What’s new in Astra Starter Templates 3.0 update
Astra has released a new version of its starter templates plugin and in this article we will be taking a look at what’s new in Astra Starter Templates 3.0.
First things first, the version 3.0 of the Starter Templates plugin is a major update and in this almost every feature from the interface to the visualization and import has been improved.
For those of you who are not familiar with the Starter Templates plugin, let me give you a brief introduction about it.
Starter Templates is a free plugin by Brainstormforce, the company behind the popular Astra WordPress theme.
And it is a collection of hundreds of templates that you can use to get your site up and running quickly.
These designs are created by professional designers, are pixel perfect and can be customized as per your requirements.
It is important to know that you can use the Starter Templates plugin with any theme and the design will work seamlessly.
However, we suggest you only use it with WP Astra as this plugin was primarily created for it.
Keeping this in mind, in this article we will be taking a look at the latest version of Starter Templates plugin which is the version 3.0 and in case you want to see the templates before giving this plugin a try then you need to click the button below.
What’s new in Astra Starter Templates 3.0
As mentioned above, in the version 3.0 of the Starter Templates plugin every aspect of it has been improved and below we have listed all the topics covered.
You can click on the link and it will take you to the corresponding section.
Improvements to the interface in Astra Starter Templates 3.0 update
First things first, the Starter Templates version 3.0 is built using React and is lightening fast.
In the previous version of the plugin after the installation when you clicked on the Starter Templates in the Appearance menu, it would have asked you to select a preferred page builder.
And then it would have shown you all the templates that you can use inside your WordPress dashboard.
This has changed in Starter Templates 3.0 and now when you click Starter Templates in the Appearance Menu after installing the plugin, it will take you to a completely new interface where the first thing you will see is a welcome video followed by Build your Website Now button.
When you click this button, it will ask you to select a page builder.
On selecting your preferred page builder, it will take you to the new Starter Templates dashboard where you will see all the templates.
Before we move forward, it is important to know that the option to select Brizy is no longer available in the new Astra Starter Templates 3.0
See- How to enable Brizy templates in Astra Starter Templates plugin
Update to the search in Starter Templates 3.0
The search function of the Starter Templates plugin has received a major improvement in this update.
To understand the difference, lets first take a look at the before and after screenshots.
- Before Starter Templates 3.0 update
In the Starter Templates version prior to 3.0, the search function was very basic and it displayed recommendations when you typed in the keywords.
Apart from this, to sort the templates based on utility and pricing you were required to click the dropdown next to the search box and it will show you relevant options.
This has completely changed in Starter Templates 3.0 update and the search function feels more smooth and user friendly.
- After Starter Templates 3.0
The first change that you will notice as soon as you enter the Starter Templates dashboard is that the sorting options are placed prominently below the search box.
And it lets you filter templates based on its use and popularity.
Now coming to the all important search feature,
In this update, this feature has received a major overhaul and now when you type in the keywords, it will not show you suggestions rather it will display real time changes / results.
This makes the search much more smoother to use and you will notice a considerable improvement if you are a regular user of this plugin.
Introduction of Design Visualization in Starter Templates 3.0
Now that you are familiar with the improvements to the search feature in the Starter Templates 3.0 update, the next topic we are going to discuss is the new design visualization feature.
Before the release of Starter Templates 3.0, the process to Preview and import a template was quite straight forward and all you had to do was
- Search for a template that you like
- It will show you the option to Preview and Import
- You can select an option based on your needs
And in the next step you had to customize it to make it look unique and yours.
It is important to know here that although this process was very simple and straightforward.
However, there was a small problem and that is once you start customizing it, there are chances that it might not fit with your vision.
In this scenario, you had to go back and start with a new template.
Keeping this in mind, the process has been now been further optimized where it lets you add a logo, select typography and color scheme before import.
This will give you a ballpark idea on how will your template appear after customization and the best part is it will save you time.
Before we move forward, it is important to know that the typography and the color scheme can be changed later as and when you want.
Starter Templates 3.0 – Upload Logo
When you select a template in the Starter Templates version 3.0, it will take you to a new page where it will ask you to upload your site logo.
Here you can click the Upload File option and it will take you to the Media Library where you can either select an existing logo or upload a new one.
In case you are looking to create a logo for your site then we recommend doing it using Canva.
It is a free online graphic design tool that lets you create any graphic for your online business.
Additionally, it lets you adjust the logo width as well.
Once done, it will take you to the next step which is
Select a Color Scheme is Starter Templates 3.0
After you have uploaded the logo, the next option lets you select a color scheme for your site.
When it comes to selecting the right colors, the task might seem easy at first. But, in reality it can be a bit challenging.
Keeping this in mind, the latest version of Astra Starter Templates comes with multiple color schemes that you can pick with just a single click.
When you select a new color scheme, the changes will be reflected instantly giving you a clear picture on how your site will look.
Once you are done selecting colors, the next option lets you
Pick fonts in WP Astra Starter Templates 3.0
Just like the color scheme, selecting fonts for your site can be a bit tricky and Astra Starter Templates 3.0, gives you multiple options to choose from.
This setting works exactly the same way as the color scheme where on selecting an option the changes are reflected instantly.
After you are done till here, the next option allows you to import the template.
Import templates from Astra Starter Templates 3.0
In Stater Templates 3.0, the process of importing has been optimized where it lets you know the progress with each step.
On top of this, importing of templates in much faster than before.
This concludes everything you need to know about the Astra Starter Templates 3.0 update. If you have liked what you have read and want to give WP Astra and Starter Templates a try then you can do that by clicking the link below.
Before we move forward, it is important to know that Astra is available in both free and premium versions and the pro version comes with a lot more templates.
In case you are wondering about the pricing then below we have listed all the plans followed by the features included.
If you decide to buy WP Astra using our SPECIAL LINK then you will get a decent discount.
Keeping this in mind, Astra has 3 plans
- Astra Pro
- Essential Bundle
- Growth Bundle
What’s included in WP Astra Pro plan
- Advance Header Builder
- Advance Blog Layouts
- Sticky Header
- Advance Footer Builder
- Custom Layouts & Hooks
- Advance Typography
- Advance Colors Options
- Mega Menu
- WooCommerce Controls
- Native AMP Support
- White Label
- Product Updates
- Premium Support
- Unlimited Website Usage
- Extensive Training
- Risk-Free Guarantee
And more.
What’s included in WP Astra Essential Bundle
- Everything in Astra Pro, and
- 180+ Premium Starter Templates
- WP Portfolio Plugin
- Choice of One Page Builder Addon -Ultimate Addons for Elementor
or Ultimate Addons for Beaver Builder - Product Updates
- Premium Support
- Unlimited Website Usage
- Extensive Training
- Risk-Free Guarantee
And more.
What’s included in WP Astra Growth Bundle
- Everything in Essential Bundle, and
- Convert Pro Plugin
- Schema Pro Plugin
- Ultimate Addons for Beaver Builder
- Ultimate Addons for Elementor
- SkillJet Academy Membership
- Our Future Plugins*
- Product Updates
- Premium Support
- Unlimited Website Usage
- Extensive Training
- Risk-Free Guarantee
And more.
What’s new in Starter Templates 3.0 – Video
Having said that
I hope you will find this article helpful and now know all about the Astra Starter Templates 3.0.
In case you have any questions feel free to reach out.
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