Making templates - how?

[will7]

Right, well, I don't like templates, but I appreciate the fact that there is a market for them. I would like to get into making them and selling them here on Namepros.

My questions are:

1) What is the usual, standard size for a template?
2) What do you supply with the template? Just the .psd file or do you slice it up and put it into HTML code and everything?
3) How do you decide on pricing for templates?
4) You use Photoshop to design templates, right?

And that's about it. Is there anything else I should know about designing templates? Thanks for all your help and I hope you can help me out! I know these sound like really newbie questions, but this is completely new to me.

Thanks again,

Will.

 

[AshDee]

779 - for width of site & any height - to fit all resolutions
usually sold with everything.....psd's and fonts etc.
say how muc u want if people dont wonna pay that much go a bit cheaper
i use photoshop for templates

 

[vip-ip]

1) I make em 1024*768 and resize proportionally to 1010*whatever.
2) PSD, coded, with all images and HTML.
3) Depends on time it took me to make. More time - better template
4) Yes, plus notepad

 

[Brian]

1) i always make my templates fluid, and make sure they people running a 15 inch moniter at 800x600 can still see at least all the Content.
2) 9 times out of 10 I will have mine coded with valid XHTML and CSS, also will include any PSDs and Fonts with the package
3) IF just a PSD will be less, if i go through and code them in valid XHTML and CSS they will be much more
4) Photoshop for all graphic design yes

 

[will7]

Thanks guys! So, how do you go about coding a template exactly?

Would it simply be a matter of slicing the .psd file into sections then use Dreamweaver to put them all together in a working file? Is that the way you do it, or do you have to hand-code?

 

[Niek]

Nope don't use the ps slice tool , do it manually , slicing is bad.

 

[will7]

What do you mean, "do it manually"?

 

[diousix]

yea what is manually. I slice mine and then code it, Photoshops coding es muy bad.

 

[Philly]

No, it's not bad at all. You guys just don't know how to cut. First you cut in photoshop, and export into frontpage. From there you make your td bg's etc. Then you make your bg color, your meta info, and your title for your website. Then you slice your buttons and add an iframe (if you wish). Also to splash it up for higher res. use a nice background color. Photoshops coding is actually really, REALLY good. Be thankfull theres a program. Also if you cut the thing by yourself you'll have errors most likely, and problems if you use dream weaver.

 

[vip-ip]

When I leave space to write on I replace the image to cell BG. That way I can write in the cell over background. If it's just white, I delete the image so the site loads faster.

 

[Philly]

That's a td bg

 

[Niek]

No, it's not bad at all. You guys just don't know how to cut. First you cut in photoshop, and export into frontpage. From there you make your td bg's etc. Then you make your bg color, your meta info, and your title for your website. Then you slice your buttons and add an iframe (if you wish). Also to splash it up for higher res. use a nice background color. Photoshops coding is actually really, REALLY good. Be thankfull theres a program. Also if you cut the thing by yourself you'll have errors most likely, and problems if you use dream weaver.

Shame on you XD ,
no really doing it with photoshop will be bad coded , you can do it you'reself

 

[will7]

Niek, you haven't explained how we do it ourselves yet!

 

[Niek]

Code it by yourself , sorry if i can't explain more , i just can't code good =/

 

[Philly]

Then how would you know that photoshops coding isn't good? Almost every site is coded in it. Take a look at my friends site www.clantemplates.com. How isn't that coding good?

 

[Niek]

I know , cauze alot of people say it.

 

[Shawon]

1) 780 for width to fit 800x600 and up without side scrolling & height dont matter
2) usually everything if its supposed to be a ready made templates
3) just ask around or try and get offers on it and take the highest one
4) yes photoshop to design

and photoshop slicing coding isnt "bad", but its not that efficient. hand coding is much better and loads faster.

the reason y is because photoshop slicing sometimes gives some sloppy code and doesnt always display right on all browsers. and its not only photoshop slicing, its all slicing coding. the best way to code imo is hand coding. this is how i do it.

save each image from the design individually, then start an html file and make the structure of the site using tables or divs, and then fill it in using the images u just saved.

 

[Niek]

well yea i might have been overreacting about being it bad