How Do Templates Work?

Joomla! separates design, from data, from functionality. A template is the design part of the equation. It is a way for us to dictate to the system where we would like to display certain elements. An example would be having the main menu running across the top of a web site, or down the left column.

Once you have the template you require, it must be customised and configured to suit your needs. This can get quite complicated!

From Download to Site-Launch 

Once the template has been created or downloaded, customisation comes into play. This is the process of outlining which areas will be important within the design (i.e. main header image, the main menu, the search box etc.) and updating core graphics, such as your logo.

We often think of templates as skeletons, in to which we can place organs (like an on-line shop, a directory or a Web Log (Blog)) and muscles (regular content).

Barrie North, Director of Joomla!Shack (see below) has written a great article, found here , titled 'Why Doesn't My Template Look Like the Demo '. It serves to give a better explination of how the template installation and configuration process works.

Our Template Partners

We always aim to use a freely available template first, keeping your costs to a minimum. Second to that you might choose to purchase a template, for us to customise. We have used templates from the Commercial Template Producers listed below and are happy to recommend their services.

If there is a particular design you like we would be happy to talk you through the process of turning it into your website and to let you know timescale and budget expectations to get it into place.

Joomla!Shack

Joomla!Shack is one of the Web's Premier Joomla! template resources. With complete template packs and individual designs, it is possible that we would be able to offer you greater savings on a single template if we were to purchase a pack and to simply include the cost of the one you require into our costs.

Custom Template Design

Joomla!Shack offers bespoke template design @ c.$1500 per template. Their bespoke portfolio can be found here.

JoomlArt

JoomlArt regularly update their template portfolio, always adding more features and functionality. Focusing on gaining a balance between Usability and  'Wow Factor', their templates often include style switching, page width adjustment and text size adjustment as standard. Their templates often include a selection of menu types 'out of the box'. For more on menu types, click here (coming soon)

The Live DEMO for their templates can be found here.

RocketTheme

RocketTheme offer the most diverse range of templates in our mind. Whilst Joomla!Shack offers dependable ease-of-use and Standards Compliance, RocketTheme offers a wider range of more aesthetic templates. Click here for the Live DEMO:

Joomla! Bamboo

The latest template provider to make our list, this Australian template design firm have been producing some very nice templates over the past few months... watch this space!

iJoolma

We are an official iJoomla Web Developer (find us in their list of "Web Designers who specialise in iJoomla Extensions" here). They offer powerful ways to combine professional templates with ultimate content-display flexibility.
Click the following banner to find out more:

Before You Make a Purchase...

We are very confident you will find a number of templates that you like the look of on the sites above. Remember, we also offer complete 100% custom-made templates, working closely with you to get exactly what it is you are looking for.

Information about OUR custom template design fees can be found here . (Click here for a complete search for 'template' related products in our store )

Joomla! Templates for Designers & Developers

If you were interested in learning more about Joomla! Templates and how they work, we recommend installing this DreamWeaver Extension , although there are many available (we have at least three installed!) Secondly, there is an extremely in-depth article about designing and building Joomla! Templates here at Mambo Solutions.

You might find it useful to take advantage of our training packages and let us work with you in creating your first Joomla! Template.

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