Artisteer: Create Website and Blog Templates

Posted on Dec 16, 2024 in Computers

What is Artisteer?

Artisteer is a Windows application that lets you design templates for websites and blogs.

What is a WYSIWYG Editor?

A WYSIWYG (acronym for What You See Is What You Get) editor allows you to create attractive designs by clicking options and immediately seeing the changes reflected on the screen.

What Content Platforms Does Artisteer Support?

Artisteer supports the following platforms: Blogger, Joomla, WordPress, Drupal, and .NET applications.

What are the Supported Template Formats?

Supported formats are: .ARTX, .HTML, .ZIP, and .XML.

Artisteer Interface Elements

  • Title Bar: Displays the program name and the active file.
  • Quick Access Bar: Provides quick access to frequently used options like open, undo, save, etc. This bar can be customized.
  • Work Area: Displays the template and the changes made to it.

Artisteer Options Band

The Options Band displays actions organized into tabs, such as Ideas, Color and Font, Layout, Depth, and more.

Artisteer Button

  • The Artisteer Button provides a menu with main file operations: New, Open, Save, Export, and Preview in Browser.
  • It also provides access to program activities, information, options, and an exit button.

Steps to Upload a Template to Blogger

Once the template is created, you must export it in the correct format for your website. Click the Export button or menu command and, in the dialog box, type the name of the template and the folder where you want to save the files.

Select “Export as a ZIP file” to compress and package the template files. The ZIP file will contain images and the template in .XML format.

  1. Log in and activate your Blogger blog.
  2. Go to “Design” and click on “Edit HTML Templates”.
  3. It is advisable to back up your current template.
  4. To load the new template, click Browse, select the main.xml file, click Upload, and save the changes.

Artisteer Tabs Explained

  • Layout: Change the page layout and element positions.
  • Colors and Fonts: Choose from pre-designed color themes or create your own. Customize fonts and scaling.
  • Menu: Customize the menu bar, items, sub-items, page layout, formats, and configurations.
  • Ideas: Automatically generate random templates or customize individual elements like colors, fonts, layout, background, header, menu, articles, blocks, buttons, and footer. This is helpful for beginners.
  • Background: Choose a default background, open an existing file, or select a color and add glow, gradient, texture, or image. Adjust alignment, transparency, location, height, and contrast.
  • Sheet: Choose a default sheet or create your own by combining width, offset, gutter, radius, border width, color, transparency, and shades.
  • Header: Adjust the width and height of the header, text block features, and background. Add a foreground image, adjust its size and position, add a flash effect, and choose the heading style and color. Write your title and slogan in this tab.
  • Article: Define the characteristics of content items, entries, or posts. Configure:
    • Base image and style, including shape, margin, inner text margin, padding, border, radius, and shade.
    • Text format for the body, title, header, and footer.
    • Other elements like hyperlinks, quotations, images, and tables.
  • Sidebar: Apply padding, glare, or no styling. Configure block styles: background, object spacing, header, and content. Adjust margins, letter and line spacing, text color, links, and bullets.
  • Vertical Menu: Customize the vertical menu using the same options found under the “Menu” tab.
  • Buttons: Choose from existing button styles or design your own, including edge, texture, gradient, shadow, fill color, border color, and text font characteristics.
  • Footer: Customize the footer’s style, including fill, texture, gradient, alignment, inner text margin, transparency, text font, RSS icon, and hyperlink appearance.