Web Design
The Robust Collection Of (50) Mindblowing Icon Sets For Your Next Design
Icons can be useful to furnish users with unforgettable images and examples if used properly, and this is the reason why Icon sets always come in handy. You will find the huge collection of recently released icon sets which are believed to assist you in bettering your designs on websites as well as on web applications.
In this post, we have also gathered some useful icon sets for your inspiration. If you like them, you can use them in your next design project. The icon sets that we have provided below may become valuable and useful in corporate designs, portfolios, blogs, and magazines as well as in Web-applications. Feel free to suggest and share more icon sets in the comments section below.
New exclusive icon set: Copenhagen
The ‘Square’ Social Media Icon Set
Sketchy Social Media Icons Freebie
Freebie Fiesta – Twitter Bird & Egg
The Ultimate Free Web Designer’s Icon Set (750 icons, incl. PSD sources)
Designer Icons – Professionally Hand-Crafted Free Icon Set
The ‘Free Style’ Social Media Icon Set
Picasso: A Free Social Media Icon Set
Isometrica (Volume 1): A Free Social Media Icon Set
Free Social Media Icons: Tricons
Content Management System Icon Set
Free Web Design Icon Set By Iconshock
Most Attractive (39) Corporate Website Designs Of Top Brands
World is changing rapidly and now people are making their fortune on the internet by virtue of a website, and due to this reason a professional website design is so important to achieve a solid and long-lasting impression on customers. It is a well designed corporate website which convey information about your business to your potential customers in the most direct, clean and usable manner. Below we have listed excellent examples of corporate website for your inspiration so that you can choose the best layout, graphics and color palettes for your website.
You are welcome if you want to share more beautiful examples of corporate website designs that our readers/viewers may like. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at SmashingApps.com just subscribe to our rss feed and you can follow us on twitter as well.
Top 17 Websites To Easily Generate CSS Grid Layouts
Website developers often have to employ CSS grids to complete their designs. Coding the CSS grids from the beginning can be quite a hassle. To facilitate their creation, online CSS grid layout builders can be used.
Below you will find a list of 17 great online CSS grid builders that will surely help any web developers. See which online tool will suit your needs best.
You are welcome if you want to share more useful CSS grid layout generator tools which our readers/viewers may like. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at SmashingApps.com just subscribe to our rss feed and you can follow us on twitter.
1. Zurb CSS Grid Builder
This website has all the necessary tools required to create a good CSS grid layout. You enter your grid layout specifications such as number of columns and gutter width; after that you click on a button to obtain the corresponding CSS code. Visit Zurb CSS Grid Builder.
2. Tiny Fluid Grid
The more recent type of grids are fluid grids which can adjust their shape to match the site visitor’s screen resolution. This grid-transformation feature helps the site visitor view the maximum possible site content without having to scroll sideways. Tiny Fluid Grid is an online service that helps create such grids. The controls are quite standard: you enter the grid specifications and download an archive file that contains the CSS code. Check out Tiny Fluid Grid.
3. Pagecolumn Grid Layout Generator
Along with the standard grid specifications like width and columns, you can use this online service to add colors to your grid as well. The site gives you an HTML code along with the CSS code for your grid. Visit Pagecolumn Grid Layout Generator.
4. DesignByGrid Grid Generator
This is another site that provides with the HTML plus CSS code for your Grid. Visit DesignByGrid Grid Generator.
5. Blueprint Grid CSS Generator
This site will give you a PNG image of your grid in addition to the CSS code. Visit Blueprint Grid CSS Generator.
6. netProtozo Grid Generator
Another simple to use grid generator, this online tool will also provide a downloadable PNG image in addition to the CSS code for your grid. Check out netProtozo Grid Generator.
7. Grid Designer
Grid Designer will provide you with HTML and CSS codes for whatever grid you enter the specifications of. Try out Grid Designer.
8. Grid System Generator
This online tool will produce CSS and XHTML codes for your grids. Visit Grid System Generator.
9. YUI Grid Builder
Not only can you enter column numbers in this online grid creator, but also set header and footer content. Visit YUI Grid Builder.
10. Variable Grid System
This site will let you create fixed as well as fluid grid layouts. Check out Variable Grid System.
11. YAML Grid Builder
With this online tool, you will have a substantial number of grid parameters you can modify to suit your needs. Check out YAML Grid Builder.
12. Pagcolumn’s Layout Generators
This is another online service by Pagecolumn. With this you can have a broader view and start designing a grid by choosing the overall layout. Check out Pagcolumn’s Layout Generators @ http://www.pagecolumn.com/
13. Fisheye
This site will help you easily get the CSS code for grids. Visit Fisheye.
14. CSS Layout Generator
With CSS Layout Generator you can obtain the XHTML and CSS codes for your generated grids. Check out CSS Layout Generator.
15. Firdamtic
This site is an easy way to create 2-column or 3-column layouts. Check out Firdamtic.
16. CSS Portal’s CSS Layout Generator
With this online tool you can specify the background color in addition to other grid parameters. Check out CSS Portal’s CSS Layout Generator.
17. CSS Source Ordered Variable Border 1-3 Columned Page Maker
This online tool has a lot of variable parameters that can be adjusted to create your desired 1-3 columned grids. Check out CSS Source Ordered Variable Border 1-3 Columned Page Maker.
Top 15 Online Tools For Drawing And Sketching
If you find yourself bored at work and have the artistic streak in you, you should probably busy yourself with working on a drawing project you can later show off to your friends. Instead of going the traditional way and sticking to pencil and paper, you should explore the arena of computer aided drawing. Chances are you do not have software installation privileges on the work computer you use therefore online tools would be the best way to go.
Below you will find my gathered list of 15 online tools for sketching and drawing. Try out each one and see what service best suits your tastes. You are welcome to share if you know more useful drawing and sketching tools which our readers/viewers may like. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at SmashingApps.com just subscribe to our rss feed and you can follow us on twitter.
1. Flame
This tool is simply brilliant. It gives you simple tools which create flame-like textures. These textures can be adjusted according to your preferences: you can change colors, saturation, opacity, etc. Even random mouse gestures can end up creating wonderful patterns. Visit Flame here.
2. Scribbler Too
Scribbler Too is another greatly engaging sketching tool. Its web-like drawings are easy to create. Many color options are available for you to modify. Learning the tools is quite easy and once you have learned them, creating masterpieces is quite easy too. Visit Scribbler Too here.
3. Flash Paint
Flash Paint is a full web based drawing tool with many drawing features. The feature I liked best was its ability to create complex geometrical drawings with ease. This was achieved through a combination of lines and curves which you can modify easily. Click here to visit Flash Paint.
4. Odosketch
Odosketch supports brush-based drawing. Brushes of varying thickness are provided; these can be used to form brilliant drawing on the virtual canvas. Visit Odosketch here.
5. Sketch Swap
This sketching website has only drawing tool: a thick dark brown pencil. You draw a sketch and then swap it with somebody else on the site. When you view the other person’s sketch, a replay is shown of the sketch was built from zero to completion. It is quite interesting to see an empty canvas take the form of a finished product. Click here to visit Sketch Swap.
6. Draw.To
Draw.To lets you draw simple small drawing and share them on Twitter and Facebook. The small canvas can be used to show off your creativity. Click here to visit Draw.To.
7. Penolo
Penolo is a somewhat similar to Draw.To. You are provided with a small canvas and some basic tools to draw with. The result can be shared on your Twitter account. Visit Penolo here.
8. Canvastic
This online drawing tool is quite basic and very suitable for children or for quick time passing. If you want, you can accompany your pictures with explanatory text. Your brush strokes are recorded and a “replay” button can be used to see exactly how your sketch came into being. Visit Canvastic here.
9. Queeky
Queeky lets you create simple drawing with tools that are seemingly basic but provide comprehensive drawing options. Finished drawing can be saved and share. Browsing others’ drawing is also possible through Queeky. Visit the site here.
10. SketchPad
SketchPad is a simple sketching tool with wonderful colors of canvas and brushes. The results you get are quite interesting because of the amazing color combinations. Click here to visit SketchPad.
11. Viscosity
Viscosity makes it very easy to create abstract art. If you have great drawing skills, you can use Viscosity to create something truly unique. Click here to visit the site.
12. Doink
Doink is another site which I thought made it a lot easier to create complex geometrical drawings through straight lines and curves. Apart from that, basic tools on the site make sketching fun and quick. Visit Doink here.
13. Flock Draw
Flock Draw is a collaborative drawing tool which can be a lot of fun if you have a partner to draw with on another computer. Click here to visit Flock Draw.
14. My Oats
This is an absolutely amazing website to create symmetrical circular drawings. You will get the hang of the available tools and mouse gestures rather quickly and easily create wonderful drawings. Visit My Oats here.
15. Draw Things
Draw Things is another simple drawing tool which lets you create simple sketches via variable pen thickness. The provided color range is not very vast but it does the simple sketching job fine. Draw Things is ideal for quickly killing some time. Visit the site here.
15 New And Awesome Developer Icon Sets
The icons you get for your computer’s shortcuts are separate from developer set icons. While creating a program, web application, or website developers have to come up with small images for buttons, shortcuts, etc. The icons used here come in the form of developer icon sets.
You can find many free great developer icon sets online. They often come in ZIP files; the images contained in the archives can be used in private projects by the developer; some of the icon sets allow the developer to use them in commercial projects as well. Below you will find 15 of the best developer icon sets you will come across on the web.
You are welcome to share if you know more developer icon set which our readers/viewers may like. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at SmashingApps.com just subscribe to our rss feed and you can follow us on twitter.
1. Cologne – Download
2. Boolean Icon Set - Download
3. Berlin – Download
4. Macchiato – Download
5. Vector Pictograms / Icons - Download
6. Wireframing Developer Icons – Download
7. Hamburg - Download
8. Project Icons – Download
9. Spirit20 - Download
10. Payment Icon Set for E-Commerce Sites – Download
11. Social Buzz Icon Pack – Download
12. Mobile Icon Set – Download
13. Vector Graph Icons – Download
Or you can alternatively download AI Version here and Download SVG Version here
14. Gesture Icons – Download
15. iPhone App Icon Set – Download
LaunchList Acts Like Great Checklist Tool For Site Developers
Website designers often put their websites through extensive testing and rechecking before they go ahead with the launch. This testing process can turn out to be quite time consuming if the designer feels he is forgetting something. If you are a designer and find yourself in a similar situation, remember to pay a visit to LaunchList.
LaunchList is a free to use website that acts like a checklist for site developers. It offers different options which you should check on your before you go ahead with the launch. Many site creation aspects are covered by the site’s checklist.
Using the site is quite simple. You start by entering your name and email and the name plus email of another person, perhaps a partner, client, or fellow site tester. You can add more people’s name / emails if you want. You also enter the site’s name and website URL.
Next you answer a series of questions that evaluate the readiness of your site.
Any question that does not apply to your website can be marked N/A (not applicable).
If the field is lacking any questions, you can add some of your own.
Finally you submit your answers and have the site determine whether or not your site is ready. But you would have already found that out while you answer the questions on the site.
LaunchList is a wonderful tool and a must-bookmark website for all site creators. You can check out the site Here.
13 Google Chrome Extensions To Simplify Web Designer’s Life
You might have been using Chrome for a quite some time now but there is a good chance you are not taking its full advantage. Chrome’s maximum potential lies in the power of its extensions. Below We have gathered 13 Chrome extensions that will enable you all to realize Chrome’s full potential if you are a web design expert. You will not find these extensions in similar lists on other websites; I hope you find them to be useful to your computer usage.
Give the list a thorough reading, try out any extension you are interested in, and let me know in the comments how they worked out for you. You are welcome to share if you know more useful chrome extension which our readers/viewers may like. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at SmashingApps.com just subscribe to our rss feed and you can follow us on twitter.
Speed Tracer
Speed Tracer is a tool to help you identify and fix performance problems in your web applications. It visualizes metrics that are taken from low level instrumentation points inside of the browser and analyzes them as your application runs. Speed Tracer is available as a Chrome extension and works on all platforms where extensions are currently supported (Windows and Linux).
Chrome Editor
With this extension, you can edit HTML easily, right inside your browser. You also have the ability to save a code reference for later use. It saves it to your computer locally.
Resolution Test
Resolution Test changes the size of the browser window for developers to preview their websites in different screen resolutions. It includes a list of commonly used resolutions as well as a custom option for you to input your own.
Web Developer
The Web Developer extension adds a toolbar button to the browser with various web developer tools. It is designed for Google Chrome and will run on any platform that these browsers support including Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
BuiltWith
BuiltWith is a web site profiler tool. Upon looking up a page, BuiltWith returns all the technologies it can find on the page. BuiltWith’s goal is to help developers, researchers and designers find out what technologies pages are using which may help them to decide what technologies to implement themselves. The BuiltWith Chrome Extension lets you find out what a website is built with by a simple click on the builtwith icon.
MultiSwitch
Whenever you have the need to simply switch between development, test and productive hosts you should use MultiSwitch. You are now able to customize the title of your environment.
Inline Code Finder
Inline Code Finder is a tool to traverse through all elements in a web page, and when it finds a HTML element with any of these, it will highlight them: Inline JavaScript events, Inline style, javascript: links.
IE Tab
Some sites can only be displayed using IE, and with this extension you can now see those sites without leaving Chrome. Great for web developers who want to test the IE rendering engine, users who use sites with ActiveX controls, and users who want to use the explorer view for local files
PlainClothes
This extension styles — or rather “unstyles” — the web. Just imagine: text is black, backgrounds are white, unread links are blue, visited links are purple, all links are underlined. Or any other colors you like. And all text is rendered in your default fonts (as defined in “Options” > “Under the Hood” > “Change font and language settings”). Everywhere. Automatically. You can control the extent of the “unstyling” via the Options window (“Extensions” > “PlainClothes” > “Options”), and you can toggle the “unstyling” on a per-site basis by clicking the icon in the location bar.
CSSViewer
CSSViewer shows the css parameters of any element in a web page, to enable/disable
it simply click the toolbar icon.
Aviary Screen Capture
This quick screen capture addon is a must-have for designers. It will perform a screen capture of the visible portion of any webpage and then open the capture INSTANTLY in a basic image editor where you can do markup (draw arrows and rectangles), edit (crop, rotate and resize) and get the exact pixel colors of the image. A perfect companion tool for designers.
Lorem Ipsum Generator
Chrome Extension that generates random “Lorem Ipsum” text. It uses a minimalist and well looking design. Many other extensions of this type – in other browsers – simply complicate this task, using really extensive code, XHR, etc. The main purpose of this one, is to use the less amount of code (and also memory) and help the developer/user to get the job done.
JavaScript tester
This extension adds a small & usefull shortcut to your browser “Alt+J”. To run and test pefromance of JavaScript code. When you press “Alt+J”, new textarea is added to the bottom of the current page. In this textarea you can write your JS code and press “Ctrl+Enter”, to run the code.
36 (Brand New) Eye-Catching Free CSS Templates
It doesn’t matter how good your site template is, still you will stop if something catches the eye. That means you’re a template lover, great that you’re here. We found some awesome CSS templates on Templatemo and here are some of those to stop you!
You are welcome if you want to share more CSS Templates that our readers/viewers may like. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at smashingApps.com just subscribe to our rss feed and you can follow us on twitter.
Sound box
General
Portfolio
Metal curve
Wedding store
Milky
Wall
Greeny
Travel tour
Pink Ship
Particle
Fruit Art
Steak
Showcase
Black beat
Green black
Speaker Blog
Stable
Mini
Wooden Blog
Garden
Specific
Design Team
Yellow Blog
Professional
Architect
Greenhome
Game
Car
Simple Gary
Fruit
Pinky
Business
Book Store
Design Blog
Tea and Meal
Find more on Templatemo
With Bounce It’s Fun To Share Fast And Visually Accurate Design Ideas
At times sharing the URL of a site simply does not get the job done. Suppose there is a specific part of a website which you have an opinion about; to share this opinion you will first need to separately share the site’s URL, then tell the recipient which part of the site you are referring to, then share your opinion. Needless to say, that process can be quite long – Bounce provides a much shorter way to perform that task.
Bounce is a free and simple to use website that lets you annotate webpages. Annotation is to comment on any area of a webpage. This way when the recipient visits the webpage, he can view your comments on a specific area of the webpage – thus entire process outlined above can be completed simply by sharing a URL.
You start by visiting Bounce’s homepage and entering the URL of the site you want to annotate. Let us assume the site is Yahoo!.
After you submit the link, Bounce will capture a screenshot of the website. On this capture image, you can make comments. The image is shown under an editing panel.
You should start commenting by naming the page in the top left.
This step is not necessary, but some users might prefer to type in their name in the middle of the editing pane.
When you bring your mouse pointer over to the image, the mouse pointer changes to a crosshair and you can click’n’drag to highlight any area on the webpage. Subsequently a box open beneath this area in which you can leave comments.
There is no restriction on how many red boxes you can create – you can leave as many comments as you want.
To share this annotated webpage, head on to the top right of the site and click on the “Save” button to obtain the URL. From here you can also directly share the URL to your Facebook or Twitter account.
Visiting this URL will show all your red boxes; when the visitor brings his mouse pointer over a to a box, your comment appears beneath it.
50 Creatively Designed Websites On Single Page
Sometimes a single page website delivers much more information as compared to a multi-page website. The only thing these sites require in order to spread the message is one page that also demonstrates the effective use of space.
The perfect example of such types of single page website is the portfolio that lets the users to see the content very easily. Furthermore these single page website give designer more room to showcase their creativity as compare to traditional multi-page sites. We have collected some example of single page websites, hope you’ll find them useful.
