ninetydegrees (90d)☕ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ninetydegrees) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
getting_started2010-09-13 12:10 am
ninetydegrees) wrote in getting_started2010-09-13 12:10 am
Entry tags:
Getting Started: Styles
Important: I don't update this on a regular basis. Some styles are very likely missing from the lists and we probably have more themes and styles to choose from now.
Also this post used to list more cats such as color and number of columns but the great Dreamwidth Style Browser integrated this so it's become redundant.
This is for LiveJournal users who would like to use Dreamwidth styles but are a little lost when it comes to finding one or customizing it. I hope you'll find it useful. Suggestions and corrections are welcome.
SELECTION
Dreamwidth currently has over 1000 themes and 40 different styles live on the site. Unfortunately, there are no categories for you to browse through yet so it may not be easy to find one you like. What you can do is browse through base styles first (category's in the sidebar) to find something you like then pick a theme and a page setup. To see all themes from a style, click on its name like on LJ. You can also type the name of a color in the Search bar. If you see a color theme you like but would like to see if it exists in other styles type its name in the Search bar.
-- Simpler styles (i.e. which make you think there's less styling, clean lines, fewer boxes and borders): Brittle, Corinthian, EasyRead, Five AM, Marginless, Paletteable, Refried Tablet, Stepping Stones, Tabula Rasa, Tranquility III.
-- Fancier styles (i.e. styles which make you think there's a lot of styling, lots of images and textures, unusual tricks and effects): Abstractia, Database, Drifting, Fantaisie, Fluid Measure, Funky Circles, Nouveau Oleanders, Summertime, Skittlish Dreams, Wide Open.
This is all very subjective, of course and some of these have more or less than what meet the eye at first glance. Other styles generally fall in the middle part of the spectrum: not 100% simple but not 100% fancy either.
-- Styles with decorative images: Bannering, Boxes and Borders, ColorSide (some themes), Drifting (some themes), Fantaisie, Funky Circles, Heads Up, Hibiscus, Modish (some themes), Modular (some themes), Nouveau Oleanders, Skittlish Dreams, Summertime, Sunday Morning, Wide Open.
-- Styles with transparent boxes: Abstractia, Paper Me, Summertime.
-- Styles with round corners: Ciel, Database, Fluid Measure, For the Bold, Modular, Summertime.
-- Style where the Navigation module is always displayed: Blanket.
-- Styles where the Navigation module can be put in the header area: Bannering, Bases, Basic Boxes, Boxes and Borders, Crossroads, Database, Dusty Foot, Fantaisie, Five AM, Hibiscus, Modular, Negatives, Nouveau Oleanders, Practicality, Skittlish Dreams, Strata, Summertime, Sunday Morning, Transmogrified, Wide Open.
CUSTOMIZATION
Terminology
Layouts -> styles
Friends page -> Reading page
Sidebar, Component, Boxes, etc. -> Modules
Page Setup
The layout shown on the preview is just one example of what the style can look like. By changing the page setup and module placement it's easy to turn a style you like because of the colors or because of some detail into a style you love because things are exactly where you want them to be. Don't dismiss a style just because the preview shows you two-columns right. You can generally change that.
There are seven different page setups. They're not all available for every style although one column and two columns are standard options for most of them.
-- One column: classic (all modules at the bottom) and split (modules at the top and/or at the bottom).
-- Two columns: left sidebar, right sidebar.
-- Three columns: two left sidebars, two right sidebars, one sidebar on each side.
Categories & Options
All options are sorted into nine main categories: Display, Presentation, Colors, Images, Fonts, Modules, Text, Links List, Custom CSS.
All styles basically have the same options. Some might have extra ones but they all have the same base ones. If you feel something is missing, check![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png)
dw_suggestions. If it hasn't been suggested yet, make a suggestion here.
Display
Display is for Mood Themes and Navigation Strip colors.
Note that the options to select when and where you want to display the Navigation Strip have been moved to Account Settings whereas colors are still in Customize.
Presentation
Presentation is for general presentation options for journal, pages, sidebar and entries. Everything which has to do with presentation is here except for modules which have their own category.
Nothing really new here besides options which used to be available in a few selected layouts on LiveJournal or via advanced customization such as sidebar width, icon on the left or right, date format, etc. Here they're usable in all styles.
Colors, Images, Fonts
Again, nothing new besides many more options, again usable in all styles. You can set your journal base font there.
Modules
Modules is for choosing which boxes to display, where to place them and how to display their content (for example you can select the way you want to display your tags or your calendar).
To hide a module, simply uncheck the box. Change the numbers to change the ordering (make sure two modules don't have the same one).
Depending on the style you've chosen you will have more or less placement options available to you. In most styles, you'll see Main Module Section and Second Module Section. The Main Module Section is the first bottom section in One Column, the top section in One Column Split, the sidebar in Two Columns.
Dreamwidth has three new modules: Cut Tag Controls (to open or close of the cuts on the page), Style Credit and, for paid users, Active Entries (i.e. entries where new comments have been posted). All the modules are available in all styles. Note that you can set the privacy settings for Content Search at http://www.dreamwidth.org/manage/settings/?cat=privacy to control who can search your journal and what they can search.
Text
Text is for the text of Module headings, the Custom Text module, Navigation links and Entry links.
The rest, you know from LJ.
EMs?
You'll see that EMs are the preferred unit. You may be used to pixels. EMs are better because they're related to font size meaning the style will adapt to the size chosen by the viewer: larger sidebar for bigger font size, narrower one for smaller font size, bigger entry title, smaller entry title, etc. It makes sure everybody can comfortably view your journal and that no content overlaps.
However, it may make some things look huge to you. That's because Dreamwidth, unlike many other sites, has chosen not to override users' preferences. If you've never set your browser's font size then you'll suddenly see everything with it, instead of whatever the site has chosen for you (usually something very small like 10 or 12 pixels). Just check your browser preferences to set your base font to something you like.
CSS?
If you have CSS knowledge, you'll see that most styles use the same structure and that all elements have classes or IDs.
To help you with it, there's a guide on the Dreamwidth Wikipedia: http://wiki.dwscoalition.org/notes/S2_CSS
I've also made a guide which should be relevant to most styles: http://layoutmakers.dreamwidth.org/4463.html
If you've made a new style or theme and would like it to become official, have a look atdreamscapes.
More display options?
Several display options, which are not style-dependent, can be found at http://www.dreamwidth.org/manage/settings/?cat=display. To name a few: the ability to have a sticky post at the top of your journal, the ability to view any entry or any journal in your own style, the site style or the light style, 12H or 24H time display, hover pop-ups settings,...
Need Help?
style_system is the place to ask questions.
Also this post used to list more cats such as color and number of columns but the great Dreamwidth Style Browser integrated this so it's become redundant.
This is for LiveJournal users who would like to use Dreamwidth styles but are a little lost when it comes to finding one or customizing it. I hope you'll find it useful. Suggestions and corrections are welcome.
SELECTION
Dreamwidth currently has over 1000 themes and 40 different styles live on the site. Unfortunately, there are no categories for you to browse through yet so it may not be easy to find one you like. What you can do is browse through base styles first (category's in the sidebar) to find something you like then pick a theme and a page setup. To see all themes from a style, click on its name like on LJ. You can also type the name of a color in the Search bar. If you see a color theme you like but would like to see if it exists in other styles type its name in the Search bar.
-- Simpler styles (i.e. which make you think there's less styling, clean lines, fewer boxes and borders): Brittle, Corinthian, EasyRead, Five AM, Marginless, Paletteable, Refried Tablet, Stepping Stones, Tabula Rasa, Tranquility III.
-- Fancier styles (i.e. styles which make you think there's a lot of styling, lots of images and textures, unusual tricks and effects): Abstractia, Database, Drifting, Fantaisie, Fluid Measure, Funky Circles, Nouveau Oleanders, Summertime, Skittlish Dreams, Wide Open.
This is all very subjective, of course and some of these have more or less than what meet the eye at first glance. Other styles generally fall in the middle part of the spectrum: not 100% simple but not 100% fancy either.
-- Styles with decorative images: Bannering, Boxes and Borders, ColorSide (some themes), Drifting (some themes), Fantaisie, Funky Circles, Heads Up, Hibiscus, Modish (some themes), Modular (some themes), Nouveau Oleanders, Skittlish Dreams, Summertime, Sunday Morning, Wide Open.
-- Styles with transparent boxes: Abstractia, Paper Me, Summertime.
-- Styles with round corners: Ciel, Database, Fluid Measure, For the Bold, Modular, Summertime.
-- Style where the Navigation module is always displayed: Blanket.
-- Styles where the Navigation module can be put in the header area: Bannering, Bases, Basic Boxes, Boxes and Borders, Crossroads, Database, Dusty Foot, Fantaisie, Five AM, Hibiscus, Modular, Negatives, Nouveau Oleanders, Practicality, Skittlish Dreams, Strata, Summertime, Sunday Morning, Transmogrified, Wide Open.
CUSTOMIZATION
Terminology
Layouts -> styles
Friends page -> Reading page
Sidebar, Component, Boxes, etc. -> Modules
Page Setup
The layout shown on the preview is just one example of what the style can look like. By changing the page setup and module placement it's easy to turn a style you like because of the colors or because of some detail into a style you love because things are exactly where you want them to be. Don't dismiss a style just because the preview shows you two-columns right. You can generally change that.
There are seven different page setups. They're not all available for every style although one column and two columns are standard options for most of them.
-- One column: classic (all modules at the bottom) and split (modules at the top and/or at the bottom).
-- Two columns: left sidebar, right sidebar.
-- Three columns: two left sidebars, two right sidebars, one sidebar on each side.
Categories & Options
All options are sorted into nine main categories: Display, Presentation, Colors, Images, Fonts, Modules, Text, Links List, Custom CSS.
All styles basically have the same options. Some might have extra ones but they all have the same base ones. If you feel something is missing, check
dw_suggestions. If it hasn't been suggested yet, make a suggestion here.Display
Display is for Mood Themes and Navigation Strip colors.
Note that the options to select when and where you want to display the Navigation Strip have been moved to Account Settings whereas colors are still in Customize.
Presentation
Presentation is for general presentation options for journal, pages, sidebar and entries. Everything which has to do with presentation is here except for modules which have their own category.
Nothing really new here besides options which used to be available in a few selected layouts on LiveJournal or via advanced customization such as sidebar width, icon on the left or right, date format, etc. Here they're usable in all styles.
Colors, Images, Fonts
Again, nothing new besides many more options, again usable in all styles. You can set your journal base font there.
Modules
Modules is for choosing which boxes to display, where to place them and how to display their content (for example you can select the way you want to display your tags or your calendar).
To hide a module, simply uncheck the box. Change the numbers to change the ordering (make sure two modules don't have the same one).
Depending on the style you've chosen you will have more or less placement options available to you. In most styles, you'll see Main Module Section and Second Module Section. The Main Module Section is the first bottom section in One Column, the top section in One Column Split, the sidebar in Two Columns.
Dreamwidth has three new modules: Cut Tag Controls (to open or close of the cuts on the page), Style Credit and, for paid users, Active Entries (i.e. entries where new comments have been posted). All the modules are available in all styles. Note that you can set the privacy settings for Content Search at http://www.dreamwidth.org/manage/settings/?cat=privacy to control who can search your journal and what they can search.
Text
Text is for the text of Module headings, the Custom Text module, Navigation links and Entry links.
The rest, you know from LJ.
EMs?
You'll see that EMs are the preferred unit. You may be used to pixels. EMs are better because they're related to font size meaning the style will adapt to the size chosen by the viewer: larger sidebar for bigger font size, narrower one for smaller font size, bigger entry title, smaller entry title, etc. It makes sure everybody can comfortably view your journal and that no content overlaps.
However, it may make some things look huge to you. That's because Dreamwidth, unlike many other sites, has chosen not to override users' preferences. If you've never set your browser's font size then you'll suddenly see everything with it, instead of whatever the site has chosen for you (usually something very small like 10 or 12 pixels). Just check your browser preferences to set your base font to something you like.
CSS?
If you have CSS knowledge, you'll see that most styles use the same structure and that all elements have classes or IDs.
To help you with it, there's a guide on the Dreamwidth Wikipedia: http://wiki.dwscoalition.org/notes/S2_CSS
I've also made a guide which should be relevant to most styles: http://layoutmakers.dreamwidth.org/4463.html
If you've made a new style or theme and would like it to become official, have a look at
dreamscapes.More display options?
Several display options, which are not style-dependent, can be found at http://www.dreamwidth.org/manage/settings/?cat=display. To name a few: the ability to have a sticky post at the top of your journal, the ability to view any entry or any journal in your own style, the site style or the light style, 12H or 24H time display, hover pop-ups settings,...
Need Help?
style_system is the place to ask questions.
no subject
I'll do blue, green, brown, and purple then, it's alright :)
no subject
But, yes, you're right, it does. Thanks for the advice.
no subject
Oh, I see!
I suppose color first, then styles?
It may make it easier to group, though again, YMMV :)
no subject
BLUE
BASES - Beechy, Sun & Sand, Tropical
BASIC BOXES - Denim, Repose
BLANKET - Islands & Cities, Ocean, Shallows, The Teal and the Grey
BOXES AND BORDERS - Rainy Day
BRITTLE - Soft Blue
COLORSIDE - Nadeshiko
CROSSROADS - Descending Blue, April, Sky, Spearmint Ice
DRIFTING - Drifting Blue, Soft Blues
EASYREAD - High Contrast Blue and Yellow
FLUID MEASURE - Muted Seashore, Pigeon Blue
FUNKY CIRCLES - Dark Blue, Industrial Teal, Sea Blues, Atomic Orange (very dark blue, almost grey w/ Orange accents)
MODISH - Teal, Verdigris
MODULAR - Distinct Blue, Swim in the Sea
NEGATIVES - Azure, Corporate Embrace, Winter (orange entry background, the rest is quite blue)
NOUVEAU OLEANDERS - Nightfall, Sea and Salt
REFRIED TABLET - Autumn Night, Blue Tuesday, Refried Shallows
SKITTLISH DREAMS - Blue, Cyan, In the Bag (also has very strong green)
STEPPING STONES - Pool, Shadows (very dark blue w/ brown)
SUNDAY MORNING - Green Swirls (very light blue bordering on green?),
TABULA RASA - Muted (looks lilac in the preview pic)
TRANQUILITY III - Fresh Blue, Shallows, Night Sea
TRANSMOGRIFIED - Coming Down Blue, Frozen Sky, New Ocean, Ocean, Transmogrified Basic (very strong orange accents), Pale Jewels
ZESTY - none
GREEN
BASES - none
BASIC BOXES - Green, Leaf
BLANKET - Forest, Green
BOXES AND BORDERS - Grass
BRITTLE - Soft Green
COLORSIDE - ColorSide Wintergreen, Mandala (orange accents)
CROSSROADS - Lettuce, Pine Needles
DRIFTING - Go, Winter Clarity
EASYREAD - Green
FLUID MEASURE - Spice, Wooded
FUNKY CIRCLES - Earthy Green
MODISH - Lotus, Plastic Grass
MODULAR - Green Summer, Olive Tree
NEGATIVES - Lime Cherry
NOUVEAU OLEANDERS - Hunter Green
REFRIED TABLET - Foliage, Teals (borderline green/blue)
SKITTLISH DREAMS - Green, In The Bag,
STEPPING STONES - Clear Green, Olive,
SUNDAY MORNING - Green Squiggle
TABULA RASA - Kelis, Shanice
TRANQUILITY III - Light On Dark (bright green accents), Wintergreen, Olive
TRANSMOGRIFIED - Dark Forest, Forest Green, Slow Green, Spring Green
ZESTY - none
BROWN (ranging from the very dark to the very light but not saturated enough to be Orange or Yellow)
BASES - none
BASIC BOXES - Manila Envelope,
BLANKET - Peach
BOXES AND BORDERS - On Fire, Pink After Dark (pink accents)
BRITTLE - Rust, Drab
COLORSIDE - Fall Leaves (also very orange)
CROSSROADS - Caramel, Bittersweet, Cinnamon Cream, Coconut
DRIFTING - Desert Me, Comfort Zone, Idolatry
EASYREAD - Low Contrast Orange
FLUID MEASURE - Nutmeg
FUNKY CIRCLES - Chocolate Rose
MODISH - none
MODULAR - Coffee and Cream, Fresh Prose
NEGATIVES - Easy Reader, Blasted Sands, Bridal Bouquet
NOUVEAU OLEANDERS - Piquant, Dusty Antique
REFRIED TABLET - California Roll
SKITTLISH DREAMS - Desert Cream
STEPPING STONES - Chocolate
SUNDAY MORNING - none
TABULA RASA - Tabac
TRANQUILITY III - none
TRANSMOGRIFIED - Brick Hearth, Earth and Sky,
ZESTY - none
PURPLE
BASES - none
BASIC BOXES - Eggplant
BLANKET - none
BOXES AND BORDERS - none
BRITTLE - Old Roses
COLORSIDE - none
CROSSROADS - Lilac
DRIFTING - Soft Blues (lilac/blue)
EASYREAD - none
FLUID MEASURE - none
FUNKY CIRCLES - Light On Dark, Dark Purple
MODISH - none
MODULAR - Iris at Dusk, Purple Haze
NEGATIVES - none
NOUVEAU OLEANDERS - Wisteria
REFRIED TABLET - none
SKITTLISH DREAMS - Violet
STEPPING STONES - Purple, Sunset
SUNDAY MORNING - Purple Swirls
TABULA RASA - none
TRANQUILITY III - Lilac
TRANSMOGRIFIED - Rose Ice Cream, Tehotenion
ZESTY - none