This thread is here for you to request a post layout or to get help with making your own one from scratch.
"Layouts" are what we call the decoration around people's posts, the ones that place their posts into pretty frames with nice backgrounds and what have you.
Please keep in mind the following rules when requesting a new layout in this thread:
Rules
Base Codes
Requester
No simple requests.
Anything that can be done via the layout generator or with a base code should not be requested here.
Be patient when requesting.
Everyone on the site has lives outside of SMW Central. If you have posted your request and more than a week has past, as well as no-one claiming it: go ahead and post it again. If not, just wait.
Please provide all resources - ready to be used - that you require for your layout in your request post.
The coder of your layout is not an image editor, nor are they willing to search for your images Please provide everything you want in your layout ready to be used.
If you want your layout to have colors, include in your request the hex or rgb values of said colors.
For backgrounds, use images that can be looped properly or have no cutoff on the borders, so that the remains can be filled up with a colol. Don't just ask for any huge panorama images.
If you have trouble finding transparent or looping images, add "render" or "pattern" to your search tagesDo not be too vague with your request.
While you are free to give your layout coder some leeway with your request, do not make it too vague, because they might end up coding something that you do not like at all.
Don't just make a request with one image as background and telling the coder "make good layout please". Requests like that are likly to end up covered in dust.Ensure that your request complies with the Content Rules of SMW Central.
The rules can be found here.
Provide resized side images instead of huge ones. A smaller images takes up less space and reduced the total amount of kbytes needed. Same goes for the background images.
If you're wondering what a good size for the side image may be: A width of about 300px is common whereas the height can be left to adjust itself to the width.
Coder
The layout you make must conform to SMW Central's layout rules.
The rules can be found here.
Please make sure the post content does not have a fixed width.
The post content box width should/can be determined by a "margin" or a "padding" property in the parent, but cannot be of a percentage or a fixed width. This is so the layout's post box doesn't look small on larger resolutions. You are allowed to do what you want width-wise with the signature box.
Disable your layout when you post a layout code.
It will then make it clearer as to what the layout actually looks like.
Make sure you post the header and footer of the layout.
While yes, you can quote the post. However it is easier for the user (especially if they are unexperienced with HTML) for you to post it. You can post it directly in the post, or stick it in something such as PasteBay.com.
Putting a layout up for grabs.
Do not complain if you put a layout up for grabs, and the claiming user goes and modifies it to their liking. Once you have posted it, it's ultimately their layout.
Use unique class names.
The class names "ex1", "ex2", "mypost", "text", and so on are not acceptable; you must use class names which don't risk being reused. For example, you can prepend the requester's name. If the same class name is reused by two layouts, they transform into each other if they show up on the same page.
Asking for Help
Be specific.
It's hard to tell what exactly your problem is if you don't tell us exactly what is going on.
Please post code.
Then we are able to get an even better overview of what your exact problem is. Please do not post extremely long codes in the post, though. Use PasteBay.com for that.
It's vital that you follow these rules of the thread to make it easier for everyone. Regardless of that: happy requesting!
Rules changelog:
2014-04-03: Added rule 3.6. ~Alcaro
2014-07-06: Replaced the layout generator link. ~Alcaro
2014-07-13: Replaced the layout generator link (from Alcaro), added further info to request rules ~Jack
2017-01-20: Replaced the layout generator with RanAS' Layout Maker XP. Also changed the intro.
2019-10-03: I removed the well old reference to IRC #dev because someone mentioned it ~Tahixham
2021-09-12: Fixed the layout rules link. ~Tahixham