I remember a time when I built a website using a fully designed WordPress theme, only to get through setting it up and realized that I wanted to make some significant changes in design and layout.
Actually, a common problem I encounter when building a website is wanting to change the layout – especially the home page. I realize that layouts can be fully customized using any WordPress theme, but often requires doing a fair amount of PHP coding.
When possible, I try to avoid tweaking PHP too much. I know many people who use WordPress avoid changing PHP simply because they aren’t familiar with it. People either accept the theme layout or look into getting a WordPress theme generator.
What is a WordPress Theme Generator?
A WordPress theme generator is software that creates a theme according to your design and layout specifications. You can choose number of columns, font, color, header size, etc. Other terms for a WordPress theme generator include WordPress theme builder and WordPress theme creator. I’ll use “generator” in this article to stay consistent.
There are 2 types of theme generators:
The type that creates a full theme you upload to your server (or server hosting account). The most ppular of this type of theme generator is Artisteer.
The type that operates on a theme platform – it’s a theme in itself but gives you the tools to fully customize the theme without knowing PHP and CSS. See below for options for this type of theme generator.
1. Artisteer
Probably the most popular theme generator software that creates a theme you upload and install is Artisteer (read my Artisteer review here). Artisteer is software you download onto your computer and then start designing. It’s incredibly easy to use, but has one serious limitation. The serious limitation (and the reason I seldom use it), is you can’t create a custom widget placements on your home page (other than sidebars).
UPDATE JULY 19, 2011:
I decided to upgrade my Artisteer license. It has much more functionality and an improved graphics library. The best part is there is add-on software you can get that greatly improves widget options in the themes you create with Artisteer. If you want a WordPress theme generator, I now recommend checking out Artisteer – but you need the add-on which you can read about in my Artisteer review.
END OF JULY 19/11 UPDATE
Many theme platforms lately offer widget placement options on the home page. This gives you a great deal of home page design control.
A nice advantage to Artisteer is it’s loaded with images you can use and has many built-in designs and color schemes you can select which results in a nice looking site fast.
Artisteer is perfect for designing a blog website. It’s not that good for designing a business websites or any site that requires a custom home page.
2. WordPress Themes that Let You Design the Theme
This is my preferred type of WordPress theme generator. You don’t need to install software. Instead, you purchase the theme platform, install it in your WordPress site (just as you would any WordPress theme), and then design your theme within the installation. 5 popular WordPress theme generators of this type include:
- Builder by iThemes (my Builder review)
- Thesis Theme
- Headway (my Headway Themes review)
- Catalyst (my Catalyst review)
- Prose Theme by StudioPress (my Prose review)
Probably the easiest and most versatile (in my view) of all these theme generators is Builder by iThemes. Builder truly gives you pretty much unlimited options in designing a WordPress theme. You can customize the layout for any page or post. The best part about Builder is it uses widgets for customizing layout. It’s truly an innovative WordPress theme.
Moreover, Builder is the parent theme. You then install child themes (naked or designed), and then build away. I’ve had a lot of fun designing websites in Builder because if I can conceive, Builder makes it easy to achieve it.
Like I said, you can do any amount of customization in any WordPress theme if you know PHP well. The intention of WordPress theme generators is it gives far more people the ability to customize their WordPress website.
WordPress Theme Generator vs. Pre-Designed WordPress Theme
The advantages to using a WordPress theme generator (vs. a pre-designed WordPress theme):
You have far more design and layout control. Aside from Builder child themes, a WordPress theme generator has little or no built-in design. It’s more or less a naked theme. It’s your job to create and design the theme. The theme generator simply makes it very easy for you to implement your design and layout.
Easy to change theme design. If you’re like me, you like tweaking and changing your theme design from time to time. If your website is built with a theme generator, it’s pretty easy to overhaul the design and or layout.
Disadvantages to using a WordPress theme generator:
The only real disadvantage is it takes more time to design a theme than using a pre-designed theme. Take this site (B2Web) for example. It uses a predesigned theme and didn’t take me long to get it up and running. Designing a website, even using a theme generator, takes time. That said, if you use a predesigned theme and then change it radically, you very likely are better off using a theme generator and starting from scratch.
Should you use a theme generator?
If you’ve found the perfect theme design, including layout, then go with that rather than a theme generator because it’s faster. However, if you simply cannot find the perfect theme design or you want to develop several custom page and post layouts, then use a theme generator.
If you’re a website designer who builds client sites in WordPress you would be served well to have a membership to a premium WordPress theme developer such as StudioPress, WooThemes, iThemes, ElegantThemes, or Templatic (or another theme provider offering many designed themes) so you have a fleet of designs available to choose from.
However, in my view, as website designer, you would also do well having a license for a WordPress theme generator such Builder, Thesis, Headway, Catalyst, or Prose. Having a theme generator license gives you the ability to create customized websites in WordPress fast.
Related posts:
- News WordPress Child Theme Review – A StudioPress Theme for WordPress
- A Great Minimalist WordPress Theme: Why Use Minimal Themes?
- How Do I Build a WordPress Theme Without Knowing Any Code?
- The Best Free Blog and Website Headers Generator Available
- Prose WordPress Theme Review – A StudioPress WP Theme
