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Free 4-column Grid Photoshop Templates for Better Web Design

Author: ; Published: May 30, 2009; Category: CSS, Design/Development; Tags: , , , ; 14 Comments

UPDATE 9/29/09: If you’re looking for a 4-column grid-based WordPress theme, take a look at Evo4 CMS.

4-column Photoshop template

Most of us who design custom websites start with Photoshop. I currently use base template files that assume a 1024×768 screen resolution as the lowest common denominator (according to W3Schools, as of January, 2009, only 4% of identifiable browsers were operating at a screen resolution below 1024×768).

In the last 18 months or so, I’ve gone almost completely to the use of 4-column grids. They give me as much flexibility as I know what to do with, and allow for more sophisticated layouts than 2- or 3-column grids. And when it comes to being sophisticated, I need all the help I can get.

Over time, I’ve developed some variations of the basic 4-column template, varying the column widths and outside margins. Three of the ones I use most are available below as zipped files for download. They’re licensed under Creative Commons: you’re free to utilize them however you like for your own use, and share them with attribution. I encourage you to play with the column widths and spacing to make them work for your own purposes. If you feel like it, shoot me a link to a website you’ve designed using one of the grids (or a variation), or a note telling me if you found them helpful.

Zipped files are approximately 288k each.

Download: 4-column, 960 Template
Download: 4-column, 960 Uneven Columns Template
Download: 4-column, 996 Template

ALSO, download the Free XHTML/CSS template that goes with the first Photoshop template!