How are CSS frameworks used?

I used YAML (Yet Another Multicolumn Layout) in a few projects, because I didn't like to "fight" with the Internet Explorer 6 HACKS. There is a good explanation of how to use it and you can customize it to your needs (as long as you're going to use a multicolumn (2 or 3) layout).

Please understand framework here simply as 'a collection of helpers for getting things done'. So what will you get in most cases is a set of CSS definitions, resetters and hacks, which you will probably need to code for yourself anyway when having cross-browser compatibility on mind.

No links? K. First, you should get familiar with Grid Design techniques. My fellow front-end developers recommend Blueprint for handling CSS-based layouts, no matter how complex they are. Hope this helps a little.

Caveat: I haven't really looked into this subject in a few years, the landscape may have changed.

The few CSS frameworks I've played with in the past have been more or less hideous things designed for snapping to grids, wrongheaded desires to bring WYSIWYG into the picture, and providing things like generic rounded corners and such. They tend to have some semantic issues (.italic FTL) and require a lot of manual tinkering for a framework.

More practical for the CSS beginner or rapid dev site, are perhaps the CSS reset which functions to baseline CSS across browsers (yahoo's) (Erik Meyer's). But this is not without it's own controversy and never seemed to be enough.

Basically. I find CSS requires a toolbox of common techniques of your own, but something you'll pick and choose and modify constantly. As in much of web dev I think the more experienced you get the more you find yourself wanting to roll your own.