Customize Blogger

[Starlite9711]

Does anyone have any idea how to make your own backgrounds and such for blogger? I figured out how to get my header up there, but now I want to do the rest of it. I found a bunch of free templates and played with those a bit, but I would still like more freedom. Anyone know how to do this?! Thanks in advance!

[Applechick]

Bailey, everytime I click on your blog link I get an error messsage, I've yet to get to read your blog...is it just me???

Fiona

[Starlite9711]

No it's not just you, my link doesn't work. I have been working on making it "me" before I start sharing it again Right now it is a mess.

[readstoomuch]

Good question Bailey! I too would love to know how to customize Blogger. Can't wait to see yours when you get it fixed.

[hguenthe]

Do you know any html? If you do, it is pretty easy to either modify a template that you like the layout of to include your own colors, backgrounds, images, etc or to write your own.

When you go into the settings/configuration for your blog, you should see the "layout" tab and one of the options in there is "edit html". That will take you to the code that you can modify to your images.

I helped a friend get hers customized and began working on mine but haven't completed it yet. I set up a second blogger which isn't published (as they suggest) which is where I work through setting it up and customizing it and then once it is as you like, you can copy and paste the code over to your actual blog.

I also found that there is lots of information available on blogger and if you go to draft.blogger.com you get a few more options. It is kind of their beta site so has more instructional assistance.

[readstoomuch]

Heather, you always come through with the best "tech" help!

[hguenthe]

Originally Posted by readstoomuch

Heather, you always come through with the best "tech" help!

Seems fair to me when you all always come through with so much inspiration, encouragement and creativity for me. "tech" is the easy part for me... all this creativity is foreign to me and this community makes it so easy to be brave and try my hand at it all.. cause it is foreign to my family too so without you all, I wouldn't be learning all that I do everyday that I can manage to delve my fingers into scrapping.. which I plan to MAKE more time this year to do cause I so have missed it and dh notices when I haven't been cause it makes me happier.

[hguenthe]

Btw, most of blogger templates use html & xml code which if you look through, you likely can figure out what piece of your site it is referring to (the naming is often intuitive or there will be comments telling you what each piece of code does) but if you are looking for something specific and can't find it, point me to your blog and what you would like to change and I can hopefully tell you what piece of code to look for to change.

I am finding it hard to decide what look I want to go for... light or dark background... classic or as I call it "Anna inspired" graphic/grungy look (love her papers and brushes that I keep coming back to them when trying to make a background)... it's like a scrapbook page that refuses to come together for me yet.

[Starlite9711]

I don't know much code, but as you said i can pretty much figure out where the parts are in the code to change. I have been playing that way. I would like to use some of my dd supplies to make my own background and stuff. Would you suggest using a template then replacing the photos for the background. Will that even work? If I create my background in PS then put it online somewhere I should be able to replace the url with my picture right? I will Pm you when I get some stuff up to look at. Thanks Heather you always come through with the technical stuff!!

[hguenthe]

Yes, in order to use different graphics, you will need to "host" it online somewhere as blogger doesn't support that but there are a bunch of free or low cost options. Then you do exactly what you were thinking, change the image url to that location.

I find that for learning, it is easiest to use a template and adjust pieces so that you can see what changes and learn that way. Once you get comfortable with the pieces, you can then go more indepth and create your own exactly as you want.

Something to keep in mind for background images - the larger sized they are, the longer it will take to load for people. I am still working out what size to make a full page image but so far have found that about 1060 pixels wide seems to be a fairly good size. You can also get away with a much lower resolution than 300 dpi for web graphics which will help keep the size of the file lower.

Good luck! Look forward to seeing your creation.

[readstoomuch]

Bailey, I found a little book a couple of years ago by the name of "Publishing a Blog with Blogger" by Elizabeth Castro and published in 2005. I have read parts of it, and it has helped me over a few bumps in the road.

[Starlite9711]

Thanks Heather and Mollie, I have been playing most of the day today, and i am figuring it out, step by step. I will let you all know when I get something up!!!