I have been trying to change the background of my blog for a while. The old one is just a bit too...bland. I'm amazed at the websites and templates available. Some blog backgrounds I did a double take at were Twilight, Breaking Dawn, Hannah Montana, Taylor Hicks (!! But no David Cook!), Obama, swear-word themed backgrounds, Coronation Street, Jack Sparrow (I was seriously tempted), iPhones, Imagine (yes, the song), Don't Speak by No Doubt, Royal Family...you name it, it was all there. What was missing was a background that blew me away enough to make me want it! No backgrounds for antiques, writing, fountain pens, war medals, Duke of Wellington, war or military. None for a pile of books either - the backgrounds that were tagged "books" featured a particular book, which, more often than not, was either Harry Potter or Twilight.
There were three backgrounds I particularly liked - subtle, classy and...writer-y, if you know what I mean. I have no idea as to how to download the first one or add the code. I clicked download for the other, got the codes and pasted them in the HTML content box (one at a time, of course). I couldn't even open my blog after that! This is one of them - http://images.blogskins.com/skin_images/134/391/images/mainfz3.gif. So I decided to settle for The Hobbit and downloaded the XML file. It doesn't even open, let alone let me install it.
I'd like a few ideas regarding blog backgrounds, if anyone has any. I'm looking for the same colour-scheme; maybe an open ink-pot and a fountain pen at one corner. An open book at another corner. It has to be free - I'm broke. So if you can, please do help out an internet-unsavvy fellow-blogger.
I wish I could help - I need to upgrade as well & need a website but I'm computerstoopid I'm afraid. I can't even figure out how to add links or a "buy" button for my book. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI haven't meddled with backgrounds much. I like white backgrounds to focus on the words and pictures of what I post. Sorry that I can't help out much. However, if you'd like me to design a blog HEADER for you, I can do that. I'm brilliant with that. :D
ReplyDeleteI'm not very blogger literate, but I found my banner, which I love, at http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/03/05/blog-headers-for-free-download/
ReplyDeleteI like a very simple template. And I personally like yours, although I understand the desire to try something new.
Have you ever checked out PChuck's The Real Blogger Status?:
ReplyDeletehttp://blogging.nitecruzr.net/
He has some good articles, and you may find one that helps, also you can leave questions. Maybe he can give you a link where you can find decent templates or how to customize an existing Blogger template.
Also, check out Blogger's healp group on layouts and templates. I'd ask for advice here (Might need a Google Account to access):
http://groups.google.com/group/blogger-help-customizing/topics
This collection of template posts is from Blogger Status (there's a post midway about Third Party Templates--I didn't read it, but I hope it's useful (it's also available in the link follows):
http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/search?q=templates
And this one (the above mentioned post is actually at the top of this post collection):
http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/search/label/Template%20Problems
You can search from the Bogger Status site. I used the Keyword: template. There are links at the bottom of the posts that will take you to different post collections that may be of use. Let us know if you find a useful site...I'm looking for a lovely new format for my writer blog. Bye!
Here's a quickie look at the post mentioned above in case you're pressed for time. I put this separately so you can read it then delete it:
ReplyDeleteThe post RE Third Party Templates...
Friday, February 27, 2009
Third Party Templates, Again
This month, we have another round of bloggers complaining of problems being experienced while uploading templates provided by Pyzam and other third party sources.
I'm tired of wasting my time trying to upload a new template that just won't upload. I am new to Blogger and just when I knew where beautiful templates are, that's when Blogger upload starts going crazy. It used to be very easy, no hassle before. I'm starting to lose my interest in Blogger. I'm beginning to resent the fact that is difficult to upload third party templates now.
and
I have been trying to change my template, but I am receiving error messages every time I try. It states:
We were unable to save your template. Please correct the error below, and submit your template again.
Your template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure all XML elements are closed properly.
XML error message: The markup in the document following the root element must be well-formed.
Here we have another group of bloggers who expect Blogger to support all aspects of Blogging, including contributions from unknown third party authors, who may or may not be authoritative, benevolent, and competent in their work.
I've been watching Pyzam for many months, and wondering what would happen, as they became more popular. There are a number of issues here. Some of them you're obviously aware of, others you may not be. Everybody won't be aware of the same issues either.
The most obvious issue is third party code, in general. Pyzam contributors will have their own standards and priorities. They may not test Blogger code as thoroughly as Blogger contributors will. Some products may contain code which is intended for other blogging platforms too, and which may conflict with Blogger standard code.
Another issue is HTML vs XML - aka Classic vs Layouts. Many Pyzam templates are written in HTML, which is what Classic Blogger templates use. The "Upload" button, though, is only found in the "Edit HTML" wizard of Layouts Blogger. Templates written for Classic Blogger blogs won't work for Layouts Blogger, and vice versa.
Unfortunately, there's no indicator in any template that tells us "This template is written for Classic Blogger.", or "This template works only in Layouts Blogger.". When you upload, or modify, a template designed for one standard, using a wizard of the other, you will cause problems - and the problems will be unpredictable. Some of the problems will result in immediate bX codes, others may simply produce a corrupt template, and problems which show up later. Some problems have produced damage so severe and subtle, that deletion of the blog provided the final solution.
If you're going to use some Pyzam templates, you may have to revert the blog to use Classic / HTML. You won't have an "Upload" button there, nor will you have the gadgets and other accessories available to you.
Still another issue is support for Pyzam templates. It's ethically, morally, and technically wrong to expect Blogger to unconditionally support third party code. Some issues that you experience may be known by Pyzam contributors. Your reporting them to Pyzam may help you, other Pyzam customers, and Pyzam contributors. If you are one of those experiencing these problems, you may want to identify a Pyzam support forum, and be in contact with the helpers or staff there.
So, feel free to use templates provided by Pyzam and other contributors, if you want a beautiful blog and you aren't satisfied by the Blogger native selection. But, understand and accept the limitations which you will run into.
I see you already tried blogskins, but here's what I found in Blogger Help, anyway:
ReplyDeleteIf you don't see something you like in our default templates, and don't feel like making your own, there are still other choices. Many third-party services provide templates for you to download and use on your blog. A Google search should turn up lots of possibilities, but here are a few links to get you started. (Note: Many of these third-party templates will only work if you are using a classic template.)
BlogSkins.com
Point of Focus
Ehsany.tk
Noipo.org
Templates 4 Free [Portuguese]
Note: None of these links are recommendations or endorsements, as we at Blogger haven't had a chance to test them.
Penny
You hidin' out? On vacation? Still working on the background? What's up???
ReplyDeleteHey how did you post that under your "post a comment" area?
ReplyDeletei dont know if it is my new blog layout or something but it just wont seem to let me post a comment on a friend of mines and she got the same layout from the sam place i did..and she also had trouble posting a comment on my blog too!!
ReplyDelete