Default skin

[whateveramen]

Currently I cannot afford to get a whole custom skin made as that costs like $300, how important is the skin you use? Should I stick with default skin or get a $30 one from a site that isn't 'unique' but more unique then the custom skin or using the custom skin still ok do you think, does it matter much?

[RichieBoy67]

It is up to you but I think it makes your site stand out big time. There are many free ones too. What ever you decide I would go with one that is XHTML 1 compliant and easy to modify. A text based navbar makes adding links easy etc...

Check out my style and a couple others I have been messing around with that were released here for free...


www.talkandmore.net


You can actually make the default style look pretty kick ass too just by changing the colors..

[Tony G]

For a community, it's important to have a custom skin rather than a default one. Those $30 bought ones aren't really the answer as they are used on quite a large scale. Even if you can't edit templates, by even changing the colors around will help. Plus you can use free styles, use their templates as a layout and edit the colors so that it looks unique to your site.

There are plenty of easier ways to do this. ^^

[m0nde]

For a starting forum, having a custom look is not that important.
Simply go into the Admin Control Panel and change the colours if you wish.

I don't suggest you spend $300.00 for a custom skin. This is an outrageous sum for something you can do yourself with some help from the forums here at vbulletin.org.

I suggest you take what you like from various other skins and give people credit where it's due. Change the colours of buttons and all that and you're set. Get yourself a copy of a photoshop-like program and learn to use it to the degree you need to.

- Sid

[Tony G]

I'm afraid you don't see the reason why people spend those large sums of money for skins. As well as that they don't know the template system and how to make images, many don't have the time to learn. Why do people pay to get their lawn mowed when they can do it themselves? Because they don't have the time or equipment. Why do people pay for people to get their houses cleaned? Because they don't want to do it themselves.

It's not that "outrageous" to people in these positions.

But you're right, paying that sum of money is not for everyone. If you're willing to learn the template system and image programs like photoshop, then the best option is to do it yourself. Simple things like learning to change colours doesn't take long to do and is easy to navigate around, which is what I suggest as a start point. ^^

[whateveramen]

Thanks for the replies

How would I edit the colours and such, I do that for admin panel?

I have photoshop but my skills are limitless, I think maybe getting a free skin and modfying that a bit could be best answer and give credit to the original skin, would that be ok?

Someone run me through how to do it from the admin panel? I used to have a XMB board and made my own colour scheme from that and that was easy but got feeling this one will be bit harder :P

Cheers

[whateveramen]

Anyone?

[RichieBoy67]

Go and read the VB manual.. It will explain all of that in detail

[deathemperor]

Originally Posted by whateveramen

Thanks for the replies

How would I edit the colours and such, I do that for admin panel?

I have photoshop but my skills are limitless, I think maybe getting a free skin and modfying that a bit could be best answer and give credit to the original skin, would that be ok?

Someone run me through how to do it from the admin panel? I used to have a XMB board and made my own colour scheme from that and that was easy but got feeling this one will be bit harder :P

Cheers

All I can tell you is: go to ACP -> Styles and Templates -> Style Manager -> Edit Options. Every basic things are there, for more complex it's Edit Templates.

Good luck.

[Tony G]

The VB Manual has a more detailed tutorial if you get confused. But it's not hard to know what colour code changes what, and hex codes are available all over the internet for you to find.