Glyphs are nonverbal symbols and have been used in human communication since the beginning of mankind. Each picture/sign represents a word and form a universal language which is comprehensible to all people in the world.
Glyphicons are icon fonts which are used in web development. Glyphicons Halflings are not free and require licensing; however their creator has made them available for Bootstrap projects free of cost.
Icons are very important, though, and having to manually integrate external packs can be confusing and daunting task for beginners. That is why we have written this article to make it easier to integrate and use Glyphicons and its alternatives.
How to use Glyphicons
Unlike its alternatives, Glyphicons is integrated with Bootstrap version 3 upwards. Therefore, you do not have to download the pack separately.
Where to find Glyphicons?
Glyphicons can be found within the fonts folder inside the bootstrap folder. It contains the following files:
Glyphicons-halflings-regular.eot
Glyphicons-halflings-regular.svg
Glyphicons-halflings-regular.ttf
Glyphicons-halflings-regular.woff
Associated CSS rules are present within bootstrap.css and bootstrap-min.css files within CSS folder of destination folder.
All icons in the pack require a base class and individual icon class. To use, place the following code just about anywhere. Ensure you leave a space between the icon and text for proper padding.
Do’s and Don’ts
Only for use on empty elements: Icon classes should only be used on elements that contain no text content and have no child elements.
Don’t mix with other components: Icon classes cannot be directly combined with other components. They should not be used along with other classes on the same element. Instead, add a nested <span> and apply the icon classes to the <span>.
Changing the icon font location
Bootstrap assumes icon font files will be located in the .../fonts/ directory, relative to the compiled CSS files. Moving or renaming those font files means updating the CSS in one of three ways:
Change the @icon-font-path and/or @icon-font-name variables in the source Less files.
Utilize the relative URLs option provided by the Less compiler.
Change the url() paths in the compiled CSS.
Use whatever option best suits your specific development setup.
Accessible icons
Modern versions of assistive technologies will announce CSS generated content, as well as specific Unicode characters. To avoid unintended and confusing output in screen readers (particularly when icons are used purely for decoration), we hide them with the aria-hidden=”true” attribute.
If you’re using an icon to convey meaning (rather than only as a decorative element), ensure that this meaning is also conveyed to assistive technologies – for instance, include additional content, visually hidden with the .sr-only class.
If you’re creating controls with no other text (such as a <button> that only contains an icon), you should always provide alternative content to identify the purpose of the control, so that it will make sense to users of assistive technologies. In this case, you could add an aria-label attribute on the control itself.
<button type = “button” class = “btn btn-default”>
<span class = “glyphicon glyphicon-sort-by-attributes”></span>
</button>
<button type = “button” class = “btn btn-default”>
<span class = “glyphicon glyphicon-sort-by-attributes-alt”></span>
</button>
<button type = “button” class = “btn btn-default”>
<span class = “glyphicon glyphicon-sort-by-order”></span>
</button>
<button type = “button” class = “btn btn-default”>
<span class = “glyphicon glyphicon-sort-by-order-alt”></span>
</button>
</p>
<button type = “button” class = “btn btn-default btn-lg”>
<span class = “glyphicon glyphicon-user”></span>
User
</button>
<button type = “button” class = “btn btn-default btn-sm”>
<span class = “glyphicon glyphicon-user”></span>
User
</button>
<button type =”button” class = “btn btn-default btn-xs”>
<span class = “glyphicon glyphicon-user”></span>
User
</button>
Note: Leave a space between the icon and text for proper padding.
Alternatives to Glyphicons and how to integrate them
Font Awesome has been the most used icons in the developer community for a while now. The pack features more than 600 beautiful vector icons, giving you full CSS control over how you use them.
This completely free icon library is constantly being updated with new icons and is very easy to integrate; all you have to do is add their CSS to your website.
Step 1: Insert the CDN directly on the <head> of your HTML file using the line:
Or download (https://fortawesome.github.io/Font-Awesome/assets/font-awesome-4.5.0.zip) Font Awesome manually on your own server.
Step2: After integrating the Font Awesome library, you can add any of the package’s icons anywhere you want on your page by using the <span> tag and the fa CSS Prefix.
You can download the font awesome List here (specific CSS classes included) – (https://fortawesome.github.io/Font-Awesome/cheatsheet/)
For example:
<span class=”fa fa-ambulance red-icon”></span> fa-ambulance would add the ambulance icon.
After which you can edit your new ambulance icon in any way you want.
To change the sizes, you can use the fa-2x, fa-3x, fa-4x or fa-5x classes.
<span class=”fa fa-ambulance-o fa-2x red-icon”></span> fa-ambulance would create a double-sized ambulance icon.
Changing your new icon’s color is very easy. In the CSS file, include something like:
.red-icon {
color: red;
}
Another alternative to Glyphicons is Typicons.
The Typicons icon pack contains 336 fully customizable vectors free to use in all your web applications.
Installing Typicons is just as easy as installing Font Awesome:
In our previous WordPress themes list, we used a set of criteria and a star grading system to determine which theme will make it into our top list starting with the theme with the least features to one with the most expandable options, features and customization, flexibility.
However, we have prepared a random list of the best fullwidth WordPress theme using insights from our in-house content specialist, technical SEO specialist and WordPress theme shops.
Here is our list for the 13 best free full-width WordPress themes.
Our first theme on the list is Customizr. Customizr is a simple, fast and full-width WordPress theme designed to help you attract and engage more visitors. Provides a perfect user experience on smartphones.
The Customizr WordPress theme makes it easy to create any type of website: business sites, blogs, portfolios, landing pages, forums, shops, etc.
Customizr does not require any technical skills to design and add content to your website. This theme is responsive: it adapts nicely on any type of device (desktop, tablets, smartphones) and is compatible with all modern browsers.
Features include: BuddyPress, Custom Colours, Custom Menu, Editor Style, Featured Images, Left Sidebar, One Column, Post Formats, Right Sidebar, RTL Language Support, Sticky Post, Theme Options, Threaded Comments, Three Columns, Two Columns and Translation Ready.
Our second theme on the list is a child theme of VW TOUR LITE. Tours and travels is a modern, feature-rich, and 100% responsive WordPress theme that covers travel businesses such as travel agencies, travel blogs, tour operators, journey magazines, travel consultants, travel agents, tourist destinations, and other types of businesses. This theme can also be used for personal websites, fashion, beauty, lodge, lifestyle, technology, photography, and holiday websites.
This theme offers you the capabilities to build a user-friendly website with lots of customization options. The theme offers ample advanced functionalities and personalization options to help you build the best website. The variety of sections, amazing pictures, banners, slider with the Call to action button (CTA) makes it a must-have theme for every tourism WordPress site.
This theme is built on Bootstrap which gives it smooth browsing experience on all screen sizes.
Finally, this theme integrates social sharing features directly into it so you can boost social shares and gather more followers with your social profile clearly displayed.
Digital Products is a WordPress theme that helps you sell your Digital Products. This theme is optimized for selling various digital products, be it software, PDFs, graphics files or any type of digital products, this theme is for you. It’s is 100% responsive and automatically adjusts screen size depending on the device used. Therefore, no matter where your audience are or what device they are viewing your new website on, it is going to display it to pixel perfection and scale seamlessly to suit the end device.
This theme is clean and lightweight which makes it loads faster therefore improving your seo score and keeping your audience engaged.
Features include: Blogging, Custom Colours, Custom Logo, Custom Menu, Featured Image Header, Featured Images, Footer Widgets, Full Width Template, Grid Layout, Left Sidebar, One Column, Theme Options, Threaded Comments and Translation Ready.
Fotopress is a flexible, fully responsive, SEO-friendly WordPress business theme made for creative use, promoting corporate identity and engaging your target audience.
It clean and minimalist design makes your content look flawless. This theme is very flexible, easy to customize and optimize.
Features include: Blogging, Custom Colours, Custom Header, Custom Logo, Custom Menu, Featured Images, Full Width Template, Two Columns, Portfolio, Right Sidebar, Theme Options, Threaded Comments and Translation Ready.
VW E-commerce Shop theme checks all the boxes necessary to create an online store. It’s a responsive multipurpose E-commerce WordPress theme.
It is built on bootstrap 4 and adheres to standard complaints coding. It is cross-browser & woo commerce compatible, has Call to action button, its SEO & user-friendly and works at its optimal best across all platforms.
You may be a business owner, informative firm, travel agency, designing firm, artist, restaurant owner, construction agency, healthcare firm, digital marketing agency, blogger, corporate business, freelancers, online bookstore, mobile & tablet store, apparel store, fashion store, sport store, handbags store, cosmetics shop, jewellery store and etc.
You can setup different types of store using this theme. This theme helps make your customers shop seamlessly. It’s optimized for both shoppers and crawlers.
Features include: Blogging, Custom Background, Custom Colours, Custom Header, Custom Logo, Custom Menu, E-Commerce, Editor Style, Featured Images, Footer Widgets, Four Columns, Front Page Posting, Full Width Template, Grid Layout, Left Sidebar, One Column, Portfolio, Right Sidebar, RTL Language Support, Sticky Post, Theme Options, Threaded Comments, Two Columns, Three Columns and Translation Ready.
Yoga Fitness is a child theme of The WP Fitness multipurpose WordPress theme, it is created for fitness trainers, personal trainers, yoga trainers and weight loss enthusiasts to build websites for gyms, fitness studios, workout, boxing, aerobics, lifestyle, wellness, other multipurpose local businesses.
This theme has features and theme options that enable you extend the functionalities to create a stunning website.
It theme options also enable you add 2 sections; testimonial and Appointment form
It’s built on Bootstrap which makes it 100% responsive and automatically adjusts screen size depending on the device used. Therefore, no matter where your audience are or what device they are viewing your new website on, it is going to display it to pixel perfection and scale seamlessly to suit the end device.
It has different captivating Call to Action buttons present at specific sections that are attractive enough to catch the attention of the visitors. The secure and clean codes make the theme extremely lightweight. Furthermore, it is SEO friendly, user-friendly, has a professional design and social media integration.
Features include: Blogging, Custom Background, Custom Colours, Custom Logo, Custom Menu, E-Commerce, Editor Style, Featured Images, Footer Widgets, Front Page Posting, Full Width Template, Three Columns, Two Columns, Grid Layout, Left Sidebar, One Column, Right Sidebar, Sticky Post, Theme Options and Threaded Comments.
A beautiful photoblogging theme, which comes with a full-screen layout and with a photo-friendly design. The theme provides large featured images and a catchy appearance. The homepage is made of grid-like posts – the latest post is full-screen and acts like a header. You can use this theme for photoblogging, as it will let you create beautiful posts. Magnus theme is based on visuals, which makes it even more attractive for the users.
As for the features, the theme comes with a responsive design, a featured-image header, a slide-out menu, a minimalist design, full-sized images, photo-friendly full-screen layout, custom header, custom menu, and its translation ready.
Shop Isle is an awesome and modern theme for online shops, which comes with a beautiful and elegant design. ShopIsle has a full-screen slider on the homepage and provides a smooth and soothing scrolling, which makes your navigation experience more pleasant and enjoyable. Your online store will have a clean and beautiful look, showing your products in a classy way. The theme offers nice and subtle animations that intensify its beauty.
ShopIsle has a responsive design, social profile links, and its translation ready. It also provides an easy contact form that helps you to stay in touch with your audience and an “About Us” section where you can tell your visitors who you are and what your best projects are.
Features include: Blogging, Custom Background, Custom Colours, Custom Header, Custom Logo, Custom Menu, E-Commerce, Editor Style, Featured Images, Footer Widgets, Four Columns, Front Page Posting, Full Width Template, Grid Layout, Left Sidebar, One Column, Portfolio, Right Sidebar, RTL Language Support, Sticky Post, Theme Options, Threaded Comments, Two Columns, Three Columns and Translation Ready.
Advance is a clean responsive full-page WordPress theme. It is specially designed for Business, and general corporate website. It comes with the essential features for your website such as a business, personal, blog, portfolio etc.
Its responsive feature enables your website to automatically adjust screen size depending on the device used. Therefore, no matter where your audience are or what device they are viewing your new website on, it is going to display it to pixel perfection and scale seamlessly to suit the end device.
It is clean, lightweight and optimized for SEO. A lightweight template which loads faster both on mobile and desktop view.
Glow WordPress theme is suitable for beauty parlors, spa, salon Website, built with Bootstrap and is fully responsive for all the screen sizes. It can be used for Beauty, Salon, barber, Spa, Fitness, Wellness, Health, Blogging, Business, Agency, Corporate, Hospital, Massage parlor, Medicals, Doctors, Clinic or any other types of site.
Glow theme comes with built-in widgets and widgets positions, options customizer, drop-down menus, sliders, testimonials.
Features include: Custom Background, Custom Colours, Custom Menu, Featured Images, Full Width Template, Right Sidebar, Sticky Post, Theme Options, two columns, Threaded Comments and Translation Ready.
Zerif is a friendly one-page WordPress multipurpose theme, with a full-width image in the background and a simple white menu bar at the top. It comes with an elegant and modern design, which could fit very well any kind of business. Zerif Lite has an interactive and colourful interface, with classy parallax effect and lively animations. You can use it for your online shop as well.
Zerif Lite provides a responsive design, a clean and validated code, smooth parallax scrolling, WooCommerce integration, a blog layout, theme options panel, custom ribbons, lazy loading effect, complete translation, an easy contact form, custom content blocks, and many other customization options.
This theme also featured in our best free blog theme. It is one of the best themes out there and has a crisp and versatile design. That’s why it is used on different types of websites such as blogs, magazines, small businesses, schools, church or personal websites.
Features includes Extensive styling options, ultra responsive, Integrated social sharing and share count, easy customization using themes option, custom built widget, custom page template, coding is neat and adheres to the WordPress coding guidelines.
It is retina ready.
The theme has built in child themes with pluggable functions and files.
Above all, the mark-up is search engine optimized to allow the best possible ranking on search engines.
Features include: Custom Colours, Custom Menu, Featured Images, Flexible Header, Full Width Template, Left Sidebar, One Column, Post Formats, Right Sidebar, Sticky Post, Theme Options, Threaded Comments, Two Columns, Three Columns and Translation Ready.
Evolve is one of the best free full-width WordPress themes. It’s built on a solid framework with attention to details and user experience. It can be used to create blogs, online store, magazine or any business page.
It’s is responsive and automatically adjusts the screen size depending on the device used. No matter where your audience are or what device they are viewing your new website on, it is going to display it perfectly.
It also has great pre-built demo contents that makes designing your choice of website easy.
Features include: Blogging, BuddyPress integration, Custom Background, Custom Colours, Custom Header, Custom Menu, E-Commerce, Featured Images, Flexible Header, Footer Widgets, , Grid Layout, Left Sidebar, Microformats, News, Photography, Post Formats, Right Sidebar, Sticky Post, Theme Options, Threaded Comments and Translation Ready
An ambigram is a typographical technique that uses written words that can be read from multiple viewpoints, while sending similar or completely different message. It is an art form or other symbolic representation of a word whose elements retain their meaning when viewed or interpreted from a different direction, perspective, or orientation.
The way an ambigram is used determines the orientation, complexity and readability. Like any other art, ambigrams also hold value for their different meaning and representation under different form.
Types of Ambigram
In design, some ambigrams highlight a relationship between their form and their content. Ambigrams usually fall into one of several categories:
3-Dimensional ambigram is a design where an object with different letters will look like of appear to read several letters or words when viewed from different angle. Such designs can be generated using constructive solid geometry.
Chain Ambigram is a design where words are interlinked, forming a repeating chain. Letters are usually overlapped meaning that a word will start partway through another word. Sometimes chain ambigrams are presented in the form of a circle.
Dihedral ambigram is a usual mirror-image ambigram consisting of numerical digits.
Figure-ground ambigram is a design in which the spaces between the letters of one word from another word.
Fractal ambigram is a version of space-filling ambigrams where the tiled word branches from itself and then shrinks in a self-similar manner, forming a fractal.
Mirror-image ambigram is a design that can be read when reflected in a mirror, usually as the same word or phrase both ways. Ambigrams that form different words when viewed in the mirror are known as glass door ambigrams, because they can be printed on a glass door to be read differently when entering or exiting.
Natural ambigram is a word that possesses one or more of the above symmetries when written in its natural state, requiring no typographic styling. For example, the words “DAD”, “NOON” and “ANNA” form natural rotational ambigrams.
Perceptual Shift ambigram is a design with no symmetry but can be read as either of two different words depending on how the curves of the letters are interpreted.
Rotational ambigram is a design that presents several instances of words when rotated through a fixed angle.
Strobogrammatic ambigram is a rotational ambigram consisting of numerical digits.
Spinonym ambigram is a design in which all the letters are made of the same glyph, possibly rotated and/or inverted. WEB is an example of a word that can easily be made into a spinonym. Symbiotogram ambigram depict two words whose meanings are in complementary opposition.
Free Ambigram Generators
There is no one-shoe-fits-all solution to your design needs, so here are free ambigram generators.
Truly Science ambigram generator offers a mirror-image type ambigram. With this program you can mirror any word and even 2 different words of the same length. The designs are basic at best and offer no options for customization.
With this tool, you can create your design for names, words or phrases. It also produces one of the best chain ambigrams. Are you ready to begin? The drawbacks are there are no options for fonts or sizes. All letters are also in uppercase. It also offers limited types of ambigrams. You have very limited options to play with to come up with a suitable design. And yeah, it isn’t free.
Don’t expect too much from Font meme ambigram generator. It offers just two ambigram fonts, the One Eighty and Lake Reflection from Dan Guttmann. What it lacks in quality it made up for in extended options. You can input the font size, font color and effect.
For owners of android smart phones, Ambimatic is a good option for you. With Ambimatic you can create ambigram designs easily. Input two words that would be merged, and click the Generate Ambigram button to see your result. You can rotate the ambigram result and also share with other friends. Take note that Amblimatic uses the same flipscript algorithm hence it has all the features and drawbacks of flipscript.
Finally, here are some of the best ambigram designs out there. They should inspire you to create yours.
Faith Hope Ambigram
The ‘Faith’ and ‘Hope’ ambigram is an example of Rotational Ambigram. When rotated, the word Faith is seen as Hope.
27 Ambigram
Although words are awesome, so also are numbers. This is a Strobogrammatic ambigram. It offers a clean, plain and beautiful look. If you flip it around, the number 27 can be read from both sides.
Deep Guy Ambigram
The Deep Guy Ambigram is a classic Ambigram Example where the words D and G are designed in such a way that when either letter is rotated, it reads as the other.
