What Volkswagen, Afrojack and Razer used from Envato - envato.com coupon

Welcome to the Famous Five, 5 famous places Envato items have been used.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen has used Envato items in two different ads.

Item used: Action Powerful Rock by IvanLuzan

The first is this video, which takes a look at the Volkswagen lineup through the context of what men dream of, “a regular and powerful car”.

It breaks down all the main elements people look for when picking a vehicle to discover why a Volkswagen might be for you. It’s certainly aimed at the male market, and it uses Action Powerful Rock by Ivan Luzan.

Item used: Summer Pop Party by Alexiaction

This next video by Volkswagen News is a quick look at the new Volkswagen Beetle.

It’s only 51 seconds long, and works mostly as a montage of the car’s interior and exterior. And it uses Summer Pop Party by Alexiaction.

Pixologic – ZBrush

Item used: Epic Abstract by Audio_Wave

ZBrush is a digital sculpting tool that combines 3D modeling, texturing and painting. And this video, by its parent company Pixologic, shows off the ways in which you can use its new addition 4R8, which has just been released.

The incredible video uses Epic Abstract by Audio_Wave.

Afrojack

Items used: Clouds Over Singapore Skyline Timelapse Fisheye by Rickyloca, Sunrise Over New York by timemediafilm

Dutch DJ, Afrojack, has used two VideoHive items in a video promoting his birthday gig in his hometown of Rotterdam.

Clouds Over Singapore Timelapse Fisheye by Rickyloca, and Sunrise Over New York by timemediafilm both feature in the 1 minute video.

Afrojack has over 2 million followers on Twitter, nearly 10 million on Facebook, and nearly 1 million on YouTube.

Razer

Item used: Abstract Ambient by Nicolas_T

Razer has used an Envato item in the ad for its latest Lancehead wireless mouse.

It’s slick as hell, featuring panning shots of the mouse’s matte black body, and neonish lights, making it look like more of a race car than a PC accessory. Once revealed, the ad goes into compare the pair mode, putting the hardware to the test of that of competing brands.

Altogether, It’s a very sexy video by an exciting high performance PC manufacturer. And it uses Abstract Ambient by Nicolas_T.

Macro Room – Ink In Motion

Items used: Dramatical by alexbird, Movie Trailer Credits Intro by TimMcMorris

And finally today, YouTube channel Macro Room have used two AudioJungle tracks for this beautiful piece of work they call Ink In Motion.

Aiming to show off “the hypnotising beauty of colored ink in water and the interaction of…” it with different elements, this video, which has gotten over 600 thousand views on YouTube, makes great use of the stunning Dramatical by alexbird, and, over the end credits, Movie Trailer Credits Intro by TimMcMorris.

If you’re wanting your breath to be taken away, check this video out. The link is in the description.

Credits

And that’s the Famous Five for this week.

Our logo was designed by designercow. Today’s show was written, presented and edited by me, Dom Hennequin, you can follow me on Twitter. And for more content like this go to envato.com/blog.

Please share this video with everyone you know, and I’ll see you next time for another Famous Five.

Other tracks used:

Urban R&B by GrooveProduction

Boom Bap Hip-Hop by Akoahi

The post What Volkswagen, Afrojack and Razer used from Envato appeared first on Envato.

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How Alexandru Padurariu Turned an Unstoppable Desire to Explore Into a Career in Photography - envato.com coupon

For around ten years Alexandru Padurariu, who goes by the username PadurariuAl, has been honing his craft as a photographer. After multiple detours through specific styles of photography, he’s emerged as an incredibly versatile artist.

“I was an extremely curious child. This is how I started with photography: out of curiosity and from an unstoppable desire to explore. I got my first camera as a teenager around 17-18 years old and my first subjects were flowers.”

He most enjoyed capturing the details of flowers not visible to the naked eye. He also appreciated photojournalism. “I spent days and nights reading and gathering info on this topic,” he said, “…discovering photojournalists and viewing their albums as if I had felt all the experiences on my own skin.”

From there he would try several types of photography, from street photography to events, landscape, architecture and portraits. “Everytime I’m on vacation I’m eager to explore new sites and buildings – but as a job I am a freelance events photographer (weddings, conferences, parties etc.) and I recently opened a product photography website (mostly for tabletop products).”

“I don’t think I have a particular style,” he tells me. “In fact, since I started working in this field, I’ve wanted to keep an open mind, read and learn from the best, but never copy.”

While he’s reluctant to zone in on any specific characteristics that define his work, Padurariu’s photos all share the distinct qualities of elegance and restraint, without sacrificing emotion.

What strikes me as remarkable is how he can maintain those broad characteristics with minimal stage management. “If that moment catches me with my camera, I go ahead and take the picture. If not, I decide to come back soon and get the photo I have in mind.”

Arriving at a location, he doesn’t always have an agenda. “I happen to find places or things or people that draw my attention,” he tells me.

One such opportunity he took advantage of happened in Amsterdam a couple of years ago. “I was walking around an area with fancy buildings and the atmospheric light falling inspired me to see the place with different eyes.”

Aiming to capture the geometry of the space in perfect parallel lines along with the lighting pillar, he took this:

“The sole splash of color was the green from inside. And then, a few seconds later, the inspiring light had disappeared.” A fleeting moment of beauty, captured in his portfolio.

How much effort goes into the setup depends mostly on the type of photography he’s working on that day. “I sometimes need one hour for setup if I have products [that are] easy to capture or even a couple of hours for more complicated items (glass, glossy items etc.).”

As for seeing his work in the wild, he’s mainly found his photos used on Facebook pages, websites and even as album cover art.

The cover for Moritz Adam’s track, “Light”.

Using this photo from his personal portfolio.

Padurariu is most inspired by light, colors and shapes. “I have a “math” trend to capture geometric things,” he says.

And now, with a decade of experience under his belt, Padurariu is joining Envato Elements as an author.

“I am 27 years old. I am self-taught and well informed. And I don’t see myself doing anything else.”

Discover Alexandru Padurariu’s Photography on Envato Elements

The post How Alexandru Padurariu Turned an Unstoppable Desire to Explore Into a Career in Photography appeared first on Envato.

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WordPress now powers 28% of all websites - envato.com coupon

Boom-Bap: The Hip-Hop Sound You Want for Your Next Video or Vlog - envato.com coupon

How to Think Like a Designer - envato.com coupon

Road signs, clothing, cars, furniture and computers are all the result of design.

Design is everywhere, which sometimes makes it easy to overlook, but there isn’t much we see or rely on that hasn’t been designed.

One of the defining characteristics of humans as a species is our ability to understand and harness the extraordinary capabilities that tools – like flint blades and the wheel – bestow upon us. What are these tools? Design objects.

Learning to observe the world from a design perspective and think like a designer is useful, since it provides an essential way to understand our world. Design was and is integral to our survival.

Thinking like a designer is not difficult but can require a change in focus. People are already wired as designers to one degree or another as they shape their living spaces, selves and relationship to the world.

Let’s look at some key elements of the designer thought process.

Designers aren’t artists. Design’s first emphasis is on utility and function that serves a purpose; it can be a work of art, but that’s not its primary goal.

Design works like the modernist principle form follows function. This idea, developed by architect Louis Sullivan, states that the shape of a building or object should be based on its intended function and purpose. Form follows function was a response to a time when decoration, ornamentation, and artful design were more common.

To think like a designer versus an artist is to question the function and purpose of what you are making as a priority over exploring a concept or aesthetic approach. It’s not that aesthetics don’t matter (they most definitely do!) but they’re not more important than utility in a design.

Questions a designer may ask:

Can this solve the problem?

Is this the best or most elegant solution for a problem?

Does this serve a purpose?

Will this help us?

Thinking practically, based on ideas of usefulness and functionality first, can make problem solving simpler and reduce complexity. A design that is approached in this way will more likely have clarity and simplicity.

Designers follow the rules of form and function but also break rules too.

A good designer really knows how to creatively mix elements up, and they do this in more ways than one.

• Designers mix up typography, color, pattern, shape and photo to create interesting and effective compositions.
• They mix up elements and material from different cultures and periods of time to develop visual stories with more richness and depth.
• They mix their own capabilities and know-how to come up with new solutions that blend technical, creative and cultural ideas.

Essentially, designers learn to be adept at noticing contrasts and juxtapositions and then working with those contradictions to create harmony. Designers, and particular contemporary designers working in web and mobile, have a technical understanding that they meld with their more creative side. We also live in a world with a vast visual culture that graphic designers learn to interpret in fresh, nuanced and expressive ways.

Thinking like a designer means learning how to juggle and integrate very different elements into an organized whole, and this makes the design process a game of balance and juxtaposition.

How designers go about achieving balance and juxtaposition in their work involves following a few basic rules.

1. Use Space Wisely

A key way designers are able to meld contrasting elements is through the use of space. If you have two elements in a design with drastically different visual styles you can use space to allow them to coexist within a composition. Space is a great way to reduce visual clutter in a design.

Space is also used to bring elements closer together. Designers may do this either because stylistically the elements are cohesive or because, from an information design standpoint, it makes sense to group them.

You see the use of space to associate content used a lot in editorial and invitation design. In an invitation you may place the date and time close together because as information modules, they make sense located in the same area of the design composition.

2. Align Intentionally

Along with grouping elements in close proximity, alignment is also used to create continuity within a design. Alignment seems like an obvious simple thing that designers do, but that doesn’t make it any less important.

Alignment uses the grid and can be explored via grid-based design in general. The grid is key to organizing the layout of a design in a way that makes it easier to understand and read.

On the flip side, sometimes designers don’t align everything completely to the grid since a design can appear stiff and rigid this way. Designers also use their eye to create visual balance in a layout and tweak the arrangement of elements a bit off the grid if they just *look* better that way and appear more visually balanced.

So, designers use alignment, but do so intentionally, staying aware of the role it plays in the larger composition.

3. Establish Hierarchy

A design has tiers of elements of lesser or greater importance. Design hierarchy is about making the more important elements, information, in a design stand out more.

Designers use a variety of methods to create visual hierarchy. The key ingredients for establishing hierarchy are scale, color and shape, along with the previously mentioned space and alignment. Here are some examples of visual hierarchy:

• In an invitation design the name of the event may be scaled large to draw attention to it.
• For a mobile UI kit color can be used to draw the eye to important buttons within the interface.
• Shapes are used around typography to create a focal point in poster design.
• The title of an article in a magazine design may be in a display font that appears bold and large within the design.

When designers begin a project, they think about what is being expressed and then organize the design with a clear visual hierarchy. Creating visible hierarchy makes a design easier to parse and understand and enables clear visual communication.

Designers love the world. So, designers follow some rules and employ a variety of techniques in order to create work that has utility, balance and beauty. Designers have an awareness of form, function, color, shape, type, pattern — many things in our visible field.

Developing this kind of awareness of design can definitely make the world more interesting. But, perhaps, one of the more beneficial things about thinking like a designer is not only having this awareness, but also developing a deep appreciation of all that is design around us, and in some ways, made for us.

From a designer’s perspective, you can look at the world as this carefully and sometimes lovingly made place where everything was crafted by some designer or another to be more functional, easier to understand, cheerful, awe-inspiring or just beautiful.

Editor’s note: The background patterns for the images in this article were also designed by the author! Check out Stucco patterns by Hellomartco. 

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What’s a WordPress theme? A beginner’s guide to your ThemeForest purchase - envato.com coupon

So you’ve downloaded a WordPress theme from ThemeForest. Fantastic! But now you’re wondering what to do with it…

Don’t panic! Anyone can set up a WordPress website or blog, even non-techies. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through what you need to know to create a website and get your new ThemeForest theme up and running.

Getting started: frequently asked questions

Before we get started, let’s run through some common questions around using ThemeForest themes and WordPress, specifically what is WordPress, and the differences between a theme/template and a website.

Back to basics: What is WordPress?

WordPress is software you can use to create a website. There are two versions of WordPress you need to be aware of:

• WordPress.com, also known as hosted WordPress, is a blogging and website service owned by a company called Automattic. WordPress.com uses the WordPress software. When you sign up for an account, you get free hosting. You can upgrade your account to get premium (i.e. paid) features like a domain name, no ads, and support.
• WordPress.org, also known as self-hosted WordPress, is where you can download the WordPress software so you can set up a website yourself. The software is essentially just a bunch of files, so you’ll need to buy web hosting and a domain name, and take care of things like security, themes and plugins yourself.

Currently, the WordPress software is used by more than 28% of all websites – almost one-in-three sites online. WordPress originally started out as blogging software and while it’s still used by bloggers all over the world, it has evolved into a powerful content management system that is used by big brands, including Wired, The New Yorker, Sony Music, and even Beyoncé. So it’s safe to say you’re making a good choice with WordPress.

What do I need to build a WordPress website?

Before we get started, there are a few things you need:

1. Website hosting – there is where the files for your website will be stored
2. A domain name – this is the name of your website, like myawesomesite.com
3. A WordPress theme – there are thousands of themes available for purchase at themeforest.net

What is a WordPress theme?

A WordPress theme is a collection of files that work together to control how your WordPress website looks. This includes things like page layout, where your sidebars are located, and font and color choices.

Changing your theme changes the design of your website, including its layout, i.e. what a person sees when they visit your website.

A WordPress theme is not a website. This means that when you download a theme from ThemeForest, you simply have a file you can use to change how your website looks.

Can I use my ThemeForest theme on WordPress.com?

No, you can’t. WordPress themes that are purchased at ThemeForest can only be used for self-hosted WordPress websites. When you sign up for a WordPress.com account, you can only use the themes provided by WordPress.com.

Can I Use a WordPress theme with Squarespace / Wix / Weebly?

No, you can’t. WordPress themes can only be used on a self-hosted WordPress website. Website platforms such as Square, Wix and Weebly have their own proprietary methods for changing the design of a website.

Setting Up a WordPress Website

Now that you know what you need to create a website, let’s walk through how to setup a WordPress site and install your ThemeForest theme.

Step #1: Choosing a Web Host

A web host, or hosting provider, is a company that provides the technologies and services needed for a website to be view on the web. Website files are stored – or hosted – on special computers known as servers.

There are lots of hosting options available, but here are the ones that WordPress recommends:

• Bluehost
• DreamHost
• Flywheel
• SiteGround

Check out the links above and choose the web host and hosting plan that best suits you and your needs. Basic web hosting typically starts at around US$4.95 a month.

When you’ve worked out which web host you want to go with, go ahead and sign up. During the signup process, you should be given the option to buy a domain name for your website, so purchase that, too.

Once you’ve signed up and your account has been created, you’ll be taken to your web host’s dashboard where you can manage things like submitting a support ticket, updating your personal details, and setting up email. Depending on your web host, it’s here where you’ll also have the option to install WordPress.

Note: If you would rather not mess around with setting up your site and want a quick and easy solution, check out Envato Hosted, managed hosting for WordPress websites where all the fiddly bits are taken care of for you so you can get on with creating content for your site.

Step #2: Installing WordPress

How you go about installing WordPress depends on your web host. Choose your host below for instructions on how to setup WordPress on your website:

• Setting up WordPress with Bluehost
• Setting up WordPress with Dreamhost
• Setting up WordPress with Flywheel
• Setting up WordPress with SiteGround

If your web host offers installation via Softaculous, do it! Softaculous offers an easy and automated way to install WordPress for you.

Step #3: Installing Your ThemeForest Theme

With your WordPress website now set up, you’re ready to install your ThemeForest theme.

When you first setup your WordPress website, a default theme will be activated using some demo content, so when you visit your website it should look something like this:

It looks okay, but it will look even better once your ThemeForest theme is installed!

Before you install your theme, you need to log in to your website. To do this, go to:

http://ift.tt/1oHP0SG

Where “example” is your website’s domain name. Enter your username and password to log in (your web host should have emailed these details to you).

Once logged in, you will be taken to the WordPress dashboard, which looks like this:

To install your ThemeForest theme, click “Appearance” in the sidebar and then click “Themes”.

On the screen that loads, click “Add New.” A new screen will load. Click “Upload Theme.”

When you download a WordPress theme from ThemeForest, it will come as a ZIP file. It’s important that you don’t unzip this file because WordPress only accepts ZIP files.

Click “Choose file” and navigate to where your theme is saved on your computer. Then click “Open.”

WordPress will install your theme. When the page reloads, you’ll be presented with three options: “Live Preview,” “Activate,” or “Return to Themes page.”

Click “Activate” to finish installing the theme.

The page will reload and you’ll either see a welcome page for your new theme or be taken back to the Themes screen where your newly activated theme will be displayed.

You’re now ready to start customizing your ThemeForest theme!

The theme you bought should include details on how to customize your theme. If you need further help, get in touch with the theme author.

Resources:

• A Beginner’s Guide to Using WordPress – Online Course
• The Best WordPress Themes This Month
• 20 ways to take your WordPress site to the next level

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Stars and Stripes: Designed for the 4th of July - envato.com coupon

The United States is an enthusiastic country, known for being super-sized in its celebrations and festivities.

With summer kicking off, buckle up your cowboy boots and get ready for the biggest rodeo of them all: July 4th. While most Americans might not see the founding fathers or a Revolutionary War reenactment on Independence Day, they will likely be celebrating with barbecues, fireworks, and maybe even some shopping. No matter what the 4th of July is a kickoff to summer and at the forefront of the minds of all Americans. Join in the spirit by decking out your online presence with stars, stripes, and all things red, white, and blue!

To celebrate, we’ve curated 13 of our favorite July 4th-themed design items to honor the 13 original American colonies and stripes on the flag:

1. Watercolor Texture 4th of July

The trend of watercolor illustrations has definitely sparked, so apply this handmade and artistic touch to your Independence Day decoration. The download includes 21 PNG files in various shapes and sizes for your creativity to work its magic.

2. 4th of July Flyer Template

Say it loud and say it proud with these vibrant and information-packed Independence Day flyers. With easy to edit text, font, and colors, you can modify or keep as much of this design as you wish to create the perfect invitation to your community or backyard bash.

3. 4th Of July Banners

There’s nothing like a physical or social media banner to display your patriotism with the U.S. of A this July. These 16 versatile vector banners available in AI, EPS, and JPG files are a perfect download for all your holiday uses.

4. 4th of July Desserts

Americans are known for their desserts when it comes to cookies, cupcakes, pie, and ice cream. Independence Day is no different than any other sweet tooth-filled day with these adorable vector illustrations of red, white, and blue.

5. USA Patterns

Pinwheels and spirals and Statues of Liberty, oh my! This pattern package of Adobe Illustrator files is perfect as the backdrop for any party or marketing materials you design and is resizable to match your exact specifications.

6. Independence Day Pack

With 5 Independence Day and 5 Barbecue packs, Scredeck has your July 4th cooler of resources stacked with plenty of logos to illuminate your designs. With a flat, simple aesthetic, these graphics are sure to enhance any flyer, invitation, or banner you’ll be creating this summer.

7. American National Holiday

Almost anything can fit your July 4th design with a little bit of red, white, and blue. This vector illustration shows all the joyous aspects of an American celebration amidst other designs that evoke all the spirit of American life.

8. U.S. 50 States Map Shapes

Although Independence Day is a national holiday, there’s nothing like a little local rivalry and pride in the United States. Add some state-level vintage flair to your design with these hand illustrated silhouettes of the great 50 states!

9. Vintage American Flag

Americans love to wave their stars and stripes on all days of the year, but Independence Day calls for an extra amount of flag-waving. Evoke some authentic Americana with this vintage vector illustration, available as an EPS and high-resolution JPG file.

10. Stars 4th of July Flyer

While this invitation keeps it simple and classy with a star-studded, patriotic design, that doesn’t mean your event has to be too proper! However you choose to celebrate American independence and freedom, this invitation is a clean and clear choice for your design.

11. Waving American Flag

Bring your design to life with this 360-download of a waving American flag. Drag to rotate the flag in the position you choose before downloading and watch as this design appears to flap off of the screen.

12. American Scribe

Throw in a bit of historical accuracy to your design with the swift, swish of the quill of Thomas Matlock, the official scribe of the Declaration of Independence. This download is ready to record whatever you’ll write in celebration of Matlock’s hard work with 560 glyphs and full Latin language support.

13. Patriotic Badges

Stamp your support for America boldly with several takes on the classic motifs of stars and stripes. These USA badges with messages of Independence Day and economic patriotism are available in both AI and EPS versions.

Download all of these designs (and more!) on Envato Elements.

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