Tips for making a nice, simple and compatible blog layout

Sunday, September 03, 2006

I'm not good at explaining but i'll try. just want to give some tips for those of you who love designing esp making a blog layout. here i go;

The main important point of making a skin is compatibility. Make sure that your coding can works in most common browsers such as IE, opera, firefox mozilla or even netscape. How? First you must know basic html. I recommend xhtml, transitional 1, dont use a strict one. what's the difference? well, xhtml uses all lowercase elements and if u want to know more, try www.w3schools.com it's a really useful site :D i'm still using it till now. Then i also recommend DIV layer instead of Table. Table is usually screwed in mozilla firefox but if u're really good, you can try. Simple div coding without any iframes or tables will make it easier for you. remember, blog is not a permanent website, fancy stuff is forbidden hoho i mean better not. Simple is the key.

Graphic. In terms of graphic u may be as creative and bizarre as you want. doesn't matter so long as it's not messy. Match the colour very well. You may use images from gettyimages.com and search for "royalty free" cause not all the graphics are free for redistribution. u don't want them to sue u do u? hehe. Change the image by cropping, using brushes, changing colours and etcetera. this is the part where u get all mad and crazy like a scientist haha. niway i don't recommend deviatart.com since you need to have a permission to use and the designers mosly want their arts not being cropped or changed. they just want u to use it as a "background" not an object for the site. Also i don't recommend threadless.com Why? because you need a permission to use as well. And afterwards, u may need to show them ur work BEFORE u use it on ur site. It's just too much work. ps. u might want to have a look around www.goodtutorials.com for PSP.

Brushes. Well, most of you will find it hard to find a really good brush for ur image. also u may need to match it and not messing up the image. Well there are lots of websites giving ppl free brushes however remember to give them a proper credit or else, don't ever try to put ur site on the net. i'm being harsh i know but it's just fair isn't it?.

Textures. Same as brushes. Texture is used for background image or on the top of ur image to blend in. Use PSP to do it :D it gives a really nice effect. I really respect those people who made their graphics themselves. It made you feel proud don't u? well i do :D

Javascript. Hoho this is HARD i know. I just hate doing script for my codes. it takes alot of time. Well i just recommend u not to use any fancy script for your blog. why? because remember! it's a BLOG! it's not a permanent site like yahoo.com or youtube.com. I'm sure u will change ur blogskin once in a while and that's why it's just a pain in the ass to transfer all fancy codes to another page. One more thing, Javascript is compatible with only few browsers around. It might screwed the page.

Last one. Simple is Really is the KEY. However that applies to only CODING. For graphic, so long as u don't mess it up, it's okay. Creativity is needed here.

2:09 AM

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