Be the first to write a review
WordPress Themes and Child Themes
How to choose themes and how to modify them easily and safely with the child theme option.
At this point in the WordPress process, you probably are anxious to use a theme other than the bland WordPress default theme. In this article, Linda shows how to choose themes and how to modify them easily and safely with the child theme option.
Other Design Options with Hybrid
Justin has created an option for his theme downloads that includes a folder filled with every image available in the original theme. This file is handy, as you can use it to alter the look of those graphics in Photoshop or some other graphic editor, then upload that those altered images to...you guessed it...to your custom theme folder. Any images you alter and upload to that custom folder will override the images contained in the original theme folder. Yes, it's like magic, and – in the process – you do not need to touch the original theme at all.
If you downloaded another theme, simply replicate that theme's images folder and place it in your custom theme folder, then alter the images from that custom folder.
Conclusion
One great thing about creating a child theme is that if you screw up, you always have the original theme to fall back on. Additionally, if you only store the altered files in your child theme folder, then you know which files you have altered and which ones you have left alone. This ability to find altered files easily is great, especially if you ever run across a problem where you need to rebuild your blog quickly.
In the next article, I'll show you some other ways to upload themes to WordPress, including ways to alter your themes through your administration panel. Until then, here are some links to theme directories that have proven fairly reliable to use (in no particular order):
- Free Themes Directory: WordPress offers this directory, which contains a number of themes that are up-to-date and that accept widgets, etc.
- WordPress Themes: Alex King provides a list of various themes for WordPress, designed by various developers. Be sure to check any comments that each theme may contain, as you may discover issues that have or have not been resolved with each theme.
- WordPress Premium: This site supposedly offers the best WordPress themes available. I have not checked out all the themes, but they are free.
Also, you may want to check out the WordPress Codex on the topic of Theme Development and use the Theme Development Checklist to learn more about the files that are easy to alter and that could change the look and functionality of your site easily through the child theme method.
Linda Goin
Linda Goin carries an A.A. in graphic design, a B.F.A. in visual communications with a minor in business and marketing and an M.A. in American History with a minor in the Reformation. While the latter degree doesn't seem to fit with the first two educational experiences, Linda used her 25-year design expertise on archaeological digs and in the study of material culture. Now she uses her education and experiences in social media experiments.
Accolades for her work include fifteen first-place Colorado Press Association awards, numerous fine art and graphic design awards, and interviews about content development with The Wall St. Journal, Chicago Tribune, Psychology Today, and L.A. Times.