Review my WordPress theme

R

realbigdreamer

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Hey guys,

I have been busy creating my first WordPress theme, which will be available for free download.

Before I make it available, I would like to know what you guys think of it. This is my FIRST theme, so please keep that in my mind.

All critics are very welcome!

Here is the demo site:

http://studio.realbigdreamer.co.cc/wordpress/

Thanks

RBD
 
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Normally I'd be the first to criticise . . . but the page never loaded. :)
 
it is ok but the top & footer looks like it is stuck on afterwards the break between the banner and white body area is to harsh, but keep it up and good luck

have a look here for some examples of great free designs as inspiration - http://www.web2feel.com/browse-themes/

also some great wordpress error 404 pages - http://www.wpbeginner.com/showcase/best-of-best-wordpress-404-error-page-designs/


and some sneaky code to edit free encrypted footer pages :D

open page or index.php ( wordpress theme editor ) and look for:

<div id="footer">

then add the following around it:

<!--Footer code starts here-->

<div id="footer">

<!--Footer code ends here-->

then save and preview site - view source and find the footer code starts here tag you added and copy all the code in between the tags

<!--Footer code starts here-->

copy all this

<!--Footer code ends here-->

then edit footer.php by deleting everything in it and pasting the code that you copied, please note that it is good practice to leave a link to the designer in the footer, this is usefull for editing arb links out of encrypted footers.
 
@aedro As soon as I have fixed/changed the things that aren't right yet.

@zagame thanks for the reply, I'll check what I can do to make the theme better. And thank you for the links.
 
realbigdreamer said:
@aedro As soon as I have fixed/changed the things that aren't right yet.

@zagame thanks for the reply, I'll check what I can do to make the theme better. And thank you for the links.
Click to expand...

no problem bud maybe change the bottom and top of the banner/footer and let the blue fade into the white so that it doesn't have that straight line if you are feeling me :)

I have had to edit many clients WP sites and most of them where free one's hence the footer code idea, I have yet to design a WP theme so hats of to you bud for taking the plunge
 
I have changed the gradient of the colour of the background. I think there is still work to be done with the footer, just need to be a little more creative.:D
 
realbigdreamer said:
I have changed the gradient of the colour of the background. I think there is still work to be done with the footer, just need to be a little more creative.:D
Click to expand...

insommnia is a biatch :(

ok lets get real picky

1. the padding on the top large menu buttons needs to be more since it is sitting to tight to the top banner image.
2. the sidebar needs to be another colour since it looks disjointed next to the page content.
3. some of your css links are brown/green and is not part of your blue/white color scheme.
4. your template is fixed width 900px and on my laptop it gives a scrollbar at the bottom of the page.
5. the border color of your header image does not fit the blue #001123 of the menu bar and looks wrong same goes for the footer.

YSLow gives it a overall score of 78 mainly due to expire headers and external style sheets
your code does not validate at http://validator.w3.org

but that's me being grumpy since I am still awake at 3am


http://www.reencoded.com/2009/07/07/20-great-wordpress-footer-designs-for-inspiration/ - footer ideas

http://wparena.com/inspiration/25-truly-artistic-wordpress-header-designs/ - header ideas

the links above are not to show that your header images are not great rather to show how they can blend seamlessly into the body section and also to get your creative juices flowing :)

best of luck and am looking forward to seeing the end result
 
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Thinking of wordpress templating and I stumbled across this link http://www.yvoschaap.com/wpthemegen/

This online generator creates your own custom unique WordPress Theme. Without any need for HTML, JS, PHP, or CSS knowledge.

Change the colors, settings, layout, preview live, click "save" and download your unique Wordpress theme zip-file. Extract, upload, set, and you are done! If you have any questions or need additions visit the forum.

Supports WordPress 2.1 to Wordpress 2.8 Themes. With Yahoo! UI (grids, tabs & fonts) to support all A-Grade browsers and valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional. Theme supports Widgets & Tags.
Click to expand...

you can build the basic template in 5 minutes and then spend time tweaking the design etc. :)
 
How about a post showing bullets, numbering, quoted text, forms and form elements, tables?
 
Kloon said:
Also perhaps a post with embeded image with caption
Click to expand...

lmao Kloon I dont understand everything on your blog and it is a bit hardcore for my taste but the braai in the porta pool had me in hysterics, thanks for the laugh
 
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I am going to add a few new features, change the look a little and see what I have at the end.

@zagame thanks a lot for all the constructive info. I'll see how I can improve on the 5 things you mentioned.

RBD
 
realbigdreamer said:
I am going to add a few new features, change the look a little and see what I have at the end.

@zagame thanks a lot for all the constructive info. I'll see how I can improve on the 5 things you mentioned.

RBD
Click to expand...

my pleasure, I have noticed that most people on mybb are brutally honest and that is always a good thing ( suxs for those that need ego's stroked ) :whistle:

If you can offer something better than the currently available free WP themes then soon you will be able to charge for them ;) so look around the web2feel site has some of the best free themes around and let that be your yardstick for functionality.

But again big up's for attempting to do your first theme maybe one day I can ask you for advice if I ever need to create my own :)

http://www.kulturbanause.de/ - seamless header & footer integration at it's best in wordpress
 
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