custom LJ headers made easy....

[thoreau]

I had a few folks recently ask me "hey bob - how did you do that custom LJ header?" Well - first I need to give props to bukephalus for showing me how... but here it is in a few simple steps.

The customization I'm showing here only works on the blog theme "expressive". Why? because the page header is designed to fit snugly atop the 942 pixel centered design that the expressive theme uses.

First step is to look through the expressive themes (click here to view them all ) and pick a colour scheme that you like. I chose "autumn kyoto setting sun" because it matched nicely with the colours I wanted to use on LJ in my header.

Then you want to design a header in Photoshop or Iphoto - or whatever imaging tool you have at your disposal. The width must be exactly 942 pixels and the height can be variable. You will also need to write down the height of your header image for further use.

But don't get carried away - anything over say 400px? is a not a header any longer - it's a giant assed graphic.

Upload that into your live journal photoset - (click here to upload your photo) - and when you are done uploading your photo - write down the URL for the photo. For instance - the URL for my current header is http://pics.livejournal.com/low_fat_muffin/pic/0011pr6s - So I wrote that down for future use.

Now - :) - change your journal theme to your chosen "Expressive" theme setup - and then click on "Custom CSS".

in that field you are going to type the following:



of course, replacing the code where it says "the URL for your header image here" with the URL we wrote down when we uploaded it. we also need to tell the CSS how tall your image is - so you'd put in the pixel height of your image there. You can also either create a custom background on the sides of your blog - or upload a background. if no background? simply delete that line "background: #5d5198 url(THE URL OF YOUR CUSTOM BACKGROUND HERE) top center;background-attachment:fixed;" from the Custom CSS.

Make sure that the field that says "Use layout's "Base Weblog" stylesheet" is marked "YES"

Then press "save changes" and WHAMO! your header is installed.

now - the one thing you'll notice is that your LJ navigation across the top of the blog is gone. You'll have to add that as links on the left column of your blog. (clicking here) and adding this code into your sidebar (of course, changing out for your username on LJ)



now - whenever we're trying something new - there is likely to be trouble - or challenges. or "WHAT THE #$*(@# happened to my journal?" when you try this. So - if you get to the end of all this - and are ranting and raving? you can email me - or find me on chat on AOL "TheWaldenbear" or Yahoo "ThoreauinSF" - - or of course message me here on LJ.

I have a lot of fun keeping my LJ header changing and fresh. :) and perhaps you will too!

Comments

[bootedintexas.livejournal.com]

url here?

artistic on the outside type twin confuzzed.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

autistic is spelt with a U not an R. :);)

Come find me on chat or call me and we can talk about it.

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

seriously Drew - I can set it up for you if you'd like... just email me, message me or call me!

[sfkev.livejournal.com]

I did mine a couple of month's ago and created the graphic from odds and ends ;-) Leave it to the gay boyz to "prettify and custom functionalize" their territory!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

OOOOH I love yours - thats a great shot of the city. my new one (done this morning) is too busy I think. but the cool thing is all you have to do is replace the graphic. :)

[sfkev.livejournal.com]

Thanks!...it took me awhile to get the water moving, but it works. And you are so right..just change the graphic and POOF!!...a whole new look (now if I can just get that to work in real life!)

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

bbtw - you and I should do coffee sometime - or soak in palmolive or whatever. :)

[scorpioatl.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Thanks!

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

you are welcome - yours turned out awesome!

[kenwoodville.livejournal.com]

Very cool! I'll have to remember this entry so I can attempt to customize mine sometime.

[paterson-si.livejournal.com]

THANKS!!!!

It was so easy! :)

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

and you are so adorable too :)