Hi, recently ive been putting my own themes together from scratch, but their nothing fancy yet, im always impressed by the various different WP themes i see, some are truely amazing. Im eager to get better at the themes that i put together and thought about downloading a few that i like that are available to use, and to try and learn some of the design techniques that way. I would like to know if you have done this or still do this? Basically its so i can checkout the html and CSS and i dont mind playing around for a while with it. My blog themes so far have still had that old fashioned early blog look to them so im trying to get better and break away from that.
When I first started off, one of the best ways was to find a blank or naked Wordpress theme and then use that as a basis for modifying and shaping it into your own theme. Nowadays, most people like to start fresh and are familiar with the Wordpress functions. So in short, make sure you know most of the main Wordpress functions and how to use them by heart! Saves much time in the future...
I would suggest you to read "Blog Design Solutions" this e-book is quite old but a must read for all Bloggers. It teaches you to set up a localhost and then you can install anything on the localhost. And great designing basis also covered. I suggest go install Wordpress and download new themes understand them mix a few of them and see the result your self.
Check the Prebuilt2 theme. From their site: Prebuilt was created not to be heavily graphical and feature a lot of ajax goodness, but to be effective while at the same time, an easy way of learning Wordpress. Working in harmony with our series on Wordpress Customization, Prebuilt can become your new favorite theme. * Clean Commented Code - Know exactly what you’re doing, because we’re cleaned the code up and organized everything. * Flick Integration - Using the Flickrss plugin (included), pull your most recent flickr photos from yourself, a group, or a pool. * Pure Code And Css - An extremely lightweight design. * Multiple Stylesheets - Now use the Prebuilt Customize panel to select between multiple stylesheets. Included are default (red), blue, and web 2.0 (whites). * Now supporting widgets! (included in download)
This is one of the best ways to learn how wordpress templates work in my opinion. If you download 3 or 4 themes you like then you can then choose one to modify and look at features you like on the other themes. This is a great way to understand how how it all works.
So far ive started with a blank canvas each time, ive completed 3 up till now but ive not yet been thoroughly pleased, i see some great themes and im keen to understand how some of it is done, so i can improve on future themes i create. Im cool with working locally and getting a decent understanding with the code and its mostly with the CSS and learning those good design techniques that im keen on, thanks il have a look for that ebook. Thanks il have a look at that. Hi System0 i think il have a good look through some of the theme sites today, what i like about the thought of downloading a few is having all the files included so i can try dissecting and taking what i need from some. Thanks to you all.
Well, one thing you could do is start of with a blank canvas, then find a theme on a site that you like and copy its 1 on 1. Obviously, don't publish it or anything but just observer the techniques that they used and what kind of styling they utilized. Just pick up on some little bits that some of the better designers use.
No problem. I find that one of the best ways to learn anything is with decent examples. Once you have copied a theme or something you should change all the things you definitely don't like about it and maybe modify some other things to make it more original and etc. this all helps in eventually developing your own stuff with great potential.