A major update including new creative choices such as video backgrounds (amongst other great web updates), enhanced format support including AVIF, and productivity improvements to existing functionality such as the QuickShape flyout and text flow controls. Plus 350+ additions to Elements (see 9 May 24 Content Update).

Web Improvements (Web Designer+ and Designer Pro+)

Video Backgrounds

Video backgrounds are a great way to add visual impact to your website, reinforce your brand, add additional messaging and increase engagement. And if they increase visit time and reduce bounce rate they can be great for your SEO too! Which is why in v24 we’ve introduced Web Blocks with video backgrounds and video website backgrounds.

You can find Web Blocks with video backgrounds in the Designs Gallery in these folders: 

Modular Websites > Web Blocks > Blank
Modular Websites > Web Blocks > Hero
Modular Websites > Website Templates > Business
And there's a wide selection of video backgrounds to choose from in the Designs Gallery under Modular Websites > Styles > Page Background > Video. These videos show behind all the other content of your website, filling the full width of the browser window

Photo Filters in Web Blocks

You can now use any of the many Photo Filters in Designer+ on images in Web Blocks. 
Some of the Web Blocks in the Designs Gallery already have filters applied, including some in:
Modular Websites > Web Blocks > Hero
Modular Websites > Website Templates > Business

Embedded Files

In previous versions of Designer, when you add an external file such as a video, animated GIF or linked PDF to your website, the file was placed into a folder alongside the .xar file. For example myProject.xar would have a folder myProject_xar_files alongside it, containing the referenced files. Now these files are saved embedded inside your project .xar file instead, meaning they can never get lost if the project file is copied or moved without its accompanying folder.

Other Web Fixes & Improvements

• The main (index) page of a website now has its canonical link set to the domain name without the index.html included. For example http://www.example.com instead of http://www.example.com/index.html. Generally this is better for SEO. 
• FTP/publish passwords are now saved in the project file by default, for new projects.
• The shortcut for turning on FTP/publishing logging is now Alt+Ctrl+Shift+4 (the previous shortcut  (Alt+Ctrl+Shift+3) can clash with a Microsoft function).
• Image goes missing from very long web page. Fixed.
• Can’t apply a second color selection point in Color Selection tool. Fixed.
• Photos could go missing from Mobile variant after rapid changes in Main variant. Fixed.
• Adjusting the crop of a photo in a Web Block changes the Block height. Fixed.
• Sticky images have incorrect scale when exported as full width in a scale-to-fit website. Fixed.
• Internal error opening website project due to problem widget. Fixed.
• Error when attempting to link a NavBar button to an external file such as a PDF. Fixed. (24.0.1)
• Error publishing to a folder path that has a leading "/". Fixed. (24.0.1)

Text Improvements

Linked Text Flows (Designer Pro+)
When working with linked text areas, where text flows from one text area to the next, unlinking text areas no longer puts all text into the first flow. Instead the text is broken into two separate flows.

Other Text Updates

• Can’t place text caret in text on a curve. Fixed.
• Internal error after dragging embedded object out of text. Fixed.

Graphic Design Improvements

More QuickShapes
The QuickShape Tool flyout bar has been extended to include a wider selection of preset shapes.

 
Color Picker Shortcut
The eye dropper tool   (available on the color line and in the color editor) is used to copy a color from under the mouse pointer onto the current selection. There is now also a shortcut key for doing this without having to go into the eye dropper tool - simply hold down the \ (backslash) key on your keyboard.

Import & Export

AVIF Import
Designer+ can now open and import AVIF files. These will typically have an avf or avfs file extension. AVIF is an open image file format, typically used for photos as an alternative to JPEG.

PDF Improvements

• PDF Import: Some PDFs containing forms failed to open. Fixed.
• PDF Import: Text wrapping wrong for text on the last page of a form. Fixed.
• PDF Import: Serious error when importing certain PDF files. Fixed.
• PDF Export: Zero sized annotation layer shapes caused serious error on export to PDF. Fixed. (Photo & Graphic Designer+ and Designer Pro+)