Do you use free layouts?

[蜃気楼]

Do you go to other Pokemon fansites and download their free layouts and use it on your site? Do you violate the Term of Use of their site? Do you prefer layouts made by yourself?

I don't use free layouts, because:

• They have [X]HTML errors
• I must edit the layout to make it work on my site
• They require crediting/link back

Please vote on this poll, and discuss: Are free layouts useful?

 

[Ooka]

I think they're useful to learn coding without a webpage editor, as it makes it easier to see how the code influenced the way the page is laid out. However, with knowledge of coding myself, I never use them, as they contain too many errors, or too precise measurements to even be adjusted, and then you have to link back to the site, just too much of a hassle when I can make them myself.

 

[Alpha de Splash]

i agree with Ooka on that one, it is better to learn your own code. i only use layouts as a reference. "let me try to make this layout on my own." it develops great skill and you can make your own layouts and call them your own.

 

[Ж…Σ…Π…Θ…Π™©||»GΞЯ«||]

I dont like those.. most of them have ...

• have invalid [X]HTML ...
• have invalid CSS code ...
• ...

The bettest way to get a great webspage: Try to create your own layout with everything what you need.

 

[MalafeX]

No, I like to make my own layouts. I feel better about my webpages, when I know I made them.

 

[Rukario]

we have a collection of some 6,000 'premade' open source layouts (all valid html/css).. we use some of them for a starting point to generate some client sites (usually its based on THEIR likes and we edit to their specific needs)

for my own sites I tend to design and code my own (although for some, like drupal and wordpress, I use premade and edit the heck out of them) layouts and so forth..

Both ways has it's place in the webby world.. premades for speed and ease of deployment, and hand coded for customizations and uniqueness.

 

[AJ™]

I used to use premades a lot and do nothing to them.
But now I either make my own, or as Steve said, I edit them reeeealll good.

 

[蜃気楼]

It is hard to make layouts in WordPress, phpBB, VBulletin and other major Web apps... Too much files and too much learning curve.
I used a theme generator and edited the generated theme.

It is somewhat unprofessional if others know you are using someone else's layout..