Help! How do I make a new forum theme?

enchilado · #1 05-18-2011, 09:40 PM

I've searched around on the internet for making vBulletin themes and I just get told to modify stuff in the Admin Control Panel. Well, I don't seem to have one of those.

Isn't there another way I can do it, like just editing the images and .css file of an existing theme? Of course to do that I'd need the files, but Alcar or someone could get them for me, I'm sure...

Anyway... if I somehow manage to make a new theme, can it be added? I want to make something very simple and plain, looking a bit like the archives maybe but ... well, not an archive.

T-nex · #2 05-18-2011, 11:56 PM

Alcar was apparently willing to implement STM's theme if he ever got it done(Or maybe Alcar just said he would, cos he knew STM would never finish)

But I think you can just use an existing theme as template or something, and then bug Alcar about implementing it. Just keep poking at him until he explodes and adds it =) poke poke.

Havoc · #3 05-19-2011, 12:27 AM

Making a theme is pretty hard unless you have access to the admin CP, since you can't just mess around with images and sizes to see what looks good with what. At least, I wouldn't know where to start if I had to do it without an Admin CP.

enchilado · #4 05-19-2011, 12:37 AM

If I have an existing vBulletin theme to play with, I can just save the source code of a page and open it locally.

The source of a page links to all the images that are used on it, so I can get them that way if need be... I think it's just the .css file that I'd need. I don't know shit about css, but I could probably figure out most of it just by examining the file.

STM · #5 05-19-2011, 01:29 AM

:

Alcar was apparently willing to implement STM's theme if he ever got it done(Or maybe Alcar just said he would, cos he knew STM would never finish)

But I think you can just use an existing theme as template or something, and then bug Alcar about implementing it. Just keep poking at him until he explodes and adds it =) poke poke.

I'm working on this again in three weeks when my exams finish I'll have you know!

enchilado · #6 05-19-2011, 02:17 AM

So how are you making it?

Mudokon_Master · #7 05-19-2011, 02:40 AM

I thought he was just editing the images and sending them off to Alcar to put them in officially.

***Nate*** · #8 05-19-2011, 03:27 AM

If you want a reference, base it on the Native theme, as Industrial has been broken since about 2006 and Honeybee was never quite as detailed as Native. Remember to take in to account both vertical and horizontal postbit.

STM · #9 05-19-2011, 02:47 PM

I am using the Native as reference, Building all the pages but I know html and java so if it comes to coding it might take another year but I can do that too hawhaw.

EDIT: Ench if you would like to make this a little duo task send me a PM!

T-nex · #10 05-19-2011, 05:13 PM

Really... It should not take a whole year to just design a theme x_x

STM · #11 05-19-2011, 11:12 PM

It's taken so long so far because I haven't worked on it much and I might start again, the thing is I've been busy with my final exams, any way I don't need to make excuses for myself, I just need to do it, and in two weeks, my exams are done.

moxco · #12 05-19-2011, 11:17 PM

:

If you want a reference, base it on the Native theme, as Industrial has been broken since about 2006 and Honeybee was never quite as detailed as Native. Remember to take in to account both vertical and horizontal postbit.

So we just have to remake all the images, the same sizes, in a way that will tile well. Doesn't VB offer any flexibility? Also would the admins have a list of all the images?

:

I am using the Native as reference, Building all the pages but I know html and java so if it comes to coding it might take another year but I can do that too hawhaw.

Java or JavaScript? They are completely different but I really doubt Java would be needed.

I personally know html, css and php and have been thinking of making a forum theme for a while now. I would probably start but a third of the way through say cbf. I have many third-finished projects.

STM · #13 05-19-2011, 11:19 PM

I do to, but I really want to do something for once instead of throwing in the towel due to boredom.

***Nate*** · #14 05-20-2011, 04:38 AM

These vBulletin manual pages should give you an idea of what is needed, as well as giving the original images if you want to just tweak them:

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/graphics_kit_vb3
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m..._kit_vb3_table

If you want the Dev Kit, PM Alcar as he has a membership to the vBulletin forums.