Posts Tagged ‘Website Design Los Angeles’

All about Parallax Websites – Plus Pro Tips to Increase Performance

January 9th, 2015

Parallax websites the hottest thing in Internet website design these days. If done right, it can deliver the much needed punch and when done wrong, it can backfire heavily. Parallax websites first came in around 2012 but initial examples were just plain scrolling websites. With more advances in CSS3 and HTML5, these websites are ready to take over the web. The newer versions offer smoother scrolling and remarkable effects.

So, here is all you need to know about Parallax websites and then some.

Parallax Websites Take User Experience to a Whole New Level

Parallax websites are all about getting the right user experience. The smooth scrolling experience makes even the lengthy pages look impressive. It’s the perfect ingredient for a memorable website user experience. No wonder that these websites are often very good at conversion.

In parallax, the background of a page moves slower compared to the foreground image. The relatively slower movement of the background image results in a 3D effect on the screen as you browse or scroll down the webpage. In heavy pages, it can add a subtle depth to the whole content. JavaScript plays a major role in the parallax website’s performance. Initially, there were reports that parallax websites are not good for SEO. But it is well taken care of now.

7 Pro Tips for Parallax Websites

  • Depth Correction – Parallax websites are all about creating the right depth using the 3D effect. When an element is represented on the screen using the Z axis, the size effectively changes as the viewpoint shifts closer or farther from the axis. To take care of this effect, a Scale() is applied to the element so that the image can be rendered clearly. At every viewpoint, the image is always visible from the original size. To calculate the Scale() factor, use 1 + (translateZ * -1) / perspective.
  • Layer Speed Control – Z translation values and perspective are used to control the speed of the layers. Elements that scroll slower have a negative Z value and faster scrolling elements have a positive Z value. The parallax effect can be increased by taking the Z value further from the 0.
  • Parallax Sections – This is an advanced concept that has recently seen great success. The same page can have different parallax effects. The page is broken into distinct sections and different effects can be applied as per the requirements. Different Z values can be set for every group and a new style/effect can be achieved for the various sections. But there’s a catch! When the elements are grouped, the content of a group cannot be clipped. If you try to set Overflow: hidden, the parallax effect will be broken by the group. This unclipped content will lead to descendant elements to overflow. This has to be done very carefully by being cautious with the Z index value groups to make sure that right content is hidden and revealed to the user scrolling through the webpage.
  • Mobile Optimized or Responsive – You have to take an approach in this case. For example whether you want mobile optimized or want to turn off the scrolling animations for smartphones. A developer must first ensure that the scrolling library and effects are implemented after the site is made responsive. Videos from parallax websites are not played automatically on mobiles. So, there should be a fall back image in place for such situations. For effective smartphone optimization, it is recommended to disable scrolling effects.
  • Simple Do’s for Parallax – Your stylesheets should always be super organized besides the JavaScript and data attributes. Relative and absolute CSS should be well positioned since they will make the UI cleaner. Horizontal code editor windows help with faster style tweaking.
  • Dont’s for Parallax – Before you implement scrolling animations, it is recommended that you ensure your website is working well in all browsers and its responsive part is performing up to the mark. Be very careful when you implement the data attributes and JavaScript codes from unauthorized sources.

Parallax websites are all about savoring the experience. But it has to be done correctly to take advantage of the impressive features. Follow these pro tips and you will be doing good in no time. For one thing is sure that parallax websites are here to stay. So make the most of this amazing design trend.

Best Security plugins for your WordPress website

December 9th, 2014

WordPress is the most widely used content management system in the world today. This crowning feature unfortunately also makes it one of the most widely attacked CMS in the world. No wonder there is a slew of security plugins available to protect your website from hackers. Some would argue that WordPress is a secure system offering many built-in security features. But a little extra help won’t hurt especially when you have so many custom plugins installed.

Here are 5 Best Security Plugins for your WordPress website.

  1. iThemes Security | ClapCreativeiThemes Security – This is a popular WP plugin for security. Offering more than 30 ways to protect your website against various types of attacks, this plugin is the highly trusted by many webmasters. Common loop holes are plugged in thereby strengthening user credentials. Paid version offers Geo ID banning, 2-factor authentication and more security features. It is highly effective against brute-force attacks. This plugin automatically creates a full backup of your database files. Malicious codes are also blocked effectively by allowing only admin access.
  1. All in one WP Security and Firewall | ClapCreativeAll in one WP Security and Firewall – It offers advance level security in single plugin. This is the most updated plugin with latest security measures. It has 3 protection levels including basic, intermediate and advanced. Basic level does not interfere with the website. However, advanced usage does interfere with the website’s functionality and setup. It allows you to view which user has run a brute force attack against you. If there are changes to any WP file, it can be blocked immediately.
  1. Wordfence | ClapCreativeWordfence is a renowned high-performance WP security plugin. It monitors the visitor access and also sorts out the hacked files. This plugin features a virus scanner, firewall and cache engines to secure against attacks. Core files of your WP website can be more easily recovered. Premium paid version offers much more improved features and high performance updates.
  1. BulletProof Security | ClapCreativeBulletProof Security makes use of .htaccess security protection that features php.ini, wp-cofig.php etc. Its 1-click security is most popular feature that immediately protects the WP-Admin folder. Users can definitely look forward to protection against CRLF, XSS, RFI and SQL Injection attacks. Number of login attempts are tracked and if signs of brute force are detected, the system locks down the user attempting abnormal login attempts.
  1. Sucuri Authenticator | ClapCreativeSucuri Authenticator is a good choice for those looking to protect against multiple attacks. It offers malware removal, blacklisting, spam control and website monitoring. WordPress website files are scanned and if any changes are detected, the files can be located and scanned. Post hack options allow you to change the relevant passwords and usernames and secure your website.

Most of these plugins offer a free version to try. If you like the features, you can upgrade to premium version to fully unlock the potential of these security plugins for WordPress. Some investment into the security of your website. Or better be prepared to learn the hard way when your website is compromised. Choose any of these and ensure that such a situation never comes up again.

For any wordpress website development and customization in Los Angeles, please contact us today.