Premade Skins - Great or hate?

[NITROGEN !]

Hey guys,

dreamless-x.proboards.com

I feel like a loser knowing I've used a premade skin, but I suck at skin design. Do you guys feel that a custom skin is important to the activity and behaviour and such of members on a forum, or do you think that as long as it's good it doesn't matter? And any comments about this skin in relation to my forum?

[VanillaOrchids]

Personally, about the only time that I think using a premade skin is a bad idea is when someone starts up a graphics forum.

So I think in general it's fine to use a premade skin. Usually they can be customized in little ways that then set them apart from the other forums that may be using the same skin.

[Andrea]

I don't use premade skins, but I do look at them often times to get inspiration for colors and such.

For people who can't make graphics, they are a great alternative. Honestly, I wouldn't feel ashamed by it at all.

[freeware2dl]

i think we shouldn't be ashamed using Premade Skins, sometime it can be helpful

[imnotperfect21]

I have used Pre-made skins in the past. I dont think we should be ashamed. I dont do really great on graphics and such so For me they are a life savor.

But I do think that people should try their hand once at making a skin. if it dosnt work then pre-made all the way.. lol I'm currently trying my hand on a custom skin.. I think it's alright.

[Rick Ace]

We all design tons of premade skins....why? For users to be ashamed? I don't think so...

[Dog]

Nothing wrong with them. In fact, they look more professional to me. No shame in it to me.

[Rick Ace]

And of course you can always ask the design to make small changes to the pre-made template. I'm sure the creator will happily do it

[Magic Mist]

Great or hate? Hate on my part. While I understand that not everyone is a graphics genius (not that they really need to be tbh), but I'd rather look at an original self created skin and less perfect skin that a cold and lifeless pre-made template. Yes, they might look more professional, if you will, but when you come across 5-10 identical message boards, it's just not very interesting.

You asked if it affects the activity and behaviour of the members, to that I could answer that I shouldn't think so. Skin, after all, isn't the only thing people expect from the forum. I myself was and still am a member if a few forums that don't have a perfect skin or layout, but as long as the content is good and the colours don't hurt your eyes, it's really all dandy. Admittedly, it's always nicer to have a good skin, but that is not the only criteria to be taken into account.

[Rick Ace]

Mar 19, 2010 7:31:48 GMT -8 Magic Mist said:

Great or hate? Hate on my part. While I understand that not everyone is a graphics genius (not that they really need to be tbh), but I'd rather look at an original self created skin and less perfect skin that a cold and lifeless pre-made template. Yes, they might look more professional, if you will, but when you come across 5-10 identical message boards, it's just not very interesting.

You asked if it affects the activity and behaviour of the members, to that I could answer that I shouldn't think so. Skin, after all, isn't the only thing people expect from the forum. I myself was and still am a member if a few forums that don't have a perfect skin or layout, but as long as the content is good and the colours don't hurt your eyes, it's really all dandy. Admittedly, it's always nicer to have a good skin, but that is not the only criteria to be taken into account.

So, why do we create pre-made skins? Usually there is alot of customization choices. You can use codes, and add more images. Hey, you can even request small changes to the images. It doesn't mean Pre-Made Skins are bad. It's the users job to come to us and ask for some personalization for his/her needs.

[Magic Mist]

So, why do we create pre-made skins?

You tell me?

[Kami]

I think it really depends on the skin.

There are a lot of premade skins out there that just follow a pretty simple layout, with zero originality. I've designed a few myself that I rather like, but the more people use premades, or at least a specific one, the less appealing that it looks.

I think that it would be better if someone with little design experience started out with a premade [like I did] and eventually worked their way up to designing their own -- or at least getting to a point where they can decide on colours themselves, and request graphics to match.

[Lugubrious]

Usually I won't join forums with premade layouts. I value admins who work hard and care enough about the site to set aside a couple hours to make a truly unique skin.

Yours isn't bad, although I would incorporate some color into the skin. I like the header image. It isn't technically challenging to create, but it looks good against the rest of the flat forum.

[Rick Ace]

Mar 19, 2010 11:49:01 GMT -8 Magic Mist said:

So, why do we create pre-made skins?

You tell me?

I did. Read the rest of it

[[Yols]]

Mar 20, 2010 17:31:14 GMT -8 Lugubrious said:

Usually I won't join forums with premade layouts. I value admins who work hard and care enough about the site to set aside a couple hours to make a truly unique skin.

Yours isn't bad, although I would incorporate some color into the skin. I like the header image. It isn't technically challenging to create, but it looks good against the rest of the flat forum.

Just because someone uses premade doesn't mean that the admins dont work hard and care about the site lol. They probably care enough that they don't want to use crappy graphics, especially if they don't know how to make graphics themselves