If you’re trying to raise awareness for your brand, adding your name or your business name as a graphic overlay at the bottom of your video is a great way to build brand recognition.
You can use the same effect to also include highlights or important bullet points that you want your audience to remember. This is known as a lower third and can be a great asset for your videos.
If you want to spice up your videos with unique and creative lower thirds, check out the templates below.
This huge template pack includes 24 lower third templates with a bold and colorful style. Keep in mind that you can easily adjust the colors to match your brand and set your desired duration.
Try this versatile lower third pack if you love minimal style and design. The template includes a grand total of 20 lower thirds and 10 premade color schemes. Customize the colors, set the duration, replace the text and render your project.
The Lower Thirds After Effects template features a classic black and white style. Your text appears as a stylish box and you can easily edit the colors and adjust the text and the duration.
This template pack for After Effects includes both titles and lower thirds so it’s a great choice for anyone in need of both for their video projects. The template is incredibly easy to edit as it comes with text boxes that automatically adjust to your text size and width.
If you want to grow your social media following and encourage people to follow you, this free pack of AE Social Media Template Lower Thirds is a great choice. The pack makes it easy to insert the links to your social media profiles and draw attention to them with a slick animation effect.
This creative and colorful pack of lower thirds also includes images and cartoon-style icons that you can use for extra eye-candy. The pack includes 15 titles and lower thirds and a detailed help file.
Another combo pack, this Titles & Lower-Thirds After Effects template features a modern and minimal style that can be used in a variety of projects. This template comes with full color control and a detailed help file.
Consider this template if you’re looking for a professional and elegant lower thirds template. It comes with Lower thirds, transitions, a logo reveal, and more. With 5 text placeholders and a spot for your logo and tagline, this template is a great choice for corporate videos.
This awesome lower thirds pack features a modern, flat design style. It’s perfect for brands, businesses, and projects that want to add a touch of elegance to their videos and presentations.
This is another elegant and stylish After Effects template that comes with four different graphics. All the text layers and colors are easy to edit and the project renders super fast which means this is a great choice if you have a rush project on your hands.
This simple and clean template is perfect for modern companies and businesses that want to spice up their videos. The template comes with 30 different lower third templates that are easy to customize.
Minimal Lower Thirds Pack (Envato Elements)
The Minimal Lower Thirds Pack is another great choice if you’re a fan of minimalistic style. The template makes it easy to tweak any of the premade color schemes and you’ll also find a detailed help file with editing instructions.
The Free Turn Lower Thirds template is a clean and well-organized After Effects template with 12 different lower thirds. The lower thirds come in a variety of styles so you can use them for multiple projects.
Your projects will instantly look more elegant with these 2D lower thirds thanks to the use of stylish typography and a variety of designs. However, you can easily use your preferred fonts and change the colors to match your brand.
Conclusion
Add more style to your videos with one of these lower thirds template packs. Whether you want to make sure your viewers easily memorize key takeaways or simply want to build brand recognition, these lower-third templates can be used in a variety of projects so be sure to check them out and download them for your next video project.
The worldwide spread of the COVID-19 virus has put a damper on a number of events – both large and small. Sports stadiums are empty, while the South by Southwest conference has been cancelled for the first time in its history. Meanwhile, WordCamps across the globe, including Asia and Washington, D.C. have also been postponed.
Obviously, this is serious business. And, while the cancellation of such popular events is difficult, it’s also the right thing to do. Stopping the spread of the virus and keeping everyone healthy should always come first.
But one trend I’ve seen in the web design community is a bit troubling. Some have suggested that perhaps all industry conferences become virtual. The argument goes that, because of the nature of our work, we don’t need to be physically present.
In the short term (and during a crisis), maybe they’re right. But there are still reasons why showing up to a conference is beneficial.
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Virtual conferences aren’t a new thing. And many, like WordCamp US, have had both a physical and virtual component for years.
But while watching from afar can still help you understand new concepts, it’s just not the same experience. Being in a room full of people who work in the same industry brings a sense of connection that can’t be duplicated.
This is especially important for those of us who work from home. In my case, I very rarely get out to client meetings anymore. Most of my communication comes via email – which is convenient, just not very personal.
Therefore, the opportunity to get out to a conference means a lot. It’s a chance to connect with new people and catch up with old friends. These are things that can’t be replicated by staring at a screen. And besides, we do enough of that in our daily lives. An in-person event helps to give us some relief.
An Opportunity for Growth
Meeting people face-to-face is often a better way to expand your network. This is especially so if you’re looking to book new clients or establish partnerships with other freelancers.
A casual conversation between (or even during) conference sessions can do wonders. It may lead to a swap of business cards, which could in turn result in working together down the line.
An in-person meeting is just better on so many levels. It helps to establish a rapport and trust. It provides a chance to get to know each other in an informal environment. And there is the chance to discuss things in-depth – which is not always easy during the workday.
And, quite often, the experience is more pleasant than the old-fashioned cold call. The parties don’t feel bothered or like they’re stuck in a sales pitch. Instead, they’re making a more personal connection.
A Chance to Gain a New Perspective
Beyond the camaraderie of attending a web design conference, there is also something to be said for getting away from the office.
For one, it can be a great way to fuel creativity. Whether the conference is down the street or in a distant city, there is simply a different energy at one of these events. It may lead to new ideas that can benefit your clients or your business as a whole.
But even if you don’t come away with an amazing idea, just the act of being out and about can have benefits. It’s a nice break from the daily grind and the stresses of work.
Plus, when you return to the office, you may just feel like a whole new person with a fresh perspective. This provides the motivation you’ll need to tackle whatever challenges come your way.
Something to Look Forward To
Perhaps most importantly, these conferences are something to get excited about. I can attest to that personally, as I look forward to the various WordCamp events I attend each year. It’s truly something that shakes up my routine in a very positive way.
So, while I don’t believe we’re in danger of losing in-person conferences, it is worth reiterating how beneficial they are. The sense of community they provide are something human beings need. It’s also something that is hard to come by in our industry. That is not easily replicated via a live video stream.
My hope is that, once the worst of COVID-19 is behind us, those cancelled events come back in their previous form. Sure, having the option to “attend” virtually is nice. But the value of actually being there far outweighs modern convenience.
zip 1.18.0RC6
- add ZipArchive::FL_RECOMPRESS, FL_ENCRYPTED, FL_OVERWRITE, FL_LOCAL,
FL_CENTRAL constants
- add optional "flags" parameter to ZipArchive::addEmptyDir, addFile and
addFromString methods
- add "flags" options to ZipArchive::addGlob and addPattern methods,
keeping previous behavior having FL_OVERWRITE by default
- add ZipArchive::replaceFile() method
- add lastId property to ZipArchive
- make status, statusSys properties and ZipArchive::getStatusString() method
available after archive is closed
- Fixed bug #72374 remove_path option strips first char of filename
- Fixed bug #50678 files extracted lost their original modified time
zip 1.18.0RC5
- add ZipArchive::FL_RECOMPRESS, FL_ENCRYPTED, FL_OVERWRITE, FL_LOCAL,
FL_CENTRAL constants
- add optional "flags" parameter to ZipArchive::addEmptyDir, addFile and
addFromString methods
- add "flags" options to ZipArchive::addGlob and addPattern methods,
keeping previous behavior having FL_OVERWRITE by default
- add ZipArchive::replaceFile() method
- add lastId property to ZipArchive
- make status, statusSys properties and ZipArchive::getStatusString() method
available after archive is closed
- Fixed bug #72374 remove_path option strips first char of filename
- Fixed bug #50678 files extracted lost their original modified time
phalcon 4.0.5
Full changelog can be found at: https://github.com/phalcon/cphalcon/blob/master/CHANGELOG-4.0.md
[4.0.5]
Added
Changed
Fixed
Fixed PhalconDb::fetchAll to correctly return data when Enum::FETCH_COLUMN is supplied. #13321
Fixed Postgres NULL values to not be required during model update. #14862
Fixed MySQL alter column when default value contains not only CURRENT_TIMESTAMP #14880
Fixed MySQL default value with ON UPDATE expression #14887
Fixed Str::dirFromFile() to replace . with - to avoid issues with Windows environments #14858
zip 1.18.0RC4
- add ZipArchive::FL_RECOMPRESS, FL_ENCRYPTED, FL_OVERWRITE, FL_LOCAL,
FL_CENTRAL constants
- add optional "flags" parameter to ZipArchive::addEmptyDir, addFile and
addFromString methods
- add "flags" options to ZipArchive::addGlob and addPattern methods,
keeping previous behavior having FL_OVERWRITE by default
- add ZipArchive::replaceFile() method
- add lastId property to ZipArchive
- make status, statusSys properties and ZipArchive::getStatusString() method
available after archive is closed
- Fixed bug #72374 remove_path option strips first char of filename
zip 1.18.0RC3
- add ZipArchive::FL_RECOMPRESS, FL_ENCRYPTED, FL_OVERWRITE, FL_LOCAL,
FL_CENTRAL constants
- add optional "flags" parameter to ZipArchive::addEmptyDir, addFile and
addFromString methods
- add "flags" options to ZipArchive::addGlob and addPattern methods,
keeping previous behavior having FL_OVERWRITE by default
- add ZipArchive::replaceFile() method
- add lastId property to ZipArchive
- make status, statusSys properties and ZipArchive::getStatusString() method
available after archive is closed
CSV 0.3.1
Fix Windows compilation.
Fix package stability.
Add tests for a custom EOL sequence as nul byte.
Bundle tests with release.
zip 1.18.0RC2
- add ZipArchive::FL_RECOMPRESS, FL_ENCRYPTED, FL_OVERWRITE, FL_LOCAL,
FL_CENTRAL constants
- add optional "flags" parameter to ZipArchive::addEmptyDir, addFile and
addFromString methods
- add "flags" options to ZipArchive::addGlob and addPattern methods,
keeping previous behavior having FL_OVERWRITE by default
- add ZipArchive::replaceFile() method
- add lastId property to ZipArchive
Every website we build has its own unique challenges. But the tools we use can help us tackle them head on.
WordPress, and its never-ending ecosystem of plugins have helped web designers tame even the most difficult client requests. Pretty much everything we need is just click-and-go. And if it doesn’t exist, we can build it ourselves.
But for each of these solutions we implement, there is a hidden consequence. One that only rears its head when we dig a little deeper for user-specific data. Only then do we realize the tangled mess that sits beneath that pretty outer shell.
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In a default WordPress installation, user data (at least, the kind you might want to export) is actually pretty neat and tidy. Data is stored in the wp_usermeta database table. Inside, you’ll find the basics like the user’s name, along with their role/capabilities and their account preferences.
Combine this with what is in the wp_users table (username, email address, password), and you can grab a lot of useful information for every user on your website. Plus, you can easily import a CSV list of new users if need be.
Of course, most websites don’t stop at a default configuration. On the contrary, we often add any number of plugins so that users can do more with our site.
We want them to do things like have custom profile information, keep track of orders and belong to specific groups. Plus, features like forums, support portals and learning management systems are also widely used these days.
And that’s just scratching the surface. There’s a whole lot more that can be added to a typical WordPress site. That’s a good thing, until you have to try and wrangle the data.
Data, Data, Everywhere
The issue at hand is not so much the fault of WordPress itself. It’s that where a particular piece of data is stored is, in many cases, left up to plugin developers. That can result in the user data you want to gather being stored all over the place. It’s the nature of the beast.
Let’s use a recent website I worked on as an example. It uses a membership plugin, which allows people to join the client’s organization.
Collected Data
When they sign up, we ask them for more than just the standard WordPress user metadata. New members are asked for information such as:
Mailing address;
Phone number;
Their preference for how they receive newsletters (email or postal mail);
Generated Data
Beyond the information we ask users to supply, there is also a plethora of data generated by the membership plugin itself, including:
Membership status (active or inactive);
Membership level;
Membership expiration date;
There’s nothing over-the-top about the configuration. It’s probably not much different than the tens of thousands of other sites running the same membership suite.
While the site itself isn’t too complicated, that doesn’t mean its user data is easy to find. Let’s look at how a seemingly-simple task can become a time-consuming challenge.
The Challenge
The client had a very basic need. They wanted an export of all active members who prefer a hard copy of the organization’s newsletter sent to them. Based on what we have, this should take just a few minutes to cobble together. I was way off.
This was much more difficult than I envisioned. The data we needed was right there in the database. But trying to piece it together proved to be a near-monumental task for someone who isn’t a database-querying wizard.
However, that’s why we have plugins, right? And there are a ton of different options – both free and premium. But, no matter what I tried, I couldn’t seem to get exactly what the export required. Here’s why:
The custom data we ask members to provide us is easy enough to get. It’s in the wp_usermeta table, which user export plugins are generally able to find. So, generating a list of users who wanted that hard copy of the newsletter was fairly straightforward.
The other member-related data, however, is stored in another table that is exclusive to the membership plugin. Even a rather robust commercial plugin I used couldn’t help me here.
The result was that I could find out who asked for the postal edition of the newsletter, but I couldn’t tell if their membership was active – not very helpful.
Sure, that info was stored in an adjacent table in the same database – but it may as well have been on Jupiter for my purposes. It felt like searching the house for your keys, only to find that your neighbor is holding them for ransom.
Eventually, I did find an export plugin – one that included an add-on for the membership plugin – that was able to help me put together the data I needed. If that hadn’t existed, I’d still be stuck with only a half-solution.
Can the Experience Be Improved?
This all left me to wonder how these situations can be improved or avoided in the first place. It’s a tough call.
First, I admit that these types of challenges aren’t my strong point. Someone with plenty of expertise in PHP and MySQL could probably come up with a custom solution. Me? I’m left to experiment with plugins and groan when they don’t work as I’d hoped.
But one question worth asking is, should such expertise be required to export a complete set of user data? It seems like there should be a more user-friendly way to make this work.
The fact that WordPress allows plugins to create their own database tables is both understandable and even beneficial. It ensures that we can install and uninstall plugins without fear of breaking something.
Yet, while this all works seamlessly to the naked eye, it’s anything but to those of us trying to access the underlying data.
Perhaps there needs to be an API that allows us to grab everything related to a specific user, regardless of where it is stored in the database. But I’ll leave that discussion to those who know the pros and cons of such a feature.
Until then, I’ll just keep on piecing together things as clients need them – hoping for a much cleaner process in the future.
Perhaps no choice is as vital to marketing as color. Whether you are selecting the color for a product or for your email marketing campaign, color has a tremendous impact on all of us. Subconsciously, we associate different colors with different things.
This infographic examines the psychology of color and looks at some common associations of different colors. It shows the overall importance of color to consumers and characteristics of many individual colors, and it also helps show the connection between graphic design and psychology. The numbers are pretty fascinating!
While color can be appealing to us visually, a lot more is going on behind the scenes than just an aesthetic. Powerful psychological cues are triggered when we view different colors. Colors evoke emotions, moods, and feelings. Whether you are a designer or a consumer, knowing the power of color psychology can help you make better decisions.
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The psychology of color directly plays into consumer behavior. Nearly 85% of consumers name color as the primary reason that they purchase a particular product. 93% look at visual appearance when they buy a product and color improves comprehension, learning, and readability.
When you are looking at the best visual choice for your next project, this color infographic should be a handy guide. Whether you are painting a room at home or designing a web site, color matters. Be sure to do some careful research!
Video: The Psychology of Color Explained
Dan Shaffer explains the psychology behind color and how companies can use it effectively.
Marketing with Color Psychology
Knowing the psychological connections to certain colors can increase the effectiveness of your company’s branding methods. By analyzing how colors psychologically impact others, you can make branding and advertisement decisions that will allow you to reach your targeted audiences on a whole new level. You can even interpret it as graphic design psychology and let it help your decisions on how to color everything on your website. Colors psychology can be used in nearly any visual discipline.
What colors should you use in your marketing?
Using orange lettering in your calls to action is a good strategy because orange psychologically represents a friendly and confident brand, and will tell potential customers that they should purchase your company’s products and services. Orange is also very attention-grabbing when used in bright hues.
On the other hand, utilizing green in your advertisements signals a link to nature, wealth and tranquility. Green is a good choice for your ads if you want to relax your customers, or if you want to indicate that your company can bring them wealth. Another way to get a sense of whether a color might be a good choice for your brand is by taking a look at the kinds of brands already associated with it. Whole Foods, Animal Planet and Starbucks all use green to indicate a link to nature, which is something consumers want from organic grocery stores, animal shows, and quality coffee products.
Colors develop specific connections for consumers over time, which may be why many social networking sites create their branded images using the color blue. This is because blue relaxes people, but also creates a sense of security and trust in a brand. Sites like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Skype all use blue in their branded images to show their trustworthiness to site visitors, while also creating a relaxing atmosphere in which their social media users can post and tweet until their hearts are content.
By understanding the subconscious psychological effects of colors you use in your branding and advertising campaigns, you can better target your niche audiences and effectively market your company’s image in a visually stimulating way. This is especially important when you are redesigning a website or brand image. The psychology of colors is a very powerful tool in web design, graphic design, and other areas of your business.
And, when utilized properly, you can use the psychological impact of color to your advantage in branding, design, marketing, and promotion materials to get the best possible results from every strategy.
The natural world has always served as a great source of inspiration. And we can see some of its most amazing wonders by looking up towards the heavens.
A crystal-blue sky on a sunny day, the stars twinkling at night. Then too, the thoughts of space exploration and our galaxy also ignite our imagination. What’s above us brings both an everyday reality and curiosity of the unknown.
It’s no surprise that some very creative developers have used the sky and space as a subject of experimentation. The potential use of light, color, movement and the latest web technologies are all a natural fit.
Today, we’ll introduce you to some amazing examples that, in one way or another, utilize the sky and space. They run the gamut from scientifically accurate to pure fantasy. Enjoy!
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The parallax scrolling effect is just about everywhere these days. It’s one of those trends that has taken on a life of its own. However, this is one of the most unique and compelling examples we’ve seen. Scrolling down the page results in a 3D shifting of clouds, while a changing background color makes it seem like you’re falling towards the Earth.
What makes this star map so interesting is the CSS and JavaScript-powered interactivity. Click on a system and it comes into focus, complete with silky-smooth transitions. The map also shows a simulated orbit path and some fun emoji as icing on the cake.
One of the true wonders of the universe, the northern lights (aurora borealis) is something not many of us get to see in person. But we can at least try to recreate the experience. Here, a pure CSS version of a glowing green and purple night sky can light up your screen.
A stunning sunset is, on the contrary, something just about everyone can experience. But that doesn’t make it any less stunning. This snippet allows you to put the sunset in motion anytime of day, just by clicking the great yellow sphere. The changing colors make for a attention-grabbing effect.
Want to know when the full moon will shine on Paris, France? This delightful animation tells you, and gives you a bedroom window view of the Eiffel Tower. The only mystery here is whether the cozy black cat does anything special when the event arrives.
Saturn’s rings are a massive source of fascination among us humans. This CSS-only rendering of the planet offers a slightly different take. It’s dark and the rings aren’t quite as prominent as usual. But it provides a beautiful example of how CSS gradients can help us produce some amazing art.
The use of WebGL makes this solar animation otherworldly. As the sun drops down from the top of the screen, notice the blurry effects around its edge. The level of detail here is just incredible. Thankfully, no heat makes it through the screen.
Rounding out our collection is a snippet that is a bit more utilitarian. It’s a set of beautiful CSS gradients you can use to reproduce several different sky color combinations. You’ll find everything from the dead of night, sunrise, sunset and the perfect blues of midday.
As the code snippets above demonstrate, the sky and outer space can add elements of fun and beauty to the web. Whether they recreate our world or aim to show us new ones, they offer a unique way to enhance the user experience.
