Basically the same as the "Holy grail", a 3 column layout with flexible center column but with a header block for logo, banner or links. The left and right divs overlap the center div but fall behind it (this helps avoid a double border).
Its very easy to set up and customise except for the "pixel perfect" bit which can be tricky.
I have used the box hack on the left and right columns for IE5PC. It can be used on the center column instead which is where I originally had it. I prefer it this way.
This template has been tested in:
Changes in this version:
Now let's say we want to apply styles to elements that are partof a first child; for example, all emphasized text within afirst-child paragraph should be italicized:
Filler Content
Dáig alta in mac sin i tig a athar & a mathar icon airdig i m-Maig Muirthemne, ocus adfeta dó scéla na maccaemi i n-Emain. Dáig is amlaid domeill Conchobar in rigi, o ro gab rígi in rí, .i. mar atraig fóchetóir césta & cangni in choicid d'ordugud. In lá do raind i trí asa athlil: cetna trian de fóchetóir ic fegad na maccaem ic imbirt chless cluchi & immanae, in trian tanaise dond ló ic imbirt brandub & fidchell, & in trian dedenach ic tochathim bíd & lenna, con-dageib cotlud for cách, aes cíuil & airfitid dia thalgud fri sodain. Ciataim ane ar longais riam reme dabiur bréthir, ar Fergus, na fuil in hErind no i n-Albain óclach macsamla Conchobair.
Ocus adfeta don mac sin scéla na maceáem & na maccraide i n-Emain, & radis in mac bec ria mathair ar co n-digsed dá chluchi do chluchemaig na Emna. Romoch duitsiu sain a meic bic, ar a mathair, co n-deoch anruth do anrothaib. Ulad lett no choimthecht ecin do chaimthechtaib Conchobair, do chor th' aesma & t'imdegla for in maccraid. Cían lim-sa di sodain a mathair, ar in mac bec, & ni biu-sa oca idnaide acht tecoisc-siu dam-sa cia airm itá Emain. Is cían uait, ar a mathair, airm in-das-fil. Sliab Fúait etrut & Emain. Dobér-sa ardmes furri amne, ar esium.
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A.grid {background-image: url(smallgrid.gif);}
<P>This paragraph contains <A HREF="..." CLASS="grid">an anchor with a
background image</A> which is tiled only within the anchor.</P>

There are a number of ways to employ this technique. You might place an image in the background of STRONG elements, in order to make them stand out more. You could fill in the background of headings with a wavy pattern, or with little dots. You can even fill in the cells of tables with patterns to make them distinct from