Instead of downloading a ready-made template or creating your own template from the ground up, there's also a third option: using a template framework. A framework is basically a template with a huge number of built-in options, which allows you to define the layout, module positions, menu styles, colors, fonts and sometimes much more directly from the template control panel. You'll find more information on template frameworks on the website that accompanies this book, www.joomm.net.
Q1. What does a Joomla template actually do?
It changes the colors and the header graphic.
It determines the overall layout and design.
It allows you to set all sorts of layout options.
Q2. After installing a new template, you notice some empty spaces in your site layout. What does this mean?
Something went wrong and you should reinstall the template.
You have to assign modules to the available (empty) positions...