Proposed steps to building a Tiki theme generator:
Please firt read an idea for generating a custom css style from a photo / logo.
Step #1
Modify one of the current CSS (style) to have a small number (3-6) of basic colors. Maybe Simple as the first one.
changing colors: you can list them with: grep -i " #[0-9a-f]\{3,6\};" styles/simple.css | cut -d\# -f2 | sort | uniq -c and change them with: perl -pi -e 's/AAAAAA/bbbbbb/g' styles/simple.css */
Step #2
Turn these colors into variables, for example $background, $basecolor, $highlight, etc
Step #3
Use a Generated Color Scheme (like Step 3 of WordPress Index Builder)
Step #4
See the theme in action, and
Step #5
Save CSS
Alternate step #3 (nice to have)
Generate colors from a photo / logo. There is a "Random From Image" button. So the user could try several times until he finds something pleasing. (like StrangeBanana) http://www.colr.org/
Alternate step #3 (nice to have)
Generate colors which contrast well (for text over backgound) http://www.barelyfitz.com/projects/csscolor/
Step #6 (nice to have)
For cases where we need a gradient (example, calendar event importance), we could have a formula which generates them. Please see "Generating Palettes With PHP" from site above for an example. #Another possible tool: http://www.meyerweb.com/eric/tools/color-blend/
Step #7 (nice to have)
For all the images, logos, etc in Tiki, we should try to make sure they are all transparent so they look good with different backgrounds.
Step #8 (nice to have)
Use ImageMagick or GD to manipulate graphics HSV values so that multiple graphics themes such as *metal can be combined into a single metal theme that can be colourised to any hue and saturation the administrator desires. Step 8 would allow the colours of any graphical theme (eg new tiki themes such as the default tikithemes theme and kubrick) to be modified.
Previous forum post about Tiki theme generator idea:
tiki-view_forum_thread.php?forumId=3&comments_parentId=2
Related links:
I Like Your Colors!
WordPress Index Builder
Step 3 offers a color picker and Generated Color Scheme.
Drupal CMS Theme Generator
In Excel
http://www.positioniseverything.net/articles/pie-maker/pagemaker_form.php
http://www.maketemplate.com/form/
WordPress, MT and Drupal: Template Generators
CSS Constants
http://www.icant.co.uk/articles/cssconstants/
Dynamic CSS
http://www.stylehack.com/wordpress/index.php?p=71&page=3
CSS Tools:
http://www.soxiam.com/Notes/CSSTools
http://www.alvit.de/handbook/