|
|
 |
|
Reply
| |
| So you want to make your own background but don't know HTML? Well that's not a problem if you use this simple trick I learned. If you know how to use the Table Command found on the Menu Bar above (using Internet Explorer-we will use this for the entire lesson) and you know how to stack, you will be able to make a custom background in just a few minutes! So let's get started! First things first... Open a new message window...
| Step 1. Screenshot: 1 | | Create/Edit Table Select the Table Icon on the top Menu Bar - see it on the screenshot. A small window will open for you, as shown in the second screenshot. You will be creating a New Table. The Edit Table will be there if you decide to return to that table to make changes further down the line after you create this table and decide to change it. | 
| Step 2. Screenshot: 2 | | Select Rows and Columns In the Rows box to make it simple at first, enter the number 1. This will give you one Row* in the table. In the Columns box to make it simple at first, enter the number 1. This will give you one Column* in the table. *Rows: Go across the page.
*Columns: Go up and down on the page. | 
| Step 3. Screenshot: 3 | | Select Padding and Spacing In the Cell Padding* box to make it simple at first, enter the number 12, this is my favorite for a simple beginners background. You will play with this number as you build more backgrounds and use different background graphics and colors to give variety. In the Cell Spacing* box, enter the number 1, which is what I prefer for a simple background. Once you get more advanced you will change this number for different effects. *Cell Padding: The space between the table border and the text.
*Cell Spacing: The width between cells in a table. | 
| Step 4. Screenshot: 4 | | Select Borders In the Borders* box to make it simple at first, enter the number 2, this is my favorite for a simple beginners background. You will play with this number as you build more backgrounds. In the Border color* box choose the color you would like your border to be. *Borders: The line around the entire table or box. *Border Color: The color of the line around the entire table or box. The default color is #000000, which is the Hex for Black. If you have your Custom Color Hex Code you can manually enter it in the box instead of selecting it off the color chart that is provided. I delete any color input as it gives me a 3D effect border automatically if the color field is blank. | 
 Continued in reply... | TUT - Screenshots © 2008 Gayle Hirschberger Designs. All Rights Reserved. Do Not Copy or Reprint without Written Permission.
|
|
 First
Previous
2-6 of 6
Next
Last
|
|
Reply
| |
| Step 5. Screenshot: 5 | | Select Background In the Background Color* box, select what color you want as your background color. For this exercise select Blue so you will follow the examples in this lesson. When making your own you can choose whatever color you want, keeping in mind that this will be your bottom most color. You will be stacking the tables/boxes on top of one another to create the background. In the Background Image URL* box is where you would enter the address of the image you wish to use. We will not be using an image for this exercise so leave this blank for right now. *Background Image URL: Here is where you enter the http:// address of your image. *Background Color: The color that fills the entire table or box. Again this uses the HEX codes. If you have a custom HEX code you can manually enter it here. | 
| Step 6. Screenshot: 6 | | Your First Layer of your Background This is what you should have on your screen now. If so, continue with the next step. If not, just clear your window and start over with the first step. | 
| Step 8. Screenshot: 8 | | Your Second Layer of your Background For your next layer select the New/Edit Table Icon again. Repeat all the steps and Select Yellow as your Background Color. | 
| Step 9. Screenshot: 9 | | Your Third Layer of your Background For your next layer select the New/Edit Table Icon again. Repeat all the steps and Select Red as your Background Color. | 
Continued in reply... |
|
Reply
|  0 recommendations | Message 3 of 6 in Discussion |
|
| This message has been deleted by the manager or assistant manager. |
|
Reply
| |
| Step 10. Screenshot: 10 | | Now you are ready to Stack Click on the Yellow Box to get the Handles on it and while holding down your mouse button, drag it into the center of the Blue Box. | 
| Step 11. Screenshot: 11 | | Check your Progress Check your progress on stacking. Is this what you have? If so move forward. If not go back to where your progress is the same as in this Lesson. | 
| Step 12. Screenshot: 12 | | Repeat the process with the Red Box Click on the Red Box and while holding down the mouse button, drag the box into the center of the Yellow Box. | 
| Progress Check Screenshot: 13 | | You now have a Three Layer Background Great Job! You have just made a three layer background without using and HTML. Simple isn't it! You can further customize this as you will see in the next few screenshots that I have created for you. It really is a very simple process and all your messages can be personalized this way in just a few minutes. | 
|
|
Reply
| | 0 recommendations | Message 5 of 6 in Discussion |
|
| This message has been deleted by the manager or assistant manager. |
|
Reply
| |
| Step 14. Screenshot: 14 | | Customizing your Backgrounds Enter your text into the center most box in your background. I have also used portions of the layers for text depending on the background and what I was posting. | 
| Step 15. Screenshot: 15 | | Text Style Highlight your text, and using the Font Style button, select the style of font you want. Sometimes your chosen font displays right on your screen but after sending the message if displays incorrectly. The Problem: You added text after selecting a different than default style. Solution: Highlight all text after all your entering and re-select your choice of font. You may select Other Font... If you desire another font you can select this and enter it into the dialog box that pops up. Sometimes you have to authorize the pop-up. Remember the font you choose may not be installed on all computers, so when selecting a font, instead of typing in a single font list a Font Family* so all computers will have a font to display. I list my desired font first, then my second choice, then my third and then the general family it is and get my desired font on the most computers I can. TIP: See other TUT's to further customize with paragraph styles, bullets and numbering, indents etc. * Font Family: serif, cursive, sans-serif, etc. | 
| Step 16. Screenshot: 16 | | Text Color Using the: A button select the color you want your text. Again you may enter your custom HEX code or simply click on the color. | 
| Step 17. Screenshot: 17 | | Using an Image in your Background First you need to find the address of your image. Cut and paste is the most accurate way to enter it for an error in this address will make your image not display properly. Just enter it into the URL space and your image will be the background in this layer and will show instead of the color. |  | Now you are ready. You'll be a pro in No Time! | | Using your Knowledge With practice you can do just about anything with this. You can make as many layers as you wish. Just remember as you add layers it takes away from the visible message/text area. Working in an area you do not want the majority of it to be filled with background. So play with it to make your custom backgrounds. By using the Edit Table command you can change the different layers to see what they look like with different colors, cell padding, cell spacing and borders. In no time, you'll be ready to hit that tiny little box near the bottom left hand of your message box that looks like: Use HTML to create your page. - Edit the HTML formatting commands directly. |  Good Luck & Happy Posting!!! Love, Summer | | | |
|
|
First
Previous
2-6 of 6
Next
Last
|
|
|
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
Return to Basic Comp TUT's