What can be done with a Drupal theme? How much presentation flexibility does the system have? These are key questions that arise when evaluating Drupal for your project. The themes included in the default distro, while useful, don't really offer much in the way of variety. But don't let the default themes prejudice your thinking too much; Drupal can be used to create a wide variety of layout styles, from traditional portal layouts to more cutting edge sites.

When assessing a CMS for flexibility, programmers and designers often look at the issue differently. Programmers tend to focus on the developmental potential the system offers with its range of available theme engines and the use of the popular PHP programming language. Designers, on the other hand, are typically more concerned with determining what restrictions a system imposes on their ability to design the interfaces desired by their clients.

There is good news for both parties. For programmers, the inclusion of the PHPTemplate engine in the Drupal distro means it is possible to tailor the output to match a variety of criteria. The system offers the ability to create custom templates and to specify your modified files over the default files—all without having to actually hack the Drupal core.

For designers, the flexibility of the Drupal approach to site building allows for the creation of attractive and brand-sensitive interfaces (not just a cookie-cutter portal or blog site).

While it may take a while for a new-comer to wade through the Drupal approach to the presentation layer, it is worth the effort, as a little knowledge can go a long way towards allowing you to tailor the system's output to your specific needs.