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perfectprofessorloverapricot · 1 year ago

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•| A not so stolen youth |•

Stranger things / chapter 3

Summary: Everything in life seemed limited to walls of whites and rainbows. Caged within the confines of the lab. But an accident that involved a group of teenagers and the upside down world finally let him free. In a funny turn of events he found himself hiding in a step sibling's shed. A redhead that loves video games and a blond that spends his time making sure to keep his good looks.

Character: Male child OC

Warnings: Possible to descriptive scenes, child abuse, use of drugs and bad language.

A/N: I ask you to take into account that I lack experience writing in English and there'll be some grammatical mistakes because my native language is Spanish.

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It was early in the morning, every kid was either at school or at home because they’re sick. All except for one.

Thirteen walked with tranquility through the groups of trees scattered all over the town. He found that the only onces that walked there were a few really young kids, other than that, the coast is completely clear.

But what is not completely clear is his mind. The day before he saw something that brought back awful memories. He found out, his father is not the only man like that in the world and he isn’t the only one like him out there. He would like to say that he doesn’t understand Billy completely, but he does.

The teenage has moments of calmness when he usually keeps to himself or even glances at him as if inspecting his soul, and moments of complete chaos when he is hostile against anything and anyone near him.

Billy was angry at his father, that much was evident, but he couldn’t do a thing because he knew it was useless. That was a feeling he could relate a little bit to well.

It happened too often to him in the lab. Loosing his papa’s respect brought a lot of punishment with it and answering it only left him in pain. His only solution was to hold back and resist. But that led to future explosions where he sent his guards flying or breaking an entire room with a scream.

He was labeled as dangerous and forced to stay isolated.

He was thinking of ways to help make him feel better but nothing came to mind other than a present.

But what?

Or maybe, some company? That’s what he wanted when he was in the lab. Maybe that’s what Billy needs at home.

Before he could think about other options, his senses detected something. He heard a pair of soft footsteps quite some distance further in front of him but instead of dreading to find the person a familiar feeling made itself present in the back of his mind. He waited.

As silent as ever, he walked cautiously towards the sound.

Both kids that found themselves in front of one another gasped in surprise. They know each other.

The curly haired girl smiled at the boy receiving a smile in return.

“Eleven.” Whispered the boy, walking closer to her.

“Thirteen.” Once close enough they engulfed each other in a big hug, giggling, happy to realize they both basically survived.

The kids pulled away, still connected by their arms, smiling like no other day.

They had so much to talk about.

“-and then, she taught how to skateboard.” Commented the boy with glee.

They have been talking for about an hour about what’s happened the last year after escaping the lab and getting in contact with the upside down. So far, everything’s been peaceful.

He was happy to know that she was also taken care off by a good guy, even though she puts a kind of weird expression when she mentions him, she stills seems to trust him a lot too.

“But…” he made a pause and sunk in the log they were both seating at the reminder of what happened a few hours ago. “Her papa…” he turned his eyes from his joined hands to the attentive look of eleven. “He is like our papa.”

Eleven gasped softly at the revelation.

“She and Billy hide me.” His lips curved a little at the sides. He always gets a warm and fluffy feeling in his chest at the reminder of people that care about his safety. “She gave me clothes.” He gripped the fabric of the blue hoodie in his chest. The same that keeps his body heat from escaping. “And a name. Magnus.”

Eleven gave him a close-lipped smile. They don’t know each other as well as she would like too because they were separated in the lab. They met only after the rest of the kids disappeared and their father needed more power to connect with the unknown world. But couldn’t interact that much in a friendly way under the scrutinizing eyes of their handlers. He always wore a frown accompanied with tired eyes. So she is happy to see him finally smile, even in the slightest.

“And you?” He asked, giving her the opportunity to express something that might be bothering her.

“Hopper is good.” She nodded. “But he lies.” The kid raised his eyebrows in surprise. “He says, one day I’ll leave to see my friends but that never happens. He promised soon, but soon never comes.”

Thirteen lowered his head in sadness. He knows that feeling, or he knew, before living with his only friend.

“He says it’s dangerous, that it’s for my protection.” The kid wrapped an arm around her in a side hug to comfort her.

In moments like that he wished he was more like magneto and fight for their freedom.

But he couldn’t, he was just a kid after all. All he could do was make her aware that she’s not alone.

A certain blonde haired teenage boy was currently tightening a screw on the engine of his blue baby Camaro.

He was finishing changing the air filter. After what happened the day before with his father he has been looking for ways to release some pent-up pressure. He already said goodbye to his last hook up an hour ago, he doesn’t know where Max is because she was late and he left her to skate home alone and he already worked out in the living room but nothing seemed to make his anger decrease.

Billy huffed once he was finished, cleaning the sweat in his forehead with the back of his dirtied hand. It wasn’t enough but that’ll have to do.

“Jesus.” Exclaimed the blond once he turned around and found the boy behind him, startling him. Weirdly attentive to what he was doing. “What the hell are you doing there? Are you a creep?” He asked with annoyance. He had almost sent the tool in his hand flying.

The kid just kept looking at him and the car with his big blue eyes and shrugged. He didn’t know what ‘creep’ means.

Billy raised a brow at the look of wonder in the kids face. He has seen it a few times before, directed to him, like trying to figure him out, which makes him edgy, but this time it was directed more to his car. “Never seen a car before?” He asked mockingly.

Unknown to him, the first time the boy saw a car was when he escaped from the lab. Ever since that day, the younger one has been greatly interested in the weird machines that roll faster than any adult he has ever seen runs.

Billy furrowed his brows when the only answer he got was the kid leaning his head to the side, still looking at the car.

Was he really that stupid? No, he couldn’t be. They would have already found him if that was the case, but he would have to live under a rock to not know what a car is.

“What, cat got your tongue, brat?” Thirteen shook his head and stick his tongue out to demostrarte it was still there making Billy huffed and turned to his car.

What a weird kid.

He grabbed the car’s hood and slam it shut to make sure it was closed.

“Cool.” Alluded the boy walking closer to the drivers side.

“What?” Thirteen glanced at Billy for a moment before returning to the inside of the vehicle repeating his word.

“Cool.” He is not completely sure if his using correctly the word Max taught him. ‘A word to describe something that’s better than amazing.’ Is what she said, and that is exactly what he thinks about the car.

“Huh, at least you have taste.” Said Billy as he wiped his hands in a towel he had hanging from his short’s waistband. Until he got an idea. Something that would help him destress and he used to do it a lot in California. “Hey brat.”

Thirteen turned towards Billy, not knowing what ‘brat’ means but understanding he wanted his attention. He blinked a few times, watching the weird look in the teenager’s eyes. He had an idea.

Billy would never in his life know what led him to do what he did, but the next thing he knows, he is driving top speed in one of the many lonely roads in the outer sides of Hawkins with the kid in the copilot seat. He loves to use the backroads.

He thought the kid would be scared shitless, however, the kid was grasping the seatbelt like his life depends on it (because it does) with the biggest smile Billy has ever seen.

But he doesn’t care that the kid didn’t get scared he was too concentrated in the adrenaline coursing through his veins at the speed to actually pay attention. He didn’t even light the cigarette between his lips because it wasn’t needed.

Billy whooped in ecstasy and bobbed along the surprisingly not so loud music. It was more important the roar of the engine than the beat coming from the stereo.

“That’s what I’m talking about.” Cheered Billy with his always sharp smile.

But that wasn’t the best part, he was waiting for the right moment to put his car modifications to the test. In a way he couldn’t in the crowded city of California.

His smile widened when he saw what he was looking for. A wide straight doble lane road.

It’s show time.

He stepped on the break and pulled the hand brake simultaneously, then turned the wheel completely to one side in a second. The car instantly followed the action, turning with so much force skidding the tires in the street. Making a U turn by drifting.

Billy laughed loudly while the kid beside him screamed for his life. The wheels scraped the floor until the vehicle came to a stop in the other side of the road. Facing the opposite direction.

Not waiting for anything, he pushed the hand break back down and step on the gas. The wheels screeched against the ground, leaving marks, before moving at full speed back to the house.

At the speed he was driving it only took him 10 minutes to arrive.

He got out of the car after killing the engine and lit the cigarette between his lips, taking a drag as if it was pure oxygen he was inhaling. Finally he felt a little bit better.

So lost in his relief he didn’t pay attention to the passenger in his car. He only turned his head back when he heard a thud. He found the passenger seat empty and the door opened. He huffed thinking the kid just left without closing the door but he stop when he went around the car and found the kid basically face planted in the dirt while giggling.

Billy scoffed a laugh almost sending the cigarette in mouth flying. He was positive the kid was high with adrenaline. He saw the kid try to stand up in his jelly legs only to fall on his side.

“What the hell?” Billy didn’t need to turn around to know who that was. He merely rolled his eyes when the redhead rushed by him to get to the kid. “What did you do to him?” She asked when the kid tried to stand up again with her help but stumbled to the side like he was drunk. She got even more confused when she heard him giggle.

“I fixed your damn brat.” He grumbled taking a drag of his cigarette before throwing it to the ground and returning to the house. He wanted to take a shower.

Max looked between the retreating back of her step brother and the kid seating in the dirt with a big smile in his face.

Could it be possible that Billy changed his mind?

No, that is not something Billy could ever do.

But either way, she was relieved that he was at least tolerating the kid’s presence.

If Max thought they had made a progress with Billy after the ride he had with Magnus. She was wrong.

The very next day his anger returned when he saw her talking to Lucas. There was no problem with that, she didn’t plan to be part of their club of hypocrites anyway.

Well, that was her plan, until the very next day she wanted to go to the arcade to play dig dug and forget everything only to be tricked in to the breakroom by Lucas himself. They argued about the veracity of the fanciful story Lucas told her ensuring that it was the truth.

Leaving the arcade Billy saw him at the door. At first he acted eerily calm while accusing her of disobeying and lying. But a silent threat was made evident later in the afternoon when Billy broke her skateboard when reversing in his car.

It was his way of telling her he could ‘accidentally’ break something without a problem.

He became a ticking time bomb and she didn’t want to be there to see it explode because she would be the collateral damage, and possibly with her, Magnus too. Even though he has mostly ignored the kid in the last days, it was obvious the anger he was holding in.

Taking every posible outcome Max took a decision. She’ll go back to Cali to her father and she’ll take Magnus with her.

The kid already had a new name, and no one will be looking for a kid in another city, miles away from were he was.

That’s how she found herself in this position. Fidgeting with her fingers inside her hoodie pockets, feeling the money between her fingers and watching attentively at Magnus sitting in her bed and messing with her Walkman.

She got the money by telling her mother that she wanted to buy a new shirt but she wanted the money to buy it herself and avoid any kind of harsh comments from Neil if she went with them to the mall in the neighboring town. Her mother, illusioned with the possibility of her daughter buying something more feminine, gladly gave her double the money she needed to buy the shirt. She thanked the heavens her mother did because she forgot the amount of money it’ll cost to buy two bus tickets.

She forgot a slight detail. The distance between her and her father was much more now that she is in Hawkins than when she was in Cali, and the tickets would be more expensive.

She already prepared two bags with things for her and Magnus. In that precise moment she has the perfect opportunity to leave with him. Her parents aren’t home and they’ll come back until night and Billy was too busy working on his muscles for his next hook up of the night to notice.

Gaining some courage Max sat next to the kid in her bed. She took a breath and spoke. “Mag-“

She was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell, someone calling at the door.

The kid raised his head, looking between Max and the bedroom’s closed door. He was to concentrated on the Walkman that he didn’t pay attention to the footsteps at the front door. It’s not like Billy’s blasting music trough the house helped at all.

He was already used to the volume of the music, but hearing it with the door open still hurt his head. At least the wood helps to drown out the sound. But he was still relieved that it’s not as loud as the alarms in the lab. That was a real headache.

He jumped from the bed when doorbell sounded again. He needed to hide. He turned to the window but stopped, if the person in the door somehow comes to the backside of the house he’ll be screwed. He turned to the bed. He doesn’t fit under it. As his last and only option, the kid threw himself inside the closet and closed the door, always leaving a crack to let the light come inside.

Max pressed her lips together trying to suppress a laugh. For a moment he looked like a headless chicken.

Her poorly covered smile disappeared when she heard her stepbrother yell at the next ring. “Max, are you getting that or what?”

Exasperated with him she yelled her answered “Okay.” She opened stood up stomping her way out of the room, closing the door behind her

“I swear to God Max.” Fumed the blond getting an eye roll and a glare from his sister when she walked by him. He just proceeded to lift the weights again.

From the closet, Magnus could slightly hear the door opening and closing over the music, along with Max’s voice from the other side of the door, indicating that now she was outside with whoever was at the door. He couldn’t tell what they were talking about because the music muffled their voices.

He waited for a moment, relieved that Max at least sounded like she knew the person outside. He was also aware that it wasn’t Neil, he could have heard his truck parking or his gruff voice booming in the house.

He waited a little while until she finally came back, closing the door behind her. She turned to Magnus watching the window in wariness. She knew why. Lucas was outside of the window. “Magnus.” She called for his attention.

He turned to her, blinking a few times.

“I… ammm.” She fidget in her place looking for the words to say. She didn’t know why she was so nervous, she just made up her mind and decided she’ll find out what’s really happening with Lucas and his group because deep down she still wishes to have friends. “I’ll live with the stalker for a few hours. He says he has proof or something.”

“Where?” Came the silent question from the kid. Max almost didn’t hear it with Billy’s blasting music coming through the door.

“To the old junkyard.” Magnus lifted a brown and tilted his head slightly to the side. There was nothing in there other than trash and forgotten stuff. Nevertheless, he nodded, understanding that she is going there like really few other teenagers do. “Okay, then. I’ll be back.” She said, making the reference of the terminator movie even though Magnus didn’t catch it.

She turned to one of the two opened windows. The one closest to the bed. She stepped on the woodshed outside before stopping and turning to Magnus who was seating in her closet.

“Don’t talk with Billy if he doesn’t talk to you, by the way. He’s not in the mood and can get cranky.” Magnus smiled at the thought but nodded again.

Don’t talk to Billy. Copy.

Max said a soft goodbye before exiting when she heard the boy outside telling her to speed up. He even heard her commenting that whatever they were doing better be worth it.

Minutes later after she left, Magnus stayed in her closet. He was to engrossed in the Walkman she borrowed him.

The interest came when he returned from the store he likes to visit (steal from) with a cassette tape he found behind the garbage dump.

He put on the headphones and changed the tapes the way Max instructed him to. He pressed play instantly jumping in his place and accidentally trowing the headphones. The volume was too high. Even with the headphones in the floor he could hear it clearly.

He decreased the volume to the minimum before putting the headphones back on. The rhythm of the music was somewhat similar to the songs Billy hears when exercising but not as scandalous. He turned the Walkman over to see the tape through the see through cover. The letters in the side said ‘Call Me by blondie’ and something else he couldn’t read due to the blurred sharpie. He likes it though.

He bobbed his head to the rhythm of the music, not caring that he could hear Billy’s music through the headphones. He liked it. He found his taste in music.

Still moving his head to the beat, he stood up and walked to the window farthest from the bed. He sat on the window sill dangling his feet for a couple of second before jumping out. He looked at the full woodshed beside him before returning to the shed. Walkman in hand.

He’ll wait for Max in there.

It’s been a few hours and Max still hasn’t retuned. Magnus got bored since he doesn’t know where Max’s tapes are and he can’t read so well, so he decided to steal an apple from the Hargroves’ fridge.

Meanwhile, the blond teenager was done exercising, taking a shower and currently sharpening his look before his date (hook up). He sprayed hair product in the hair locks that fell on his forehead. Turning over the bottle of colon, he spread a few drops of the liquid in his wrist, even going as far as to spread a little bit in the southern area.

He turned and posed in front of the mirror, smiling with satisfaction at the result. Taking a drag from his previously lit cigarette he leaned forward and blew the smoke against his reflexión, winking. Yep, he was ready.

His smile was erased once he heard someone calling at the door. He noticed the rush in the knock even over his blasting music. “Billy?” He knew that voice. The reason for witch his father decided it was a good idea to move.

Kind of.

“Yeah, I’m a little bit busy in here, Susan.” He answered uninterestedly.

“Open the door. Right now.” He mentally cursed when he heard his father’s commanding voice in the other side. There was no way around this.

Genuinely curious he finally opened the door finding his father frowning face and the always present worried face of Susan shielding herself behind the man.

“What’s wrong?” He cut to the chase.

Neil wasn’t at all impressed by his son’s bluntness. “Why don’t you tell us?”

“Because I don’t know.” He answered with obviousness in his tone. They just appeared in his door insinuating something that he isn’t aware of and yet, he is not surprised. Everything that goes wrong for Neil is always somehow his fault. No matter what.

“We can’t find Maxine-” Said Susan.

“And her window’s open.” Interrupted the man like the boss that he believes himself. Billy faltered for a second, looking in another direction before regaining himself. Even he was surprised. She was in her room with the brat a few hours ago. “Where is she?” Commanded Neil.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Scoffed the Man like his son was the worst dumbass in the world, annoying the younger.

“Look, I’m sure she just, I don’t know, went to the arcade or something.” Explained Billy, still not finding the force in his voice, kicking himself for it, and panicking internally. To avoid looking at the rising anger in his father eyes he went to the closet to retrieve his previously selected leather jacket. “I’m sure she is fine.”

Nike wasn’t having any of it. “You were supposed to watch her.” He commented, like he was just making an obvious observation.

Billy could clearly hear the covered anger under those words. But he couldn’t stop himself from arguing. He was getting annoyed.

He sighed. “I know dad. I was. It’s just you guys were three hours late, and, well, I have a date.” He slipped on the jacket and turned towards the man ready to face it and just leave. “I’m sorry, okay?”

“So that’s why you’ve been staring at yourself in the mirror like some faggot instead of watching your sister?”

That did it.

“I have been looking after her all week, dad. Okay?” He snapped. “She wants to run off, then that’s her problem, all right?” Neil licked the interior of his cheek, concealing his anger with an eerie façade. “She’s 13 years old. She shouldn’t need a full-time babysitter. And she is not my sister.” He turned to the radio. Stopping the music abruptly only to feel his heart drop to his stomach when Neil grabbed him by the colar of his shirt and slammed him against the shelves beside the closet.

“What did we talk about?” Asked Neil in a condescending tone. Practically whispering it in Billy’s face.

The teenager panted in anger and fear. He couldn’t answer fast enough when Neil slapped him in his left cheek, making him groan.

Susan, who once again couldn’t leave the scenario only looked the other way, feeling guilty for putting him in that situation but not doing anything fearing she could be in his position.

Neil grabbed Billy’s chin to force him to look at him before pointing with the same hand. “What. Did. We… talked about?” He made emphasis in each word.

“Respect and responsibility.”

“That is right.” Answered the man, pleased to have him under control once again. “Now, apologies to Susan.”

There was silence for a few seconds. Neil waiting for Billy while the blonde swallowed his pride and fear. “I’m sorry, Susan.” He said, never tacking his eyes from his father’s.

“It’s okay, Neil, really-“ she was interrupted when the man once again rises his voice.

“No, it’s not okay. Nothing about his behavior is okay. But he’s gonna make up for it.” He grumbled the last part. He finally stepped back to turn to look at Susan. “He’s gonna call whatever whore he’s seeing tonight and cancel their date.” He said as if it was the most normal thing to say. “And then he’s gonna go find his sister. Like the good, kind, respecting brother that he is.” He turned once again to his son, already finished with the humiliation. “Isn’t that right, Billy?”

Billy looked at his father with watery eyes hiding all that hate and anger he harbors towards the man. If only he could make him pay or just leave.

“It’s that right?” Yelled Neil when his first answer was only silence.

“Yes, sir.” He said softly.

Neil sighted in annoyance, leaning closer to his son. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you.”

“Yes. Sir.” He repeated. This time with more courage.

“Find max.” Demanded Neil with finality turning around and leaving the room, intimidating Susan enough for her to step away from his way.

Billy finally let the tears spill once the door was slammed close and hit the wall beside him. He hated him with all his being. He wanted to fight back, punch him or something, but the last time he tried to do it didn’t end well for him.

Sucking his feelings up and drying his tears, he left his room to the back of the house. He thanked the heavens he parked the car in the back really close to were he needs to go. The shed.

Faster than he thought, Billy reached the wooden door and gentler than he wanted to, he opened the door (still slamming it open). “Hey, brat.” He grumbled once inside.

Magnus raised his head looking at him with wide eyes. He knew it was Billy the one walking (stomping) towards the shed. But it still surprised him when the teenage barged in the shed and called for his attention, loudly.

Billy opened his mouth about to yell but stopped. He didn’t want to scare the kid that looked like a frightened rabbit ready to bolt and end up running around like a headless chicken looking for Max for scaring him, or for his father to find him hiding a kid in the shed and get his butt kicked.

Instead he took a breath before talking. “Where’s Max?”

The answer he got was the kid blinking in bewilderment hugging a comic to his chest.

“Ugh, for fucks…” he mumbled under his breath. “Do you know where is Max?” He repeated in a gentler voice, clearly containing his annoyance.

Magnus nodded his head slowly. Max told him to not talk to Billy if he didn’t speak to him first, she didn’t say anything about not telling him where she is.

Billy raised his eyebrows expectantly. “Okay, and?”

“The old junkyard.” He answered softly.

Damn. Now he is in trouble. He doesn’t know where that is. He slightly fidgeted in his place. “Do you know how to get there?”

Magnus nodded a slowly, still with the comic in his hands.

“Okay, then get in the car.”

Magnus instantly light up. He didn’t care that Billy used a commanding voice, he was just happy to get a raid again.

The kid quickly rushed out of the shed as silent as a mouse with an annoyed teenager following him.

Billy was already donde for the night, but unfortunately and unknown for him, it would be the longest and most eventful life of his entire life.

Hope you like the new rout I’m taking with this story.

#stranger things x male oc #stranger things x male reader #x male!reader #x male oc #child oc #child male reader #x child reader #billy hargrove #max mayfield #jim hopper #eleven hopper #stranger things #x male reader #stranger things x reader

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azuhrasims · 9 months ago

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A Very Basic How to Edit a Screenshot Tutorial

I had a request by PeachPlumbobs on Bluesky about how I edit my moodlets and use them on my Sims 4 screenshots. I used this as an opportunity to brush up a little on my Photopea skills to offer a free solution to anyone editing their sims screenshots. This is a quick and dirty tutorial. There are SO MANY MORE THINGS you can do with Photopea. Its basically a free to use, browser based, Photoshop. If you've ever worked with Photoshop, you will be comfortable here.

To follow along with this tutorial you need:

A screenshot of a moodlet and a screenshot you want to put it on top of.

Open Photopea in your browser

** I play and edit on a PC. Any keyboard shortcuts I mention are for PC.

First, we're going to open Photopea. It really is browser based. You don't need to download a thing to your computer. For this basic edit tutorial, I dragged and dropped a screenshot with a moodlet and a screenshot I wanted it overlayed on.

Notice how Photopea will open each image as its own tab. That's good. The question I was asked was how I edit and add moodlets. Personally, I use exactly what the game gives me. I'm going to show you how to cut them out with rounded corners here.

*To make your life easier, feel free to use the magnifier glass tool on the left to make the area you are working on bigger. If you need to move the whole image around, use the hand selection tool on the left side.

On the left side with the tools, you will find a button for shapes, click the rectangle one. On the top bar, just below the "Edit" button, you will see a drop down box that lets you change this from a shape to a path. Make it a path. On that same bar you will see an option to edit the corner radius. I changed it to 5px.

Use this path drawing tool to draw a rectangle over the part of the moodlet you want to see. I cut out the time remaining on the moodlet when I do this. I also cut out the icon - that's optional of course!

Once you have your path drawn, look to the right side of the screen. Over there, you want to switch it from layer view to Paths. After that, on the bottom of the right side is a button that lets you make that path into a selection. Switch the view on the right side back form Paths to Layers. Use the Arrow tool on the left side and click the center of your selection to make sure it is active.

On PC, you can use the keyboard short cut "Ctrl C" to copy the selection. Or, you can go to the top and click "Edit - Copy"

Switch tabs to the image you want to place the moodlet on. The PC keyboard shortcut is "Ctrl V" to place your copied selection on a new layer of this file. Or, you can click, "Edit - Paste"

Again, this is how I edit my moodlets and you don't have to do the same thing if you don't want to! Once my moodlet is placed as a new layer, I use the square selection tool on the left side to create a box around the moodlet icon. I then use the arrow tool to move the icon on top of the moodlet box with the text. Once completed, go to the top and press "Select - Deselect"

How to add that nifty translucent outline around the moodlet. Make sure you are on the layer your moodlet is on! Go to the bottom right and click the button labeled, "eff." Go up the pop-up list until you get to "Stroke." Click on that and a layer style box will pop up. For this example, I set the width to 10px, the opacity to 40%, and the color to white. There you go, you've given that moodlet a little pop!

This is a quick tutorial, but I'd be remiss if I didn't follow through with the rest of the image editing process here. I know I plan to make this image a square when I save it, so I moved my moodlet over where the square would be. Using the rectangle select tool, you can press "Shift" while dragging the rectangle out and you will get a perfect square. Once you are happy with your selection, go to the top bar, and click "Image - Crop"

Now that I know the size of my image that I plan to post, I can adjust the size of the moodlet. Again, make sure you are on the layer with the moodlet when you try to do this! Go to the top bar and click, "Edit - Free Transform"

Free Transform is a lot of fun. You can make the moodlet larger, smaller, or rotate it! If you hold down the "Alt" button while resizing, the moodlet will keep it original aspect ratio as well. Once you are happy with the size and rotation of the moodlet, click the arrow tool on the left to exit Free Transform mode.

This screenshot was taken at night and is very dark. There is a very easy and quick way to make it a little brighter. Click the layer with your screenshot. By doing this first, the following edits to brightness will not affect the Moodlet layer. From the screenshot layer, go to the bottom right and click the half and half circle button. From the drop down list, click "Levels"

Levels brings up a bar graph looking screen. On the left is darks, on the right is lights, in the middle is midtones. Pull the slider button just below the bar graph around until you find a happy level of darks and lights. In this case, I played more with the midtones. This is a quick and dirty adjustment method! there are so many other ways to do this! But, if I'm in a hurry, I go straight to levels to adjust my screenshots.

Finally, save your final product! In my case, I'm going to file and exporting it as a .jpg or a .png. If you save it as a .PSD, you can open it and work on it again in the future if that's something you want to do. When I export the save as a PNG or JPG - it automatically saved it to my downloads folder.

There you go! One quick Photopea to edit your sims screenshots tutorial!

Have fun.

#ts4 #sims 4 #ts4 screenshot editing #photopea #photopea screenshot editing #photpea screenshot editing tutorial

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headmate-ideas · 5 months ago

Note

hiya, could i get a pack for a headmate who helps the system from Isolating? especially from those close to us, such as partners and close friends/tight knit groups.

emojis: 🐁👁🖤✏🌑📒

🐁 HEADMATE TEMPLATE 📒

✦ Name(s): Tammy, Luna, Lina ✦ Pronouns: she/her, he/him, it/its, squeak/squeaks/squeakself, ix/ixs/ixself, 🖤/🖤s/🖤self ✦ Species: mouse anthro ✦ Age: same as body ✦ Role(s): love holder, socializer, manager, spiritual headmate (optional) ✦ Labels: femme, veldigirl, xenogender, demiboy ✦ Xenos: the moon, fashion, flowers ✦ Interests/likes: books, museums, video games ✦ Dislikes: being alone ✦ Music taste: indie pop, filk, bitpop ✦ Aesthetic(s): goth, lovecore, library aesthetic ✦ Kins: ragdoll cats, stars, robots ✦ Emoji proxy: 🐁📒 ✦ Details:

Tammy is an anthropomorphic white mouse who is very social and holds a lot of love for the system's partners and friends. Any of the self-isolating tendencies that the system have, Tammy is immune to them, and she has no problem initiating social interactions or talking in social situations, especially with the system's friend groups. Tammy is also very organized and responsible and handles the system's responsibilities, especially things like work and/or school. She is very smart, a bit nerdy, and good at coming up with solutions to problems and functioning under pressure. If the system have spiritual practices, Tammy engages in them, especially spells to help friends.

[These can be edited and changed as needed, and headmates will almost definitely not turn out EXACTLY as described.]

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bennnharris · 16 days ago

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What Is EV Charging Management Software?

Let’s get one thing out of the way EV charging isn’t just about plugging into a socket and walking away. Behind that simple user experience is a whole ecosystem that needs to run like a well-oiled (or should we say, well-charged) machine. That’s where EV charging management software steps in.

Think of it as the backend control room that powers everything from session tracking to billing, charger health, and even the queue at your nearest public station. Whether you’re managing a single station or hundreds across locations, this software is what keeps operations clean, trackable, and profitable.

Let’s break this down properly and make sense of what matters especially if you’re planning to get into the EV game with some business sense, not just shiny dashboards.

What is EV Charging Management Software, Really?

In simple words, EV Charging Management Software (CMS) is a centralized system that lets charging station owners, operators, and businesses manage, monitor, and monetize their EV charging infrastructure.

It does everything from:

Authorizing users and vehicles

Monitoring energy usage

Managing peak loads

Automating billing and invoicing

Handling remote diagnostics

And integrating with apps, wallets, and CRM tools

Without it, you'd be managing your EV chargers with spreadsheets, phone calls, and prayers.

Who Needs It?

If you're a fleet operator, public charging station owner, commercial building manager, or even a residential society exploring EV readiness this software isn't a luxury. It's survival gear.

And yes, government projects, retail malls, parking lots, and logistics parks are all getting in on it.

You want uptime, transparency, and ROI? You need a CMS that plays nice with your hardware and grows as your needs change.

What Problems Does It Solve?

Here’s where we skip the fluff and talk about real issues.

1. Energy Load Management

Uncontrolled EV charging can blow up your utility bill or trip the local transformer. CMS helps you control how much energy flows where and when without causing grid panic.

2. Charger Downtime

No operator wants to get that “your charger isn’t working” call at 2 AM. A solid CMS alerts you before users complain. Remote diagnostics and health checks are baked in.

3. User Authentication & Payments

Want to let only subscribed users charge? Want to integrate UPI, cards, or in-app wallets? A proper CMS does all that without you writing a single line of code.

4. Revenue Leakage

Imagine running a business where you're not sure who paid, how much power was delivered, or how many sessions failed. A CMS gives you transaction-level visibility. No guessing games.

5. Scalability

Planning to go from 5 chargers to 50? From 1 location to 12 cities? Your CMS better be ready before your Excel sheet dies of stress.

Must-Have Features (Beyond Just “Dashboard Looks Cool”)

A good EV CMS isn't just eye candy. Here's what you should be checking for:

OCPP Compliance: Plays well with most hardware brands

Dynamic Load Balancing: Keeps your power use smart and optimized

Real-time Monitoring: Know what’s happening where, second by second

Custom Pricing Models: Per minute, per kWh, time-of-day rates you control the game

Fleet & Group Management: Especially if you're running EV fleets or shared chargers

User Access Control: Set roles, permissions, and access levels

White-label Option: Your brand, your logo, your rules

So, Who’s Doing It Right?

There are plenty of software platforms out there that’ll promise the moon until you actually plug them in. But a few players are doing it with serious focus on customization, clean architecture, and real customer support.

Stellen Infotech: Quietly Building the Backbone for EV Ops

While most are busy chasing investor buzzwords, Stellen Infotech is quietly building robust, scalable, and adaptable EV charging software solutions for businesses that actually need to function in the real world.

They’re not just slapping a UI on top of code and calling it a platform. Their stack includes features like:

Custom-built integrations for fleets

White-labeled dashboards

Load optimization modules

Billing and invoicing flexibility

API support for third-party logistics, CRMs, or payment apps

The vibe? Practical tech that doesn’t crash when you scale or cry when you run 100 sessions a day. You’ll notice they’re not trying to be the flashiest just the most dependable in the room. And that’s honestly what most businesses want when dealing with critical infrastructure.

Can’t I Just Build This Myself?

Sure, if you’re sitting on a dev team with grid logic, payment gateway knowledge, OCPP expertise, and UI chops. Otherwise, you’ll spend 18 months burning money, and still end up with something half-baked.

EV management is not just a software challenge it’s a compliance, connectivity, and customer experience challenge. You’re better off working with a team that already figured that out.

What About Hardware Compatibility?

The good ones like Stellen’s platform are built to support OCPP 1.6 and 2.0, meaning they work with a wide range of chargers. You’re not locked into one brand or vendor, which is great because EV hardware isn’t cheap and upgrading just for software issues is bad business.

Final Thoughts: Where This Is Headed

EV charging isn't a novelty anymore. With mandates, subsidies, and rising fuel prices, we’re going to see charging stations pop up like ATMs did in the 2000s. But here’s the thing the ones who’ll stay profitable aren’t the ones who bought the fanciest chargers. It’s the ones who run them smartly.

That’s where EV charging management software earns its keep.

Whether you’re just setting up or scaling across cities, having a solid CMS isn’t optional it’s your operational backbone. Platforms like what Stellen Infotech offers are making this easier for businesses that don’t want to get stuck figuring out load curves and session reports at 11 PM.

And honestly? That’s the kind of tech backbone more EV businesses need not another flashy dashboard with no substance.

#EV charging #EV charging management software #Stellen infotech #EV Charging Software Solutions

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thebrandscalingexpert · 3 months ago

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Best 10 Blockchain Development Companies in India 2025

Blockchain technology is transforming industries by enhancing security, transparency, and efficiency. With India's growing IT ecosystem, several companies specialize in blockchain development services, catering to industries like finance, healthcare, supply chain, and gaming. If you're looking for a trusted blockchain development company in India, here are the top 10 companies in 2025 that are leading the way with cutting-edge blockchain solutions.

1. Comfygen

Comfygen is a leading blockchain development company in India, offering comprehensive blockchain solutions for businesses worldwide. Their expertise includes smart contract development, dApps, DeFi platforms, NFT marketplaces, and enterprise blockchain solutions. With a strong focus on security and scalability, Comfygen delivers top-tier blockchain applications tailored to business needs.

Key Services:

Smart contract development

Blockchain consulting & integration

NFT marketplace development

DeFi solutions & decentralized exchanges (DEX)

2. Infosys

Infosys, a globally recognized IT giant, offers advanced blockchain solutions to enterprises looking to integrate distributed ledger technology (DLT) into their operations. Their blockchain services focus on supply chain, finance, and identity management.

Key Services:

Enterprise blockchain solutions

Smart contracts & decentralized apps

Blockchain security & auditing

3. Wipro

Wipro is known for its extensive research and development in blockchain technology. They help businesses integrate blockchain into their financial systems, healthcare, and logistics for better transparency and efficiency.

Key Services:

Blockchain consulting & strategy

Supply chain blockchain solutions

Smart contract development

4. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

TCS is a pioneer in the Indian IT industry and provides robust blockchain solutions, helping enterprises optimize business processes with secure and scalable decentralized applications.

Key Services:

Enterprise blockchain development

Tokenization & digital asset solutions

Decentralized finance (DeFi) applications

5. Hyperlink InfoSystem

Hyperlink InfoSystem is a well-established blockchain development company in India, specializing in building customized blockchain solutions for industries like finance, gaming, and supply chain.

Key Services:

Blockchain-based mobile app development

Smart contract auditing & security

NFT marketplace & DeFi solutions

6. Tech Mahindra

Tech Mahindra provides blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) solutions, ensuring that businesses leverage blockchain for improved transparency and automation. They focus on finance, telecom, and supply chain industries.

Key Services:

Blockchain implementation & consulting

dApp development & smart contracts

Digital identity management solutions

7. Antier Solutions

Antier Solutions is a specialized blockchain development firm offering DeFi solutions, cryptocurrency exchange development, and metaverse applications. They provide custom blockchain solutions for startups and enterprises.

Key Services:

DeFi platform development

NFT & metaverse development

White-label crypto exchange development

8. HCL Technologies

HCL Technologies offers enterprise blockchain development services, focusing on improving security, efficiency, and automation across multiple sectors.

Key Services:

Blockchain-based digital payments

Hyperledger & Ethereum development

Secure blockchain network architecture

9. SoluLab

SoluLab is a trusted blockchain development company working on Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Solana-based solutions for businesses across industries.

Key Services:

Smart contract & token development

Decentralized application (dApp) development

AI & blockchain integration

10. Mphasis

Mphasis provides custom blockchain solutions to enterprises, ensuring secure transactions and seamless business operations.

Key Services:

Blockchain for banking & financial services

Smart contract development & deployment

Blockchain security & risk management

Conclusion

India is emerging as a global hub for blockchain technology, with companies specializing in secure, scalable, and efficient blockchain development services. Whether you're a startup or an enterprise looking for custom blockchain solutions, these top 10 blockchain development companies in India provide world-class expertise and innovation.

Looking for the best blockchain development partner? Comfygen offers cutting-edge blockchain solutions to help your business thrive in the decentralized era. Contact us today to start your blockchain journey!

#blockchain #crypto #cryptocurrency #altcoin #digitalcurrency #bitcoin #business

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oliverethanrobin · 4 months ago

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Emerging Trends Shaping the Future of White-Label Crypto Exchange Development

The cryptocurrency market has seen exponential growth over the years, and as demand for seamless and feature-rich trading platforms rises, white-label crypto exchange development has become a game-changing solution for businesses. A white-label crypto exchange allows entrepreneurs to quickly launch a customizable trading platform, eliminating the need for extensive development time and resources.

As the crypto landscape evolves, so do the expectations for white-label solutions. In this blog, we’ll explore the future trends shaping white-label crypto exchange development, showcasing how businesses can stay competitive and meet the ever-changing demands of traders.

1. Increased Focus on Decentralized Exchange Features

Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) are becoming increasingly popular due to their security and transparency. As a result, many white-label solutions are integrating DEX functionalities into their offerings.

Key Trends:

Hybrid Models: Combining the security of DEXs with the liquidity of centralized exchanges (CEXs).

Non-Custodial Wallets: Allowing users to trade directly from their wallets without intermediaries.

Smart Contract Integration: Automating trading processes and enhancing security.

Why It Matters:

DEX-like features in white-label solutions cater to the growing demand for privacy and decentralization, attracting a broader user base.

2. Multi-Asset Support and Tokenization

With the rise of tokenized assets and diverse cryptocurrencies, future white-label exchanges will focus on supporting a wide range of assets.

What to Expect:

Support for tokenized stocks, commodities, and real estate.

Integration of emerging blockchain networks like Solana, Avalanche, and Polkadot.

Cross-chain compatibility for seamless trading across multiple blockchain ecosystems.

Impact:

Businesses that offer multi-asset trading options will attract institutional and retail investors seeking diverse investment opportunities.

3. Advanced Security Measures

Security remains a top concern in the crypto industry. Future white-label crypto exchanges will incorporate state-of-the-art security measures to protect user funds and data.

Innovative Security Features:

Multi-Signature Wallets: Ensuring transactions require multiple approvals.

Cold Storage Solutions: Safeguarding the majority of funds offline.

AI-Powered Fraud Detection: Identifying and mitigating suspicious activities in real-time.

End-to-End Encryption: Securing user data and communication.

Why It’s Important:

Enhanced security builds trust, which is crucial for attracting and retaining users in the competitive crypto exchange market.

4. Customizable User Experiences (UX/UI)

As competition grows, user experience (UX) will become a key differentiator. White-label exchanges will prioritize customizable and intuitive interfaces.

Future Developments in UX/UI:

Personalized Dashboards: Allowing users to customize their trading view.

Simplified Onboarding: Streamlining the KYC process for faster registration.

Mobile-First Design: Optimizing platforms for seamless use on smartphones.

Dark Mode and Accessibility Features: Catering to diverse user preferences.

Result:

User-friendly platforms enhance engagement and attract a wider audience, including beginners entering the crypto space.

5. Integration of DeFi Features

Decentralized finance (DeFi) is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the crypto industry. Future white-label solutions will integrate DeFi functionalities to meet user demands for innovative financial services.

Popular DeFi Features:

Staking and Yield Farming: Enabling users to earn passive income.

Lending and Borrowing: Providing decentralized financial services.

Liquidity Pools: Allowing users to earn rewards by providing liquidity.

Why It Matters:

Incorporating DeFi features enhances platform functionality and attracts users looking for diverse earning opportunities.

6. AI and Machine Learning Integration

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are revolutionizing the way crypto exchanges operate. Future white-label exchanges will harness these technologies for automation and efficiency.

AI-Powered Features:

Predictive Analytics: Helping users make data-driven trading decisions.

Automated Trading Bots: Enabling high-frequency and algorithmic trading.

Fraud Detection: Identifying suspicious activities and enhancing security.

Outcome:

AI integration improves platform performance and user satisfaction, giving businesses a competitive edge.

7. Compliance and Regulatory Readiness

With governments worldwide tightening regulations on cryptocurrencies, compliance will be a critical factor for future exchanges.

What to Expect:

Automated KYC/AML Processes: Using AI to verify user identities and prevent money laundering.

Transparent Reporting: Providing real-time audit trails for regulators.

Global Regulatory Support: Adapting platforms to comply with regional laws.

Impact:

Regulatory-compliant exchanges inspire confidence among users and attract institutional investors.

8. Gamification in Trading

Gamification is emerging as a strategy to enhance user engagement on trading platforms. Future white-label crypto exchanges will incorporate interactive elements to make trading more engaging.

Gamification Features:

Leaderboards: Highlighting top traders and rewarding performance.

Achievements and Badges: Encouraging users to reach milestones.

Demo Trading: Offering virtual trading environments for beginners.

Why It’s Effective:

Gamification boosts user retention and makes trading enjoyable, particularly for younger demographics.

9. White-Label NFT Marketplaces

The rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has created new opportunities for crypto exchanges. White-label platforms will increasingly support NFT trading and minting.

Key Features:

NFT Minting Tools: Allowing users to create and sell digital assets.

Integrated Marketplaces: Enabling seamless buying and selling of NFTs.

Royalty Management: Automating creator royalties using smart contracts.

Impact:

Businesses that offer NFT capabilities can tap into a growing market and attract creators and collectors alike.

10. Scalability and Performance Optimization

As the user base for crypto exchanges grows, scalability and performance will remain top priorities for white-label solutions.

Enhancements:

Layer-2 Scaling: Using solutions like Polygon for faster and cheaper transactions.

Cloud-Based Infrastructure: Ensuring platform reliability during traffic spikes.

Low Latency Trading: Enabling high-speed transactions for professional traders.

Result:

Scalable platforms can handle larger user bases and higher trading volumes, ensuring a seamless experience for all users.

Why Partner with Professional White-Label Crypto Exchange Development Services?

To stay competitive in the evolving crypto market, partnering with an experienced white-label crypto exchange development company is essential.

Key Benefits:

Custom Solutions: Tailored platforms with unique branding and features.

Quick Launch: Faster time-to-market compared to building from scratch.

Security Integration: Advanced measures to safeguard user funds and data.

Ongoing Support: Regular updates and technical assistance to ensure smooth operations.

Conclusion

The future of white-label crypto exchange development lies in innovation, security, and user-centric features. From integrating DeFi functionalities to offering multi-asset support and gamification, the next generation of white-label solutions will empower businesses to thrive in the competitive crypto space.

By leveraging the latest trends and partnering with professional development services, businesses can launch cutting-edge platforms that attract users, drive engagement, and generate sustainable revenue.

Ready to build your own white-label crypto exchange? The future is now—embrace innovation!

#crypto exchange platform development company #crypto exchange development company #cryptocurrency exchange development service #crypto exchange platform development #white label crypto exchange development #cryptocurrencyexchange #cryptoexchange

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white-label-affiliate-marketing · 8 months ago

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White label affiliate marketing for businesses

Affiliate marketing solutions offered by digital marketing services offered by a white label digital marketing agency are becoming a go-to strategy for brands looking to expand their horizons and boost their bottom line.

What makes it so great? Well, for starters, it’s a cost-effective way to tap into new markets without breaking the bank. You’re piggybacking on the expertise of these affiliates, so you don’t need a huge upfront investment. Plus, you only pay out commissions when sales roll in, making it a real performance-based deal.

But here’s the best part: it’s all about building long-term relationships. You and your affiliates are on the same team, working together to drive sales and rake in profits. It’s like having a bunch of motivated salespeople out there hustling for your brand!

So, if you’re looking to boost your brand’s visibility, crank up your revenue streams, and stay ahead of the competition; white-label affiliate marketing could be the ticket you’ve been searching for in today’s innovative business world.

Why white-label affiliate marketing reigns supreme for agencies

Ever wondered how to level up your game without breaking the bank? White label is your golden ticket! Imagine having to expand your services, rake in extra cash, and impress your clients—all with minimal effort. Here’s the deal: You join forces with affiliate pros who know how to sell. They promote your stuff, you pay them when they bring in sales. Simple, right? Plus, it’s all about building strong, long-lasting client relationships. Your clients see results and you look like a hero. So, if you’re ready to take your agency to the next level, white-label solutions for affiliate marketing are where it’s at. Trust us, you won’t regret it!

#advertising services #agency consultation #agency lead generation #brand consideration #brand loyalty #building brand awareness #digital marketing #hubspot implementation #lead generation

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li0nh3arted · 4 months ago

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↪ not-so-brief introduction.

BASICS.

full name: halina jozefa wioleta marek. nickname(s): lina. age: twenty-nine. date of birth: 17 may 1995. zodiac sign: taurus. place of birth: bochnia, poland. ethnicity: white. nationality: polish, british. gender: demigirl ( nonbinary, she/they pronouns ). sexual orientation: pansexual. romantic orientation: panromantic. religion: lina was raised in a very catholic household but aside from a small handful of childhood milestones that were religion based, she's never paid much attention to it. she'd rather do just about anything else than go to mass but she tends to keep that to herself. education: bachelor’s in photography ( royal college of art ). occupation: photographer ( usually freelance, currently working with a large magazine in chicago ). language(s) spoken: english, polish, quite rough university level french. accent: lina has a more noticeably british accent than she does a noticeably polish one― unlike her parents and older siblings. certain words will have slightly bizarre inflections based on how her family pronounces things but overall, she has a standard british accent. neighborhood: sycamore row, heritage arms.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE.

face claim: ella purnell. hair color: dark brown; currently a bit shorter and dyed blue and purple ( ref ). eye color: green. height: 5'5". weight: 134 lbs. build: lina is fairly small, as things go― definitely the smallest person in her family which her brothers tease her about to no end. tattoos: a camera surrounded by flowers, right arm ( here );floral sleeve, left arm ( here );a ring of flowers, right wrist ( here ). piercings: both lobe and upper lobe piercings in both ears, helix piercings in both ears and a stud in her right nostril. distinguishing characteristics: her eyes, her tattoos, the fact that she always has an analog camera with her in some form.

PERSONALITY.

label: the flowerchild. positive traits: adaptable, charming, clever, compassionate, empathetic, flirtatious, methodical, passionate, persuasive, resourceful. negative traits: anxious, impatient, impulsive, mischievous, needy, obsessive, perfectionist, sarcastic, self-deprecating, self-sabotaging, shy, stubborn, studious. goals/desires: to make the most of her life after her childhood illness, to create art she can leave behind. fears: she doesn't have any specific phobias but does have a deep seated fear of her illness coming back even when the chance is very, very unlikely. hobbies: playing video games, sketching in her spare time, cooking, baking, collecting old cameras, learning new things, finding new games to play, pestering her siblings (especially her brother henryk), reading, practicing her grandmother's older recipes (none of which are written down - she's memorized them and self-edits as she goes), going out with her friends, watching just about every high fantasy movie or tv show she can find, playing piano, singing, learning absolutely unhinged fun facts. quirks: she will occasionally talk to herself in polish when she's being especially rude or especially irritated - she's not grumpy enough to start a fight so bitching in a language people around her probably don't know is a solution, she's a very physically expressive person - always talks with her hands, acts things out as she tells stories - things like that, she drinks an insane amount of coffee because her sleep schedule is absolutely garbage - she has yet to regret that, she's usually puppy levels of excited about most things but it does make her bad moods more noticeable - has very wet cat energy on those days. likes: disney movies, cute people, occasionally flirting with said cute people (she ticks this box unintentionally a lot), spending time with her friends and family, finding the best spots of sun in her home to nap in, strong coffee, food of any kind (will do some absolutely wacky things for good pancakes), trying new things if the urge strikes and she can wrangle a friend into it as well, fantasy novels, queer romance novels, queer media in general, jigsaw puzzles, crafts of any sort (knitting, especially), video games of all sorts, being annoying while she plays league of legends, how-to videos, editing photos, hiking. dislikes: unnecessarily rude / bigoted people, being talked down to, especially mushy foods (mashed potatoes and things of that nature being the exception), disrupting her routine in any way, feeling like she's out of her depth in any situation, most mint chocolate flavored things, extra stiff or scratchy fabric, most dark liquor.

FAMILY.

father: casimir marek. mother: alina marek ( née filipek ). sibling(s): dominik marek ( older brother ), roxana marek ( older sister ), henryk marek ( twin brother ), izaak marek ( younger brother ). pet(s): a two year old blue merle border collie named leopold, a seven month old siamese named powder. financial status: upper middle class.

BIOGRAPHY.

( TW: childhood illness - cancer, abusive relationships )

Casimir Marek― eldest son in a large family of farmers― yearned for more than life growing up on a small farm outside of Bochnia seemed to be capable of offering him. It wasn't that he minded working on the farm― the labor had never bothered him, nor had the fact that his parents had made it abundantly clear that he was expected to carry just a bit more of the load than his siblings because he was the eldest. He took to the responsibility easily― thrived under the pressure and ran the farm, as he got older, as smoothly as any man in the Marek family had ever done. He was of age to attend university by the time he took a proper step away from his home in Bochnia― months of begging his parents to allow him to attend school far afield of home finally paying off when he was enrolled at university in Warsaw and, within a handful of weeks, met the woman who would become his wife: Alina Filipek. Casimir was enamored in an instant by Alina's vivacity and charm and joy for just about everything life had to offer her― he appreciated both her thirst for adventure and the free spirit that seemed to guide her any which way the wind might blow. It comforted him as someone who had always felt rooted to places in a way that had never bothered him but made him crave a change all the same.

When their schooling drew to a close Casimir and Alina returned to Bochnia riding several major changes in their lives: jobs in the nearest metropolitan area waiting for them, a marriage being planned with enthusiastic effort from their families, and their first child together cementing their future in a way they both seemed unbearably excited for. Casimir continued to help his parents manage the farm with the understanding that his younger brother would take over the moment Casimir's child was born and, as time went by, the Marek family grew from Casimir and Alina to Casimir, Alina and their small gaggle of children: Dominik, Roxana― the twins, Halina and Henryk and finally, their youngest son Izaak. Theirs was an endlessly happy family and Lina an endlessly happy girl― more than a little rambunctious, on occasion, but shy in comparison to her twin brother and the rest of her siblings.

Still, she was sweet and attentive and seemed to have a remarkable ability to adapt to anything in life with a smile― something that was made obvious to her parents when they packed the family up to move to London when the twins were three, after Casimir was offered a well paying position that would give the family far more opportunities than they'd had in Bochnia. Lina took to living in England fairly quickly― far too young to have a significant amount of memories of her early childhood in Poland to make the transition a difficult one. Her older siblings had a far more difficult time adjusting but, overall, the Mareks seemed to have genuine joy and optimism in abundance and when they settled properly the children took to their new lives in London with gusto. Life in the Marek household was quiet for two years until Lina developed a persistent pain near her right knee that worsened in the evenings and, after taking what should have been an ordinary fall, resulted in a clean break of her lower leg that ultimately lead to the discovery of a tumor.

A cancer diagnosis at five years of age had certainly not been in the Mareks plans for their youngest daughter and in spite of everything, Lina tried her hardest to be positive about things― continuing to attend school when she wasn't in hospital, trying ( and failing more than she wanted ) to make friends as being vulnerable with people became more and more difficult as she became more and more ill. After two years of treatment, several weeks long stays at hospital and more surgeries than she could count: eight year old Lina conquered cancer and tried, as best she could, to return to her childhood and make the best of it. Though she was prone to more sadness and anxiety after her diagnosis, Lina was largely the same warm, excitable girl she'd always been and as she grew up and her childhood illness became something she'd overcome rather than something she feared the return of― she thrived.

When she entered the Royal College of Art with a photography scholarship in hand Lina was delighted to explore her passion for her art while remaining reasonably close to the steadfast support of her family. She'd expected university to be an entertaining, fulfilling experience and though she made friends fairly easily she hardly expected to have the time or energy for a romantic relationship. And she continued to feel that way until the moment she met Teddy Belmont, a boy who seemed to be in all of her first year courses, and one she developed a crush on remarkably quickly. He seemed to feel much the same and their whirlwind friendship resulted in a whirlwind relationship a month into their respective college careers and seemed liable to last forever if either of them had anything to say about it. At least, it seemed that way to Lina until Teddy's temper rearing its head every once in a while became Teddy's temper becoming a vicious thing every time he drank and he drank more often than he didn't after they graduated and Lina's career took off in ways that his didn't.

Still, she loved him and, without better sense or more experience to guide her, believed him when he told her it was only one time, that things would get better, that he was terribly, terribly sorry. And eventually― when one of their many arguments left Lina with more bruises than tears to show for it― she left; moved back in with her parents for a few months before she packed her things and, on a whim and with a job offer in hand, moved to New York. She stayed there for another year before she felt the need to shift again and packed her small apartment up in as many boxes as seemed reasonable and left further westward, finally settling in Crossroads with the prospect of a full time job in Seattle ( largely spent working from home ) but no desire to live in the city proper. Now, it's been three years and Lina felt perfectly at home in the city― and if her laughter sounded hollow in her ears sometimes, or her smiles didn't quite reach her eyes, well, there was always room for improvement, wasn't there?

#wp.intro #( development. ♠ )

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layninboritas · 1 year ago

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SOURCE PROTOCOL

SOURCE is building limitless enterprise applications on a secure and sustainable global network. Defi white-labelled services, NFT markets, RWA tokenization, play-to-earn gaming, Internet of Things, data management and more. SOURCE is providing blockchain solutions to the real world and leveraging the power of interoperability.

SOURCE competitive advantages over other blockchain projects

For builders & developers — Source Chain’s extremely high speeds (2500–10000+ tx / per second), low cost / gas fees ($0.01 average per tx), and scalability (developers can deploy apps in multiple coding languages using CosmWasm smart contract framework), set it apart as a blockchain built to handle mass adopted applications and tools. Not to mention, it’s interoperable with the entire Cosmos ecosystem.

For users — Source Protocol’s DeFi suite is Solvent and Sustainable (Automated liquidity mechanisms create a continuously self-funded, solvent and liquid network), Reduces Complexity (we’re making Web 3.0 easy to use with tools like Source Token which automate DeFi market rewards), and we’ve implemented Enhanced Security and Governance systems (like Guardian Nodes), which help us track malicious attacks and proposals to create a safer user environment.

For Enterprises — Source Protocol is one of the first to introduce DeFi-as-a-Service (DaaS) in order for existing online banking and fintech solutions to adopt blockchain technology with ease, and source also provides Enterprise Programs which are complete with a partner network of OTC brokerages, crypto exchanges, and neobanks that create a seamless corporate DeFi experience (fiat onboarding, offboarding, and mutli-sig managed wallets)

Why Source Protocol

Firstly, many protocols are reliant on centralized exchanges for liquidity, limiting their ability to scale independently. This creates a lot of the same issues traditional finance has been plagued with for decades.

Next — slow tx speeds, high costs, limited scalability, and inability to collaborate with other chains, has created severe limitations in Gen 2 blockchain infrastructure.

Lastly, there still exists a level of complexity in blockchain applications that remains a barrier to entry for the average user, and there is not enough focus on building “bridges” for the enterprise to adopt this technology easily and quickly.

In summary, consumers are eager for a blockchain ecosystem that can securely and sustainably support mass adopted applications. That’s why we’ve built Source!

Source Protocol’s ecosystem

Source Protocol’s ecosystem includes a full DeFi Suite, a members rewards program and white-label integration capabilities with existing online Web 2.0 enterprises:

Source Swap — An Interchain DEX & AMM built on Source Chain for permission-less listing of $SOURCE-based tokens, native Cosmos SDK assets, cw-20’s, and wrapped Binance Smart Chain (BEP-20) assets.

Source One Market — A peer to peer, non-custodial DeFi marketplace for borrowing, lending, staking, and more. Built on Binance Smart Chain with bridging to Source Chain & native Cosmos SDK assets.

Source Token $SRCX (BEP-20) — the first automated liquidity acquisition and DeFi market participation token built on Binance Smart Chain.

Source One Token $SRC1 (BEP-20) — a governance and incentivized earnings token that powers Source One Market.

Source USX $USX (BEP-20) — Source One Market stablecoin backed and over collateralized by a hierarchy of blue chip crypto assets and stablecoins.

Source Launch Pad — Empowering projects to seamlessly distribute tokens and raise liquidity. ERC-20 and BEP-20 capable.

Source One Card & Members Rewards Program — users can earn from a robust suite of perks and rewards. In the future, Source One Card will enable users to swipe with their crypto assets online and at retail locations in real time.

DeFi-as-a-Service (DaaS) — Seamless white-label integration of Source One Market, Source Swap, Source Launch Pad, and/or Source One Card with existing online banking and financial applications, allowing businesses to bring their customers DeFi capabilities.

Source Protocol Key Components

Sustainable Growth model built for enterprise involvement and mass application adoption

Guardian Validator Nodes for enhanced network security

Integration with Source Protocol’s Binance Smart Chain Ecosystem and Decentralized Money Market, Source One Market

Source-Drop (Fair community airdrop and asset distribution for ATOM stakers and SRCX holders)

Interoperable smart contracts (IBC)

High speed transaction finality

Affordable gas fees (average of $0.01 per transaction)

Highly scalable infrastructure

Open-source

Permission-less Modular Wasm + (EVM)

Secured on-chain governance

Ease of use for developers

conclusion

SOURCE is a comprehensive blockchain technology suite for individuals, enterprises and developers to easily use, integrate and build web3.0 applications. It is a broad-spectrum technology ecosystem that transforms centralized web tools and financial instruments into decentralized ones. Powering the future of web3,

Next — slow tx speeds, high costs, limited scalability, and inability to collaborate with other chains, has created severe limitations in Gen 2 blockchain infrastructure.

In summary, consumers are eager for a blockchain ecosystem that can securely and sustainably support mass adopted applications. That’s why we’ve built Source!

For More Information about Source Protocol

Website: https://www.sourceprotocol.io

Documents: https://docs.sourceprotocol.io

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/sourceprotocol_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sourceprotocol

Telegram: https://t.me/sourceprotocol

Discord: https://discord.gg/zj8xxUCeZQ

Author

Forum Username: Java22

Forum Profile Link: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=3443255

SOURCE Wallet Address: source1svnzfy5fafuskeaxmf2sgvgcn6k3sggmssl8d7

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jcmarchi · 1 year ago

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10+ Excellent Web Design Tools & Resources to Use in 2024 - Web Design Ledger

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10+ Excellent Web Design Tools & Resources to Use in 2024 - Web Design Ledger

It’s a New Year, but one thing hasn’t changed. The number of web design resources and tools just keeps on increasing. That’s a good thing. But it does make it that much more difficult to find a theme, plugin, or resource you really have a need for if you are to stay abreast of or leapfrog the competition.

We are in a position to make your search easier. Much easier in fact. We reviewed and tested web design tools & resources we believe many users, designers, and developers have a genuine need for. The types we believe to be essential, and that you will see in our final list of 15 are:

website builders for building landing pages and multiple-page websites quickly, easily, and without any need for coding.

WordPress plugins that can incorporate potentially game-changing functionalities, that are challenging to design, into websites.

WordPress themes for building complex and high-conversion rate websites and online stores.

Vector illustrations that can give a website a whimsical or entertaining aspect.

font identifiers to identify and provide access information to a “must have” font or fonts.

A majority of the web design resources and tools in the following list have a free or trial version:

What are a few of the important attributes these Excellent Web Design Tools & Resources for Designers and Agencies share?

They look premium. There is something about a top tool or resource that makes you wish you had acquired it a long time ago, e.g., how enjoyable it is to use.

They are intuitive. From signing up, to downloading, using, cancelling, and anything in between, everything needed is placed precisely where it should be.

They add real value. They facilitate getting more and higher paid assignments by helping you deliver web design projects faster, making your final deliverables more attractive, or both.

15 best web design Tools & Resources for Designers and Agencies

To help you in your research, we’ve included top features, customer average grade on non-biased platforms such as Trustpilot, Capterra or WordPress.org, and client feedback.

Ready? Then let’s get started.

1. Brizy Builder™

Brizy is the best website builder for Agencies, Designers, and anyone else in need of a White Label solution.

Brizy’s top feature is without a doubt its 100% customizable White Label solution that allows its users to add their own branding, including the builder name, builder logo, domain URL, support link, about link, and project subdomain.

Brizy Builder’s library of demo/template/prebuilt websites is also highly popular with its users. Soulful and Cuisine is one of the 5 most downloaded pre-built websites. It is attractive and inspirational, and while it provides an ideal foundation for a restaurant or bistro, the layout can be used for other service-oriented website types as well.

There’s more to like as well. New users quickly become aware of Brizy’s intuitiveness, and their ability to edit any type of content in place. Many competing builders force their users to create their content in a disjointed sidebar. That’s not the case with Brizy.

Customer Average Grade: 4.6/5 on Trustpilot

Client Feedback: “I am amazed by my experience with Brizy. The tool is easy to use, and the support is one of the best I have ever experienced. Fast replies and my contact really went the extra mile in helping me solve my problem. I can only recommend Brizy to everyone who’s looking to build their own website”!

Instant Support Materials: Documentation, Brizy Academy, Useful Blog Posts and YouTube videos

View the Builder

2. Trafft – Booking Software

The Best Free Scheduling Online Software Solution for Business Owners.

Flexibility is always important when selecting a theme or plugin. The top feature of this software solution is the ability to operate in a wide range of languages because of its powerful Multilingual Notifications System.

This user favorite:

facilitates the effective management of appointments and events using email, SMS and/or WhatsApp messages.

keeps users informed about the status of appointments or events.

offers custom notifications that enable users to tailor alerts for specific services or events.

The library of prebuilt websites also plays a significant role in making working with Trafft a pleasant experience. The Career Mastery Coaching prebuilt website illustrates what an effective event booking system might look like.

Key features users notice once they start using Trafft include easy backend and frontend interface navigation and the power the customization options bring to the table.

Web developers and digital design agencies can be expected to be more than pleased to discover that Trafft offers a White Label option.

Customer Average Grade: 5 stars on Capterra

Client Feedback: “ I love that Trafft has so much included – and that you can customize literally everything, including the email & SMS notification wording (which is a big deal for me since I like communications to be in my brand voice).”

Support Materials: Trafft’s ticketing system. Support manual, YouTube videos, social media, and email.

View the Booking Solution

3. wpDataTables -The Best Tables & Charts WordPress Table Plugin

wpDataTables offers an ideal solution for businesses and individuals who need to create tables and charts.

The wpDataTable plugin’s top feature, its Multiple Database Connections capability, represents a data management breakthrough by empowering every table to become a data hub that can pull information from different databases or servers.

By simplifying data management tasks, wpDataTables allows its users to create custom, responsive, easily editable tables and charts with ease. A bookseller could probably put this Responsive Catalog Table with Books to good use.

Features new wpDataTables users will discover include:

an abundance of useful functionality wrapped in an intuitive package.

the ability to adroitly manage complicated data structures.

wpDataTables also supports separate connections for working with specialized database systems and features chart engines for displaying data for marketing, financial, and environmental uses.

Customer Average Grade: 4.5/5 pm WprdPress.org

Client Feedback: “WpDataTables is an excellent WordPress Plugin. What you are able to accomplish with this plugin is nothing short of amazing. Their support is even better! Highly, highly recommend using this product and supporting this company.

I have tried different utilities for creating charts out of a series of CSV files I use for weather data, but it has been a hassle until I discovered wpDataTables which does exactly what I need. Very user friendly and versatile. And it also understands that there are other standards for date, decimal, and time apart from the Americas.”

Instant Support Materials: Support manual, the Facebook community, and YouTube videos

View wpDataTables

4. Uncode – Creative & WooCommerce WordPress Theme

Uncode is the #1 WordPress and WooCommerce theme for creatives, professional designers, and agencies looking for an ideal solution for any project.

While Uncode’s ensemble of website building tools and options would seem to more than justify its popularity, most of its users say the demo library is its #1 feature. The demos not only exhibit exceptional attention to detail but have proven to be excellent sources of inspiration as well.

Uncode’s classic Web Experiences is one of the 5 most downloaded demos. Just imagine what you could do with it.

New users are impressed with the value inherent in Uncode’s demos and wireframes, the level of customization, and the top-notch customer support.

Uncode’s principal users are:

Agencies and Freelancers, because of the multitude of options that cover the needs of every customer or client.

Shop creators, who can easily make effective use of Uncode’s advanced WooCommerce features.

Customer Average Grade: 4.89/5

Client Feedback: “I have used Uncode on 6+ websites now, and it’s absolutely my go-to theme! The features, quality, and customer support are outstanding. The developers do an incredible job of keeping the theme up to date and stable, constantly implementing new features and optimizing the theme. A solid product with great documentation and responsive support team. Kudos!”

Instant Support Materials: Support manual, Facebook groups, YouTube videos

Purchase the Theme

5. LayerSlider – Best WordPress Slider Builder Plugin

LayerSlider, the top-rated WordPress slider plugin, empowers web designers to effortlessly enhance websites and make them truly shine.

LayerSlider’s scroll effect has emerged as its top feature. You can find it prominently displayed in the recent batch of full-size hero scene and whole website templates. Scroll through the Flavor Factory pre-built web page and see how easy it can be to use LayerSlider to help capture and engage visitors.

LayerSlider easily accommodates a range of uses, from creating simple sliders or slideshows to sprucing up your site with captivating animated content.

Newer users appreciate:

LayerSlider’s customizable interface that suggests the plugin was created specifically for their use only.

easy access to millions of stock photos and videos plus other integrated online services.

the Project Editor that ensures that what you need is right where you need it.

LayerSlider also really shines when there is a need to create content for marketing purposes. Marketers are impressed with the mind-blowing effects that can be incorporated into their popups and banners.

Client Feedback: “A fantastic slider plugin with regular updates to make sure compatibility is never a problem. Keep up the amazing work!”

Support Materials: Product manual, In-editor help, support tickets, and email.

Preview LayerSlider

6. Amelia – WordPress Booking Plugin for Appointments and Events

Amelia is the best WordPress plugin for Agencies and Businesses in need of a streamlined booking solution.

The automated notifications system is Amelia’s top feature. Users could tell you how easy it was to categorize and position appointments as pending, approved, cancelled, rejected, or rescheduled. Special notices such as upcoming events or birthday congratulations can also be forwarded via the notifications system to assist clients and enhance their loyalty.

Amelia offers a number of templates that can be customized to help businesses grow. Yoga Studio is a notable example of how a template can be put to use to advertise a business.

Those new to Amelia could tell you about:

the ease of navigation they discovered, the innovativeness exhibited in the backend and frontend interfaces, and its functionality and user-friendly design.

the value its transparent pricing policy offers.

the extent of the customization options.

The Amelia plugin offers an ideal booking solution for service-oriented businesses including those specializing in ticket sales and/or events. Programming agencies and developers could also profit from having Amelia in their design toolkits.

Customer Average Grade: 4.8 on Capterra

Client Feedback: “Great plugin, I have tested similar, but Amelia seems to be the best for my site, I have many customers through the site, and everybody is satisfied with this appointment system. Sometimes there are a few bugs but quickly corrected through regular updates. Globally very good notation.”

Instant Support Materials: YouTube videos, Discord Group, and Support Manual

View Amelia

7. WhatFontIs

The most powerful and accurate free font identifier.

This tool’s top feature is its accuracy. WhatFontis users have a 90%+ chance of finding whatever free or licensed font they want identified.

No other system can claim that accuracy, and most of them charge a fee for whatever service they provide. It is worth noting that the ability of WhatFontis to identify a given font correctly can be compromised if the quality of the submitted image is subpar, and that is what accounts for some of the roughly 10% of missed identifications.

WhatFontis can do what it does best in part because of its database of 990K+ free and commercial fonts. This is nearly 5 times as many fonts as that attributed to the nearest competitor.

Whether the goal is to identify a specific font sent by a client, or simply because it is attractive, a customer wants to know what it is and where to find it. A search can be conducted for a font regardless of its publisher, producer, or foundry.

The process is as easy as can be.

Upload a clean font image.

In response, an AI-powered search engine identifies the font and as many as 60 close neighbors.

Links are provided that show where a free font can be downloaded or where a commercial font can be purchased.

Note: Cursive font letters must be separated before being submitted.

Client Feedback: “I came across this website courtesy Google search, used their services successfully; and today I find out it’s on product hunt! If you are ‘driven’ by the need to discover what font ‘that person/ company’ uses, then this should be your go-to solution site. For most of us it would be a once in a blue moon need, except for the professionals.”

Types of Instant Support Materials: User Forum

View WhatFontis

8. Slider Revolution – More than just a WordPress Slider

Slider Revolution is the best WordPress plugin for Designers, Web Developers and anyone seeking a way to create jaw-dropping animated sliders.

This plugin’s top feature is the ability it gives to its users to visually create stunning animated effects for WordPress.

The Slider Revolution plugin is not limited to creating sliders. It can be used to:

create stunning home pages that immediately engage its visitors.

create portfolios that will be viewed a second, or third, time because of the method of presentation.

design eye-catching sections anywhere on a website.

A stroll through Slider Revolution’s library of 250+ templates may be all that’s necessary if you need a little inspiration to get started. These templates have been 100% optimized for different screen configurations and feature special effects you won’t see on most websites. The Woodworking Website template for example, makes clever use of the hover effect to highlight both text and images. The layout itself can be used for a wide variety of website types or niches.

The Slider Revolution plugin is tailor made for individual web designers and developers, web shops, and small agencies.

Customer Average Grade: 4.6/5 on Trustpilot

Client Feedback: “I absolutely love the Slider Revolution. It does wonders for my projects. I am super excited about all of the templates that are ready for use. Their support has been incredible”.

Instant Support Materials: Support Manual, YouTube videos

View the Plugin

9. Getillustrations – Creative Stock Illustrations Library

The best resource for designers who are looking for top quality illustrations with terrific attention to detail.

Getillustrations’ top feature is three things in one; 21,500+ vector illustrations, free updates for one year, and new illustrations added every week. In other words, once you get started, good things keep coming your way!

You will have 40+ nicely arranged categories to select from. Most categories have several hundred illustrations, a few have more than 1,000.

These illustrations appeal to clients ranging from students and businesses to designers and developers. You’ll find pencil and basic ink illustrations, several 3D illustration categories, and fitness, logistics, and ecology illustrations to name but a few, and since they are exclusive to Getillustrations you will have an edge over those using other stock illustration resources.

You can purchase illustrations by the pack if you choose to. The Motion Illustrations pack is one of the larger ones with 1,090 vector web illustrations at latest count .These Motion illustrations feature a diverse range of themes, each of which makes a statement.

Client Feedback: “I really like the different styles available in this library. I used it to illustrate some of my blog posts. Since you get vector files, you can also recolor them to have them match your brand and product identity!”

Support Materials: Vector stock illustrations in .Ai .Figma .PNG and .SVG

View Getillustrations Offerings

10. Mobirise AI Website Builder

The best tool for creating and downloading full page websites using prompt commands only.

The Mobirise AI website builder is a revolutionary tool that uses intelligent algorithms to generate beautiful websites. Its top feature enables its user to generate a website using a single prompt.

The super-intuitive single prompt interface makes Mobirise AI an ideal choice for anyone looking for a simplistic yet efficient design approach.

Describe in detail what your site is all about, and this AI website builder will take your data and through the use of intelligent algorithms auto-generate a basic layout.

Once that is accomplished you can use prompts to customize style, colors, fonts, etc., and edit pre-generated content to suit your needs.

When you have the beautiful, optimized for Google and mobile devices website you want you can launch it with a single prompt.

Note: Even though Mobirise AI does much of the work, you retain full ownership of your website.

Client Feedback: “The AI website builder was astonishingly intuitive. What I appreciated the most was the seamless drag-and-drop interface which allowed me to position elements anywhere on my site. The AI’s design recommendations saved me hours of second-guessing my layout choices. Not to mention, the automatic SEO feature was a godsend–it optimized my site without me having to learn the complex ins and outs.”

Instant Support Materials: Support Manual, User Forum, YouTube Videos

View the AI Website Builder

11. XStore – Best WooCommerce WordPress Theme

XStore is the best WooCommerce theme for anyone looking to quickly build a high-converting online store.

XStore is obviously tailored for use by shop owners and prospective shop owners who seek an online presence. While the selection of ready-made stores (pre-built websites) has always been highly popular, the recently introduced selection of Sales Booster features has emerged as the top favorite.

New users soon come to appreciate the Builders Panel and the intuitive XStore Control Panel, both of which give them the store-building and customization flexibility needed to create the custom store they envision.

They also like the solid start XStore’s pre-built websites make possible. The layout of the Marseille prebuilt website is an excellent example of why it’s possible for a novice to get a store up in running in a few hours.

XStore doesn’t stop there. Its users have instant access to the powerful family of Single Product, Checkout, Cart, Archive Products, and 404 Page Builders; all favorites of shop owners.

Customer Average Grade: 4.87/5

Client Feedback: “I love this theme! There’s a wider learning curve to go through before getting a hang of the features, but the overall versatility and aesthetic factor is excellent.”

Instant Support Materials: Support Manual, YouTube videos

Buy the Theme

12. Blocksy – Premium WooCommerce WordPress theme

Blocksy is the best free WordPress theme for building attractive, lightweight websites in 2024.

There doesn’t appear to be much about Blocksy that its users don’t love. Consequently, when it comes to identifying this premium WooCommerce WordPress theme’s top feature, there’ s a 4-way tie.

Blocksy’s footer and header builders are super-user friendly.

Gutenberg support ensures top performance.

Developers love the advanced hooks and display conditions.

Everyone appreciates seamless WooCommerce integration together with its associated features.

And on top of it all, Blocksy is free!

Several of the things new users quickly recognize is that Blocksy:

uses the latest web technologies.

provides exceptional performance.

integrates easily with the most popular plugins.

Cosmetic is a beautiful, meticulously crafted starter site with a pleasant design that lets products take center stage. While centered on beauty products, its layout can be used for a wide variety of website niches. Cosmetic is one of the 5 most commonly used starter sites.

Customer Average Grade: 5/5 on WordPress.org

Client Feedback: “Blocksy is fast and light, responsive and beautiful. Blocksy has nothing superfluous and has everything you need. I love Blocksy, and Blocksy loves me.”

Instant Support Materials: A readily accessible Documentation Section, Support Manual, YouTube videos. Facebook Group

View Blocksy

13. Total WordPress Theme

Total is the best WordPress theme for web designers and developers seeking the flexibility required to design from-scratch.

Total’s top feature is its seemingly unlimited flexibility. Its assortment of design tools and options makes it a Swiss Army knife of website design and is one reason its name is so appropriate. A well-deserved reputation for amazing support also tends to set Total apart.

Not long after becoming acquainted with Total, its users could tell you about a number of things they discovered and like including the fact that:

Total has settings for everything, tons of page building options, a font manager, custom post types, and more.

Total is speed optimized.

Total provides dynamic templates for posts and archives.

Total’s pre-built website collection is another favorite. Synergy’s minimalistic design lends itself to a wide range of uses and is one of the 5 most widely used pre-built websites.

Total is tailored for beginners, developers, and DIYers. Advanced designers like Total as well, and for all intents and purposes, anyone else will too.

Customer Average Grade: 4.86/5

Client Feedback: “I have been using Total for several years now for several (10+) websites. Out of the box it’s already a great theme and very well documented. Some websites required specific functionality and so far, there was nothing I couldn’t provide. If I can’t figure it out myself, support is always willing to help. I don’t need another theme anymore.”

Instant Support Materials: Support Manual

View the Theme

14. Essential Grid – WordPress Gallery Plugin

Essential Grid is the best WordPress Gallery Plugin for businesses who want to capture visitors’ attention with breathtaking galleries.

Essential Grid is the best WordPress Gallery Plugin for anyone who wants to create a unique, attention-getting gallery.

Essential Grid’s library of 50+ unique grid skins is its top feature and is what this WordPress gallery plugin is all about. Why these skins are such a favorite is easy to see. Most web designers and developers would not want to have to take the time to create a gallery from scratch and the grid skins offer an excellent alternative approach.

In addition to making it easier to create a gallery layout you want, it’s also possible you’ll come across a grid skin layout you haven’t even thought possible and can’t wait to put into use. The YouTube Playlist layout for example shows how the hover effect can transform a seemingly run-of-the-mill gallery into a real attention getter.

Essential Grid’s users will tell you how much of a time saver this plugin can be, and how effective it is at helping them organize their content streams.

Customer Average Grade: 4.7/5 on Trustpilot

Client Feedback: “I have to say that the level of support I received is definitely one of the best I have ever experienced. Big thumbs up!”

Instant Support Materials: Support manual and YouTube videos

View Essential Grid

15. WoodMart – WordPress WooCommerce Theme

WoodMart is the best WooCommerce theme for niche ecommerce design.

Just a glance at the WoodMart website is enough to grab your attention. Woodmart’s top feature, super-realism, pops right out at you. The custom layouts for shop, cart, and checkout pages are so well done that it’s easy to forget where you are and start window shopping.

There is plenty more to about WoodMart too, for example:

A multiplicity of available design options.

Easy customization to fit the brand.

The time-saving Theme Settings Search and Theme Settings Performance Optimization features.

Widely used “Frequently Bought Together”, “Dynamic Discounts”, and social integrations options.

WoodMart also has a White Label option.

Finding the most popular demos isn’t easy since most of them enjoy lots of usage. WoodMart Organic Baby Clothes is one of the 5 most downloaded demos.

Customer Average Grade: 4.93/5

Client Feedback: “This theme is perfect. It has all the options you can imagine and tooltips to help you understand what you are about to change. It’s fast out of the box and makes a great use of Elementor. Great responsive design.”

Instant Support Materials: Support Manual and YouTube Videos

View the Theme

*******

Do you see one or more web design resources and tools you would like to add to your toolkit? It would certainly be easier than having to sift through hundreds on your own. That is why we did the vetting process for you. You still will want to preview those that interest you and try them out if possible. The free ones are of course for the taking.

What will you be looking for? These 15 excellent web design tools & resources have several characteristics in common. Characteristics that are necessary to be considered as “best-in-class”. Those characteristics are as follows.

Plugins, themes, and resources are easy to install or set up and are user friendly.

They give your website an edge in terms of design, functionality, or visitor appeal; or all three.

Customer support is friendly, fast, and competent.

They allow you to test the product for free. Or give you enough information to ensure that won’t end up feeling like the product you purchased is markedly different from the one you saw advertised.

Check out any or all of the 15 best web design tools and resources you believe you could put to good use. Test them out if you can and either add them to your toolkit or write them off.

Are you done? Not really. Since there are many new web design tools & resources coming into the marketplace every day, some of which might offer greater opportunities, your search will never really end.

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