Web Design

WordPress threaded comments:  how to implement

Another resource for threaded comments.

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Import WordPress XML (on a bluehost server)

An eclectic list of design resources this week!

• Looking for design inspiration? Learn how to Destroy Web 2.0!
  
• Adding a “tabber” to the sidebar of a WordPress theme. 
• 10 WordPress plugins for Flickr
  
• Fonts for Web 2.0 logos
  
• Adding thumbnails to a WordPress post using custom fields
  

Here is a great Photoshop tutorial covering water and ripple effects.

Lots you can learn — some excellent keyboard shortcuts and masking techniques.

I used this as inspiration and guidance for a theme customization project in which water was the main design metaphor.

http://fredricschwartz.com/

Click the image to to see the tutorial for yourself!

Why start with a premium theme when there are so many free themes available?

WordPress uses PHP, CSS and XHTML to separate content from design.  This allows users to switch themes and make site wide style changes with the CSS stylesheet. 

Your theme is the basis of your unique WordPress setup and design.  Because what your site is built on matters, consideration of a quality and professional design is highly recommended.   Any theme you are considering  deserves a serious and in-depth look.  It is difficult to find free themes that offer the value of a quality premium theme. 

And prices are reasonable — $20 to $100+ gets you:

• Valid CSS and XHTML
• Cross-browser optimized:  IE6, IE7, IE8, Firefox, Safari and Chrome
• optimized for multiple screen resolutions:  1024 and 1280 px screen widths
• expandability and customization
• innovative designs and functions
• unique menu navigation
• professional support and documentation
• upgrades

Here are some of the premium themes that we use and suggest here at YourCustomBlog.com.

Slurpie Theme from blogohblog.com

“Slurpie is a Grunge-styled, artistic premium theme that comes packed with features that will give a brand new face to your blog. The theme comes with both Grunge and Non-Grunge styling options, a customizable featured post section, RSS subscription options, 125×125 banner ads and a content-rich layout.”

Portfolio Example: http://www.sfweddinggiveaway.com/

ephoto theme from elegantthemes.com

Elegant themes offers the most cost effective licensing option.  $20 a year gets you access to 24 unique themes. 

“ePhoto was created for those looking to turn their blog into a photo gallery. While the theme was created with photographers in mind, it can certainly be used to display any type of digital imagery. While the main content of the theme is image based, there is also the ability to create separate blog pages where normal blog posts can be integrated with your photos.”

Portfolio Example:  http://www.im-brue.com/dev/

This is the test site for a new project — a customization of the ephoto theme from Elegant Themes.

wp remix

yourcustomblog.com is built using the wp remix theme.

http://wpremix.com/demo/

revolution code blue from studiopress.com

We have done many customizations of revolution themes — now from studiopress.

http://www.studiopress.com/

Portfolio Example:  http://www.fredricschwartz.com/

Work in progress — customization of revolution code blue theme. 

It always takes a lot of work to redesign a site.  YCB wants to take this opportunity to thank the following people and sites that made it all possible.

flickr:  creative commons

orange diamondplate:

Diamond Plate Sunset Reflection by glocinsgrel

red tread:

red tread pattern by meek rgt

diamondplate:

hatch by christian jackson

waves:

~ Water ~ by tomhide

sand and water:

Water on Sand at Avila Beach, California by brainwidth

shells:

She sells sea shells by the sea shore by annfrau

Sand and rocks.3. — Three is a good number. by SleepyOwl

Public domain images (from google image search):

wordpress icon:  http://www.techknowl.com/2009/01/download-web-20-wordpress-icons.html

earth day image: http://www.myspace.com/lastinternationalplayboys

green business: http://www.ecosherpa.com/green-business/eco-labels-100-green/

honor labor: http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=2839#comments

lgbt flag: http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2008/02/15/colors-of-the-cause-lgbt-movement

immigrant rights: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2007/06/361000.shtml

city of oakland: http://www.abetteroakland.com/things-that-are-lame-about-oakland/2008-10-01

electronic frontier foundation: http://eff.org/bloggers
colors from adobe kuler
http://kuler.adobe.com/#themeID/439373
organic pull 2
by:  su11y_

theme:  WP Remix