20 Amazing Free Metal Textures to Use in Your Future Designs

It’s a challenging task to find proper textures, fonts, icons and brushes for every design project. Of course, you can create all these stuff yourself, but it will take a lot of time. Besides, there is no need to waste your time, when there are numerous free and premium design elements available on the web today.

If you are going to create some metallic design in future, these 20 free metal textures will certainly come in handy.

Most textures and patterns look not so good without grunge photo effects and creative typography. And these metal textures are no exception.

1. Green Metal Rust Texture 2

2. Grey Metal Rust Texture

3. Orange Metal

4. Dumpster

5. Rust Metal

6. Dust Metal

7. Red Metal

8. White Grunge Metal

9. Gun Metal

10. Bright Cold Galvanized Metal Sheet

11. Black Scratched Metal Plate

12. Blue Scratched Metal Sheet

13. High Contrast Brushed & Scratched Metal Sheet

14. Vertical Brushed Metal Sheets

15. Seamless Metal Textures

16. Dark Rusty Metal Sheet

17. Scratched Pink Painted Steel Sheet Texture

18. Rusted Turquoise Metal Sheet Texture

19. Seamless Checkerplate Anti-Slip Metal Floor

20. Grooved Blue Steel Texture

Read More at 20 Amazing Free Metal Textures to Use in Your Future Designs

from Web Design Ledger https://webdesignledger.com/free-metal-textures-to-use/

Avoiding Common Problems with CSS Grid

For many dark days, properly aligning objects on a webpage with CSS alone was close to impossible. With mostly-functional semi-hacks like float, positioning and in-like block,  we could make it work, but it was far from perfect. When vexed by a particularly troublesome layout quirk, some event lamented the loss of <table> as a structural element. Darkness lay upon the world. And lo, CSS Grid arrived in our hour of greatest need, to render salvation unto developers from the grim despair of fixed layouts.

CSS Grid is the most powerful tool for organizing page content since tables. As a two-dimensional system, it can handle both columns and rows, unlike its predecessor flexbox, which could only handle a single dimension of organization. It also does away with some of the wonky flexbox stuff, like auto-stretching content to fit the layout’s width if you’re not careful about counting your cells. But considering all the positional system we’ve used over the years, it’s easy to get hung up on some common issues.

Draw your grid first

If you remember the time when tables were used for layouts, you might remember using a lot of graph paper to design sites. Grid-based layouts require the same careful preparation. Working out a grid in the vague space of fractions, percentages, pixel widths and auto spacing alone is challenging. It’s hard to visualize the space from numbers alone. While the CSS Grid syntax is reasonably clear, it’s no substitute for a good visual. Put your wireframing skills to work and sketch your layout before you start coding. Figure out how you’ll organize the grid, what the various widths will be, and how to snap things together. Then, turn that visual design into code.

Name things logically

CSS Grid provides a multitude of ways to specify tracks. You can give your columns and rows specific names, refer to them by number or anything else you’d like. Use the same care you would exercise when naming variables in a program. Either choose obvious, descriptive names, or use a numbering system that follows a clear convention. While it should seem that descriptive names are the better choice, they aren’t always possible. Set up a system, follow it, and explain it in the comments.

Use fractions with care

One of the more useful features of CSS Grid is the power to set track widths as fractions of the available space. Specify four fractions with the fr property, and you’ll see four even tracks appear before you. Of course, this works best when you’ve specified the maximum available space your container can occupy, but that’s not the issue. It’s when fractions are calculated that can throw newer designers a curve ball. Fractions are calculated after any non-flexible spacing. If you mix together fractions and pixel widths, for example, the fractions will be calculated based upon the space remaining after the fixed width tracks are accounted for. This can lead to some wonky columns that make sense in your head but don’t work out on screen. Depending on whether or not you expect this behavior, it can be either exceptionally useful or exceptionally confusing.

Whitespace counts too

When you’re first laying you your grid based on your wireframe, you’ll need to get a sense of how many columns and rows a given item occupies. Keep in mind that the space between elements, either horizontally or vertically, also counts as a row. This whitespace might be empty of content, but it’s a crucial organizational tool for laying out content with CSS Grid. Make sure you’re accounting for the space between objects, as well as the objects themselves, when you start to code your grid.

Start with a simple grid

Creating a perfectly even grid template is often the best choice for a basic design. By using the fewest number of columns and keeping things evenly organized, you can easily create symmetrical designs without too much frustration. Applying a balanced grid, by keeping your rows and columns even simplifies the design process. It reduces the number of ways you can mess up. Unfortunately, it also reduces your creative options. For your first projects with CSS Grid, working with a simple grid is perfectly fine. As you get a better handle on how the system operates, you can start experimenting with unbalanced and asymmetrical grid designs.

Understanding explicit and implicit grids

Explicit grids are made from the parameters defined directly by the designer. But because CSS Grid is also a little smart, it will automatically apply some grid plans in order to implement your rules. For example, if you have ten divs in a row, and specify a grid with three columns, you’ll find you get four row automatically. The three columns were explicitly defined. The four rows appeared as a consequence of the columns and the number of elements. The rows are the implicit grid. Make sure you understanding the distinction between these ideas so you can exploit them properly.

Grid are great, just like practice

Learning a new skill always takes time. Take advantage of the many excellent resources for learning CSS Grid online. This CSS-Tricks post is an excellent functional introduction, and Google even has a good CSS grid guide.

You might also like the following posts:

Modern Tools for Advanced CSS Development

28 Free Open Source CSS3 Code Snippets

40 CSS Apps, Tools, and Resources for Web Developers

The post Avoiding Common Problems with CSS Grid appeared first on SpyreStudios.

from SpyreStudios http://spyrestudios.com/avoiding-common-problems-css-grid/

Why Every Web Designer Should Be Using a VPN

Some web designers may not recognize the importance of using a virtual private network (VPN) while working on client sites. The reality, though, is that anyone who needs to provide even a modicum of privacy and security to their clients should absolutely start incorporating a high-quality VPN solution into their workday. After all, this is one of the easiest ways to minimize the risk of a data breach.

VPNs 101

Most tech-savvy people know what a VPN is and how it operates, which is why they’re already using one. For those who might spend all of their time on the design end of things, and therefore be behind the times with security measures, let’s take a really quick look at a VPN’s role.

In a nutshell, a VPN prevents hackers from accessing your data. Even if someone is able to crack into your VPN long enough to grab data, encryption will prevent them from opening it. Due to this, many businesses and individuals worldwide search the web almost exclusively via the protection of a VPN.   

Web Designers and VPNs

VPNs are commonly used by people who are outside of their secured office network. However, even if you only work from the office or at home, a VPN may still be a wise investment. Consider the privacy needs of your current website development clients. How would they feel or react if you allowed some of their private data to slip into the wrong hands?

By setting up a VPN, you can provide clients with an extra layer of protection. This will also help minimize your risk of getting involved in a costly data breach lawsuit.

Protecting Proprietary Information

Keep in mind that data alone may not be the only proprietary information a hacker is looking for. It’s possible that a company’s competition could attempt to hack your system if they know you’re working on a new website design. After all, established businesses frequently do major site overhauls to accompany the launch of a new product, service or overall direction. A VPN will keep these details between you and the client until the site is ready to go live.

Preventing Major Leaks That Could Majorly Derail Your Career

Do you have any major website design clients who could lose tons of money due to a single security breach? A prime example is the entertainment industry. Perhaps you’ve been tasked with creating a site for a well-known band’s upcoming release. This is almost certainly going to include a track listing, music files, new images and maybe even highly guarded details such as their unannounced upcoming tour dates.

As recent movie studio hacks have proven, leaving anything vulnerable to hackers will allow transmitted data to end up in the wrong hands. Something as simple as uploading images to an unpublished site could create a horrible ripple effect that ruins your reputation. If you do all of your uploading from a VPN, though, you’re much more likely to keep everything private and secure.

Are VPNs Impenetrable?

Nothing is impenetrable on the World Wide Web. However, VPNs are hacked into much less frequently than traditions networks, and these incidents usually accompany an incorrectly configured VPN. Despite this, it would be foolish to believe that every single thing you do from behind a VPN is going to remain 100 percent private forever.

Recently, some in the tech world were shocked to discover that VPNs may actually be storing some private information, including your browser history. This came to light after a VPN provider assisted the FBI in a cyberstalking case. The provider in question, PureVPN, claims they don’t store any browsing data, but they were somehow able to turn over pertinent details to the FBI.

The lesson here is that you must properly configure your VPN, and it’s also wise to steer clear of illegal activity. VPNs may be popular with the file sharing crowd, but this doesn’t mean providers will always hide their illegal actions. On the plus side, the risk of any type of data exposure is always reduced with a quality VPN.

How to Choose a VPN

Unless you’re working with a big budget, a VPN is yet another necessary thing that could reduce your profit margin. Instead of letting this get you down or prevent you from making the switch, consider one of the best free VPNs of 2017. This isn’t going to be a permanent solution because free VPNs usually institute a usage cap. However, going this route will enable you to test drive VPNs to get a better understanding of how they work.

Ultimately, you’ll want to invest in the best caliber VPN you can afford. Aside from this, it’s also critical to look closely at user reviews and any associated news stories. It’s probably a given that many VPN users will be jumping ship from PureVPN in light of their recent data collection revelation. Even this offers you and your web design clients a much higher level of protection than working through a typical network, though.

By choosing a VPN and using it for each client, even when you’re out of the office, you can offer better service and enhanced privacy. This is something you can even advertise to make potential clients feel more confident about hiring you for their website design needs.     

 

Read More at Why Every Web Designer Should Be Using a VPN

from Web Design Ledger https://webdesignledger.com/why-every-web-designer-should-be-using-a-vpn/

8 PHP Email Forms to Use for More Conversions

If your clients are looking for more conversions on their websites, you need a good PHP email form builder. These registration sign-up forms provide a lasting connection between your client and their website visitors and customers.

Not everyone will register their email or other contact information on an email form. The conversion rating is about 3 percent. However, that 3 percent can be significant if you’re getting thousands of visitors a day.

Consumers are more likely to subscribe when confronted with an email form if it’s well-designed and cleverly positioned. To achieve this result, invest in some of today’s higher quality PHP email form templates.

1. Email Marketing

There are absolutely no coding materials required for using Email Marketing to build your contact form from custom designed templates. Its simplicity is its biggest advantage. You can apply custom designs, set up email groups and lists, and schedule emails with drag and drop tools.

There are SMTP and PHP options to facilitate smooth email transfers. It’s well designed and an excellent solution for all your email marketing forms.

2. Contact Form Generator

After you use Contact Form Generator once, you’ll probably want to keep it in your back pocket for future use. It’s one of the most useful form builders on the web. It works with AWeber, MailChimp, and a variety of other integrations to promote your email marketing efforts.

It also features SMS notifications to boost your mobile marketing efforts. There’s no coding required, protection against spam, and MySQL database integration. As far as contact forms go, this is one of the best free template-based tools out there.

3. Flora Forms

A lot of clients want file uploads with their contact forms, so you need a simple, attractive, and secure contact form. Security and encryption in email marketing is a huge contributor to successful campaigns.

Flora Forms, a responsive AJAX Contact Form, should do the trick. Alongside the multi-file upload progress feature, there are CSS3 inputs, toggle switches, checkboxes, AJAX processing forms, CSV file export, and much more. There are security features galore, and you can choose from six color themes to develop attractive and powerful PHP email forms.

4. Animated Contact Form

For more eye-grabbing registration forms, Animated Contact Form, AcF for short, is a simple and easy-to-install solution. When customizing this PHP email form, you’ll have access to eight different animation effects and color schemes, a location map, and other customizable features. When put in the hands of a capable designer, it can develop a series of striking forms for any website.

5. KONTAKTO

KONTAKTO is an AJAX Contact Form with a styled map that works with your HTML or PHP-based pages. It’s ideal for brick-and-mortar websites trying to attract new customers to their business. It displays a Google map alongside the finished contact form so that customers can orient themselves as they sign up for your newsletters or emails.

It’s AJAX enabled, equipped with spam prevention, ideal for SMTP or PHP email, and has no database required. You can also attach files, offer checkboxes, create text fields, and design other interactive and customizable fields for your form.

6. PHP Form Builder

PHP Form Builder is ideal for Bootstrap and Material Design forms. You can also develop login, order, Modal, registration, AJAX, and order forms with ease. There are more than 50 templates to choose from, with very little coding required. You can build tantalizing forms quickly and easily with jQuery plugin integration, clean HTML5 markup, and other essential features for excellent form design.

7. Multi-Purpose Form Generator

If you’re looking for feedback, registration, email, and other specific PHP forms, it’s best to work with a single, attractive and simple-to-use tool. Multi-Purpose Form Generator is based on Bootstrap. It comes with email notifications, spam protection, drag and drop interface, more than 10 field types, more than 15 validation types, and other features that make form creation simple and appealing.

8. Usernoise Modal Contact / Feedback Form

A lot of PHP email form tools offer a one-size-fits-all model, but Usernoise fits into a single niche and excels. It’s a simple script designed to collect feedback through a modal window. It also allows for user discussion and is equipped with email notification when someone leaves feedback.

It’s customizable according to your client’s wishes, and once designed, the install is simple. Usernoise is anti-spam with Gmail delivery as the default. (If Gmail doesn’t work for you, you can change it.) It’s an excellent tool for promoting feedback from your users and involving your website visitors in an open dialogue on improving a company or website.

Any of these tools could help complete your developer toolbox. There’s no need to pore over coding when you have these simple templates to do the work for you. Pleasing your clients and improving your portfolio is a breeze when using the right tools.

The post 8 PHP Email Forms to Use for More Conversions appeared first on SpyreStudios.

from SpyreStudios http://spyrestudios.com/8-php-email-forms-use-conversions/

Creating a Hover Slideshow in Adobe Muse

Creating a Hover Slideshow in Adobe Muse. No Coding Skills Required.

  

Hey, what’s up Muser! In this video tutorial, I go over how to create a unique hover slideshow using the new responsive composition widget in Adobe Muse.

The steps are as follows:

1. Go to Object > Insert Widget > Composition > Blank.

2. Delete all triggers and targets except one.

3. In the composition widget options set ‘Show Target’ option to ‘On Rollover.’

4. Enable the ‘Triggers on Top’ option to make sure the triggers are above the targets.

3. Add text to the trigger and make the background filled with the trigger blank.

4. Add an image to the target by selecting the target and then going to the ‘Fill’ option in the upper control bar. You can then fill the target with an image and set the image fitting an image position for the target.

5. Place the trigger to the left of the target.

6. Create a new trigger and target by selecting the trigger and clicking the plus symbol below it.

7. Repeat process for as many triggers and targets as you’d like.

8. Done!

For more video tutorials and widgets for Adobe Muse visit http://museforyoushop.com.

Happy Musing!

Read More at Creating a Hover Slideshow in Adobe Muse

from Web Design Ledger https://webdesignledger.com/creating-a-hover-slideshow-in-adobe-muse/