Thread: Grids: Why to use?

Anyone got any preference on a grid system to use? Should we be using them more or just for prototyping a layout and then creating the site from scratch?

The issues I have with grid systems:

1. very static
2. excess CSS code

However grids make things so much easier when creating a website.

For those that are not aware of grids: Grid System Generator

What are your thoughts?

I am probably going to sound a little sad now, but what are they used for ?.. I have never seen them before

a grid is a set of CSS rules that allow you to easily create a layout using columns and rows, its like tables converted to css.

Go to Grid System Generator
click on Generate 960.gs Grid
On the following page scroll down and you will see the grids that its created.

If you created a 12 column grid then that means you can have upto 12 columns seperated by 10px margin. Thats not very useful, so it also created columns that span 2 columns, or 3 etc etc. So if you wanted 3 columns but each column a different size you could do:

3, 3 and 6
or
2, 2 and 8
or
2, 4 and 6

etc etc

the columns you create have to add upto the total amount of columns used in your grid layout, in this case 12.

Just curious and maybe I am sounding sillier than the first question... but... HUH ??

how does that help?..

you can create a working layout in seconds, all you need to do is add your information inside each div and away you go.

obviously you aint buying saltedm8 :P

I am a big fan of grids, and use 960 as my standard.

Salted, Grids allow you to quickly and easily set out designs and ensure that everything lines up correctly and look pleasing to the eye. You have to spend less time doing this and therefore can concentrate on getting the "sexy" stuff right - time is money as they say ;o)

A couple of good articles:

Grid-Based Design: Six Creative Column Techniques | Smashing Magazine
A List Apart: Articles: Fluid Grids

@welshstew:

do you use it for prototyping or for the final design as well?

For both, although when it gets to final tweaks it sometimes gets a little sqwiffy depending on client wants.

I like using grids, but I still use my own CSS. None of that CSS framework malarkey.

i use 960 as well with 12 cols.. just add an overlay to my designs and i can work out the maths easily.