themes: I want to learn more! Point me in the right direction?

  • Hi guys,

    Let me start off by saying that I am able to get and adapt WP themes pretty well, for the most part. Still I have decided I need a little more out of my themes, and have no idea where to begin.

    Let me itemize what I have and what I want, and maybe someone could give me some advice on where to start reading? I know there are lots of “learn css” and “learn php” sites out there, but I might go through all of them before I really aquire the knowledge I need, you know? Pointers would be really helpful.

    I have: someone who will make custom graphics to my specifications, and a “working” knowledge of css and php (i.e. I can look at things others coded and know for the most part what does what.)

    I want: to be able to understand CSS enough to make my own layouts and understand why they behave the way they do (so far I can just change style and decoration), also to be able to create layouts with graphic elements such as rounded corners on containers, or a non-moving border image
    next to a column. I also would like to be able to take a layout I like and add an element like a tabbed page menu instead of the etxt list on the sidebar, for example.

    Any advice would be appreciated. I was just going to save up enough to pay someone to make my theme for me, but my graphic artist (my husband) got insulted, so I guess it’s up to me… ??

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

  • The best place for you to start with is on styling DIVs.

    This process that I use may work for some people, for some they will not.

    The first thing I do is design the theme in Photoshop. Once satisfied, I then start coding the design using CSS. DIVs will be a great help here, especially if you’ve been familiar with using tables for layouts before CSS was invented.

    It really depends on how you learn, actually. Some are content with reading tutorials, others learn better in a classroom setup. I actually learned CSS by deconstruction. I studied the codes of free templates, understood how they work, and the next thing I know, I’m already releasing my own themes to the public to deconstruct and customize ??

    For the tabbed page menu, you can learn how to style LISTS to do that. The Pages links are generated by WordPress as an unordered list, so you’ll have to learn how to control lists in order to make them do what you want. If you want it to have some really fancy effect, your best bet would probably be AJAX.

    Hope that helps!

    “I actually learned CSS by deconstruction.” – kutitots

    I learn everything that way. YEARS ago, it was HTML, slightly fewer years ago, it was CSS, and this year, it’s PHP. (At least the PHP required for wordress!)

    I must say that the wordpress codex IS a great resource though… especially when you’re just into learning how to do themes and not “all PHP” or “all CSS” (though of course, that would help)

    Try checking these out while you’re in your learning phase… Maybe you can download themes you like and just pick them apart to see what does what, and so on, and use the codex as the “encyclopedia” for you.

    https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Stepping_Into_Template_Tags
    https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Using_Themes
    https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Blog_Design_and_Layout#Themes_and_Templates
    https://codex.www.ads-software.com/WordPress_Lessons#Designing_Your_WordPress_Site
    https://codex.www.ads-software.com/FAQ_Layout_and_Design (sidebar is the FAQ list)

    good luck, and make sure you come back to show us your first theme!! ??

    Thread Starter midnightferret

    (@midnightferret)

    Thank you so much, guys. I will let everyone know when I achieve a finished product!

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
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