My Tips for making a PB Template

[stinky666]

Hmm.. Creating a template, where do i start?
Right, well, Ive learned to stick with several codes for a template, they are basic ones, such as:

• Remove Hey X
• Text Area Input Color
• The code also to change the color of 'Buttons' such as the 'Post Reply' and 'Preview' buttons.
• Resize Forum Width (I always use 720pixels or 725pixels width. Why? This is so that the width of the forum is roughly the same as the ads at the top)
• Align Menu Buttons (This always comes in handy you see for if you wanna play about with making buttons.)
• Remove Menu Spacing (This is so that the buttons look a lot better, cos this code makes them close together with no gaps)
• I use the code for Gradients
• I also use the code to fix the menu bar, so that the menu buttons fit on cleaner than usual.
• The Link Hover color
• The remove info center icons (I don't like making the info center icons, and besides, people use info centers such as ultimate ic v3)
• I always use the code for changing the colors of the Scrollbar too (it always adds that extra feel and makes the forum colors look better)
• I use the code to center the bg (this is because i always do backgrounds that have side bars going down it on each side)
• And last but not least, the 'Last Post Column Cell Highlight' code.

I always work on images in a specific order, i just find it easier for me to do it the way i do. Others may do it differently..
I don't start with the Banner, i go in this order:

• Colors (This would include all colors, such as text colors, window bg colors, cell highlight colors etc)
• Grads
• BG (I always do the bg a bit darker than the window bg colors. Say for example, if the window bg colors were ededed (hex) then that would be R: 237, G: 237, B: 237.  I would simply change that color by clicking on the RGB parts and click the down arrow to make it a darker shade of color, i would most likely go down by about 10, which would mean it would end up being e3e3e3 (Hex) and R: 227, G: 227, B:227.)
• Then i do the 'New/Old' icons
• After the New/Old Icons, i normal do the menu buttons, unless i am making head and base images, if i am making head and base images, i do them, and then do the menu buttons (And only the menu buttons, and not all buttons)
• I then normally make the Banner
• Then the folder icons
• Then the Rank Icons
• Then the icons and buttons for the IM bit
• Then i do the rest of the buttons
• Then i make the UBBC Tags
• And then, i will most likely make the Warning meter bar, and any other icons, such as the 'xx' icon, which is in the Topic Icons bit, along with a few others in there that i do..
• I then do the smilies if i want to do them for the template.

Hope you found this somewhat usefull...
Also, two other small tips for anyone new to making templates:

1) Always give your template a name. Make the name so it somehow relates to the template, but if you cant think of one, then simply mix some letters together like how i did with my Impolx temp..

2) Don't go overboard with images, especially the banner, unless you are good with banners that is. A nice simple banner is all that is needed (just as long as it matches well).. Also try include the New/Old Icons in the banner, that always gives the temp a 'theme'..

Remember: These are just my thoughts on making a template, some may agree with me, some may totally disagree. This is because we all have our own ways of making templates.


~ Stinky666

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Thoughts, Comments, Questions?
I might be making a full tutorial for making a basic looking proboards template. If anyone is willing to contribute towards the tutorial, please PM me..

(Template Tips copyrighted to stinky666 of GGD and ED. Do not post without permission)

[sinamin]

I am so glad you posted this and just in time for me! I have a brand new board and a gradient all made, but I'll be danged if I can find the gradient codes! Could you help me out and point me in the right direction?

I'm going to adapt these tips one by one and when I'm done, I think I might actually have a board I can be proud of!

Thanks for all the tips and I'd love to see a tutorial. I'm an experienced digital artist and proficient in both PSP and Photoshop, but I don't speak code the forum at all!

[stinky666]

No prob.. And hopefully i will do a tut for a basic template
I really want to, its just getting round to doing it lol..

Right i have PMd you the grads code