Beaver Builder 2.9 & Themer 1.5: Multi-Layer Backgrounds, Enhanced Color Picker, Loop Module

We’re excited to introduce Beaver Builder 2.9, also known as “Coyote”, packed with exciting updates designed to simplify workflows and enhance the WordPress design experience.

Beaver Builder 2.9 focuses on streamlining performance and enhancing design flexibility. Key updates include reducing unnecessary markup by removing wrapper divs from basic modules, allowing container modules like “Box” to serve as top-level layout elements, and introducing a powerful multi-layer background field for advanced styling. Additional improvements enhance the color picker, boost accessibility, and optimize performance, making this release a game-changer for designers and developers alike.

Let’s take a closer look at the standout features of this release and how they can transform your website-building process:

An Introduction to Beaver Builder 2.9

In Beaver Builder 2.8, we introduced powerful tools like flexbox, CSS grid, and layers within the innovative Box Module. The update also enabled the use of Global Styles, simplified the inclusion of North Commerce content without shortcodes, and enhanced compatibility with PopUp Maker for a smoother editing experience.

When you update to Beaver Builder 2.9, you’ll get access to cleaner markup, advanced design tools like the multi-layer background field, and performance enhancements.

New Features in Beaver Builder 2.9

Beaver Builder 2.9 introduces the following new features designed to streamline workflows and expand creative possibilities. These enhancements not only improve performance but also empower designers and developers with greater flexibility and control.

1. Multi-Layer Background Field

With Beaver Builder 2.9, designers now have a fun new feature to play with: the multi-layer background field. Available for rows, columns, and the Box Module, this tool lets you stack different backgrounds like colors, gradients, and images, all in one place. This opens up a lot of possibilities for creating eye-catching designs and adds extra flair to your layouts:

Now, you can easily combine various background types to create unique and dynamic effects. Whether you’re going for a subtle layered look or a bold design, this feature gives you the flexibility to customize backgrounds in ways that were previously more difficult to achieve.

And there’s more on the way! In a future update, you’ll be able to save these layered backgrounds for reuse, making your design process even smoother and faster. You’ll be able to apply consistent background styles across different pages and projects with just a few clicks.

2. Brand New Color and Gradient Pickers

Beaver Builder 2.9 brings a major upgrade to the color and gradient pickers, making them more powerful than ever. The new color picker now supports all CSS color expressions, giving you more flexibility to choose the exact shade you need. Whether you’re working with HEX, RGB, HSL, or any other color format, you can now easily apply it across your design:

The new gradient picker is equally impressive. It lets you create gradients with unlimited color stops, so you can create smooth, complex blends with total control. Plus, it offers more blending options, allowing you to experiment and achieve exactly the look you want for your site’s backgrounds and elements:

3. Modules as Blocks for the Block Editor

Version 2.9 makes it even easier to use our Beaver Builder modules in the WordPress Block Editor. A selection of modules can now be used as Blocks, allowing for seamless integration into the Block Editor experience. This feature is optional, so you can enable it through the Beaver Builder settings in your WordPress Admin.

To get started, simply go to Settings > Beaver Builder and select the Blocks Tab to enable the feature. Once activated, you’ll be able to use a variety of Beaver Builder modules directly in the Block Editor:

The current list of supported modules includes:

• Accordion
• Box
• Countdown
• Icon
• Icon Group
• Map
• Number Counter
• Posts
• Posts Carousel
• Posts Slider
• Pricing Table
• Tabs

This list will continue to grow in future updates, giving you even more options for working in the Block Editor and expanding your design possibilities.

Improvements and Enhancements in Beaver Builder 2.9

With an ongoing focus on streamlining workflows, this update includes features that simplify layout creation, improve accessibility, and provide more flexible design options. These enhancements aim to give users greater control over their sites while boosting efficiency and user experience.

Now, let’s dive into some of the standout updates in this release.

1. Modules Without Wrappers

As part of our continued effort to reduce the markup output by Beaver Builder, all of the Basic modules have been reworked to exclude their wrapper divs. By removing unnecessary wrapper divs, this update delivers cleaner, more efficient HTML output, enhancing both page performance and user experience.

This change is particularly beneficial for developers, who now have less cluttered code to work with, simplifying customizations and integrations with external systems. Cleaner markup also contributes to faster load times, which can improve your site’s SEO rankings and overall user satisfaction.

For existing modules, Beaver Builder ensures backward compatibility by continuing to render wrapper divs. This approach allows users to take full advantage of the updated features without breaking any of their current layouts.

This update is enabled by default. However, if you prefer to retain the previous structure, you can toggle this setting in the Advanced options. Go to Settings > Beaver Builder in your WordPress dashboard and select the Advanced Tab to disable the feature.

2. Container Modules as Top-Level Elements

In Beaver Builder 2.9, you can now use container modules, like the Box Module, as top-level elements without needing to put them inside a row or column. This change gives you way more flexibility when designing your layouts:

With this update, you can create layouts more easily by cutting out the extra rows and columns you used to need. It also gives you better control over your design, making it simpler to place and organize elements exactly where you want them.

3. Outline Panel Improvements

Beaver Builder 2.9 introduces a handy update to the Outline Panel that makes navigating your page even easier. Now, you can use a search and filter option to quickly find the elements you’re looking for, which is a real time-saver when working on larger projects:

On top of that, you can now add and edit inline node labels directly within the Outline Panel. This means you can label your elements as you go, making it easier to stay organized and keep track of everything without having to jump between screens. It’s a small change, but it definitely makes managing your layout smoother and more efficient.

4. Google Fonts List

The Google Fonts list gets a great update. Previously, the list would only be updated when a new release came out, but now, it updates automatically whenever WordPress checks for plugin updates. This means you’ll always have access to the latest fonts without needing to wait for the next Beaver Builder release.

With this change, you can rest easy knowing that your font options are always up-to-date, keeping your designs fresh and aligned with the latest trends. It’s a small improvement that makes a big difference for those who love customizing their sites’ typography.

Performance Optimizations

With Beaver Builder 2.9, you’ll notice some significant performance boosts. The team has optimized queries related to Themer and debug modes, which means faster backend operations, especially on more complex sites. These changes are designed to streamline how the builder interacts with your WordPress site, cutting down on unnecessary lag and improving overall efficiency.

If you’re working with larger sites or more intricate designs, this update will make a noticeable difference, reducing load times and improving the overall user experience. The focus on performance enhancements helps ensure that even as your site grows or becomes more complex, Beaver Builder stays quick and responsive.

Beaver Themer 1.5 Update: The Loop Module

We’re excited to introduce the Loop Module, a powerful new addition to Beaver Themer that takes dynamic content design to the next level. If you want to try it out, be sure to install Beaver Themer 1.5 along with Beaver Builder 2.9, as the Loop Module is built on its features.

So, what makes the Loop Module special? Unlike the Box Module, which acts as a static container for child modules, the Loop Module dynamically repeats its child modules for each item in the query defined in the settings. This allows you to build fully custom loop layouts tailored to your needs:

The module currently supports the same query types as the Posts Module, along with new query options, including ACF repeaters and taxonomy-based loops (such as categories and tags, coming soon). Plus, with Beaver Themer’s field connections, you can pull in even more data sources for your loop layouts.

This feature is perfect for users who want to create highly customized post grids, archive layouts, or dynamic lists without touching code. The Loop Module is the next evolution in container-based design in Beaver Builder, giving you greater flexibility and control over how content is displayed. If you’re interested in crafting unique loop layouts for any post type, give it a try and let us know what you think.

What’s Still to Come?

There are some exciting features on the horizon for future Beaver Builder updates. One of the most anticipated additions is the ability to save and reuse background layers. While the new multi-layer background feature is already a game-changer, this upcoming update will make it even more flexible for designers by allowing them to save their favorite combinations for future use, saving time on repeated designs.

Additionally, the full integration of the revamped color picker is in the works. Right now, it’s available in most color fields, but not everywhere just yet. Future updates will roll out full support for all color fields, providing an even smoother and more consistent design experience across the board. With these improvements, Beaver Builder users can expect a more streamlined workflow, making it easier than ever to create unique and polished designs.

Upgrade to Beaver Builder 2.9

Beaver Builder 2.9 is a game-changer for WordPress page builders. With cleaner markup, advanced background styling, improved color tools, and better accessibility, this update allows you to create faster, more visually engaging websites.

For full release notes and more details, check the Beaver Builder documentation or explore the changelog.