I would suggest that you open up one of the included skins in the default install. For example the custom skin is a good start.

Then see what's going on there. The skins are pretty well commented out, so you can see what codes need to be inserted.

In my opinion the best way after that is to copy the skin folder and rename it. And then start modifying it for your own template.

The most important file is index.main.php. It is enough if you modify that to your liking.

Of course there is also style.css and _items_block.inc.php which you might also want to take a look at.

Thank you for your prompt reply Hypocrite. I have copied the custom folder and renamed it. You said to copy it and start modifying it but that is where I am having my problem. I don't know what to modify or how to modify it. Do you know of a forum post or website page that breaks down what to do like http://manual.b2evolution.net/Create_a_new_skin?

I am not understanding why my images are css styles are not carrying over in the .php. What I go directly to the link the page layout renders correct:

http://blakemantrans.com/news/skins/blakeman/index.main.php

But when I look at it in the blog it does not:

http://blakemantrans.com/news/blog1.php

does the image folder have to be called "img" or can it be called "images" as that is where my css points to?

Again, I appreciate your reply and your patience with me this newbie.

Thanks,

Clint

When you have made changes to the custom skin, have you made that skin active in your blog?

When I look at the source here:
http://blakemantrans.com/news/blog1.php

I don't see any of the normal b2evolution code which would need to be there in a skin.

Thank you for your reply. That answer would be no because I have no idea what to put where or where to get it from. :( That is kinda why I was hoping that there was another b2evolution for dummies section that would help me.