So we all know that Wordpress had a recent update that was also required to fix some security issues. One of the issues that caught my eye was the fact that the default theme had a security vulnerability. After reading that I decided that although I did update Wordpress and the problem default theme files, I wanted to get off a theme that potentially could have other security issues if they are just now catching this one. My theme was not strictly the “default” theme, I had done a few appearance changes here and there that made it my own, however, all that back-end code was still the default theme.
So, me still never having any time to design my own theme, I decided to work with a theme of a designer that I have a lot of respect for. I decided to work with the GlossyBlue theme designed by Nick La, located on his N.Design Studio website. It gave me a great “template” to start off of to make it my own. He has such a great set of icons (small gifs) within his themes that just make your page look great.
Making it My Own:
So as you can see by that example picture above, the left side is what this theme looks like by default and after all the image and css changes, what I have made it look like. All and all it was about 45 minutes worth of work to “Reformat” it to my liking. For such a drastic color change there were quite a lot of image adjustments and edits that I had to perform as well as quite a bit of standard css edits. Really not a big deal though. Even though it was already a great design to start from, I do like it much better now! One of the things I just had to do right away was clean up that HUGE HEADER! 
So after all the image and css edits, I plugged in all the plugin coding where needed for all the plugins I use. Bob’s Simplistic Navigation suited this theme quite well since there were no single navigation page links coded into it. So always remember, if there is a theme that you come across that you really like but aspects of it do not fit you, well if you know some basic coding you can really dig in and “make it yours” like I have done here.
If you have not already been to Nick’s N.Design Studio website, you are really missing out. This guy is an amazing graphic artist and to top it all off, takes the time to show you some things you can do. Check out his tutorials that he offers and browse other parts of his site. With his more recent iTheme Wordpress Theme becoming so popular (you can see it on Saman’s site), he had troubles keeping his site up after all the Diggs.
So you tell me, what do you think about the new ReformatThis look…thumbs up?…thumbs down?…comments?…compliments?…original better?…free money? I will take either or all…
Please Subscribe To My RSS Feed!To catch many more articles like this in the future, make it easy on yourself and subscribe to me via RSS. You will not regret it!
Add This Site To Your Technorati Favorites!Let me know that you added me by posting a comment below and then I will add you as a favorite of mine as well!
Please Give Me Some Rice!Giving me "rice" on Nice4Rice.com also benefits you by giving you a free linkback on that site too.
ReformatThis is a Sole Proprietorship Company owned and operated by RJ Matthis. This website is the personal blog of RJ Matthis and will contain a wide range of rambling thoughts. Everything from technical php tips to posts full of RJ's creative nonsense.
Very nice Bobs! It’s sad to see you dump Kubrick - using the default theme was so cool - but I guess you’ve got to move on for security reasons and you’ve picked a nice theme here.
The color changes are great, though I’m not sure yet if I like the striped, gray background. Could I convince you to choose bright blue and orange?
For future reference, how did you get the full-length images of your site?
I agree about the background, I’m personally not a fan of the strips (that’s just my taste, ok? Back off already!)
I’m guessing that Bobs used the Screengrab! Firefox extension - that’s what I use!
I do like the new theme - although, I was looking forward to a completely new one from you. But I understand how busy you are these days - Remember that HOA backend that you are still working on for me??!?
@Spud Oregon
Yes, that was the Screengrab! Firefox extension as Saman said in his reply. Noticing that you still use IE, you really need to try out Firefox. I swear man, when you try out a browser that actually displays pages to actual design standards, you just are amazed because for once, a browser works the way it should. Download Firefox and give it a try, I’m telling you, you will love it!
@Saman
Yeah I know, I’m still working on that very same project that I was contracted for months ago. So not forgetting you, just trying to finish this contract before the new Matthis arrives.
Oh Bobs, I do have and love Firefox, I just don’t spend much time with her anymore. We had a falling out, and then IE7 came into my life. Firefox is still begging for my attention, so maybe I’ll go back to her when this love affair with IE7 is over.
Well I can see a little of why you like IE7, after all, for the most part all they did was try to imitate Firefox and catch themselves up to Firefox-like fellow browsers.
Right now, there are only 2 browser I’m willing to work with if I absolutely do not have to use IE because some silly developer designed it that way.
My Browser list in order of preference:
Firefox
Safari for Windows [in Beta - just messing with it]
Netscape
Opera
IE
So that kind of shows you where IE stands in my book. Although, it is because I am security minded and IE just does not have a good reputation. When I switched to Firefox a few years back, I never looked back. Absolutely love it!
actually firefox 2 doesn’t pass the Acid2 test which is (i think) made by W3C. So it really doesn’t display pages properly.
But if you compare how the Acid2 test page looks on Firefox with IE7, I’m sticking with Firefox
(What it’s supposed to look like)
Hey BJ,
Thanks for the links. I was not aware that Firefox failed the Acid2 tests as well. I’ve just known from many many days of coding and html sculpting that Firefox always worked the way I wanted it to and IE would always puke it up.
So a lot of the time I have to change a design that I am really really happy with because IE chokes on it. Not so much any more with IE7 really, but I think you will find a lot of Internet users are still chugging away on IE6.
Yep, all of my stuff looks the way it should in Firefox and not in Internet Explorer
I’m the opposite!
Looks great in IE and then I have to tweak it so it works in Firefox and co.
I know Bobs, I was just giving you a hard time. I know where we fall on the priority list - especially since you’re not getting paid!
What stripes are you guys talking about? Haha, just kidding. The original design had a striped background, so I figured I would still try to incorporate it but even I was unsure of it. It was growing on me, after all, it was different. But after those reactions, just good ol’ gray…stripes removed per feedback.
I think you should put something back there and not just leave it blank!
*hides*
LOL! That’s the funniest thing I’ve read today! Even better than Danielle’s Porn for Women post. I agree. You can’t just leave it plain gray… I mean, really. Plain gray?
And finally, on losing the default “Kubrick” theme. It was funny to be different to be somebody who actually chose to stay with the default, just making a few minor edits. But if it seriously took this long to figure out there was a security issue with their default theme, I just can not allow myself to remain on it.
Blue & Orange is the colors of my Denver Broncos so I just may be tempted, but until I have time, I will just stick with this for now
Nice work Bob.
One thing; the link to your comments is at the top of the page. That means, is someone (as I did) reads the article on the index page, and then decided to leave a comment, they have to scroll all the way up to the top again to click through.
Thanks for the suggestion Armen. Those links are now available from the top or the bottom of the post on the main page.
Looks great. I’m glad you went with 2 column and not 3.
Check it out! Kwan stopped by my site…very happy to see you here - welcome!
I have always preferred a 2 column setup over 3. 3 just always looks too damn cluttered to me.
Very true…
It is nice being about to get all of the info you want out there, but if no one is going to look at them, it’s not worth it!
looks great! I love dark blue much better than blue-green-ish color. But yeah it’s great.
And it’s also much better to read a blog when it doesn’t look like 20 other blogs you’ve seen on the internet. And when you’re reading your own posts, it makes it feel much more like an actual personal blog =D
Also, welcome back! Not as active as you used to be but close enough
I hope work’s easing up.
Yeah, I miss my [activeness]. I’m at least still reading blogs as often as I can, it seems thats really all I can do for the most part.
PHP Fridays is really pushing me to post at least once a week so I’m trying to stick to that as much as possible.
Very simple… love it!