Do You Think Using Templates is Cheating?

Hell no it's not cheating. There are 1000's of templates out there for every need in every platform. There is nothing wrong with using one, particularly if you add some personal customization to it.
Very few designers or web people design everything from scratch. The use images from stock houses, pre made buttons, 3rd party scripts, purchase music and sound effects from composers and everything else. It's all just a bog jigsaw puzzle anyway.

And even if you are doing client work...starting with a template saves time, expense and leaves you to spend more time on other tasks. You still posses the skills to put it together and customize which others can't do so I see no problem with it.

 

No, most people buy them with hard earned money anyway.

 

I think to get the idea from the website is not called cheating.

 

While customizing the Template as per your charge and don't you anticipate one doesn't apprentice aggregate at a go and apprentice bit by bit, and you ability be accomplishing so. However try activity through sites like W3Schools and added tutorials which helps a lot. And again if you accept queries or ashore you can consistently column here, absolutely somebody will appearance you the appropriate way.

 

I don't see it as cheating at all. Everyone in this world uses templates for everything. Why do you think all the different soda cans look the same? Haha

 

No because a custom design usally isent cost effective.

 

Well... it is not "cheating" but there are sometimes DMCA implications involved. Not to mention the lack of uniqueness in your website when you use one.

 

why reinvent the wheel.. having a starting point template that you can mod further is the way to go..

 

Well it depends... Some template makers want you to keep their name in the footer. If you remove it, you are sort of claiming that the work is yours.

So you'd be 'stealing' credit for their work. But if you use a template from which the author says you can do with it whatever you want, then I suppose it's fine.

 

It's not professional and you are pretty much hosting a portfolio on someone elses work.

 

When ever I start with a template, I never claim the work as my own, I only leave a footer cred (when the client allows it) that says I "built" the website...not "Designed"...even if it is completely unrecognizable from the original work.

 

No.I don't believe it's cheating.Especially when you are creating a sales page.Most templates are easy to edit making the process of releasing a product of service easier.Again not cheating at all.

 

Well if you are using a free template then there is not problem if you are using a paid template without paying then that is not correct.

 

templates are great to get ideas from, then you could change it around, if your not very good with the coding. I'm still learning coding, So if i were to Design, a website design, i wouldnt know alll the coding, so i tend to make my designs simple for now.

 

I always give my clients 2 options...Choose a layout that closely resembles what you want and I'll customize what ever you want or that needs to be changed to fit your specifications, or have the same thing designed from scratch at more than double the cost and time.

90% go with the first option.

 

I'm with you mate..

 

It really depends on how much customization you plan on doing with a free template. If you customize it to the extent that it no longer resembles the original design, I suppose you could call it an acceptable practice. Do keep in mind though that you're going to market the end product as your own and put it up for a price, so IMHO it would be best to refrain from using a free template in this manner.