Most people think of black and white images and film being something of the past; but most people are in a different world to us that appreciate good design. I must see at least a few designs made up from pure black and white with maybe a splash of color every day – on the internet, in magazines, and when browsing the shopping center stores.

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« Working on a design for a new Logo? Looking for inspiration? You have come to the right place! This article “Fresh Logos Inspirational Showcase” will take you through a seriously large series of intelligent, well designed and inspirational Logos… »

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Have you built your own wordpress theme and now would like to add flexibility by allowing the admin to customize parts of it? Then what you need is an Options page within the WP admin side. Now you’re thinking “OMG, admin side? That’s much too complex for me!!!”. FALSE! Believe me: read this tutorial, and then you’ll be able to add any kind of option to your theme!

So, ready for some PHP? Let’s go!

In this tutorial, I’ll customize a theme named MySuperTheme. I’ll add an Options page to allow the admin to embed his/her video on the home page.

First step: the back-end.
Open the functions.php file in your theme’s directory (here I need to go to /wp-content/themes/MySuperTheme/) and add these 2 variables:

/**********************************
 *  Options page for the theme
 **********************************/

// the name of the theme
$themename = "MySuperTheme";

// an abbreviation of the theme's name
$shortname = "mst";

Now you’ve need to declare an array with the options you wish to have. Each option is made of an array containing the following elements:

• name: the name of the option, also displayed on the admin options page
• desc: a description of the option, displayed on the options page to help the admin to know what/how he/she has to set
• id: a unique id for the option. To have logic in our code, all ids begin with the $shortname value
• type: the type of option you want to display. It can be set to “text” if you want to display a text field, “checkbox” if you want to display a checkbox, “textarea”, “listbox”, … Another value can be given: “heading”, which will display a title on the options page, which can be useful if have many sections with titles.
• std: the default value
• options: an array of properties for the displayed element. For example, the “cols” and “rows” properties of a textarea, or the “options” for a listbox, …

Following is the code for my Options page with video embedding:

// options
$options = array (

	// the title of the section
	array (	"name" => "Front page - Video",
			"type" => "heading" ),

	// a checkbox set on / off the display of the video
	array (	"name"		=> "Display a video on the front page?",
			"id"		=> $shortname . "_video_enabled",
			"type"		=> "checkbox",
			"std"		=> false ),

	// a textarea where the admin can enter the code of the embedded video
	array ( "name"		=> "Code",
			"desc"		=> "Enter the code for the video you want to display on your front page",
			"id"		=> $shortname . "_video_code",
			"std"		=> '<object width="895" height="525">
<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/w0ffwDYo00Q&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hd=1&showinfo=0"></param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param>
<param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param>
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w0ffwDYo00Q&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&hd=1&showinfo=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="895" height="525"></embed>
</object>',
			"type"		=> "textarea",
			"options"	=> array (	"cols" => 80,
									"rows" => 10 )),

	// a text field to give a name to display for the video
	array ( "name"		=> "Title",
			"desc"		=> "Enter the title to display for the video",
			"id"		=> $shortname . "_video_title",
			"std"		=> "My Video",
			"type"		=> "text" )

);

Now we have to add the function which build the options admin page…

// create the Options page on the admin side
function mytheme_add_admin() {

	global $themename, $shortname, $options;

	if ( $_GET['page'] == basename(__FILE__) ) {

		// save options values
		if ( 'save' == $_REQUEST['action'] ) {

			foreach ($options as $value) {
				if ($value['type'] != 'multicheck') {
					update_option( $value['id'], $_REQUEST[ $value['id'] ] );
				} else {
					foreach ($value['options'] as $mc_key => $mc_value){
						$up_opt = $value['id'].'_'.$mc_key;
						update_option($up_opt, $_REQUEST[$up_opt] );
					}
				}
			}

			foreach ($options as $value) {
				if ($value['type'] != 'multicheck') {
					if ( isset( $_REQUEST[ $value['id'] ] ) ) {
						update_option( $value['id'], $_REQUEST[ $value['id'] ]  );
					} else {
						delete_option( $value['id'] );
					}
				} else {
					foreach ($value['options'] as $mc_key => $mc_value){
						$up_opt = $value['id'].'_'.$mc_key;
						if ( isset( $_REQUEST[ $up_opt ] ) ) {
							update_option( $up_opt, $_REQUEST[ $up_opt ]  );
						} else {
							delete_option( $up_opt );
						}
					}
				}
			}
			header("Location: themes.php?page=functions.php&saved=true");
			die;

		// reset options values
		} else if ( 'reset' == $_REQUEST['action'] ) {

			foreach ($options as $value) {
				if ($value['type'] != 'multicheck') {
					delete_option( $value['id'] );
				} else {
					foreach($value['options'] as $mc_key => $mc_value) {
						$del_opt = $value['id'].'_'.$mc_key;
						delete_option($del_opt);
					}
				}
			}
			header("Location: themes.php?page=functions.php&reset=true");
			die;
		}

	}

	// Add Options page to the admin menu
	add_theme_page($themename." Options", "$themename Options", 'edit_themes', basename(__FILE__), 'mytheme_admin');
}

… and a function to create the Options page content.

// build the Options page
function mytheme_admin() {

	global $themename, $shortname, $options;

	// Display message after saving / resetting options' values
	if ( $_REQUEST['saved'] ) echo '<div id="message" class="updated fade"><p><strong>'.$themename.' settings saved.</strong></p></div>';
	if ( $_REQUEST['reset'] ) echo '<div id="message" class="updated fade"><p><strong>'.$themename.' settings reset.</strong></p></div>';

?>
<div class="wrap">
	<h2> settings</h2>
	<form method="post">
		<table class="optiontable">

<?php foreach ($options as $value) { 

	// retrieve the 'type' value in the option array
	switch ( $value['type'] ) {

		// if the option's value is contained in a text field
		case 'text':
			option_wrapper_header($value);
			?>
				<input style="width:400px;" name="<?php echo $value['id']; ?>" id="<?php echo $value['id']; ?>" type="<?php echo $value['type']; ?>" value="<?php if ( get_settings( $value['id'] ) != "") { echo get_settings( $value['id'] ); } else { echo $value['std']; } ?>" />
			<?php
			option_wrapper_footer($value);
			break;

		// if the option's value is a selected value from a menu list
		case 'select':
			option_wrapper_header($value);
			?>
	                $lt;select style="width:240px;" name="$lt;?php echo $value['id']; ?>" id="$lt;?php echo $value['id']; ?>">
				$lt;?php foreach ($value['options'] as $option) { ?>
				<option<?php if ( get_settings( $value['id'] ) == $option) { echo ' selected="selected"'; } elseif ($option == $value['std']) { echo ' selected="selected"'; } ?>><?php echo $option; ?></option>
				<?php } ?>
	                </select>
			<?php
			option_wrapper_footer($value);
			break;

		// if the option's value is contained in a textarea
		case 'textarea':
			$ta_options = $value['options'];
			option_wrapper_header($value);
			?>
			<textarea name="<?php echo $value['id']; ?>" id="<?php echo $value['id']; ?>" cols="<?php echo $ta_options['cols']; ?>" rows="<?php echo $ta_options['rows']; ?>">
			<?php if ( get_settings($value['id']) != "") {
				echo get_settings($value['id']);
			} else {
				echo $value['std'];
			} ?></textarea>
			<?php
			option_wrapper_footer($value);
			break;

		// if the option's value is a selected value from a radio button
		case "radio":
			option_wrapper_header($value);
	 		foreach ($value['options'] as $key=>$option) {
				$radio_setting = get_settings($value['id']);
				if ($radio_setting != '') {
		    		if ($key == get_settings($value['id']) ) {
						$checked = "checked=\"checked\"";
						} else {
							$checked = "";
						}
				} else {
					if($key == $value['std']){
						$checked = "checked=\"checked\"";
					} else {
						$checked = "";
					}
				}?>
		        <input type="radio" name="<?php echo $value['id']; ?>" value="<?php echo $key; ?>" <?php echo $checked; ?> /><?php echo $option; ?><br />
	 		<?php
			}
			option_wrapper_footer($value);
			break;

		case "checkbox":
			option_wrapper_header($value);
	 		if(get_settings($value['id'])){
				$checked = "checked=\"checked\"";
	 		}else{
				$checked = "";
	 		}
	 		?>
	 		<input id="<?php echo $value['id']; ?>" name="<?php echo $value['id']; ?>" type="checkbox" value="true" <?php echo $checked; ?> />
			<?php
			option_wrapper_footer($value);
			break;

		case "multicheck":
			option_wrapper_header($value);
	 		foreach ($value['options'] as $key=>$option) {
	 		$pn_key = $value['id'] . '_' . $key;
	 		$checkbox_setting = get_settings($pn_key);
	 		if ($checkbox_setting != '') {
		    		if (get_settings($pn_key) ) {
						$checked = "checked=\"checked\"";
					} else {
						$checked = "";
					}
				} else {
					if ($key == $value['std']) {
						$checked = "checked=\"checked\"";
					} else {
						$checked = "";
					}
				}?>
	 		<input type="checkbox" name="<?php echo $pn_key; ?>" id="<?php echo $pn_key; ?>" value="true" <?php echo $checked; ?> /><label for="<?php echo $pn_key; ?>"><?php echo $option; ?></label><br />
			<?php
			}
			option_wrapper_footer($value);
			break;

		// if the option's value is the title of a section in the Options page
		case "heading":
			?>
			<tr valign="top">
			    <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><h3><?php echo $value['name']; ?></h3></td>
			</tr>
			<?php
			break;

		default:
			break;
	}
}
?>
		</table>

		<p class="submit">
			<input name="save" type="submit" value="Save changes" />
			<input type="hidden" name="action" value="save" />
		</p>
	</form>
	<form method="post">
		<p class="submit">
			<input name="reset" type="submit" value="Reset" />
			<input type="hidden" name="action" value="reset" />
		</p>
	</form>
</div>
<?php
}

// create option's name
function option_wrapper_header($values){
	?>
	<tr valign="top">
	    <th scope="row"><?php echo $values['name']; ?>:</th>
	    <td>
	<?php
}

// create option's description
function option_wrapper_footer($values){
	?>
	    </td>
	</tr>
	<tr valign="top">
		<td> </td><td><small><?php echo $values['desc']; ?></small></td>
	</tr>
	<?php
}

Finally, we have to activate our Option’s page.

// enable the Options page
add_action('admin_menu', 'mytheme_add_admin');

Now we have built an Option page for our theme! This page is located under the Appearance menu on the admin side.

Second step: the front-end

Now that we have created our Options page, we need to adapt our theme to use these options. We simply need to retrieve the values of the options using the get_option call code and display the elements in our theme.

In my example, I wanted to embed a video on my front page. This means I need to edit the index.php file of my theme (it could also be known as home.php).

• add a new div if the “Display a video on the front page?” checkbox is checked
• in this new div insert the code for the video
• add a caption to the video

Here is the code to include where the video needs to be inserted:

<?php if (get_option('mst_video_enabled')) {	// the following code is processed if the box is checked
		echo '<div class="video-box">';	// create the div
		echo get_option('mst_video_code');	// insert the code
		echo '<p class="video-title">' . get_option('mst_video_title') . '</p>';	// insert the caption
		echo '</div>';
	}
?>

And now we have a video displayed on the front page!

Build your own Options pageNow that you’ve learned how to add an Options page to your theme, express your creativity and add options to your own theme!

This site is really beautiful example of how to use jQuery to provide users an intuitive and light way to create a internet page to introduce themselves. Within only 2 minutes, you’ve got a beautiful web site, with your bio, a list of your last tweets, blog posts or whatever you like, a list of links to your social network accounts, your homepage, aso., a some contact information.

Do you want to have a deeper look at it?

Go to http://magntize.com, click on the « Sign up for free » button and a simple popup window appears.

Enter your email address and a password

TADAAAM! you’re registered!

Now you simply have to enter some information about yourself…

User Panel - Enter your name, upload your picture, ...

User Panel - Describe yourself in a few words

User Panel - Add links to your social media website, blog, homepage, ...

User Panel - Fill your contact information

User Panel - Select a theme

User Panel - Custom your domain address

… and this is an example of what you can create:

It simply looks great!

And now… I hope you’re also magntize ;)

Now is an exciting time to be creating CSS layouts. After years of what felt like the same old techniques for the same old browsers, we’re finally seeing browsers implement CSS 3, HTML 5 and other technologies that give us cool new tools and tricks for our designs.

But all of this change can be stressful, too. How do you keep up with all of the new techniques and make sure your Web pages look great on the increasing number of browsers and devices out there? In part 1 of this article, you’ll learn the five essential characteristics of successful modern CSS websites. In part 2 of this article, you’ll learn about the techniques and tools that you need to achieve these characteristics.

We won’t talk about design trends and styles that characterize modern CSS-based layouts. These styles are always changing. Instead, we’ll focus on the broad underlying concepts that you need to know to create the most successful CSS layouts using the latest techniques. For instance, separating content and presentation is still a fundamental concept of CSS Web pages. But other characteristics of modern CSS Web pages are new or more important than ever. A modern CSS-based website is: progressively enhanced, adaptive to diverse users, modular, efficient and typographically rich.

* Progressively enhanced,
* Adaptive to diverse users,
* Modular,
* Efficient,
* Typographically rich.

…

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Download hundreds of FREE, beautifully designed icons from FatCow Web Hosting! Icon set includes both 16 and 32 pixel versions of icons shown below. Images have been saved in PNG format on transparent backgrounds for your convenience…

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This is what I obtained, using my twitter pseudo, @Othella:

It is nice, isn’t it?
I just can recommend you to have a look at Portwiture.

And, for the last word, I just wish that the developers of this app will soon add an Export function. I would be very interested in saving my mosaics and compare them sometimes!

Grunge, dirty, fancy typography and artworks are very popular design trend in our days, so I wanted to showcase here most popular and professionally executed fonts in my opinion. Unleash your dirty side and create some fresh design mixing font size, color, textures together – try something new if you haven’t done it yet!

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