transitions to create custom effects.
The right transition can create a more engaging and memorable experience for your viewers.
Transitions in After Effects FAQs
What are Transition Effects in After Effects?
They are dynamic animations that connect different scenes or clips.
Do I Need Any Special Plugins to Create Transitions in After Effects?
While After Effects has a robust set of built-in tools, some specific transition effects might require additional plugins.
What Should I Do If My Transition Effects Are Not Rendering Properly?
Check your render settings and ensure all layers and effects are set up correctly. Sometimes, simplifying the effect or pre-rendering parts of your composition can help.
Are There Any Trends in Transition Effects I Should Be Aware Of?
Transition trends often reflect current design styles. Recently, seamless, fluid transitions and those incorporating 3D elements have been popular.
How Important is the Duration of a Transition Effect?
The duration of a transition is crucial. It should match the pace of your video and the emotion you want to convey. Too quick might be jarring, and too slow might drag the pace.
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Learning Transitions in After Effects
Mastering these popular transition effects in After Effects is a valuable skill for video creators. Understanding and using them can significantly improve the quality and impact of your videos.
Remember to choose transition effects that align with your video’s theme, experiment with timing, and maintain consistency throughout. With these transition effects, you’ll be well on your way to creating captivating videos that will leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Google has launched Gemma 3, the latest version of its family of open AI models that aim to set a new benchmark for AI accessibility. Built upon the foundations of the company’s Gemini 2.0 models, Gemma 3 is engineered to be lightweight, portable, and adaptable—enabling developers…
What is an internal developer portal? An internal developer portal (IDP) is a centralised, self-service platform built in organisations to provide developers with everything they need to develop, deploy, and maintain software. Imagine it as a ‘one-stop shop’ where internal teams can access documentation, APIs, tools,…
Photoshop is a powerful tool for creating a range of stunning photo effects that can take your images to the next level. With the help of these tutorials, you will learn how to recreate various effects, including glitch, sepia tone, watercolor, tilt-shift, HDR, cinematic, bokeh, sketch, and many more.
By mastering these techniques, you can add an artistic touch to your photos and make them truly memorable. Whether you’re a professional photographer, graphic designer, or just someone looking to improve their photo editing skills, learning how to create these photo effects in Photoshop can be a valuable asset.
Exploring the world of Photoshops and experimenting with different photo effects can be a lot of fun. With a bit of practice and creativity, you will soon be creating stunning results that are sure to impress.
So why not start learning to recreate these photo effects in Photoshop today? With dedication and a little time, you can become a master of photo editing in Photoshop in no time.
If you prefer a different application, we also have collections of tutorials for Lightroom, Procreate, and Figma.
The analog photography effect mimics the look and feel of old film photographs. This aesthetic can be achieved by adding grain, light leaks, and desaturated colors in Photoshop. This tutorial takes you through the steps to re-create the effect, giving your photos a nostalgic charm and artistic touch.
The black and white photography effect is a classic style that emphasizes contrast and texture, creating a timeless and elegant look. This Photoshop video tutorial will teach you how to create stunning black and white images in Photoshop.
Bokeh is a photography technique that creates a blur in the background of a photo, emphasizing the subject and adding a dreamy, romantic feel. This Photoshop tutorial will guide you through the steps to add the bokeh effect to your photos.
The cinematic photography effect is a dramatic and moody style that mimics the look and feel of movie stills, with deep shadows, rich colors, and a cinematic aspect ratio. This tutorial will show you how to re-create the cinematic effect, giving your photos a professional and cinematic flair.
Color grading involves adjusting the colors in a photo to create a specific mood or atmosphere. Using Curves and Hue/Saturation adjustments, this Photoshop tutorial takes you through the steps of adding stunning color grading effects to your photos.
The comic effect is a fun and playful style that mimics the look and feel of comic book illustrations, with bold outlines, vibrant colors, and halftone patterns. This Photoshop video tutorial will teach you how to create stunning comic effects, giving your photos a creative and whimsical vibe.
Cross-Processing is a photography technique that involves developing film in the wrong chemicals to create unexpected and artistic color shifts. This Photoshop tutorial will take you through the steps to add cross-processing effects to your photos, giving them a retro feel.
The Dispersion effect is a creative and dynamic style that creates the illusion of a shattered or fragmented subject, with particles or fragments dispersed across the photo. This effect can be achieved in Photoshop using various tools, such as the Liquify filter and layer masks. This tutorial will show you how.
The Double Exposure effect blends two or more images together, creating a dreamy and surreal composition. Using layer masks and blend modes, this tutorial guides you through the process of creating stunning double exposure effects in Photoshop.
The Duotone effect is a creative technique that uses two contrasting colors to create a bold and striking final image. It is often created using gradient maps, curves, and color balance in Photoshop. This tutorial will show you how to add this unique effect to your photos.
The Glitch effect mimics the look of digital errors and glitches, creating a distorted and fragmented image. This Photoshop video tutorial will show you how to create fantastic glitch effects, allowing you to add an edgy vibe to your photos.
The Grain effect is a timeless technique that adds a film-like texture and grain to digital images, creating a vintage and nostalgic look. This Photoshop tutorial will take you through the steps to re-create the effect in your photos.
The Grunge effect is an edgy style that creates a raw and distressed look in photos, often with scratches, stains, and grungy textures. This effect can be easily achieved in Photoshop, using various techniques like brushes, textures, and blend modes.
The HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography effect is a popular technique that combines multiple exposures to create a more detailed and dynamic image. This tutorial guides you through the steps to create the HDR effect using Photoshop tools like merging and tone mapping.
The High Contrast effect is a striking style that emphasizes the difference between dark and light areas in a photo. Photoshop can achieve this effect using various adjustments, such as levels and curves, and this tutorial will show you how.
Infrared photography is a surreal style that creates a false-color effect in photos. Using channel swapping and color balance, this Photoshop tutorial guides you through the process of re-creating the effect.
The Lens Flare effect is a dynamic technique that adds a burst of light to an image, often simulating the look of the sun or other light sources. Learn how to add lens flares to your photos in this Photoshop tutorial, giving you a dramatic and cinematic touch.
The light leak effect simulates the look of light leaking into a camera, creating a dreamy and, at times, nostalgic look. This easy-to-follow Photoshop tutorial will show you how to add stunning light leaks to your photos.
The Lomo (Lomography) effect is a creative photography technique that mimics the look of photos taken with a Lomo camera, with bold colors, high contrast, and vignetting. This Photoshop tutorial will guide you through creating your own Lomo effects.
The Motion Blur effect is a popular technique used to convey motion and speed by blurring moving objects. This Photoshop video tutorial will show you how to create stunning motion blur effects in your photos, adding a sense of dynamism and energy.
The oil painting effect is an artistic photography style that mimics oil paintings by applying filters to a photo giving it a textured, brushstroke look and feel. This Photoshop video tutorial will show you how to do it yourself.
Posterize is a photography effect that reduces the number of colors in an image, creating a bold and simplified look to create a poster-like appearance. Learn how to create stunning posterize effects in this Photoshop tutorial.
The selective color effect allows you to highlight or change the colors of specific parts of an image and convert the rest to black and white (or desaturated). This Photoshop video tutorial will show you how to create your own selective color effects.
The sepia tone effect is a photography technique that adds a warm and vintage look to digital images, giving them an aged, antique look. This Photoshop tutorial will take you through the steps to add sepia tones to your own shots.
The Sketch effect is an artistic technique that mimics the look of a hand-drawn sketch, with lines, strokes, and shading. Following this sketch effect Photoshop tutorial, you can add a personal touch to your photos.
The Solarize effect converts the colors in a photo to create a high-contrast, surreal effect. This video tutorial will show you how to add this unique and bold effect to your photos.
The tilt-shift effect is a creative photography style that simulates the look of a miniature world by blurring parts of an image. This easy-to-follow Photoshop tutorial will show you how to add the effect to your photos.
Vintage and retro effects are a timeless photography style that adds a nostalgic and old-fashioned look to digital images. This Photoshop video tutorial will guide you through the steps so that you can add your own vintage and retro style to your photos.
The Vignette effect is a versatile technique that’s achieved by darkening the edges of a photo to draw attention to the center. This Photoshop tutorial will take you through the steps to create your own vignettes.
The watercolor effect is an artistic technique that mimics the look and feel of watercolor paintings, with soft colors, blurred edges, and brush strokes. This Photoshop tutorial will guide you through creating your own watercolor effects.
These tutorials guide you through various techniques to apply creative and artistic effects to photos using Photoshop. They range from basic editing to advanced manipulation.
Can beginners use these photo effect tutorials effectively?
Absolutely! Most tutorials are tailored for beginners, breaking down complex effects into simple steps. As skills develop, more advanced tutorials can be tackled.
What kinds of effects can I learn from these tutorials?
You can learn a wide array of effects, like turning photos into paintings, creating vintage looks, adding dramatic lighting effects, and much more.
Do I need the newest version of Photoshop to follow these tutorials?
While some may use newer features, many tutorials are applicable to older versions of Photoshop as they rely on fundamental tools and techniques.
How long does it usually take to complete one of these tutorials?
It varies based on the complexity of the photo effect. Some can be completed in minutes, while others might take longer to fully grasp and apply.
Can practicing these tutorials improve my overall Photoshop skills?
Yes, working through these tutorials not only teaches specific effects but also improves your overall understanding and proficiency in Photoshop.
Learning New Photo Effects
Learning new effects in Photoshop is not only fun but can also be a valuable skill. By mastering the art of photo editing, you can offer your clients unique and visually stunning imagery that will set you apart from the competition.
By diving into these photo effect tutorials, you will, of course, learn valuable new skills, but you will undoubtedly unleash your creativity as well!
Artificial intelligence (AI) has entered the mainstream. We’re finding more and more products that integrate with the technology. WordPress plugins are a prime example.
These plugins add a variety of AI-powered features to websites. Some are there to spur creativity, while others are all about saving you time. The trend is helping to spawn new products and enhance existing ones.
AI is rapidly changing the WordPress ecosystem. So, we wanted to explore the different ways plugins are using it. Will they make our lives easier? Will they help users? Let’s find out!
Here’s a collection of WordPress plugins that, in one way or another, add artificial intelligence to your website. Some are longtime favorites, while others are upstarts breaking into the ecosystem. We hope you find them useful!
Rank Math is one of many SEO plugins that integrate AI into their product. The difference here is in the depth of the AI tools offered. There are options for generating entire blog posts, outlines, SEO titles and descriptions, fixing grammar mistakes, and more.
You’ll need a free account to access the various AI features. The benefit is making SEO easier for novices and experts alike. Generating various types of content provides a solid foundation. You’ll have more time to focus on other areas of your site.
Automattic’s do-it-all suite offers Jetpack AI Assistant, allowing you to generate various types of content. For example, the tool will generate a featured image for your blog post based on its content or a custom prompt.
In addition, it will help improve grammar, rewrite your content, or generate an entire page. There’s a free tier with 20 monthly requests, while paid plans offer higher limits.
Here’s an option that specifically targets WooCommerce stores. Kestrel AI is a commercial plugin that generates or optimizes product descriptions, replies to customer reviews, and adds order notes.
It places an icon on relevant areas of the screen. Click it, and the assistant will help you perform the noted tasks. The plugin works with OpenAI and includes placeholders that pull the correct product data.
Here’s proof that AI integrations don’t need to overwhelm users. OptinMonster is a plugin that creates popups and opt-in forms to generate leads. The plugin features a “smart optimization” tool that uses AI to improve the content of your popup. It doesn’t generate text for you. Rather, it seeks to improve what’s already there. It’s a subtle-but-helpful use case.
AI-powered chatbots are on the rise. They aim to answer user questions and help them find relevant content. WPBot uses services like ChatGPT and DialogFlow to provide a “live” chat with a virtual assistant.
The plugin’s pro version can also train AI on your website’s content, leading to better answers and more efficient resource usage. Other features include adding custom text responses, an option for users to contact you, and multi-language support.
AI Engine is a suite of tools for adding artificial intelligence to your WordPress website. Install the plugin, insert your OpenAI API key, and add features.
What sort of features? You can add a chatbot, generate images and text, translate content, and run various tasks inside WordPress. The plugin will also help you keep track of API usage, an important feature, as the costs can add up.
You can use Uncanny Automator to link all sorts of website activities together. For example, these “triggers” can send a customer a follow-up email a few days after they order a product. There are integrations with several popular plugins.
It also ties in with OpenAI, allowing for automated blog post summaries, social media posts, featured images, translations, and more. It’s a natural extension of what the plugin already does.
Categorizing and tagging content isn’t always easy. The goal is to create a logical structure for your content. That’s better for SEO and users. TaxoPress is a taxonomy management plugin that helps you create and manage that structure.
The pro version offers an AI integration (OpenAI, IBM Watson) that automatically creates and determines the best taxonomies for your content. It removes an often frustrating step from your content creation workflow.
AI Power is notable for its compatibility with several large language models (LLM). You can connect the plugin to OpenAI, DeepSeek, Claude, Gemini, Azure, and more. Choose your model and take advantage of an all-in-one collection of website tools.
You can optimize your site’s SEO, bulk-generate content, create a chatbot, use text-to-speech capabilities, or generate images. You can also train a model on your website’s content for a more personalized experience. There are free and pro versions available.
Sensei LMS is a plugin for building online courses. The pro version offers a few handy tools powered by AI. First, an auto Quiz Generator will create questions based on your course’s content. The second is a Tutor AI block available through the Sensei Interactive Blocks add-on.
It adds a chatbot that can answer user questions regarding your course content. The block isn’t limited to Sensei – it’s also compatible with other LMS plugins. It’s an example of how AI can improve the online learning experience.
Bring the Power of AI to Your Website
We’re still in the early days of AI. Thus, the plugins in this roundup are only scratching the surface of what may come down the road. Still, they offer both convenience and utility.
The key is finding options that fit your needs. You may notice that there is some overlap in what these plugins do. For instance, several plugins generate text and images. The odds are you don’t need more than one of these for your website.
With that, consider how you can use AI to improve your website. Perhaps you’re all about streamlining your workflow or improving the front end for users. There are good options here either way.
What will the future bring? It’s safe to say AI will have tighter integrations with WordPress and will be able to accomplish more useful tasks. We can’t wait to see what’s next!
