Those Non-Design Technologies Web Designers Need to Know – Speckyboy

We call ourselves web designers and developers. However, the job often goes beyond those narrow margins.

Freelancers and small agencies deal with a range of non-design and coding issues. We become the first person our clients contact when they have a question. It happens – even when we aren’t directly involved with the subject matter.

  • I just received this message from Google. What does it mean?
  • Why can’t I receive email from my website?
  • My website was hacked. Help!

Yes, we are the catch-all technical support representatives. No matter the problem, web designers are the solution. That’s what some clients think, at least.

We’re often the link between clients and technology. And perhaps we shouldn’t try to tackle every problem. But it wouldn’t hurt to brush up on a few non-design technologies.

With that in mind, here are a few areas that web designers should study. You know, just in case.


SEO & Site Indexing Basics

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a niche unto itself. Some professionals specialize in making sure websites are indexed and rank well.

That doesn’t stop clients from asking their web designer, though. Site owners want to rank highly in Google search results. And they are often in the dark about how to do it.

To that end, it’s worth learning the basics of SEO. Even if the subject makes your skin crawl.

You’ll be able to explain the hows and whys to clients. That will help them make more informed decisions about content. They may decide to jump in feet first with an SEO professional.

Clients will ask you about SEO. A little background knowledge makes you look smart!

SEO Resources

Understanding how search engines work can benefit you and your clients.

DNS & Email Delivery

Launching or moving a website often includes changing a domain’s DNS settings. These settings ensure that the site directs users to the right place.

DNS is much more than that, though. There are also settings for configuring email as well. That has become a hot topic these days.

Email providers are increasingly requiring domain owners to verify their properties. Domains without DKIM, DMARC, or SPF records may have email delivery issues. For example, Gmail blocks email from unauthenticated domains.

What does this have to do with web design? Well, websites with contact forms can fall victim to these issues. The same goes for eCommerce websites. An unauthenticated domain means clients and users will miss these emails.

Now is the time to learn how DNS works. You’ll want to pay special attention to email. Clients without an IT department may need your help ensuring smooth email delivery.

DNS & Email Resources

Email deliverability issues can be prevented by adding domain verification records.

Security for Websites and Beyond

We live in an age of online insecurity. Malicious actors don’t take a minute off. Instead, they continue to wreak havoc.

Sure, we talk about web security quite a bit. And we try our best to build a virtual mote around websites. But websites are still being compromised.

We’re learning that security goes deeper than installing updates or tweaking .htaccess files. The fitness of a user’s device also plays a role.

Stolen session cookies are a prime example. Hackers can grab them off of a compromised device. A “bulletproof” website is no match for a phone with an info stealer installed. They can waltz right in and do whatever they want.

Understanding how device security impacts the web is crucial. It’s something that can benefit us and our clients. After all, a single weak link can break the chain.

Website Security Resources

Websites are under a constant threat from hackers.

Command Line Tools

Some of us cringe at the mere thought of using a command line tool. Hasn’t that stuff gone the way of the dinosaur?

Nothing could be further from the truth. Command line tools like WordPress CLI remain popular. Why is that? It’s all about power and efficiency.

The command line doesn’t have the overhead of a graphical user interface (GUI). Thus, it handles bulk operations faster. For example, you can perform a search-and-replace operation on a database more quickly.

You can also do a lot of behind-the-scenes work with your web server. The command line may be the only way to run specific tasks.

It’s worth brushing up on command-line operations. They are a huge time saver in the right circumstances.

Command Line Resources

Command line tools are still a popular way to perform tasks.

Become a More Well-Rounded Web Designer

The skills above are all adjacent to web design. And the need for this knowledge is growing.

Perhaps that has always been the case with SEO. Meanwhile, security and DNS seem to be just about mandatory these days.

Working with clients means you inevitably will face questions about these subjects. Freelancers and small agencies don’t always have an expert within reach. So, it’s up to us to find answers.

The command line is more about adding another tool to your toolbox. The improved efficiency will benefit you. And the result is better service for your clients.

Web designers tend to be specialists. We focus on the front-end or back-end. But the more we know, the more well-rounded we become.

It’s one way to stay on the cutting edge of the industry for years to come.

Related Topics


Top

Beautiful Poster Art Created with CSS & JavaScript – Speckyboy

Posters are among the most common art forms. You probably had a few of them on your wall as a child. They cover the full spectrum of people, places, and events.

They also serve as an inspiration for web designers. Their use of color and typography is part of how we see the world. We can see the impact all over the web.

What’s more, we can recreate and enhance the experience online. Goodies like 3D effects and animation bring posters to life. There’s also an element of interactivity. That can be just as powerful as a bold layout.

We wanted to see how designers are using their creativity. So, we perused the archives of CodePen for beautiful poster art. Here are some examples that use CSS, JavaScript, and other technologies. Enjoy!


Furiosa 3D Animated CSS Poster by Olivier 3lanc

Talk about a poster that’s brimming with life! This 3D rendering places the movie’s characters in a cut-out. The entire presentation looks like a diorama. Everything is powered by CSS – no JavaScript in sight.

See the Pen FURIOSA 3D Animated Poster by Olivier 3lanc

Replicating & Animating Zürich Tonhalle’s Poster by Jon Yablonski

This snippet is part of a project that recreates iconic posters. The beauty here is in the minimal layout and bold typography. Animated lines add a modern touch to this classic.

See the Pen Zürich Tonhalle (1955) by Jon Yablonski

CSS Grid Poster Exercise by Victoria Bergquist

A combination of Flexbox and CSS Grid fuels this example. The variation of shapes would seem nearly impossible to do without these tools. The included splash of color makes for a compelling result.

See the Pen CSS Grid Poster Exercise 1 by Victoria Bergquist

Donkey Kong Poster Collection by Daniel Fontes

Here’s a fun tribute to the past. Gamers will instantly recognize this series of images from Donkey Kong. The classic video game posters feature a fun lighting feature. Tug on the chain to illuminate your favorite poster. Bonus points for the flicker effect!

See the Pen Donkey Kong – a small poster collection by Daniel Fontes

PPL MVR CSS & SVG Poster Designby Kristopher Van Sant

Band posters are a common theme among designers. Perhaps that’s because so many of us have them on our walls. This animated sequence takes inspiration from print artwork. And it’s another example of what CSS is capable of.

See the Pen PPL MVR by Kristopher Van Sant

Grid Duotone Gradient Poster Design by Cassie Evans

The power of CSS Grid is real. The poster is beautiful and complex. Most impressively, the styles consist of less than 200 lines. A little code and a lot of imagination can go a long way.

See the Pen Grid Poster by Cassie Evans

Grunge Poster with the Wave Motion Effect by ilithya

Who can resist the retro vibes coming from this poster? It captures the look of the 1990s – complete with raining triangles. Move your cursor to change the perspective of the photo. It’s a far-out experience, for sure.

See the Pen Grunge Poster by ilithya

The Matrix Resurrections Digital Poster by Sparklingman

The Matrix movie series is known for a different kind of rain. This digital poster may appear simple. However, clicking on it shifts the green and black pattern. The effect is subtle – but fits beautifully with the movie’s aesthetic.

See the Pen The Matrix Resurrections | Sparklingman digital poster #026 by Sparklingman

A New Take on a Classic Art Form

The examples above combine classic print sensibilities with online capabilities. It’s a fun exercise that goes beyond what’s hanging on your wall.

We may think of posters as being simplistic. But they also open a world of possibilities for designers. Thus, we can take this inspiration and run with it.

For example, posters may help us rethink traditional web layouts. Elements like vertical text and unique container shapes come to mind. They can serve as a launching pad for ideas.

Want to see more examples of online poster art? Check out our CodePen collection!

Related Topics


Top

From Atari to Doom: How Google is Redefining Video Games with AI

The video game industry, now worth $347 billion, has grown into a significant player in the entertainment world, engaging more than three billion people globally. What started with straightforward titles like Pong and Space Invaders has evolved into more sophisticated games like Doom, which set new…

Aspects of the Early Web I’d Like to See Come Back – Speckyboy

The early web (we’ll define it as 1995 – 2005) was an adventurous place. The narrative was that anyone could participate in this new medium. Thus, it attracted an eclectic mix of creators.

We tend to look back to these days with some cringe. Yes, the design and technology of that era were lacking. And there were very few standards to speak of. But there were also plenty of positives.

I’m biased – my web design journey began in this era. Therefore, I have a lot of nostalgia. I’ve written about it a time or 10.

But there are things I miss about those days. Practices and ideas that defined the enthusiasm of the time. Things that have long since faded.

As such, here are some parts of the early web I’d like to see come back – even if only for a day!


The Absence of Big Data

So-called big data wasn’t prevalent in the 90s. Google would plant those seeds in the decade. However, the web was yet to be controlled by trackers and algorithms.

Perhaps we didn’t have the same level of personalization. So what? The side benefit was a lack of manipulation.

We still saw this in the early days of Facebook and Twitter. Remember when your feeds were all in real time? It provided a sense of witnessing things as they happened.

Early search engines had similar perks. You were likely served the same results as someone on the other side of the world. Less convenient? Sure. But also less intrusive.

What we see now is ultimately controlled by companies. We don’t necessarily see the best search results. We see whatever Google’s algorithm deems appropriate.

Social media companies make it harder to view your feeds in chronological order. And advertisements are a little too personal, in my opinion.

It’s easy to understand why things have changed. Manipulating users is a profitable business. Plus, advertisers want to target specific audiences.

Still, I miss the days when the web had more randomness. Stumbling upon something new seems like a lost art.

Google's early days weren't dominated by big data.

The Simplicity of Website Design & Structure

“Things were simpler back then.” That’s a common refrain when adults talk about their childhood. I think it also applies to web design and structure.

There’s a good reason for that simplicity. HTML was basic. CSS didn’t even exist for part of this time. And there was only so much we could do with the day’s technology.

I can’t deny the prevalence of poor design. Web design was new. We were all amateurs in a sense. I played a role in making the place a bit unruly!

Even so, the limitations were often a good thing. The dangers of overcomplicating things became apparent. Designers eventually learned that simplicity was better for everyone.

On the other hand, we had very few standards or best practices. Things like performance, security, and accessibility received little consideration.

Today, we tend to overcomplicate things as a default. We use heavy content management systems (CMS) for brochure sites. We make a mess of security. And we use DIY tools without much thought about portability or ownership.

Perhaps the good parts of modern design can stay. But how about a resurgence of simplicity?

Early web designers had to navigate technical limitations.

The Impact of the Solo Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship is still possible on the web. It’s the idea that an individual can make an impact with their creativity. That could be a product, service, or even great content.

I think it has become harder for individuals to succeed, though. There are too many mountains to climb.

Those algorithms make it harder to gain visibility. And there are so many people (and bots) competing for attention.

Not to say it was easy back in the day. But originality tended to shine through. Oddities like the Million Dollar Homepage are a prime example.

Early bloggers also had an opportunity to find a core audience. They built niche online communities dedicated to a shared interest.

Tools like WordPress make it easier to self-publish content. But reaching people has become a full-time job. Creators must often rely on sponsors and product placement to gain traction.

It used to be possible for content to spread organically. Search engines weren’t prioritizing big sites over small ones. Thus, anyone had a shot to be seen by potential followers.

What started as a side gig could turn into something more. That’s still possible in theory.

YouTube and TikTok are the flavors of the minute for this. But they are walled gardens. Doing something similar on an open platform is daunting.

Early web entrepreneurs benefitted from a nascent market.

The Freedom to Create and Connect

I love to think of the early web as uncharted territory. We couldn’t look to the past when populating this new medium. So, we made it up as we went along.

There were positives and negatives about this. Even then, some used the web for nefarious purposes. But they seemed like dark corners that were avoidable.

The bigger picture was all about freedom. Anyone could create and publish content. And the web would be a vehicle to make positive connections with others.

There was talk of the great potential it held for society. People without a voice suddenly gained one.

The biggest impediment at the time was access to technology. But that could be resolved through cheaper devices and widespread internet. The sky was the limit.

I believed in the web as a change agent. And that the world would be better for these newfound connections.

We haven’t quite gotten there. Repressive regimes have stifled free speech. Bot farms spread misinformation and create division. Large corporations make the rules with little oversight.

The web didn’t become a whole new world. It instead became a reflection of the one we already had.

Say it isn’t so, Tim Berners-Lee.

The web was once hailed as a beacon of free expression.

Letting the Past Guide Us

Here’s the good news: We now have a past era to look to. We can use it as a guide when building the web’s future.

I don’t expect Google, Facebook, or Twitter/X to change their ways. Not without the mandate of a governing body. But we also don’t have to follow their lead.

Those of us who build and publish can keep the ideals of the early web alive. Think of them as small pockets of resistance.

How do we do it? We can start by embracing open tools and platforms. Use a browser that focuses on user privacy. Publish with a CMS that gives you ownership. Support decentralized systems like the Fediverse.

Most of all, pass these lessons to the next generation. They haven’t experienced a truly open web. Show them why it’s worth having.

Perhaps the web was bound to be changed for the worse. But we can still use our little corner of it as a beacon of light.

Related Topics


Top

Harvesting Intelligence: How Generative AI is Transforming Agriculture

In the age of digital transformation, agriculture is no longer just about soil, water, and sunlight. With the advent of generative AI, agriculture is becoming smarter, more efficient, and increasingly data driven. From predicting crop yields with unprecedented accuracy to developing disease-resistant plant varieties, generative AI…

How Client Requests Can Undermine Web Performance & Accessibility – Speckyboy

We know the importance of website performance and accessibility. Or at least we should. There’s no shortage of content dedicated to these subjects.

That creates awareness. Hopefully, awareness leads to learning. And learning leads to implementing best practices. There, we’ve made the web a better place!

Not so fast. There’s one factor the tutorials didn’t warn us about – clients. Yes, a client can lay waste to our plans for a fast and accessible site.

The question is: why? Why would a website owner get in the way of progress? Why would they insist on features that diminish the user experience?

There are a few possibilities. Let’s look at some common conflicts and ways to resolve them.


A Desire to Impress Users

First, let’s state the obvious. Our clients’ hearts are in the right place. They want a successful outcome as much as we do.

Clients also want to impress users. Sometimes, this puts them at odds with best practices.

The use of massive images is one example. Full-screen photos can be attractive. However, they also bog down page loads. An HD or (gasp!) 4k image is like strapping an anvil to a slow internet connection.

Sliders can produce even worse results. Sure, let’s add a few hundred kilobytes of JavaScript. What could go wrong?

People think that these features will promote conversions. The page will be so attractive that users can’t help but click that call to action. Websites used Flash intros for the same purpose back in the day.

They have good intentions. They may be looking in the wrong place, though.

Trying to impress users with visual effects can backfire.

The Belief That Competitors & Peers Are Right

Competition is a great motivator. So is the status of one’s peers. Both make us want to keep pace with those around us.

It’s a common theme when building a website. Web designers can fall for it as much as clients. You see something shiny and want to replicate it.

Perhaps the company across town uses a video background on every page. It may look cool. But is it the right thing to do?

Clients don’t want to be outclassed by someone in the same industry. They may not consider the consequences of adding such a feature.

A client may also fear that they’ll look bad to potential customers. As in:

“Company A has this feature on their website. They’re clearly superior to Company B.”

The reality may be different. The web’s novelty wore off many years ago. Looks are important. But so is usability. And what good is a video background for someone using assistive technology or a cheap mobile device?

Some clients want to copy their competitors - even if it's not wise to do so.

That Their Preferences Are All That Matters

As the saying goes, “The heart wants what it wants.” We can say the same thing about our clients.

A client can become an immovable object when it comes to design. They’ll insist on an inaccessible color scheme. Or a font that is difficult to read.

Some won’t sign off on a design unless it includes all their demands. They’re the customer, after all. And they’re always right.

This thinking also impacts existing websites. A client might want to change a hero section. The reason? They’re sick of looking at the same thing every day.

It may make sense to them. However, they’re once again ignoring users. You know, the people they’re trying to serve.

Change for the sake of change could be a negative. It could confuse visitors and lower conversion rates.

Not everyone can see the bigger picture.

A demanding client may not care about the consequences of a feature.

How to Help Your Clients See the Light

Yes, all of the above can be frustrating. There’s no need to lose all hope, though. A good conversation or two can make a difference.

Here are a few pointers for discussing performance and accessibility concerns.

Give an Honest Assessment of Your Concerns

The first step is to provide an honest assessment. Point out the potential problems you foresee.

From there, it’s about explaining each item of concern. Lay out the benefits and drawbacks. Give examples of how a feature impacts users.

For example, a slider could make site navigation more difficult for a visually impaired person. Your client may not have considered this possibility.

Clients will most often do the right thing in these situations. Being informed could be all it takes.

Offer Better Alternatives

It’s one thing to argue against a client’s idea. But what should they be doing instead?

Our job isn’t to merely dismiss a feature. We should also offer an alternative or two. Things that provide a similar effect – but without the hit to performance and accessibility.

We could suggest a hero area instead of a slider. It will grab a user’s attention while reducing load times. Perhaps it features a background pattern or a photograph that’s optimized. It stays on brand but doesn’t hinder usability.

It’s one way to guide a client toward better solutions. The idea is to improve the product and strengthen communication.

Be Patient

Clients aren’t always receptive to our ideas. We can warn them about the impact of a feature. But they sometimes need to see the results for themselves.

They might notice an issue when the feature launches. Or they may get complaints from other users. The shortcomings will become apparent either way. Or not.

We’ll need to be patient and bide our time. We can hold out hope that they’ll see things our way, eventually.

Educate & Encourage Good Choices

There will always be some give and take when working with clients. That’s part of the design and build processes. Web designers must balance client preferences with user needs.

Accessibility should be non-negotiable. It’s worth fighting tooth and nail for. If a client insists on something that goes against this pillar – the consequences are on them.

Performance offers more wiggle room. Odds are the result won’t be perfect. However, it’s our job to make the best of any situation.

Education is a valuable tool for web designers, though. We can help clients understand why these subjects are worth their investment. That can lead them to make better choices.

The benefits of performance and accessibility aren’t apparent to everyone. Thankfully, we have the power to change that.

Related Topics


Top

AI in Search? The Grumpy Designer Isn’t Impressed So Far – Speckyboy

Tech companies are baking AI into everything these days. It seems like you can’t avoid a heaping helping of bots and large language models (LLMs). I think I ingested some in my breakfast cereal this morning.

Thus, it’s no surprise that search engines have become best pals with AI. Google and Bing are joyfully adding it to their results. These generated answers are the first thing you see for some queries.

Both companies have a stake in the technology. Google’s Gemini and Microsoft’s Copilot will be keys to their future success. We’ll continue to see these tools added to flagship products.

The early results have been interesting – and perhaps a bit unsettling. For example, AI has recommended that we put glue on pizza. It has also displayed plagiarized content above the original works.

It’s just a reminder that no technology is perfect. And AI is still in its infancy. But there’s more to it. The relationship between AI and search represents a fundamental shift. I’m not so sure I like it. Here’s a look at why.

The Shift to Becoming an Answer Engine

The way search engines work has evolved. In the early days, it was all about matching the keywords used in a query.

That’s why keyword-stuffing and other nefarious SEO techniques worked. Search engines were looking for exact (or fuzzy) matches of keywords. It led to less-than-ideal results. Spammers were great at gaming this system.

Modern search now considers context. It combines content and structured data to determine results. That’s why we can search for “pizza shops near me” and get local results.

As always, these services pick winners. The top results favor sites that match the search engine’s indexing criteria and algorithm. The algorithms are mysterious to us mortals – but fair enough.

So, how does the current use of AI impact this process? For one, it attempts to provide us with a definitive answer.

Let’s forget about accuracy for a moment. Displaying this information first lends confidence to the answer. If it’s first, it must be right – right? Maybe we can skip all the results down the page.

We are no longer encouraged to look for the result that fits our needs. We are instead fed an answer – potentially discouraging us from digging deeper.

Google adds AI-generated answers to the top of the results page

The Cost of AI-generated Answers

Perhaps the convenience of an AI-generated answer is favorable. But it also comes with some costs.

Website owners could see a drop in traffic. They already had to contend with sponsors clogging up the top portion of the results page. AI answers are just one more thing to hamper their visibility.

The other elephant in the room is that AI scrapes content from all over the web. The benefits for site owners are questionable at best.

A site that feeds the top result could see some extra clicks. Newfangled services like Perplexity are even offering to pay publishers. However, you might have better odds of winning the lottery than securing this arrangement.

We should also dive back into AI’s potential to discourage further research. Some users may accept that first answer and not bother to think twice.

Maybe this doesn’t impact longtime users. I’m used to scrolling through search results and clicking multiple links. I don’t foresee AI changing my behavior.

But what about younger generations? AI will be just the way things work for them. They may not realize that there’s more information available. After all, Google has already given them the “best” answer.

Here’s where accuracy comes into the picture. There are times when search engines will get it wrong. That seems like an unavoidable situation.

Users who aren’t familiar with researching answers will be misinformed. That could be dangerous, depending on the subject.

Most people won’t put glue on their pizza. But this type of “advice” could be taken seriously by someone. And that has real consequences.

Bing tells us that putting glue on pizza is a bad idea after all

Is This the End of Search as We Knew It?

I believe the relationship between search and AI is a long-term one. Companies like Google and Microsoft aren’t spending truckloads of money for nothing. Well, sometimes they do. But I digress.

The current phase is an experimental one. Search providers are trying to figure out where AI fits in. And, oh yeah, they want to monetize it.

There’s been some backlash at the technology’s integration so far. That has led to adjustments. It’s a matter of finding what users will and won’t tolerate.

Regardless, searching the web is going to look quite different. Sponsored and AI-generated results will continue to push organic results down the page. Large websites will rank higher than small ones.

Search is a pay-to-play proposition these days. AI is only going to amplify this practice.

That changes how we search as consumers. We may need to scroll past a lot of nonsense to find what we came for.

It might also change our expectations as website owners. That free traffic we’ve optimized for may not be as plentiful. We’ll have to adjust accordingly.

The old ways of searching the web appear to be obsolete

What Will the Future Bring?

Search is another area where web designers and marketers will feel the impact of the move toward AI. The techniques that previously performed well for us may be obsolete.

SEO will still be a worthwhile endeavor, though. Getting your websites indexed shouldn’t go out of style anytime soon.

However, using SEO as a primary marketing strategy doesn’t seem sustainable. Unless your clients are large or in a unique niche, you may struggle to make headway without paid promotion.

Such is life on the web. We can never get too comfortable! Search engines are just another in a long line of seismic shifts.

Related Topics


Top

20+ Best YouTube Channel Premiere Pro Templates – Speckyboy

Video editing for YouTube has progressed far beyond the early days of simple home videos. The platform now demands content that is polished, engaging, and professional. Achieving this standard requires a blend of creativity, skill, and the right tools.

For video editors looking to improve their YouTube content, Premiere Pro templates offer a practical solution. They provide ready-made assets that save both time and effort while raising the standard of your videos.

This collection focuses on the best Premiere Pro templates for creating professional YouTube content. They will all help simplify the editing process and improve your channel’s overall production quality.

Whether you’re producing tutorials, product reviews, or promotional content, these templates offer a range of options that will improve your YouTube channel’s content and presentation.

If you’re new to Premiere Pro, you might also like to take a look at our collection of tutorials for beginners.

YouTube Intro & Outro Premiere Pro Templates

These intro and outro Premiere Pro templates allow you to create strong openings and closings for your YouTube videos, helping your content leave a lasting impression on your audience.

YouTube Blog Intro Premiere Pro Template

With a modern, artistic touch, this Premiere Pro template adds creativity and dynamic flair to your content, making it perfect for launching a new YouTube channel. This template streamlines video editing, ensuring eye-catching and colorful intros that set the stage for your success.

YouTube Blog Intro Premiere Pro Template

Creative YouTube Intro Premiere Pro Template

This colorful, modern Premiere Pro template includes seven unique scenes with easy media replacement. Its bold typography and dynamic animations make it an excellent choice for creating a striking introduction for your YouTube channel.

Creative YouTube Intro Premiere Pro Template

Quick & Dirty Premiere Pro Opener Templates

With bold, oversized typography and vibrant colors with tinted backgrounds, this Premiere Pro template delivers a fast-paced, striking opener. This template will bring energy and boldness to your YouTube content.

Quick & Dirty Premiere Pro Opener Templates

YouTube & Social Media Intro Template

With vivid colors, bold typography, and rapid animations, this template is ideal for vlogs and social media content. It includes 11 text layers and three image placeholders in full HD.

YouTube & Social Media Intro Template

YouTube Lower Thirds Premiere Pro Templates

These lower thirds templates allow you to display essential information, such as names, titles, or further information, adding a touch of professionalism to your YouTube videos.

Minimal Lower Thirds Premiere Pro Templates

This Premiere Pro lower thirds template features a minimalistic design with a duotone color scheme and bold sans-serif typography. It will add a clean, modern touch to your YouTube content.

Minimal Lower Thirds Premiere Pro Templates

YouTube Channel Pack for Premiere Pro

This Premiere Pro template pack is designed for video editors preparing to launch a new YouTube channel. It includes all the essentials for a polished and stylish debut.

YouTube Channel Pack for Premiere Pro

100 Lower Thirds Video Templates for Premiere Pro

This set of 100 lower thirds templates is ideal for YouTube content creators. They are easy to use, offering precise control over time duration and smooth animations. With 4K resolution, these Premiere Pro templates will give your videos a polished and professional look.

100 Lower Thirds Video Templates for Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro YouTube Starter Pack

This YouTube Premiere Pro toolkit is for video editors who are launching new YouTube channels. It includes elements like lower thirds, buttons, slide frames, subscribe panels, and more.

Premiere Pro YouTube Starter Pack

Lower Thirds X for Premiere Pro

The Lower Thirds X Premiere Pro template will add modern elegance to your video content. With a sleek duotone color scheme, smooth animations, and minimal design, it will help improve the professionalism of your YouTube videos.

Lower Thirds X for Premiere Pro

Social Media Lower Thirds for Premiere Pro

These clean and simple lower thirds templates will bring a polished touch to your video content. With five elegant options, they will significantly improve your social media presence and provide an engaging aesthetic for your YouTube channel.

Social Media Lower Thirds for Premiere Pro

YouTube Titles for Premiere Pro

These title templates create clear and informative text overlays, capturing your audience’s attention and allowing you to deliver key messages.

YouTube Title & Logo Template Pack

This Premiere Pro template collection includes over 40 logo reveals and 12 stylish title templates to boost your YouTube channel’s visual identity. This pack is perfect for establishing a strong brand presence.

20+ Best YouTube Channel Premiere Pro Templates – Speckyboy

Animated Titles Templates for Premiere Pro

These clean and simple title templates bring a professional touch to your channel. The seamless animations add to the quality of your content, helping to make your YouTube channel debut memorable.

YouTube Animated Titles Templates for Premiere Pro

Modern Premiere Pro Titles Pack

This Premiere Pro pack offers clean, simple titles with seamless animations, perfect for professional video content. These titles will help you engage your audience right from the beginning!

Modern Premiere Pro Titles Pack

Premiere Pro Transition Pack for YouTube Channels

With these transition templates, you can add a polished touch to your YouTube videos, making scene changes smooth while maintaining viewer interest.

YouTube Wipe & Light Transitions for Premiere Pro

This Premiere Pro transition package includes over 300 dynamic options. Easily applied with a few clicks and adaptable to any aspect ratio, these transitions include zoom, spin, panoramic effects, and more.

YouTube Wipe & Light Transitions for Premiere Pro

Modular Animation Presets for Premiere Pro

This collection of over 150 modular animation presets includes stylized effects, logo reveals, transitions, text boxes, and titles. This Premiere Pro pack is perfect for creating simple animations for your YouTube channel.

Modular Animation Presets for Premiere Pro

The Most Useful Transitions Pack for Premiere Pro

This comprehensive Premiere Pro collection provides a toolkit for animated transitions, including motion, zoom, glitch, and light effects. Designed to improve your YouTube channel’s flow and presentation, these seamless transitions will help improve and maintain viewer engagement.

The Most Useful Transitions Pack for Premiere Pro

Stylish Transitions for Premiere Pro

This small pack of user-friendly transitions is perfect for lightweight slideshows and titles. They offer smooth, seamless transitions that improve the flow of your video content.

Stylish Transition Templates for Premiere Pro

YouTube Color Grading Presets for Premiere Pro

These color grading presets adjust the colors and tones of your YouTube videos, helping you achieve the right mood and style for your audience.

Cinematic Color Presets for Premiere Pro

This preset pack offers over 1,000 options for achieving a cinematic look in your videos. With twelve organized categories, it’s simple to find the right effect for your footage. It also allows you to easily add stylish color grading that matches your video type.

Cinematic Color Presets for Premiere Pro

Ultra Color LUTs Pack for Premiere Pro

Quickly transform your video content with the Ultra Color LUTs pack for Premiere Pro. Offering quick previews, real-time rendering, and compatibility with any resolution, this pack includes presets across ten categories, allowing you to quickly achieve a cinematic aesthetic.

Ultra Color LUTs Pack for Premiere Pro

Social Media Promo Templates for Premiere Pro

These Premiere Pro templates can help you create effective social media promos. They will help streamline the process of sharing and marketing your video content on YouTube and across other platforms.

Trendy Art Social Media Promo Premiere Pro Templates

Improve your social media presence with this 4K promo template for Premiere Pro. Create stylish videos with artistic backgrounds and bold lettering.

Trendy Art Social Media Promo Premiere Pro Templates

Social Media Agency Promo Premiere Pro Template

This Premiere Pro social media template perfectly blends simplicity and sophistication. It was created by professionals and offers a clean and elegant look that’s easy to customize. Just insert your image or video, and add your text and audio for a polished result.

Social Media Agency Promo Premiere Pro Template

YouTube Motion Graphics for Premiere Pro

These Premiere Pro motion graphics will add animations and dynamic elements to your YouTube videos, helping to increase their overall impact.

Modern Motion Broadcast Package for Premiere Pro

This Premiere Pro broadcast package simplifies updating your YouTube video content. Insert your video or photo, edit the text, and tweak the settings, and you will quickly have a modern design that greatly improves your channel’s aesthetic.

Modern Motion Broadcast Package for Premiere Pro

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • What are Premiere Pro templates?

    Templates are pre-designed files that streamline the editing process by providing ready-made animations, titles, transitions, and more tailored for use in Premiere Pro.

  • How do I install a Premiere Pro template?

    Simply download the template file, import it into your Premiere Pro project, and drag it onto your timeline. The process may vary slightly depending on the template format.

  • Can these templates be customized for my YouTube channel?

    Yes, most Premiere Pro templates offer customization options. You can adjust colors, text, timing, and other elements to match your channel’s specific branding or style preferences.

  • Will these templates work with any version of Premiere Pro?

    Templates are generally designed for specific versions of Premiere Pro. Check the template details to confirm compatibility with your version of the software.

  • How do I choose the right template for my YouTube channel?

    Select a template or package that fits your channel’s branding and content style. When making your choice, consider the tone of your videos and the message you intend to communicate.

Conclusion

These Premiere Pro templates simplify the editing process, allowing you to focus on creating great content without getting caught up in the technical or design aspects of creating videos for YouTube.

Choosing the right template can greatly improve your video content, allowing you to align it with your branding and style. Consider the purpose of your video, your channel’s identity, and the look you want to achieve.

Whether you’re starting a new channel or refining an existing one, the Premiere Pro templates here will help you achieve that polished and professional presence your channel deserves on YouTube.

Build your brand, and set yourself apart in the competitive space of YouTube content!

Related Topics


Top

Generative AI Playgrounds: Pioneering the Next Generation of Intelligent Solution

Generative AI has gained significant traction due to its ability to create content that mimics human creativity. Despite its vast potential, with applications ranging from generating text and images to composing music and writing code, interacting with these rapidly evolving technologies remains daunting. The complexity of…

40+ Free Packs of Procreate Brushes for Digital Artists – Speckyboy

Procreate is a powerful digital art application designed specifically for the iPad. It offers a range of creative features that allow you to create professional-level artwork on the go. One of the key features of Procreate is its brush engine.

Procreate’s brush engine, called Brush Studio, allows you to create and customize your own brushes. This feature allows you to create brushes that fit your style and workflow, making Procreate a powerful tool for creating professional-level artwork.

Using brushes in Procreate is easy. Simply select a brush from the brush library and start drawing or painting on the canvas. The pressure sensitivity of the Apple Pencil allows for natural-looking brush strokes and a more tactile experience. Brushes can also be resized, rotated, and adjusted for opacity and flow to achieve your desired effect.

Procreate brushes can be used to create a wide range of artwork, including illustrations, comic books, and concept art. Digital artists and designers can also benefit from using Procreate brushes to create digital mockups and designs.

We’ve curated this collection of free Procreate brush sets to help you add more detail to your digital art. The best part about these brushes is that they’re free, so you can experiment with different styles and techniques without costing you anything.

If you’re new to Procreate, you might like this collection of tutorials to help get you started.


Texture Effect Procreate Brushes

These brushes will add texture and depth to your artwork, replicating surfaces like paper, canvas, or sandpaper. They can be used to create realistic textures in digital art.

Procreate Grain Brushes (Free)

These free Procreate brushes are exactly what you think they are. They’re brushes that add graininess to your work. These speckled, dusty-looking brushes can be used to add texture or age to a project.

Procreate Grain Brushes

Very Dry Gouache Brush for Procreate (Free)

The Very Dry Gouache Brush lives up to its name. This brush set offers a super dry texture that makes every brush stroke visible. Plus, it will reveal different textures depending on how hard you press.

Very Dry Gouache Brush for Procreate

Geometry Brushes for Procreate

This collection includes 34 different geometry brushes. They make adding shapes, design motifs, and patterns to your work easy. They can also be used for shading.

Geometry Brushes for Procreate

Cardboard Procreate Brush (Free)

This free cardboard Procreate brush set has a semi-streaky look that can be used for various lettering projects, from signs to business cards to logos.

Cardboard Procreate Brush

Distressed Wall Procreate Brushes (Free)

Distressed Wall is a free Procreate brush set that adds a chalky-style texture to your designs. Perfect for illustration backgrounds.

free Distressed Wall Procreate Brushes

Hair & Fur Procreate Brushes

These hair and fur brushes can help you create realistic textures, such as animal fur and human hair. They can give your designs and illustrations a more organic look, bringing them to life.

HairBrush Set for Procreate (Free)

If you want to draw realistic hair in Procreate, this free brush set will greatly help you. With them, you can create straight or curly hair and achieve a variety of other textures.

HairBrush Set for Procreate

Fur Brushes for Procreate (Free)

In this collection, you will get four free Procreate brushes (including thin, harsh, ski, and ranged) that you can use to create fur or hair and also add texture to other types of art.

Fur Free Procreate Brushes

Stipple Effect Procreate Brushes

Stipple effect brushes add shading, depth, and intricate textures to your digital art. They are perfect for portraits, backgrounds, and creating unique effects.

Stippling Brush Set (Free)

This Stippling brush set contains 17 brushes, including nine stipple brushes, three liner brushes, and five textured brushes. These multi-faceted brushes can be used for just about any project you work on.

Stippling Brush Set

Eclectica Stipple Brushes for Procreate

The Eclectica brush set is inspired by the retro style of the 1970s and will add a touch of pop art to your work. It is a collection of Procreate brushes you can use to create something unique. The pack includes 18 stroke and stipple brushes.

Stipple Brushes for Procreate

Stipple Procreate Brush Pack (Free)

This free brush set for Procreate can be used to generate an authentic stippling effect, making it ideal for better shading.

Stipple Procreate Brush Pack

Cloth & Textile Procreate Brushes

These cloth brushes replicate various fabrics, adding depth to your digital art by giving it a more organic look. They can be especially useful in creating clothing designs, home decor designs, and other projects that involve fabric.

15 Textile Factory Procreate Brushes (Free)

This free set of Procreate brushes includes 15 swatches of varied cloth patterns that you can use to add texture to your paintings.

Textile Factory Fabric Free Procreate Brushes

Bristle Brush Linen (Free)

This free Procreate brush pack includes a natural bristle brush for creating the look of brushstrokes on a linen canvas. It also uses Procreate’s wet blending feature to imitate a realistic painting experience.

Procreate Texture Brushes

Watercolor Procreate Brushes

These brushes for Procreate offer a range of realistic watercolor textures and effects. They allow you to create beautiful, fluid strokes and blend colors seamlessly.

Wet Media Brushes for Procreate (Free)

Here’s a collection of 48 (yes, you read that correctly) brushes for Procreate that let you replicate wet media. There are too many watercolor effects to name here, so you’ll want to download them yourself.

Wet Media Brushes for Procreate

Collection of Procreate Brushes (Free)

This Procreate brush set includes two Gouache brushes, two oil paint brushes, and two watercolor brushes. Each performs beautifully and is a solid addition to your digital art toolbox.

Misc. Procreate Brushes

Painting Effect Procreate Brushes

These brushes replicate the look and feel of traditional paintbrushes. They can be used for digital painting, from realistic oil paintings to more stylized illustrations.

Pro Painters Procreate Brushes

This Pro Painter brush set contains 31 brushes, all perfect for adding light paint or pencil textures to typography and illustrations.

Pro Painters Procreate Brushes

Matt’s Painting Procreate Brush Set (Free)

Matt’s Painting Set is an all-purpose brush set for gouache artists. This free set allows you to add fine lines, texture, grit, and airbrush effects.

Matts Painting Procreate Brush Set

Art Brushes for Procreate

This collection of art brushes includes 21 different brushes for imitating real painting techniques, and they naturally have both wet and dry looks.

Art Brushes for Procreate

Bookshelf Brushsets for Procreate (Free)

This free set of nine brushes will allow you to quickly paint a selection of books on a bookshelf. You can also use these brushes in Photoshop CC and Clip Studio Paint.

Bookshelf Brushsets Free Procreate Brushes

Tears Brushes for Procreate (Free)

This free brush set will let you quickly add various types of tears to your art. You can also use these brushes as small splashes or splatters.

Tears Free Procreate Brushes

Milk Brushes for Procreate (Free)

While milk may not be at the top of most people’s list of required brushes, this free collection will allow you to add various types of splatters, splashes, and drops to your artwork.

Milk Free Procreate Brushes

Jingsketch Basic Procreate Brushes (Free)

This collection of ten simple brushes is perfect for beginners to Procreate. These versatile brushes can be used in a multitude of ways.

Jingsketch Basic Procreate Brushes free

Procreate Swatches

This swatch collection aren’t brushes per se, but they are still incredibly useful for creating artwork in Procreate. With these, choosing colors won’t be an issue.

Procreate Swatche

Nature Effect Procreate Brushes

These brushes can create various natural effects, including leaves, grass, clouds, and water. They are useful for landscape designs, botanical illustrations, and other projects that require a nature-inspired touch.

Nature Stamp Brushes for Procreate (Free)

This free Procreate brush set will help speed up your landscape painting process. It includes stamps for flowers, foliage, grass, leaves, rocks, ivy, trees, and glowworms.

Nature Free Procreate Brushes

Natural Brushes for Procreate

Here’s another set of brushes for Procreate centered around nature. This natural brush set has 20 brushes, including pencils, chalks, and shaders.

Natural Brushes for Procreate

Flora Vegetation Brushes for Procreate (Free)

The Flora Vegetation Brushes is a massive set with a whopping 91 brushes! These brushes are designed to mimic the textures, weights, and tones of natural materials. This set is a must-have for creating nature scenes or even drawing backgrounds.

Flora Vegetation Brushes for Procreate

Rain Stamp Brushes for Procreate (Free)

This pack of 25 free brushes allows you to add various types of textured rain to your artwork, giving it a moody, atmospheric look and feel.

Rain Free Procreate Brushes

Floral Stamp Procreate Brushes (Free)

The Free Floral Stamp set consists of five different brushes that help you capture the look of petals, leaves, vines, and more.

Free Floral Stamp Procreate Brushes

Comic & Cartoon Procreate Brushes

These brushes mimic the look and feel of traditional comic book art. They can be used to create various effects, including ink lines, halftone dots, and speech bubbles, allowing you to create unique comic and cartoon artwork.

Comic Ink Brush Set for Procreate (Free)

The Comic Ink Brush Set for Procreate includes 16 inking and SFX brushes for creating comic books from scratch. From fine liners to gradients, you have everything you need here to get started.

Comic Ink Brush Set for Procreate

Comics & Halftone Procreate Brushes

These Procreate brushes offer brushstrokes that have become synonymous with comic books. They can be used to add the look of actual paper or brush strokes, like hash lines, to a drawing.

Comics Halftone Procreate Brushes

Anime Bokeh Procreate Brushes (Free)

Here’s a collection of seven bokeh brushes for anime drawing and art. Depending on the layer style you use, you can use them in several ways to achieve different effects.

Anime Bokeh Procreate Brushes

Lettering Procreate Brushes

These Procreate brushes can be used to create various lettering effects, including calligraphy, graffiti, and retro styles. You can add a personalized touch to your designs, creating custom lettering and typography for logos, titles, apparel, and other projects.

Banner Wave is a free Procreate brush set for creating textured and bold hand-drawn lettering and calligraphy.

free Calligraphy Procreate Brush

Procreate Lettering Brushes for Procreate (Free)

Created for typography lovers, this free textured brush for Procreate transforms every stroke into calligraphy art. Blend tradition with modernity with this free brush set.

Lettering Brushes free Procreate Brushes

Graffiti Brush Pack (Free)

Unleash your inner street artist with the free graffiti brush pack for Procreate! Dive into a world of urban expression, mastering street art with brushes that capture every drip, tag, and wall wonder.

Graffiti Brush Pack Procreate Brushes

Stripe Procreate Brush (Free)

Stripe is a single brush that’s well worth downloading. It’s a smooth calligraphy or lettering brush that responds to pressure and layering—a fantastic choice for adding script typography to your work.

Stripe Procreate Brush

Fire & Ice Brushes for Procreate (Free)

Designed by Kelly Sikkema, this free Procreate brush is perfect for creating beautiful typography on a dark background.

Fire Ice Brushes for Procreate free

Lettering Procreate Brush Set (Free)

This is a nice set of lettering brushes that are a bit unusual. There’s a shrub brush, a wood grain brush, and even a worm brush!

Lettering Procreate Brush Set

Pencil & Pen Procreate Brushes

These pencil, pen, and ink brushes replicate the look and feel of traditional inking tools, such as brush, dip, and technical pens. They can be used for line art, illustrations, and comics.

Pencil Brushes for Procreate (Free)

This grain pencil and Copic marker brush set is another excellent free Procreate pack. It replicates the look and feel of real pencil strokes and lines drawn with a Copic marker.

Pencil Brushes for Procreate

Procreate Pencil Brushes (Free)

This is a free set of pencil brushes perfect for adding texture to an item or drawing. The set includes 24 unique brushes.

40+ Free Packs of Procreate Brushes for Digital Artists – Speckyboy

Ink Procreate Brushes & Textured Paper (Free)

Whether sketching, lettering, or embellishing intricate details, this ink brush replicates authentic ink, accommodating diverse line widths, shading, and textures. The download also includes free textured paper.

Textured Paper Ink Procreate Brushes

Procreate Ballpoint Pen Brushes (Free)

This Ballpoint Pen brush set mimics the look of a real ballpoint pen, offering fine strokes that you can layer to build shadows and contrast by applying greater pressure and using hatching.

Procreate Ballpoint Pen Brushes

Marker Brushes for Procreate (Free)

Need marker brushes? This set offers two options: an opaque marker and a variable-opacity marker. Both offer irregular coverage that looks more natural.

Marker Brushes for Procreate

Liner Procreate Brushes (Free)

22 Liner Procreate Brushes free

Cheap Fine-Liner Brush for Procreate (Free)

The Cheap Fine-Liner Brush set is a recreation of a 0.6 technical pen. It’s precise and allows you to create fine-line drawings or to fill in tiny details. It’s a great addition to any brush collection.

Cheap Fine-Liner Brush for Procreat

Pencil, Inking & Painting Basic Brush Set for Procreate (Free)

The Pencil, Inking, Painting Basic Brush Set consists of 7 brushes for creating comic book art from scratch. It has everything you need to conceptualize a piece from the sketch phase through painting.

Pencil Inking Painting Basic Brush Set for Procreate

Pixel Art Procreate Brushes

These Procreate brushes allow you to create authentic pixel art. You can create detailed sprites, game graphics, and nostalgic artwork.

Pixel Art Procreate Brush Set (Free)

Create your own pixel art using this free Procreate brush set. This download package includes four unique brushes, three pre-configured canvases, and a helpful user guide.

Pixel Art Procreate Brush Set

Space & Sky Procreate Brushes

These incredible brushes replicate elements of the night sky, including stars, planets, and other celestial bodies. They can be used to create various effects, including constellations, galaxies, and auroras.

Bright Sky Brushes for Procreate (Free)

This premium Procreate brush set includes 49 constellation brushes. You can download the free trial of four brushes for personal use.

Bright Sky Free Procreate Brushes

Constellation Brushes for Procreate (Free)

With this free Procreate constellation brush set, you can add depth and create an atmosphere in your digital art. The set also includes free zodiac signs.

Constellation Free Procreate Brushes

How to Install or Import Brushes into Procreate

Importing brushes into Procreate might vary slightly depending on your device and the method you choose. Here’s the simplest way to import brushes into Procreate:

  1. Download Brushes: Find and download the Procreate brush files (usually in .brush or .brushset format) from the collection above.
  2. Locate the Brush Files: Once downloaded, locate the brush files on your device. You might find them in your Downloads folder or wherever you saved them.
  3. Transfer Files to Procreate: Upload the brush files to cloud storage services like iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, or others. Then, open the cloud storage app within Procreate and import the brushes. Or you can simply use AirDrop.
  4. Import Brushes in Procreate: Open Procreate on your device. Tap the + button on the top right corner of the Brush Library to open the Add panel. Choose Import to access the import options.
  5. Select Brush Files: Navigate to the location where you saved the brush files and select the brush files you want to import.
  6. Confirm Import: Procreate will display a preview of the brushes you’re about to import. Review them and tap Import.
  7. Organize Brushes (Optional): After importing, you can create custom brush sets and organize your imported brushes for easier access.
  8. Start Using Brushes: The imported brushes will now be available in your Brush Library. Simply select a brush to start using it in your artwork.

Can You Use Photoshop Brushes in Procreate?

While using Photoshop brushes in Procreate is possible through conversion, it’s important to note that each application has its own brush engine and settings. This can lead to variations in how brushes behave and respond.

You could use a third-party tool or app to convert Photoshop .abr files to Procreate’s .brush, which Procreate can read. One tool you could use is abrMate for Windows.

To fully take advantage of Procreates’ capabilities, though, consider exploring its native brushes and using brushes that have been created specifically for the app.

Procreate Brush FAQs

  • Why Use Brush Sets in Procreate?

    Brushes can dramatically change the style and feel of your artwork. They allow for more creativity and help you achieve various effects, from realistic textures to quirky patterns.

  • Are These Procreate Brush Sets Really Free?

    Yes, the brushes in this collection are all free to download. Just make sure you check if there are any specific license guidelines for use.

  • Can Beginners Use These Brush Sets?

    These brush sets are great for beginners because they offer many effects and styles to experiment with, making the learning process more fun.

  • Do These Brushes Work on All Versions of Procreate?

    Most brushes work with different versions of Procreate, but it’s a good idea to check their compatibility with your version, especially if it’s older.

  • Can I Use These Brushes for Commercial Projects?

    Most free Procreate brushes are fine for both personal and commercial projects. But it’s always a good idea to review the usage terms set by the brush creator, as some might have specific requirements or limitations.

  • Are These Procreate Brushes Customizable?

    Procreate allows you to customize brushes. You can adjust settings like size, opacity, and flow to suit your requirements.

  • What Makes Procreate Brushes Different from Other Digital Art Software Brushes?

    Procreate brushes are specifically designed to take advantage of Procreate’s unique features, such as Apple Pencil pressure sensitivity and tilt functionality.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve had a chance to browse this collection of free Procreate brush sets, you may have already downloaded a few or put together a nice shortlist to revisit later.

These free brushes make it easy to add precision, depth, and texture to your work without creating designs from scratch.

It’s always a good idea to read any license agreements or terms and conditions before using these Procreate brushes in your commercial work to ensure you follow the rules and do not infringe on any copyright.

Related Topics