PRESS RELEASE
Embargoed: Monday 17th November 2014


Serif Launches its Most Powerful Web Design Software – WebPlus X8

Individuals looking to create fully-personalised, high-quality websites can now benefit from WebPlus X8 – a powerful yet affordable website design tool from award-winning creative software developer, Serif. This latest upgrade includes all the content, design tools, publishing tools and guidance needed to get online fast – even for first-timers with no previous design or coding experience.

Building on its core strengths, WebPlus X8 boasts many new and improved features to help everyday computer users quickly create stylish and interactive websites optimised for any device in an easy drag-and-drop design system. Ideal for promoting home projects, businesses and local clubs, WebPlus includes a stunning selection of pre-designed templates, making it easy to produce fully customisable, royalty free websites from scratch. More accomplished designers can also enjoy truly unique and advanced features by adding their own HTML, JavaScript, and CSS code.

“Whether you are an expert in web design, a novice, or somewhere in between, WebPlus X8 is designed to suit all abilities,” says Ashley Hewson, Managing Director at Serif. “Novices can create totally custom websites without being hampered by the complexities of coding; while more experienced designers can save masses of time creating their own layouts with a host of incredibly flexible design tools.”

“WebPlus X8 has new ways to include interactivity and media; better imaging tools such as new photo watermarking; plus improved project guidance and coding power for a greater user experience. This is the most complete web design tool available, and yet with all its flexibility, users still don’t need to write a single line of code.”

New features include an interactive, task-based web design assistant, which automatically fixes errors in real-time and prompts SEO improvements. Organising tasks has never been easier with the ability to also add intuitive reminders, giving users the stepping stones to create a flawless website before anything goes live.

Users can create beautiful, interactive websites by adding a whole host of sleek new effects, including smooth page scroll, and object animations that fade in and out of view. A new Slider Studio has also been introduced for creating animated banners and interactive panels in an easier-to-use and more focused environment. Users can add, remove and fully design panels, control interactivity, and set slider behaviour all in one place.

More advanced HTML5 and CSS coding also gives users greater control and flexibility when designing their site. To accompany the HTML5 Video Player, a new HTML5 Audio Player allows users to host and stream their own audio, music and playlists in a highly compatible player, without the need to use a third-party service or widget. It features shuffle, loop, track controls and a volume slider, and there’s also an option to auto-play when the page loads.

A new Embeddable Fonts List lets designers select from a range of attractive, embeddable fonts that still look as intended without being converted into graphics. Photographers and artists now also have the option to add extra security to their work with the new Watermark feature. Imprint digital marks onto every image by adding semi-transparent text and logos to photos, with full control over position, size and colour. Visitors can now also use the Magnifier feature to zoom and pan around to see images at their highest resolution. A new rollover Pinterest button also makes it even easier for visitors to share imagery on your site with the world in just one click.

Other new and improved features include the revamped site search tool that allows visitors to search blogs, regular content and smart objects. There’s now also an easier way to backup project files online, keeping them safe and protected against hard-drive failure or accidental deletion. Users can also save their site, including links and resources as a package, making it easier to share projects with other users or clients. Improvements have also been made to help configure and manage smart objects, as well as the introduction of new site membership controls to give site members a slick and easy way to manage their profiles and accounts.

Users will continue to be impressed by WebPlus’ legacy features and the design freedom it gives – businesses can choose from a selection of 70 regular and mobile-friendly themed layouts and unlimited colour schemes. Everything can be customised including site structure, colours, page layout, logos, graphics and text, and even interactive features such as forms, photo galleries, podcasts, YouTube™ videos, blogs, forums, RSS feeds and online booking.


WebPlus X8 is compatible with Windows 8/7/Vista/XP and retails at £89.99 (inc. VAT). It is available directly from Serif at www.serif.com and includes a free 30 days hosting package with sub-domain web address. WebPlus X8 is also available from major retailers including Amazon and PC World.

Existing Serif Software users should contact 0800 376 7070 for further information on preferential upgrade pricing.


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Notes for Editors
For more information or imagery, please email or call +44 (0)115 914 9043.
New features and benefits of WebPlus X8 include:

·  Task Tab – Identifies the state of objects, pages and the site at all times, and can warn users about problems, remind users to accomplish certain tasks, offer hints, and list issues from the last time the site was published.

·  Slider Studio – A dedicated studio for animated banners and interactive panels. Users can add, remove and fully design panels, set slider behaviour and control interactivity all in one place.

·  HTML5 Audio Player – Allows users to host and play their own audio, music and playlists in a highly efficient player, without the need to use a third party service or widget.

·  Embeddable Fonts – Designers can select from a range of attractive, embeddable fonts that still look as intended on the webpage without being converted into graphics.

·  Image Watermarking – Allows photographers and artists who sell their work online to protect original content with watermark text or logos.

·  Magnifier – Once the site is previewed or published visitors can zoom and pan around a magnifier area.

·  Better Site Search – Site search has been revamped ‘in the cloud’ where it operates, allowing visitors to easily search blogs, regular content and smart objects.

·  Slick New Scrolling Page and Object Animations – Animate objects or fade them in and out of view as the webpage scrolls up and down.

·  Backup Site to Web – Users can save their site, including fonts and linked resources as a package, making it easier to back-up project files online.

·  Online Resource Manager – Supports SFTP connections to ensure files can be safely uploaded and accessed anywhere throughout a site design.

·  Revamped Smart Objects – Improved smart gadgets powered for free by Serif include blogs, forums, polls, user logins and profiles, mailing list signups, CMS, and accommodation booking.

·  Save as Package – Save a WebPlus file together with all its fonts and linked resources so it can be shared with another designer or easily backed up or moved onto another computer.

·  New Site Membership Controls – Gives site visitors more control over their account as well as easier access to avatars and profiles, screen names, passwords and mailing list subscriptions.

·  New Filter Effects & Settings – New and improved filter effects including the cool retro Trail effect, directional feathering, drop shadows and much more.

·  Custom CSS and HTML Attributes – Custom coding is now more user-friendly with advanced HTML5 and CSS coding, with style and other code attributes easily added to individual objects.

·  WIA Scanning and 64-bit TWAIN – Scanning directly into WebPlus is now possible, whether using 32-bit or 64-bit scanning software, with added support for WIA devices.

·  Export as Widget – Navigation bars, galleries, forms, sliders and much more can be made in minutes, and then exported as a widget for use in other website software.

·  Sort Gallery Photos – WebPlus photo galleries can now be sorted by the date taken, so they display in chronological order.