Title: custom theme development
Last modified: August 19, 2016

---

# custom theme development

 *  Resolved [ke vinritt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ke-vinritt/)
 * (@ke-vinritt)
 * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/custom-theme-development-1/)
 * I need some advice. I have a psd file that I want to develop into a WordPress
   theme. My question is: is there a framework or theme that I could use as a ‘base’
   for the development of the new theme. I want to make sure I have all files needed,
   in particular, the functions.php file. Do people generally hand code the functions.
   php file?
    Any good tutorials/ books on this process? Sorry for such a novice
   question. WordPress is impressive but I’m a bit over my head Thanks for any help
   suggestions

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/custom-theme-development-1/#post-1814159)
 * I’d suggest starting with [Theme_Development](http://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Development).
 *  Thread Starter [ke vinritt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ke-vinritt/)
 * (@ke-vinritt)
 * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/custom-theme-development-1/#post-1814262)
 * ok – I’ve looked through that and it will help. What I’m confused with is this–
   I create a theme from psd and want to put it into WordPress – I need a functions.
   php file. Do I code that from scratch? If not what should I use as a starting
   point.
    I may not be making much sense but I just want to know do developers 
   create their own functions.php file or is there a boilerplate file that people
   use as a starting point?
 *  Thread Starter [ke vinritt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ke-vinritt/)
 * (@ke-vinritt)
 * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/custom-theme-development-1/#post-1814282)
 * … or do people use ‘blank’ themes and develop from there?
 *  [Rev. Voodoo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rvoodoo/)
 * (@rvoodoo)
 * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/custom-theme-development-1/#post-1814283)
 * [http://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-my-site-is-already-made-in-dreamweaver?replies=6](http://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-my-site-is-already-made-in-dreamweaver?replies=6)
 * here’s some advice from another thread
 * functions.php is made as you need it. Basic themes don’t even need one. You just
   make it and add to it as you need it. You will only put code there for specific
   functions. Say you are adding thumbnail capabilities….. the codex would tell 
   you what code to put into functions.php
 *  Thread Starter [ke vinritt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ke-vinritt/)
 * (@ke-vinritt)
 * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/custom-theme-development-1/#post-1814285)
 * Thank you

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘custom theme development’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 5 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [ke vinritt](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ke-vinritt/)
 * Last activity: [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/custom-theme-development-1/#post-1814285)
 * Status: resolved

## Topics

### Topics with no replies

### Non-support topics

### Resolved topics

### Unresolved topics

### All topics