Designing a template from scratch can be very hard to me, and all attempts to create a completely new template have failed. However, since I wanted something unique for my new web site (under construction), I just couldn't use a pre-made template. So I decided that the best way to do this would be to edit an existing template.

I started with the default Joomla! template, which is Rhuk Solarflare (http://demo.tiergestalten.de/index.php). I wanted a darker theme, so I had a lot to change. After a few days of work I finally got what I needed (and it is hard to notice the resemblance between the old and the new template) - but in Firefox only. Internet Explorer was still making some problems, but I think I've managed to solve them by using !important in my CSS file. Now that it's all complete, all I have to do is tweak it. And that's why I need you.

I would like you to take a look at my template and tell me what you would change if you were the author. I want to make something that will suit most people. For now, I will supply you with a screenshot only, because I don't want the subdomain to be public. When I get a domain name, I'll give you the link. Until then, check out this address: http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs11/i/2006/220/...ak_by_pyost.jpg

Is it just me or are other people getting this message when trying to access the screen shot?



I too wanted a unique template for my Drupal driven site, by I just could not do it. I took a pre-made template that was some what like I wanted, and then modified few things to get what I wanted.

OK then try the deviantArt link: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/37645140/. I don't know what's the problem, I can see the image at the given URL

Ok pyost, the second link you gave works.

I will tell that it is a real great design you have got there. You are a professional in terms of colour selections and layout.

But there is one thing I would have changed if I were the author of that site: The font. I would have chosen some other Sans Serif font.

In the book 'The Non-Designers Desing Book', Robin Williams says that people have to forget about Times New Roman and Arial/Helvetica for quite some time now to generate a good design. They are good fonts, but trust me, they have been used to death and people are quite used to seeing those fonts. The Times New Roman on print, and Arial or Helvetica on screen. Experiment with any other font - and if I were to give a suggestion, experiment with different Sans Serif fonts.

This post has been edited by Vyoma: Aug 9 2006, 12:21 PM

I never really thought about the font being a negative side But why not give it shot, maybe I get something better. What font would you suggest me to use? If I start choosing fonts, it will be a disaster I mean, look at the logo font

OK.

The logo font is fine as a matter of fact. It falls under the category of Decorative fonts, and they go well for logos.

Basically there are six types or groups of fonts:
- Oldstyle
- Modern
- Slab Serif
- Sans Serif
- Script
- Decorative

Old style, Modern and Slab Serif are all fonts with serifs. They differ on the types of serif. Example of fonts that fall on these categories are: Goudy, Palantino, Times, Baskerville, Garamond, Bondoni, Fenice, Onyx, Walbaum, Clarendon, Memphis, New Century School Book and many more. These are fonts that go good on print.

Sans Serif are more common screen fonts. Examples: Antique Olive, Formata, Folio, Futura, Syntax.

Script type of fonts are good for print in invitations and such things. Examples? Arid, Legacy, Cascade, Linoscripte etc.

Well, I would not talk about Decorative type of fonts, because they are best for Logos and would require a write up on their own.

Now, what type of fonts do I suggest?

Well for the main content, go for Verdana, Tahoma or Trebuchet MS (The Sans Serif fonts other than Arial and Helvetica).
You can keep the headings and all of the same font as the content but larger and heavier OR you could try some of the Serif fonts. Try any and see that there is a good contrast and balance between content and heading.

I tried those three fonts that you suggested, but I wasn't really satisfied with them. While the texts and titles do look nice, none of them gave me a satisfying menu. What I am trying to say is that the menu titles look a bit messy. To be honest, that's the only thing that bothers me. I'm rather neutral for the rest, but this is just wrong. Arial just gives the menus a simple look and it is easy to read.

I thought of combining Arial with another font, but that would make the site a bit confusing. I'm not saying that other people could tell the difference, but I don't like the idea. Maybe I change my opinion during the night, who knows, but at the moment I'm keen on sticking to Arial.

I think the new template looks pretty good. I don't have a problem with the font. It makes for a professional looking website. The reason that the fonts mentioned before are used so much is because that is what people are comfortable with.

The only thing I would consider changing is the background. It appears to be #000000 (black). I suggest that you give it a tint of something. Not much but enough to keep it from being 100% black. Other design books and people I know suggest not using pure colors since they are too intense. They work great in some cases to really draw attention to a specific place but even then they shouldn't always be pure.

I see that you have a bit of a green tint to your links. If the background was a very very dark green instead of pure black, I think it would really look great. Maybe #002000 would be good. The white could also use a bit of a tint to lessen the intensity of the text. This would cause less bleeding and may give you better results from you search for the perfect font.

I tried to edit Joomla (mambo) templates without success. Ended up doing my own. It isn't finished and the website is a mess but here it is: http://www.vwone.com

I'll give you some help on making to template more dynamic if you want on need it.

Hope This Helps.

vujsa

Well, the back background is black, but the front background is a shade of grey - but I guess you've noticed that. I will experiment with those colours you gave me, as soon as I solve some other problems, which have appeared now that I've set up a domain name. Yes, I finally got it You can check out the complete design at www.the-brits.net

I see that the two backgrounds are different now. I think it was because of the quality of the image I saw before. The live template looks pretty good.

Congratulations on the aquisition of a domain name. Now that you are nearly finished with your template, you may want to submit it to mambohut.com for everyone to enjoy. If you need help putting the package together for submission, I'll help with that too. It is pretty simple, just get the images together in their folder, edit the XML file, create a screenshot thumbnail and zip it up. Of course, you may want to change it a little so that it won't be exactly ythe same as yours.

You may want to edit the RSS images to better match your website. Look under /public_html/images/M_images to find the images. Little tweaks like that realy make a website work.

Keep up the great work.

vujsa