What kind of themes do the SMF users want to see for SMF 2.1?

Started by TwitchisMental, February 27, 2022, 01:08:19 PM

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TwitchisMental

Since the recent release of SMF 2.1, I have noticed that quite a few people are upgrading and looking for themes.

There are not many SMF 2.1 themes out and I want to help fix that.

So I ask the SMF Community, what are you looking for in a SMF 2.1 theme?

Colors?
Styles?
Features?
Examples?

Maybe an Operating System inspired theme?(Like Windows XP or Ubuntu possibly?)

Perhaps a gaming inspired theme?

Or are we still looking for the "flat and clean" themes?(Please say no.. let this web design fad die lmao)


Doug Heffernan

Quote from: TwitchisMental on February 27, 2022, 01:08:19 PMThere are not many SMF 2.1 themes out and I want to help fix that.

Maybe most of the users like the default theme best  ;D  ;)

Seriously, thank you for your generous offer. Perhaps you can edit your topic and add a poll to see what the majority of users would like?

TwitchisMental

Quote from: Doug Heffernan on February 27, 2022, 04:06:12 PM
Quote from: TwitchisMental on February 27, 2022, 01:08:19 PMThere are not many SMF 2.1 themes out and I want to help fix that.

Maybe most of the users like the default theme best  ;D  ;)

Seriously, thank you for your generous offer. Perhaps you can edit your topic and add a poll to see what the majority of users would like?
I like the idea, but what would I put for the poll options ;)?

Those "options" are what I am wanting to hear if that makes sense haha.

Mick.

I cannot give you a response lol other than I would like to see more of non-flat design. I say this because that's what I build. Flat; but not by choice.

davo88

Quote from: TwitchisMentalOr are we still looking for the "flat and clean" themes?
Please excuse my ignorance, but could you tell me what is a "flat and clean" theme?

TwitchisMental

Quote from: davo88 on February 28, 2022, 01:05:02 PM
Quote from: TwitchisMentalOr are we still looking for the "flat and clean" themes?
Please excuse my ignorance, but could you tell me what is a "flat and clean" theme?

Basically a design that has no gradients, no shadows, just solid colors. So everything looks flat.

An example would be my Flatline theme - https://custom.simplemachines.org/index.php?theme=2968

Minus the breadcrumb everything is one flat color.

Another good example would be Mick.'s SMF theme Dani - https://custom.simplemachines.org/index.php?theme=2922

Notice how "flat" it looks?

TwitchisMental

Soooooo just to show how bored serious I am.

I went ahead and started making an Ubuntu theme based on my Orangey theme.

So come on people I might be able to make your vision a reality :P.

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Shades.

ShadesWeb.com - Custom Logos - My Themes on SMF | My Themes on ShadesWeb
https://shadesweb.com

BikerHound.com - Sniffing out the road ahead
https://bikerhound.com

Dream as if you'll live forever; Live as if you'll die today. - James Dean

TwitchisMental

Quote from: Shades. on March 02, 2022, 03:52:19 PMThat's nice! :)
Thank you. Here is an OpenSuse one XD


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landyvlad

Whoa that's VERY green.  I assume that's the vegan option...  :laugh:
"Put as much effort into your question as you'd expect someone to give in an answer"

Please do not PM, IM or Email me with questions on astrophysics or theology.  You will get better and faster responses by asking homeless people in the street. Thank you.

Be the person your dog thinks you are.

TwitchisMental

#10
Quote from: landyvlad on March 03, 2022, 06:44:41 PMWhoa that's VERY green.  I assume that's the vegan option...  :laugh:
Hardy har har lol. XD

Nah OpenSuse is actually one of the oldest Linux Distributions out there and has its roots based on Slackware. Slackware itself being the oldest distribution which is still actively maintained.

OpenSuse is in my honest opinion, one of the most complete Linux Distributions out there.

So now I ask you, what would you like to see in a theme :)?

TurtleKicker

I prefer themes that are full-width and auto-resize with the window. I'm also not a fan of "flat". Some subtle depth to the controls is nice.

I'm also digging the attempts at themes that move the menu/controls to the left side instead of the top, although none has quite "nailed it". In particular, I'd like to still be able to use a top banner graphic.

Too many themes I see have awful color combos too but I don't know how to quantify that into a specific suggestion/request.


Cookieswithcoffee

As an end user only, here's my two cents.

I'm not a programmer. I don't dream of becoming even a tenth as knowledgeable as anyone here. My dreams for SMF are highly focused on aesthetics - attention grabbing, easily read, booty kicking aesthetics. It's a highly personal thing. I've seen SO MANY gorgeous samples here. There's always something more we want. Forums are for showing off, right?

Dark, neutral, solid colored backgrounds are great for text visibility and to make images pop.

My forum members want to be able to easily read names and text everywhere - on all threads, in PM's, and when a thread is pinned or marked for notification. My forum voted against using any adjustment other than LOCK because no one can read the text of a thread title if the post is pinned/marked notify.

Gradients look so cool BUT make it a challenge to see certain colors in certain places.

We love versatility. Keeping members engaged means changing things up on a regular basis. I am not brave enough to risk breaking something to attempt fun things on my own. I'd love to know how to/be able to (remember I'm a newbie) easily change border colors. I adore the slickness of the thin border lines. Can they have a moving-sparkle or "pulse" added without creating a mod? (Please don't chase me away from here for asking that)

Wilder request? Can you make part of the background adaptable for linked images? I'm a wacky holiday fanatic. It would be exciting to provide image space beyond a banner/log - something semi-transparent. (Yes, mine is a design forum) We would love to be able to assign images to a specific board - in addition to creating a thin, wide rectangular image to the board title area (not sure what that term is).

Thank you all for sharing your skill, knowledge and time! You're greatly appreciated!

Cookie

FrizzleFried

We have a number of very good themes that make SMF look like SMF ... in a bunch of different colors.  What we need is more mods that CHANGE the way that SMF looks.  Think outside the box.  Perhaps an icon oriented theme... or cell based theme with posts presented in cells, etc.  Or maybe a theme that doesn't use the traditional "SMF" rounded square theme but goes maybe with a beveled edge?

Maybe a series of themes attempting to match in look the stock theme for 1.x and 2.0.x?

Maybe a series of themes attempting to match your favorite NON-SMF stock theme?

How about a stock curve2 looking theme but with a built in switchable dark-mode?  Hell,  go nuts,  offer up a bunch of different color options all with the same stock Curve2 look. That would become my GO-TO if it were available. 

Ideas?  I got em!  SKILL?  I wish.






Antechinus

Quote from: Cookieswithcoffee on May 27, 2022, 06:17:52 PMDark, neutral, solid colored backgrounds are great for text visibility and to make images pop.
Depends on the ambient lighting. Dark themes are good with subdued lighting, but can be nasty if there is direct bright light hitting the screen. And images going "pop" can be nasty for some people too. Too much contrast can be as bad as too little. It's all a matter of horses for courses, and of balance.

QuoteMy forum members want to be able to easily read names and text everywhere - on all threads, in PM's, and when a thread is pinned or marked for notification. My forum voted against using any adjustment other than LOCK because no one can read the text of a thread title if the post is pinned/marked notify.
Perfectly reasonable. My 2c is I like using the same background for almost all posts, without frigging around with daft colours in an attempt to differentiate things that don't really need it.

QuoteI adore the slickness of the thin border lines. Can they have a moving-sparkle or "pulse" added without creating a mod? (Please don't chase me away from here for asking that)
Good way to drive some people insane, but sure, it's easy to do. Just needs a little bit of custom CSS, with animation keyframes set to suit the effect you want.

QuoteWilder request? Can you make part of the background adaptable for linked images? I'm a wacky holiday fanatic. It would be exciting to provide image space beyond a banner/log - something semi-transparent. (Yes, mine is a design forum)
Linked images? D you mean hotlinking a background, from outside your own server?

QuoteWe would love to be able to assign images to a specific board - in addition to creating a thin, wide rectangular image to the board title area (not sure what that term is).
Images per board (if you mean the top banner) is easy. The default theme supports that already. You just need to use the board ID number in conjunction with a url for the relevant image (custom CSS again). You can do individual category headers in essentially the same way.

Cookieswithcoffee

#15
QuoteMy forum members want to be able to easily read names and text everywhere - on all threads, in PM's, and when a thread is pinned or marked for notification. My forum voted against using any adjustment other than LOCK because no one can read the text of a thread title if the post is pinned/marked notify.
Perfectly reasonable. My 2c is I like using the same background for almost all posts, without frigging around with daft colours in an attempt to differentiate things that don't really need it.

Can you direct me toward info to change the draft colors to transparent or to match the current background?

QuoteI adore the slickness of the thin border lines. Can they have a moving-sparkle or "pulse" added without creating a mod? (Please don't chase me away from here for asking that)
Good way to drive some people insane, but sure, it's easy to do. Just needs a little bit of custom CSS, with animation keyframes set to suit the effect you want.

Sanity is overated - j/k. How does one customize animation keyframes? Could you direct me to that info? I'm working with a friend and he's learning as we go - he'll likely be ~sarcasm alert~ thrilled at this request.

QuoteWilder request? Can you make part of the background adaptable for linked images? I'm a wacky holiday fanatic. It would be exciting to provide image space beyond a banner/log - something semi-transparent. (Yes, mine is a design forum)
Linked images? Do you mean hotlinking a background, from outside your own server?

From the server directly was my intention, like the banner but "inside" specific boards. Is that possible?

QuoteImages per board (if you mean the top banner) is easy. The default theme supports that already. You just need to use the board ID number in conjunction with a url for the relevant image (custom CSS again). You can do individual category headers in essentially the same way.

I'm set for banners, icons and category headers. I'm thinking more of something that would distantly resemble a magazine ad with print on it, but not opaque. There are certain things we do which would be an appropriate fit.

Thanks for the response!!

Antechinus

I am using a custom dark theme override on this site, and blue test is basically illegible on it. Please do not use coloured text if you want me to read your post. The standard quote function is perfectly adequate.

TwitchisMental

#17
Quote from: FrizzleFried on May 27, 2022, 06:26:18 PMWe have a number of very good themes that make SMF look like SMF ... in a bunch of different colors.  What we need is more mods that CHANGE the way that SMF looks.  Think outside the box.  Perhaps an icon oriented theme... or cell based theme with posts presented in cells, etc.  Or maybe a theme that doesn't use the traditional "SMF" rounded square theme but goes maybe with a beveled edge
Please note this is not me disagreeing or agreeing. 

Why would you want to change the way it looks? If there something in particular that you do not like about it?

Second, you mention that we have alot of default variations, which we do. With that said though we have quite a few themes that are certainly not just a SMF default theme remix. UI.S by gecitli or Feather by Mick. just for some examples. 

Are you just wanting more themes like those, or do you feel that they are not custom enough?

Quote from: FrizzleFried on May 27, 2022, 06:26:18 PMMaybe a series of themes attempting to match in look the stock theme for 1.x and 2.0.x?

Because that would require redoing every single template and seems kind of counter productive imho. Some more experienced SMF users have explained why this is not a good idea in the past.

Quote from: FrizzleFried on May 27, 2022, 06:26:18 PMMaybe a series of themes attempting to match your favorite NON-SMF stock theme?
The issue with this is license and permission.  You can not just simply rip another theme and then upload it to the theme site.
You need to get permissions and make sure that the license allows you to do so.

SMF itself also has a pretty strict rule on Unauthorized Use Of Creative Works.

With that said, one can certainly take inspiration from other themes/skins of other software.

Quote from: FrizzleFried on May 27, 2022, 06:26:18 PMHow about a stock curve2 looking theme but with a built in switchable dark-mode?  Hell,  go nuts,  offer up a bunch of different color options all with the same stock Curve2 look. That would become my GO-TO if it were available. 
 
Wouldn't this kind of counter your want for more customized themes?  With that said I think Curve Reborn would up your alley.

Quote from: FrizzleFried on May 27, 2022, 06:26:18 PMIdeas?  I got em!  SKILL?  I wish.
Well that is what this thread is for. Maybe I can make atleast one of those Ideas come true.

Antechinus

Quote from: Cookieswithcoffee on May 27, 2022, 06:55:22 PMCan you direct me toward info to change the daft colors to transparent or to match the current background?
Sure. Just look for .locked or .sticky or .approve in the CSS, and remove the color codes there. Those classes will then revert to using the standard post colors. There is also code for odd and even .windowbg, if you don't like the alternating rows look, remove that too.

QuoteSanity is overated - j/k. How does one customize animation keyframes? Could you direct me to that info? I'm working with a friend and he's learning as we go - he'll likely be ~sarcasm alert~ thrilled at this request.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/CSS_Animations/Using_CSS_animations
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/@keyframes
If you want bonkers borders, you'd just use keyframes to change border color/opacity/whatever. Note: do not change border width via animations, as that will shunt content around.

QuoteFrom the server directly was my intention, like the banner but "inside" specific boards. Is that possible?
QuoteI'm set for banners, icons and category headers. I'm thinking more of something that would distantly resemble a magazine ad with print on it, but not opaque. There are certain things we do which would be an appropriate fit.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by these last two. Roughing out a fake screenshot might be best. I'm sure it's easy to do, whatever it is. Maybe start a thread in Graphics and Templates if you have a lot of ideas you want to implement.

efk

In my opinion the best one ever created for SMF are made by Ricky. https://custom.simplemachines.org/index.php?action=profile;u=34192
And that style should be standard for most of themes, simple and beautiful and before everything else easy to navigate and use.
 Tepid Multi-variant https://custom.simplemachines.org/index.php?theme=2637
 Rusty White https://custom.simplemachines.org/index.php?theme=2515
 LampShade https://custom.simplemachines.org/index.php?theme=2708
 Dhari https://custom.simplemachines.org/index.php?theme=2463

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