Unlock the Secrets of Creating Stunning SharePoint Themes

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Setting Up a Custom Brand Theme in SharePoint
3. Generating a Custom Theme with the Fluent UI Theme Designer
4. Addressing Accessibility Issues
5. Exporting the Theme and Choosing the Preferred Format
6. Applying the Custom Theme Using PowerShell
7. Verifying the Applied Theme in SharePoint
8. Making Default SharePoint Themes Hidden
9. Conclusion
10. FAQs

Setting Up a Custom Brand Theme in SharePoint

In this article, we will explore the process of creating and applying a custom brand theme to your SharePoint site. We will guide you through each step, using PowerShell and the Fluent UI Theme Designer tool. The custom theme will not only enhance the visual appeal of your site but also make it unique and aligned with your brand identity. Let's get started and make your SharePoint site stand out from the rest!

Introduction

SharePoint is a powerful platform that allows organizations to create and manage their intranet sites. While SharePoint provides built-in themes, you might want to customize the look and feel of your site to match your brand or corporate identity. In this article, we will show you how to create a custom brand theme and apply it to your SharePoint site using PowerShell.

1. Setting Up a Custom Brand Theme in SharePoint

Before we begin, ensure that you have the necessary permissions as an admin in your SharePoint environment. To set up a custom brand theme, follow these steps:

1.1 Access SharePoint Settings

• Click on the wheel icon to open the settings menu.
• Select "Change the Look" to modify the site's appearance.

1.2 Explore Out-of-the-Box SharePoint Themes

• Under the "Themes" section, you will find a variety of out-of-the-box themes provided by SharePoint.
• By default, one of these themes is applied to your site.

1.3 Creating a Custom Theme

• To create a custom theme, select the "Theme Generator Tool" link on the SharePoint documentation page.
• The Fluent UI Theme Designer will open in a new browser tab.

2. Generating a Custom Theme with the Fluent UI Theme Designer

The Fluent UI Theme Designer is a front-end framework used by Microsoft for Office 365. It allows users to easily create custom themes for SharePoint. Follow these steps to generate your custom theme:

2.1 Configuring Colors

• On the left sidebar of the Fluent UI Theme Designer, you will find options to configure the color palette.
• Customize the primary color, text color, and background color according to your brand guidelines.

2.2 Addressing Accessibility Issues

• The Fluent UI Theme Designer evaluates the accessibility of your theme.
• If there are any accessibility errors, it will display them and suggest corrective measures.
• Ensure that the text color has sufficient contrast with the background color for legibility.

2.3 Previewing the Theme

• The Fluent UI Theme Designer provides a preview of how the theme will look on different SharePoint components.
• Enable the components you want to preview, such as sliders, buttons, checkboxes, and links.
• This allows you to visualize your theme's impact on various elements of your SharePoint site.

2.4 Exploring CSS Classes

• Below the preview section, you can find the palette slots and CSS classes associated with your custom theme.
• These classes can be used to build a new custom web application within the context of SharePoint.

3. Exporting the Theme and Choosing the Preferred Format

Once you are satisfied with your custom theme, it's time to export it in the desired format. Follow these steps:

3.1 Export Options

• In the Fluent UI Theme Designer, click on the "Export Theme" button.
• You will see three export options: Code (JSON), PowerShell, and REST API.

3.2 Using PowerShell for Applying the Theme

• For the ease of applying the theme, we recommend using PowerShell.
• Copy the palette colors from the Fluent UI Theme Designer, as you will need them in the PowerShell command.

4. Applying the Custom Theme Using PowerShell

PowerShell offers a straightforward way to apply your custom theme to SharePoint. Here's how you can do it:

4.1 Installing SharePoint Online Management Shell

• Install the SharePoint Online Management Shell if you haven't done so already.
• It provides the necessary commandlets for managing SharePoint through PowerShell.

4.2 Establishing a Connection to SharePoint

• Target your SharePoint admin portal and log in with admin credentials.
• This is essential for performing administrative actions, such as applying custom themes.

4.3 Applying the Custom Theme

• Run the PowerShell command Add-SPOTheme -Name "YourThemeName" -Palette $PaletteColors.
• Replace "YourThemeName" with the desired name for your custom theme.
• Replace $PaletteColors with the palette colors you copied from the Fluent UI Theme Designer.

5. Verifying the Applied Theme in SharePoint

After applying the custom theme, it's important to verify if it appears correctly in SharePoint. Follow these steps:

5.1 Access SharePoint Settings

• Click on the wheel icon and select "Change the Look."

5.2 Locating the Custom Themes

• Under the "Themes" section, navigate to the "Company Themes" tab.
• Here, you should find your newly applied custom theme.

5.3 Applying the Custom Theme

• Select the custom theme and click on "Save" to apply it.
• The custom theme will now be available for your SharePoint site.

6. Making Default SharePoint Themes Hidden

SharePoint provides default themes that may clutter the theme selection page. You can hide them by executing the following PowerShell command:

6.1 Changing Default Theme Visibility

• Run the command Set-SPOHideDefaultThemes -Hide $true.
• This will hide the default SharePoint themes from the theme selection page.

7. Conclusion

Customizing the brand theme of your SharePoint site is a great way to make it visually appealing and align it with your organization's identity. With the help of PowerShell and the Fluent UI Theme Designer, you can create and apply custom themes effortlessly. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can successfully enhance the look and feel of your SharePoint site.

FAQs

Q: Can I apply the custom theme site-wide in my SharePoint environment? A: Yes, once you apply a custom theme using PowerShell, it becomes available across all SharePoint sites within your environment.

Q: Can I update an existing custom theme with new color palettes? A: Yes, you can update an existing custom theme by executing the PowerShell command with the overwrite parameter.

Q: Are there any specific permissions required to apply a custom theme in SharePoint? A: Yes, you need administrative privileges in your SharePoint environment to apply custom themes.

Q: Can I hide the default SharePoint themes from the theme selection page? A: Yes, you can hide the default themes by executing a PowerShell command to change their visibility.

Q: Are custom themes accessible for all users? A: It's essential to ensure that your custom theme meets accessibility standards. The Fluent UI Theme Designer helps identify any potential accessibility issues in your theme.

Q: How can I create a custom web application using the Fluent UI Theme Designer? A: The Fluent UI Theme Designer provides CSS classes that you can use to build a custom web application within the context of SharePoint.