Cornerstone Overview

New to Themeco? Check out our series Getting Started w/ Cornerstone, and learn everything you need to know about this powerful builder! Ready to get started? Go Pro.

What Is Cornerstone

As the name suggests, Cornerstone (CS for short) is the foundation to your site building experience and includes a Layout Builder, Header Builder, Page Builder, Footer Builder, Component Builder, Blog Builder, Shop Builder, and Grid Editor.

X users must install Cornerstone as a separate plugin and have access to the Page Builder and Component Builder only. Pro users have Cornerstone built into the theme and have access to everything.

Each builder gives you the ability to create different parts of a website in a visual, drag-and-drop manner, even if you have no coding experience. This is achieved through various Elements and extensive customization options.

Builder Types

Cornerstone includes a family of builders plus a special Grid Editor. Let's briefly discuss each one.

• Page Builder: This builder is used to create the main content of pages throughout your site. It also works on posts.
• Component Builder: This builder is used to create design patterns (aka Components) that will update in real-time throughout your site should you ever need to make updates to them in the future.
• Layout Builder: (Pro only) This builder is used to create website layouts. Think of these as the templates assigned to various contexts like blog posts, single pages, archives, etc. It is also the home to a powerful Header, Footer, and Blog Builder as well.
• Grid Editor: (Pro only) While not technically a builder, Pro users also have access to a powerful Grid Element for creating truly inspired layouts.

Global Settings

See our Settings page for how you can change Cornerstone Global Settings.

Colors

You can use the Color Manager to set unlimited colors which you will be able to use throughout your website. To access the Color Manager:

1. Go to Globals in Cornerstone.
2. Click the Colors tab.

There you can add new colors or edit the existing colors and save them to use later. Learn more about the Color Manager.

Fonts

You can use the Font Manager in X and Pro to set unlimited fonts which you will be able to use throughout your website. To access the Font Manager:

1. Go to Globals in Cornerstone.
2. Click the Fonts tab.

There you can add new fonts and save them to use later. This includes System Fonts, Google Fonts, Adobe Fonts, and Custom Fonts. Learn more about the Font Manager.

Templates

You can use Templates to create and reuse content across your site. To access the Template Manager, simply go to Templates in Cornerstone. There you will have a list of all saved templates including our entire Design Cloud library that provide numerous ready-made templates you can use.

Learn more about the Template Manager including how to create a template.

Components

The two main functions of Components are to (1) provide a centralized repository of all your design patterns and (2) to abstract away complexity so that the page building process can be more streamlined.

These powerful building blocks will give you complete control over the content you create. Whenever it comes the time to edit or change the Component, you can do the change from one place and the change will be broadcast to all instances throughout the website.

Learn more about Components including how to create your first one. Ready to take things to the next level? Learn how to create your own design systems in Cornerstone with Parameters then check out Personify for a beautiful collection of custom websites powered by Components & Parameters.

Tutorials

In addition to being the most advanced website builder on the market, we have an incredible collection of 50+ video tutorials (and counting) about all aspects of the powerful Cornerstone Builder. You can find them on our YouTube Channel or by browsing our blog where they are broken down by different categories including Design Tips, Element Tips, Layout Tips, Technical Tips, WooCommerce Tips, and more.

Point of Clarity

A third party company created a free WordPress plugin by the same name "Cornerstone" and listed it on the wordpress.org repo. This is not our product. You can only get the Cornerstone website builder from Themeco.

Summary

Cornerstone is the heart and soul of your site building experience. We've discussed what it is, how it works, and some of the amazing features at your disposal. If you're new to Themeco or want a refresher, don't forget to check out our Getting Started w/ Cornerstone series. A great way to get up and running is to use our included Starter Template.