You can make some pretty dazzling text effects with basic CSS and a few lines of JavaScript. These effects range from text display animations to 3D rotations or anything else you can imagine.
And in this post I’ve cataloged 10 of the coolest examples from around the web showcasing what you can do with just a little bit of stylized text and CSS code.
You might also like these CSS Animation Tools.
The Web Designer Toolbox
Unlimited Downloads: 1,000,000+ Web Templates, Themes, Plugins, Design Assets, and much more!
1. Title Animation
This animated title effect by Robin Treur follows the style of many movies or video games. The letters take on a protruding 3D effect using CSS3 text shadows along with a slight diagonal slant.
The fade-in animation style reminds me of classic movies from the 1930s with the same slanted text. Everything is controlled through CSS but the “restart” button is built using JavaScript. This way you can play the animation many times over to get a better look.
2. Shattering
Creating broken shattering text is a simple task with tools like After Effects, but creating a text shatter animation with code is a whole lot tougher, making this pen by Arsen Zbidniakov quite impressive.
The text is actually built using SVG shapes which makes the animation process a little easier. This also means you can’t select, copy, or interact with the text like normal.
But you can add a similar effect to your site if you use it for a logo or another non-interactive page element.
3. Twisted Letters
Developer Mamun Khandaker put together this collection of twisted letter animations. Each animation style has a different name and you can browse through them all in this one pen.
I could see these text effects used on landing pages or homepages for a tool/webapp. These immediately grab attention and they leave a lasting impression on the visitor. Plus they’re all made with 100% pure CSS and super easy to tweak.
4. Pixel Alphabet
This unique animated pixel effect is definitely strange, yet oddly mesmerizing. It relies mostly on JavaScript and was created by developer Georgi Nikoloff as a way to play with the HTML5 canvas element.
It uses Noto Serif as a font base and converts letters into malleable elements inside the canvas element. JavaScript breaks up the letters into smaller dots and these form the basis of the animation.
I can’t say this would have much practical use but it’s a testament to how far web animation has come.
5. Typing Carousel
This effect is notoriously popular on small portfolios and agency websites. The typing text animation often appears in a site’s header and it mimics the look of someone typing in a word processor.
Everything is contained inside one element with a good mix of CSS and JavaScript animation. Sometimes you’ll see websites use this to list descriptions of their work, or their history, or clients they’ve worked with.
It’s definitely a fun effect when used in moderation. Since only one word is visible at a time it does limit the readability of the page, but when used sparingly this is a very cool effect that anyone can copy.
6. Tyger Tyger
Borrowing words from the William Blake poem “The Tyger”, this very unique animation by Joseph Martucci really grabs your attention.
The focus here is not so much on the content, but rather on the typographic styles and animations. Each “segment” of the text has its own style with text outlines and glowing effects. It’s a great example of how you can style a homepage to animate text sequentially using setTimeout().
7. Snap SVG
The open source Snap.svg library lets anyone create high-resolution SVG images with just a bit of code. This is far easier than learning a program like Illustrator and it lets you animate just like this fun example created by Alexis Blondin.
All the letters are created dynamically through JavaScript including the random characters used in the animation. Modern SVG support is huge and these image types can radically change how we build websites in the coming years. This Snap.svg animation is just one example and it’s definitely a cool one.
8. Bracket Animation
Here’s another fairly common text animation technique which I see all the time. It uses brackets with rotating text almost like a rolodex on the page.
This animation mimics the typing carousel effect I mentioned earlier, except this can be made with just CSS. It relies on a custom looping animation that moves from one CSS keyframe to another, each frame displaying a different word or phrase in the rotating text.
I find this effect much subtler and easier to read on a homepage. If you’re looking for some cool text effects for your homepage this would be an excellent choice.
9. Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt
This sweet logo effect was borrowed from the Netflix series “Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt”. Everything is created with CSS including the text styles and the custom animations.
The page body has a class which initiates the animation, and this class is appended to the page using JavaScript. From there it’s all pure CSS. It mostly uses a bunch of transforms to create the surprisingly realistic bouncing effect.
It’s yet another example of how much CSS3 can do if you know how to use it.
10. Filling SVG Text
Lastly we come to this very unique SVG filler animation using a mix of box shadows and the CSS stroke property.
This text is built entirely with SVGs but it’s also selectable so you can copy/paste letters like regular text. It’s fully compliant with all browsers and the animation is subtle enough that it could fit into any website.
All of these text animations bring something new to the table. You may not find them all practical or usable in your own work, but they prove almost anything is possible with the right approach.
The post 10 Amazing Animated Text CSS & JavaScript Code Snippets appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.
Starting a freelance design business is something of an experiment. You throw all kinds of ideas out there and see what works. And, over time, you get to learn the results.
When those results are tallied, not every idea is going to come out a winner. Some services you offer may turn out to be making you little-to-no money. In extreme cases, you might even lose revenue on them.
It may be tempting to simply wipe these types of services off of your menu. But it’s not always that easy. Clients may be depending on you for these items. Not to mention the possibility that you’re contractually obligated to keep things going for a while. Then, there could be some non-monetary value to what you’re doing as well.
Let’s shed some light on this subject. First, we’ll look at how to identify areas of your business that are not doing much for you financially. From there, we can examine these areas to see if they should stay or go.
The Web Designer Toolbox
Unlimited Downloads: 1,000,000+ Web Templates, Themes, Plugins, Design Assets, and much more!
Look to the Margins
Hopefully, the core services you provide clients are doing well (if not, that’s a whole other discussion). Those are generally the areas of business that designers should be spending most of their time on.
Quite often, it’s those surrounding products or services that are the troublemakers. Things that seemed to be a good idea at the time, but perhaps never lived up to expectations.
Plus, so much depends on your niche and how it has evolved over time. If your business has changed direction in recent years, there could be some offerings hanging out there that are no longer relevant to you.
I’ll use myself as an example here. In the early years of my business, I tried to offer a number of different services beyond web design: hosting, SEO, digital advertising, social media, etc.
As the years have rolled on, I found that some of the items in that list were not making me money and/or taking time away from core services. This isn’t to say that any one of them doesn’t have the potential to become at least marginally profitable. It’s just that, given my focus and resources, they weren’t all that great for my particular situation.
Every business is unique, so your answers will likely be different than mine. But that’s the point. Take a look at what you’re doing and see which services may not be pulling their weight.
Determining the Fate of a Service
Beyond monetary value, there are other considerations for whether or not a service is worth keeping around:
Relevance
If something compliments your core services, then maybe it still deserves a spot on your menu. The tricky thing here is looking at why it hasn’t been profitable. Maybe you didn’t spend as much time on it as you planned, or had a flawed approach. There’s always the possibility to retool things in an attempt to bring in some cash.
On the other hand, even a relevant service can be a resource hog. If it’s taking too much of your time and not making you money, the writing could be on the wall.
Likewise, a service that no longer fits in with your business strategy should probably be jettisoned.
Client Relations
Sometimes, it’s those little things that mean a lot to clients. Taking care of those tiny inconveniences for them (like domain renewal, for example) may be a pain to us. However, they are also a way to build some good will.
It’s sort of like all the niceties of a fancy hotel. The small gestures (the mint on the pillow, towels folded in artistic shapes) that let clients know you care about their needs.
This could be worth continuing if you get a sense that your clients benefit from the service. However, that has to be measured carefully against the time and responsibilities that come with such perks.
Removing a Service from Your Offerings
If you have determined that a service is no longer viable, it’s time to phase it out. As mentioned previously, this isn’t necessarily an easy task.
The more clients who use the service, the more difficult it will be to discontinue. There may be situations where you’re obligated to provide a service until a specific date. Therefore, you can’t just pull the rug out from under people.
Regardless, the first step in the process is to inform clients about the impending change. Ideally, you’d provide at least a month’s notice or more. Send them a letter (electronic or otherwise) that details the discontinuation and any steps they may need to take.
In some cases, there might be an alternative service you can recommend. For instance, if you’ll no longer be hosting websites, you could offer up a list of providers. Since changes can make life more difficult for clients, it’s important to try and soften the blow in any way you can.
It’s also worth building some flexibility into your plans. Setting hard deadlines for changes may sound reasonable, but life often has other ideas. Be prepared to make a temporary exception or two on the way to removing a service.
All Businesses Change
The longer your freelance web design business goes on, the more likely it is that you’ll experience some big changes. Not only do the tools and technologies evolve, but the very services you offer will change with the times.
And, despite good intentions, not every service you offer will make money. Thus, it’s important to identify what’s working and what isn’t. From there, it’s about taking action to ensure that these offerings either shape up or ship out.
The post Dealing with the Low or No-Profit Areas of Your Freelance Web Design Business appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.
Package:
Summary:
Publish and distribute ebooks for download
Groups:
Author:
Description:
This class can be used to publish and distribute ebooks for download...
Read more at https://www.phpclasses.org/package/11675-PHP-Publish-and-distribute-ebooks-for-download.html#2020-06-08-06:18:02
Latest PEAR Releases:
It seems like every day new tools aimed at web designers are released. And they tend to generate some buzz, as design blogs are always in search of something new to talk about (guilty as charged).
But, should you actually be using these items? Knowing that they exist is one thing, but trusting them in your projects is quite another.
To be clear, we’re not necessarily talking about design-only tools like code generators or layout apps. Rather, we’re more focused on items built to run on live websites. Things like content management systems, development platforms, plugins and frameworks.
Each of these items can play a crucial role in how a website looks and functions. None are perfect, as even the most trusted options fail some of the time. So, where does that leave us with newer, less-proven tools?
Let’s look at how to vet a new tool and decide whether or not it’s right for a production environment.
The Web Designer Toolbox
Unlimited Downloads: 1,000,000+ Web Templates, Themes, Plugins, Design Assets, and much more!
Does It Make Things Better?
Perhaps it sounds like a silly question. But it’s also a really important one to ask.
Tools exist to solve all sorts of problems. For example, a CSS framework may seek to increase and simplify the usage of grid or flexbox. Or there may be a CMS that aims to put eCommerce within reach of non-technical users.
You’ll notice most of these products will proudly mention their core purpose (usually in big, bold type). At the same time, we can’t simply take the author’s word for it. A tool needs to provide some proof that it’s actually an improvement over something that already exists – A.K.A., the market leaders.
Market leaders have attained their position for a reason. Usually it’s because they’ve:
- Existed for a substantial amount of time;
- Have proven their ability to perform their stated functions;
- Have a large user base (relative to their niche) and a thriving community;
- Offer a reliable means of support to users;
Therefore, if a new tool wants us to abandon the market leader, there had better some good reasons to do so.
Put It to the Test
If that new tool makes a compelling case, then it’s time to have some fun. But that doesn’t mean using it in a production environment – at least not yet.
Some tools have the potential to be more disruptive than others. Even so, it’s worth making the effort to test them out in a way that makes sense for your project.
For instance, if want to check out that cool new WordPress plugin, use a staging environment. This allows you to replicate your production website while mitigating risk to the live one.
The same can be said for just about any piece of code you want to test drive. If you don’t have a staging site, create a little test project for experimentation. Ideally, the hosting environment would at least be similar to what you typically use.
Regardless of what you’re testing, there are plenty of things to do. See how it adjusts to various browsers and devices. Combine it with other tools you use and look for any potential conflicts. Finally, conduct a number of different tasks to find out if this wunderkind can hold up to everything you throw at it.
The Importance of Community
There seems to a correlation between a tool’s success and whether or not it is able to build a strong community of users. Many a GitHub repository sits there collecting dust because, for one reason or another, the software just didn’t reach a critical mass.
On the other hand, offerings like WordPress and Bootstrap have found loyal audiences. In the case of WordPress, it even spawned a development community that helps to keep the software thriving through core contributions, plugins and themes. Bootstrap’s depth of features, coupled with the backing of Twitter, has led a number of designers to adopt and customize the framework for their own projects.
The scope of these products is very different, yet they both benefit from highly-active communities. This is something every new tool aims for, but only a few achieve.
Thus, adopting a tool with little or no community around it is a risk. The number of active users and contributors doesn’t have to match the aforementioned powerhouses, but there should be a dedicated group that goes beyond the original developer.
The stronger the community, the more likely a product will be around for years to come.
Production or Not?
Even if you’re impressed with the results of testing and the fledgling community, there are still some reasons to hold off on using a tool on a production website. The bigger your site is, the more conservative approach you should take.
Perhaps the biggest concern might be the release status. If the tool is in beta, well, that’s a pretty big risk. It’s probably best to wait until a production-ready version is released (and tested). That is, unless you and/or your client are comfortable with a bit of free-spirited experimentation.
The other consideration are any known bugs, incompatibilities or security flaws. This is scary enough with more established software. But for a newer app it screams “WAIT!”
That being said, maybe you find that you really have found something that is a perfect fit. In that case, it may indeed be ready for use in your project.
Finding New Tools, the Right Way
When something is first released and is generating some buzz, there’s a temptation to start using it right away. But taking this approach on your projects can often leave you with buyer’s remorse.
The overarching theme is that there’s a process behind vetting new tools. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be very difficult. A little bit of research and testing may be all it takes to figure out if a tool is right for you.
Doing this work beforehand will ensure that you’re making a sound decision for both you and your clients. And if you find a tool isn’t a good fit, that’s OK. Something new and exciting is always just around the corner.
The post Thoughts on the Early Adoption of Web Development Tools appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.
It seems like every day new tools aimed at web designers are released. And they tend to generate some buzz, as design blogs are always in search of something new to talk about (guilty as charged).
But, should you actually be using these items? Knowing that they exist is one thing, but trusting them in your projects is quite another.
To be clear, we’re not necessarily talking about design-only tools like code generators or layout apps. Rather, we’re more focused on items built to run on live websites. Things like content management systems, development platforms, plugins and frameworks.
Each of these items can play a crucial role in how a website looks and functions. None are perfect, as even the most trusted options fail some of the time. So, where does that leave us with newer, less-proven tools?
Let’s look at how to vet a new tool and decide whether or not it’s right for a production environment.
The Web Designer Toolbox
Unlimited Downloads: 1,000,000+ Web Templates, Themes, Plugins, Design Assets, and much more!
Does It Make Things Better?
Perhaps it sounds like a silly question. But it’s also a really important one to ask.
Tools exist to solve all sorts of problems. For example, a CSS framework may seek to increase and simplify the usage of grid or flexbox. Or there may be a CMS that aims to put eCommerce within reach of non-technical users.
You’ll notice most of these products will proudly mention their core purpose (usually in big, bold type). At the same time, we can’t simply take the author’s word for it. A tool needs to provide some proof that it’s actually an improvement over something that already exists – A.K.A., the market leaders.
Market leaders have attained their position for a reason. Usually it’s because they’ve:
- Existed for a substantial amount of time;
- Have proven their ability to perform their stated functions;
- Have a large user base (relative to their niche) and a thriving community;
- Offer a reliable means of support to users;
Therefore, if a new tool wants us to abandon the market leader, there had better some good reasons to do so.
Put It to the Test
If that new tool makes a compelling case, then it’s time to have some fun. But that doesn’t mean using it in a production environment – at least not yet.
Some tools have the potential to be more disruptive than others. Even so, it’s worth making the effort to test them out in a way that makes sense for your project.
For instance, if want to check out that cool new WordPress plugin, use a staging environment. This allows you to replicate your production website while mitigating risk to the live one.
The same can be said for just about any piece of code you want to test drive. If you don’t have a staging site, create a little test project for experimentation. Ideally, the hosting environment would at least be similar to what you typically use.
Regardless of what you’re testing, there are plenty of things to do. See how it adjusts to various browsers and devices. Combine it with other tools you use and look for any potential conflicts. Finally, conduct a number of different tasks to find out if this wunderkind can hold up to everything you throw at it.
The Importance of Community
There seems to a correlation between a tool’s success and whether or not it is able to build a strong community of users. Many a GitHub repository sits there collecting dust because, for one reason or another, the software just didn’t reach a critical mass.
On the other hand, offerings like WordPress and Bootstrap have found loyal audiences. In the case of WordPress, it even spawned a development community that helps to keep the software thriving through core contributions, plugins and themes. Bootstrap’s depth of features, coupled with the backing of Twitter, has led a number of designers to adopt and customize the framework for their own projects.
The scope of these products is very different, yet they both benefit from highly-active communities. This is something every new tool aims for, but only a few achieve.
Thus, adopting a tool with little or no community around it is a risk. The number of active users and contributors doesn’t have to match the aforementioned powerhouses, but there should be a dedicated group that goes beyond the original developer.
The stronger the community, the more likely a product will be around for years to come.
Production or Not?
Even if you’re impressed with the results of testing and the fledgling community, there are still some reasons to hold off on using a tool on a production website. The bigger your site is, the more conservative approach you should take.
Perhaps the biggest concern might be the release status. If the tool is in beta, well, that’s a pretty big risk. It’s probably best to wait until a production-ready version is released (and tested). That is, unless you and/or your client are comfortable with a bit of free-spirited experimentation.
The other consideration are any known bugs, incompatibilities or security flaws. This is scary enough with more established software. But for a newer app it screams “WAIT!”
That being said, maybe you find that you really have found something that is a perfect fit. In that case, it may indeed be ready for use in your project.
Finding New Tools, the Right Way
When something is first released and is generating some buzz, there’s a temptation to start using it right away. But taking this approach on your projects can often leave you with buyer’s remorse.
The overarching theme is that there’s a process behind vetting new tools. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be very difficult. A little bit of research and testing may be all it takes to figure out if a tool is right for you.
Doing this work beforehand will ensure that you’re making a sound decision for both you and your clients. And if you find a tool isn’t a good fit, that’s OK. Something new and exciting is always just around the corner.
The post Thoughts on the Early Adoption of Web Development Tools appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.
Recently, on Facebook, I was asked "Who are you to call anyone a racist?". To be clear, I did not call anyone a racist. But, really, let's say I did call someone a racist? Who am I to call anyone a racist? After all, I am a 47 year old, white, middle class man. I am, quite possibly, in the absolute sweet spot of my life for white privilege.
As a child, I heard older family members say racist things. Luckily, my parents made it clear to me that they were wrong and I should ignore them. So I have for 40+ years. Some of those racist things were said about my childhood best friend, who is black. Were they nasty, ugly, hateful remarks? No. They didn't use the "N" word. It was subtle things that made me question if I should have a best friend that is black. They found it confusing. They found it odd. It was clear they did not approve.
I was fortunate to have lived in a very diverse neighborhood in Huntsville, AL as a child. My next door neighbor was two years older than me. He was my best friend. I don't know if I was his best friend but he was definitely mine. And like I said, he is black. His father pulled the first tooth I lost. I spent so much time at his house as a child and he spent time at mine. We liked his house better because his parents had converted their two car garage into an awesome den/music hall. I was young and innocent as they say. I didn't know any different. I am so glad that was the case. I have not seen him in years as I moved away from Huntsville when I was eleven years old. A year or so ago, I did find his mother and sisters on Facebook and was able to reconnect with them online. He has a career in the Air Force. I am very proud to have called, and still consider, him my friend.
After living in Tuscumbia, AL for four years where racial topics were basically not discussed despite there being a neighborhood named Richman Hills where the road leading into it was named White City Drive, I moved to a suburb of Birmingham, AL. I have lived in the Birmingham area, including some years in the city proper, for all but two years of my life since I was 15 years old. This is the city where police turned fire hoses and dogs on protesters during the Civil Rights movement.
I found things in Birmingham different than they were in Huntsville. The Birmingham area was and still is highly segregated. It's not by law or force. It's mostly white flight which is itself a form of socioeconomic racism. It was a strange thing for me to realize as I grew older. I found the history of racial injustice to be just below the surface in Birmingham. I did not witness any overtly racist behavior in public. But, it was there, kind of like that subtle language my elders used when I was young. There was a lot of use of the words like "those people" or "they" when referring to black people. Again, I ignored the people saying these things and was silent.
Truncated by Planet PHP, read more at the original (another 4018 bytes)
There is no better way to showcase your skills, design aesthetic, and past projects than with a personal portfolio. It’s a great way to get your name out there and allow potential clients and employers to find you.
If you need a little inspiration when it comes to personal portfolios or simply want to speed up your design process, you’re in the right place. We’ve gathered the best personal portfolio templates that you can edit in Adobe Photoshop before coding them into live websites.
We also have free landing page PSD templates, free eCommerce PSD templates, free design agency PSD templates and free blog & magazine PSD templates. If you’re looking for a complete PSD web template round-up, take a look at this post.
The first template on this list features a minimal design. You’ll notice a large header image that’s perfect for including a call to action. The template has plenty of room to add your projects, client testimonials, and case studies along with your social media profiles.
The Pon template is a great choice for creative agencies and freelancers that want to make their portfolio stand out. The template includes a one-page design that’s easy to customize.
If you prefer a dark color scheme, try the Fusion Dark Portfolio template. This template is sure to make your projects stand out. Another standout feature of this template is the modern and elegant typography.
Pagina is a very minimalistic yet creative PSD template. It’s perfect for freelancers, photographers, and other creative fields. The template includes more than 30 Photoshop files so you can create a truly unique and powerful personal portfolio.
Try the Folio Photoshop template for your next personal portfolio redesign. This template includes several Photoshop files that you can use to create a homepage, a portfolio page, and even a resume page.
The Livespot HTML is a perfect choice for creative agencies or freelancers. The template includes 14 HTML files as well as Photoshop files that you can use to tweak the initial design concept.
The Discovery Photoshop template features a one-page design with elegant full-width sections that are perfect for showcasing your bio, resume, client testimonials, and more. The template is easy to customize and it even has an app section in case your business has one.
This template is a great choice for a creative agency or anyone looking for a colorful portfolio design. The template can be used for any type of personal portfolio and includes plenty of white space that put your projects in the spotlight.
The Mark is another minimal portfolio template designed in Photoshop. The template features several Photoshop files that are easy to customize and include bold colors and elegant typography.
The Poseidon template is a creative portfolio template suitable for agencies and freelancers. The template includes more than 40 individual PSD files that are easy to edit and well-organized.
The Waxom template is a Photoshop template that uses a dark color scheme paired with a minimalistic design. The template comes with more than 230 PSD files that you can use as a starting point for your designs.
This portfolio template has an elegant look and feel thanks to the dark background and elegant typography that stands out. The template includes a single PSD file that’s perfect for creating a homepage for your portfolio website.
The IK template can be used for a personal portfolio as well as a resume website. You’ll find plenty of sections to feature your past work as well as client testimonials, skills, and education.
This template has easily editable and well-organized layers and it also includes vector elements and icons that were used to create it. The template features a simple and clean design.
Try the One-Page Portfolio template if you want a creative and bold personal portfolio design. This template makes it easy to showcase your past projects and allow potential clients to get in touch with you.
Having a portfolio website and regularly updating the design is the best way to get noticed by potential clients. But if you’re busy with client work and don’t have the time to design your portfolio from scratch, you can use a premade portfolio design as a starting point. Browse through our collection of free personal portfolio web templates and find the perfect one for your portfolio website.
The post 10 Free Personal Portfolio Photoshop PSD Web Templates appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.
Package:
Summary:
Publish and distribute ebooks for download
Groups:
Author:
Description:
This class can be used to publish and distribute ebooks for download...
Read more at https://www.phpclasses.org/package/11675-PHP-Publish-and-distribute-ebooks-for-download.html#2020-06-07-07:57:33
