[Debate] Pre-Made Skins

[nowsaynever]

The visual look of a site is part of what attracts people to join it - a messy looking site could be a turn-off for guests. It doesn't even need to be a full-on skin with custom graphics - simplest colors that are pleasing to the eye are good too, use different codes and colors to make it unique. If you do keep a custom pre-made skin for your board's look, you do lose your own finesse in owning the site. It might look the same as others who have forums on the same topic as your site is and also have the same pre-made skin. So yeah, I agree that it's good to use pre-made skins if you don't know how to work codes or colors and graphics and such, but it is good to make/have your own skin after you gain a few more members to your forum and plan for your site to be around for a long time.

As for pre-made skins in relation to use on graphics forums, I think that's a no-no - if you're showcasing graphics and other image work that you're doing, you should probably also have a skin that you made yourself to serve as an example of your ability, not a premade one.

[Girlfriend]

I agree that skins are one of the most important aspects of a ProBoard and very fun to make. I sometimes do not care if I have members, because I am too busy playing with the skin creator. Trying to make the perfect skin that fits the board. On my studio forums, it may not fit in with the theme of things. But it is a very good color combination I feel. One that I decided to add as an option for my main forums. All in all, ProBoards has really became a big time hobby of mine.

[Desdemona Dreadful]

I've been playing with the skin today. I have no idea how much success I'm having but it is fun. A weird scary sort of fun. I don't think I'm horrible at it but it will take me some time.

I just wish I was good at graphics.

[No]

Almost always I use a premade skin, simply because I'm horrible at making them. I have absolutely no design sense. Of course, I could get someone to design one, but then there's my impatience and the fact that I dislike hiring staff I don't personally know well, but that's getting off topic, isn't it?

I think a premade is perfectly fine for new comers and people who are simply not good at the design aspects of running a forum. It's certainly better than seeing a skin that burns one's eyes.

But, those are the only incidents when it's acceptable.

I'll join a forum with any skin that's not eye-burning, however, so it doesn't matter much to me.

[nintendog444]

Pre-made skins are allright if you are a beginner in designing or at proboards. After you have been here for like a year i really think that you should start making your own skins. Pre-mades are quite popular all over proboards. I sometimes use premades for my new boards only.

[jordie]

I admit im not new to proboards, but have been on and off for about 4 years. Only now have i started up again, and created a new forum today, put up a pre-made and looks alot better than what i could make. I have had photoshop for over a year and well im not that great at it. I have to agree with the many people that have stated this. I think there great for people who are new to proboards and wont to accelerate the forum into an active community, eventually hiring a graphics designer from that community, making a unique skin.

So i personally think they are great for beginners creating there first forum, yeah they may not fit the theme of the forum. Does it matter for a couple of months while your making sure that it active? No i dont think it does.

[rpchick2007]

I personally love premade skins as long as their well made. People put a lot of hard work into that skin and they expect other people to use and enjoy it. Sure, sometimes I'll add some tweaks if I want something to be different and I rarely use a skin exactly the way it's given to me but I like using a premade because coding isn't something I'm necessarily good at.

Also, premade skins make it easier to get a board up and running. It's more about what is going on within the board than what it looks like. I really do enjoy looking through skins made for use by other people and finding something that fits the theme of what I'm trying to portray. I think they are very helpful for people who can't code and it gives me more time to worry about other things going on on my forum.

[Gylfie107]

In my opinion:

Part of the fun of Proboards is that you can make your own unique message board. And the unique part just dissapears when you use a custom skin. However, the first time I tryed to make a message board, you couldn't read any of it. Therefore, I think new people may find it usefull. But I still think you should make customs.

[nyaccent]

Making a skin isn't as hard as some people make it out to be.... You can make your own skin and hunt down buttons, graphics, etc from the web.... and then create it to be unique.... You don't have to have a skin that is in great detail like the one I have on my board right now.... It can be simple.... And it isn't hard to learn graphics.... and if you the ADMIN can't create a unique skin...find a member or someone else who can create one for you.

As far as leaving a board if you see a copyright for the skin... That is pure nuts.... Sometimes a site owner doesn't have the skill to create a skin and may hire it out to someone else to make them their unique skin for the board. If I were to make a uniques skin for someone (which that is something I do not do.... I only make them for my board) I would probably want a copyright on the skin saying that I made it.

Using a templete shows no creativity, although someone did create it and they were creative but not you. I do agree though using a templete is better than using the default skin..... Part of owning a forum is to be unique and you aren't going to get that with using a templete. You may find many other boards that have the same layout and look as you do.

I do however think that a Graphic Forum should NOT use a templete EVER.... If you open a graphic forum, you want to entice people to join your forum to either learn how to make graphics or get interested in graphics....and there isn't a better way than to show what the forum and you are all about by your skin......

[bourd]

I LOVE PRE MADES! It makes an admins life easy!

THANKS ALL YOU PRE-MADE PEOPLE!

Regards Bourd

[twistedkyttin]

I understand the concept that a custom skin is more personal and adds more character to a site. BUT.... not all of us are good with graphics. In fact some of us are clueless. lol I'm desperately trying to find someone to do a custom skin for my site, but I keep running into issues. Some want to be paid, others want admin rights on my site, etc. Now the problem I'm having is that I've found someone to make a request from but they aren't happy that I got my graphics for the request from photobucket. I have no clue where else to look. It's just frustrating because every time I try to break away from the premade... I seem to hit a road block. Anyway... just my two cents. Personally, I prefer custom myself - but it doesn't always work out that way. I really appreciate those who do offer premades for those of us who have no luck and no graphics/coding skill.

[SKiTTLEZ]

I will give it a thumbs up and a thumbs down. Why? Well, these are my reasons:

Thumbs Up//If I can't think of a skin theme, I'll try to find a unique pre-made skin. One I don't see too often. Also one I don't have the color of much. Lets say, I have 4 orange skins, 2 blue, 8 purple, 10 pink, 6 green, 1 brown, etc(you should get my point..) I would either choose a blue or brown one. Even one I don't have the color of.

Thumbs Down//Sometimes it ruins it if you have a RPG site. What I'm trying to say there is if you look through skins, after adding one you like, what banner are you going to put with it? Sometimes making a good banner is hard with a pre-made skin on an RPG site. On a general chat(advertising, writing, etc) it might be easier. But if you have an art forum, you may want to create your own skin(s).

[Support KL]

We're going to try a new direction, covering topics that isn't necessarily the correct, or incorrect things to do, but topics which are a matter of opinion.

Pre-Made Skins

A pre-made skin is a template that has been pre-designed, often including colors, a banner, gradients, post indicators, menu buttons, specific coding ,etc. Design forums (a link to a list can be found in the GOAYB table) and some websites offer these pre-made skins for free for users to use on their ProBoards.

So, what do you think of using pre-made skins?

Seriously, I have nothing against pre-made skins. But I don't use them, but not for the reason you might think. I just don't use premade skins, because all of them do not match my style. They are either too plain or too light or too dark or too scary. I like pretty and bright colors for my forum, and yet I have not found a single skin that fits my desire. I am not even going to request a skin, because that would take time of waiting and I am too lazy to upload button pictures and copying the coding from one forum to another, unless the coding is really good or something like having a profile field code. Besides, I already know all the HTML&CSS skills I need; I just have to practice a lot to master the skills fully. At the same time, I might have to learn Javascript to make my own codings.

Thumbs Up
One side of the coin can say they are good for members to use. I mean not everyone knows how to design a complete forum, or they simply not have the time too. Some people like to use a pre-made skin while they learn how to use coding, and learn how to make graphics in an image editor. Others simply see a pre-made skin they like, and want that look for their forum.

Pre-made skins definitely are convenient, and there are many good looking pre-made skins out there.

Thumbs Down
The other side of the coin is that when using a pre-made skin, you loose the originality that a custom design would bring. If you use a popular skin, then your board may look like dozens, or hundreds of others, therefore it may not appeal to guests hitting the forum who have seen that skin before.


So, what are your thoughts on pre-made skins. Do you recommend them, or not.

Also, should design and graphics boards use a pre-made skin from another forum?

No, a design and graphics board should not use a pre-made skin from another forum. If the administrator creates a design and graphics board, what will the members expect? Of course, the members would expect that the creator knows web designing! Therefore, the administrator should make an impression that his or her design or graphics on his or her forum is valid and original by proving it as a layout on the forum's main page. That way, the administrator becomes more credible to new members and guests would want to join.

Debate.

[Gylfie107]

I don't agree to using premade skins. It takes away originaly, and if you keep going to premade stuff, you won't learn to do anything on your own. Graphic design sites should not use pre-mades becuse they need to show that they have good tast.

[Athene?]

I'm interested in creating my own board and wanted to see what people thought of pre-made skins.
I agree that when you make your own it's more original.
Also, when you add your own background pic etc.
The posts here have been very helpful.
Thanks!