5.04.2008

How to make a Blogger Banner

I suggest that you find inspiration somewhere. I found my inspiration at www.istockphoto.com. It helps to get your mind going by just looking at abstract images. Once you see something that inspires you, create your own original work or, if you want, purchase the image that inspires you.

The banner size to use is 713x142. I did not originally realize that and so my banner hangs off the side a bit. :-\

The Beginning Steps:
  1. Open GIMP
  2. File->NEW
  3. Change WIDTH to 713 and HEIGHT to 142
  4. Click on ADVANCED OPTIONS and change FILL WITH to 'transparency'


From this point, it's a matter of what you want to do. What type of background do you want? Do you want text in your banner? If so, then:
*Click on the text tool, which looks like the letter A
*Choose font, size, etc...
If you want your text to have a pattern or something besides a plain color, check out: http://gimpersanonymous.blogspot.com/200...

A tutorial on layers: http://gimpersanonymous.blogspot.com/200...

Additional info:
  • First, save the image as a .xcf file, which is GIMP's file format. It will preserve the layers and make it easier to work on in the future. :)
  • Save the image as a .png file [so you can preserve any transparency and it will be a higher quality.

To add it to your blogger blog:
  • From your Dashboard, click 'Layout' [shown to the right]
  • To edit your header, go to the box under NavBar and click 'edit' [shown below]




  • To insert the header you created and saved as a .png, select the file on your computer by clicking 'browse' or select an image from an account, such as photobucket. {I personally suggest that you take the image right from your computer}
**Click on images to enlarge [opens in new window]

2 comments:

John David Roberts said...

Sam, Love what you're doing here. I'm new to gimp with no previous PS jones. I may be in the minority, because I'm neither designer, programmer, or content manager, but I'm often trying to create and build variations of web 2.0 models, of which there are many - buttons, gradients, shadowed images of organic shapes. All of these seem like good how-tos for tyros like me. Thanks. jdr

Sam D. said...

I greatly appreciate your comment and I most certainly hope that you keep coming back! I will begin posting some web 2.0 tutorials I've been working on within the next couple of weeks! Be sure to check back soon!