Themes
Updated Brushed Adamant Photoshop Template
A few people have pointed out that the "slices" I added to the "Brushed Adamant" template, only works in Photoshop CS. Strange, since slices have been around for the last few versions. So I simplified the template, making it easier to color, and added a layer which shows you where to make your own slices.You can download it here.
Manila Theme: Brushed Metal
I am happy to announce the Second non-UserLand produced Manila theme to use modules, Brushed Metal [M].This is basically the same theme, structurally as Papaver [M] But I'd though I'd make a version for those not so into pretty flowers.
Weblogger Users can begin using this theme, and Papaver [M], right away.
Feel free to download and install this theme on your own Manila server.
As always ports of this theme to other blogging platforms are welcome if attribution to this site is kept, and that you make your derivative theme available to other users of that system. - Thanks
Manila Theme: Papaver [M]
I am happy to announce the first non-UserLand produced Manila theme to use modules, Papaver [M].
Modules were a technology, developed a couple years ago by Brent Simmons then of Userland, which gave Manila themes the ability to insert editable areas, and stand-in content, throughout the design. The theory being that people wanted to insert content in sidebars and footers without having to dive into the template and create their own "include message" macros. This feature was pioneered with the "New Default" theme, which remains one of the most popular themes despite its ugly appearence mainly due to its ease of use. New modules based themes were never created because Manila lacks of an easy to use interface for creating and exporting them.
However, thanks to Josh Allen who has been using the technology for his school district's manila sites for over a year, and who showed me how to do it at the edBlogger Conference, I now know how to create this type of theme. Proving that if you have Webedit access to a Manila server, you can pretty much do anything you want. ":)"
Modules are compelling because they will allow users to create Manila sites that are easy to use right from the start. Designs can include a sample BlogRoll, editable footers, and easy to manage sidebar content. And, as long as a new theme uses modules with the same names as the one you had before, you can quickly change themes, the new theme will reuse the content of your last modules.
To let people know what modules are being used, I have, and will place in the theme description the names of modules used, and will try to standardize on 4 modules, "BlogRoll", "About this site" ,"Sidebar", and "Footer". I have also decided to include [M] in the theme's title to clearly denote themes that use Modules.
Feel free to download and install this theme on your own Manila server.
As always ports of this theme to other blogging platforms are welcome if attribution to this site is kept, and that you make your derivative theme available to other users of that system. - Thanks
P.S.
For those who had already installed this theme, before 1:40pm (pacific) 1-14-2004. I left out the membershipBox macro but have since uploaded a new version Please download a fresh copy.
theme Modules
I'm working on a Manila theme with Modules.... Stay TunedBookworm sees new life
Oliver Stör Commented:
"I adapted this theme to work with TypePad. The adaption is not complete yet. I don't use calendars, so these styles where not adapted. I also changed the width of the images, so they work with 800x600 pixels resolution. You can see the results on my brothers book-log."
I sent him some email; hopefully he will send me his code so other TypePad/moveableType Users can benefit from his labors.
"...it occurred to me that not everyone would want to just simply convert the bookworm theme, you might want to put there own stamp on the design like it did here, here, and here"
I'd like to encourage anyone to port my themes to whatever platform they use. I do however ask for clear attribution to remain on the theme, and that you in-turn provide your derivative work to other users of your favored blogging tool.
However, it occurred to me that not everyone would want to just simply convert the bookworm theme, you might want to put there own stamp on the design like it did here, here, and here. To help that along, I'd thought I'd supply "alpha-channeled PNG files, so anyone using the Blookworm theme can simply drop in their own background image. That kind of functionality would have been automatic if Microsoft would would get off their ass and support 32bit PNG nativily, but I digress.
I used two images to create the bookworm theme. to give you an opportunity to add you own background I punched out the blue background I used so you can add your own. You can do so with any mid to high grade image editing software, I'd recommend Photoshop, or Fireworks. Once you have something that you like, export a jpeg, upload that to your site, and then modify the CSS to point to the new images. It's not as hard as it sounds.
Files to download:
Good Luck, and have fun with it
P.S. This is not exclusively for people wanting to convert bookworm to new platforms. I feel that this will be a great benefit to current users of the Manila version of this theme, but who want to spice it up a bit.