Default Skin -vs- custom fancy skins?
 

I have noticed by doing a search, that the most populated busy forums, such as digitalpoint, vb.org, and others, use pretty much the default skin with minor color and header additions.

Is is wise to veer from the traditional look and feel of the default skin? For me, I'm learning that less is often times more in terms of fancy graphics and such. I find alot of this to be very distracting and since I've returned to a basic look my forums have grown significantly.

Your thoughts?

Gabby

Opps. Mods can you fix my title? "Default" please... thanks so much. :)

I always love skins which has pinch of default look in them forums such as DP and vb.org are excellent examples of best skins that performs really well with high traffic. But having a fancy skin is not bad on the other end when you need a professional forums it is better to stick with a skin that looks more default as it looks more professional when you want forums of other niche I think its better to choose some other skins.

I'll be changing mine soon, it will have the default feel to it too but will be completely changed in color.

Like one of my sites here www.fsotmoms.com I reworked all the images in different hues and made my own icons... took a mad amount of time but its just the default template manipulated to look different. Use the styler changer at the bottom to see the several shades I chose to do..

I like the simplicity as the years of VB ownership go by. I'll be redoing my big board so that it has less update pains LOL. It sucks when your designer goes belly up and stops updating their templates and you have to spend days even weeks searching templates and making the changes. I'd like to have a revert template reliability!!

Def keep it default but change the colors. It took me 4 1/2 hours to get the perfect color combination I wanted in the default skin. Just change some icons here and there, and you're all set. Don't get into the hassle of fancy graphics. Some forums have skins so bad, I usually get a headache by the time I leave. Keep it simple, reliable and problem free. Stay with the default but change the colors and some status icons here and there. My .02 :D

I agree you can alter some color changes in default vbulletin and make it look like vbulletin.org! it will be nice to look at! give it a try whoever loves this vbulletin.org skin.

Hi Lisa,
I love you lite pink colors!

Gabby

she is not lisa thats her avatar :D

Her real name is Lisa. Look at the postbit. ;)

The choice on the type of style, is also made on the type of site you are running. On vBorg we have choosen to stay close to the default (should at least be recognisable as vB on the first visit) and use it mostly to show what can be done with the default style with only some small(er) changes.

If you run a site on another topic and with different type of visitors, then you might make a different choice.

thats nice!! :p :rolleyes: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2009/01/10.gif

Id give you a copy Gabby but I do not have a default XML. I'd have to reupload and revert a bunch of stuff first, to clean up the XML. Like postbit ect... You can have a copy of the image folder if you want though! :)

My fav on that site is the seabreeze.

you can make up the whole skin with the images folder provided not that difficult!

yes, I can, but my downloaded XML would have all my template edits for the mods I have installed and some of my custom changes. I'd have to clean that up for her as she is very new to VB and wouldnt be able to get it just right....yet. Shes a fast learn though. hehe All the background colors would be in the XML. She would need that, not just the images. :)

I have thought of adding a few colors Like purple and a darker blue, maybe a red and orange) and releasing them but just havent had the time. :)

I think default style is server savvy... loads fast... saves resources... saves bandwidt... saves money... very important on busier websites otherwise slow website navigation or timeouts are bound to happen...

Ia m working on a new skin that will add a vbulletin.org feel but I dont have the entire codes I mean the header and all so I will be just giving the default skin with default header but other things which give it a vbulletin.org feel. and releasing it you guys love that?? and can I pursue with that?

regards

Thanks Lisa That woudl be great. I would love the images folder for the lite pink. It's difficult to find good feminin designs.

Neutral Singh.. I have to agree, my default runs like a charm and alot quicker than my main which really isn't too far off the default though.