I Haz A Shiny New LJ Header!!!

[fredbassett]

Come and look at The Hound's Kennel!  Thanks to my darling Evil Twin, munchkinofdoom , I now have a lovely header piccie of ma boys!

Comments

[bigtitch.livejournal.com]

Oh that's so pretty. Great choice of pics.
*licks screen*

[fredbassett]

All Munchkin's hard work. All I did was cover the screen in drool!

[reggietate.livejournal.com]

*iz jellus*

I really fancy a spiffy header for my journal, but I am in no way skilled at that kind of thing (so I just changed my journal style again this morning, instead!) It's the one thing I'm really surprised LJ doesn't make easy. I'm sure loads of people would like a personalised header yet have no idea how to hack CSS to get one.

[fredbassett]

I wouldn't have had teh first flippin' clue how to do it. My Evil Twin is a genius. *serious nod*

[munchkinofdoom.livejournal.com]

Actually, the CSS hacking is pretty easy. Any style that allows a background either allows you to change the properties easily (lower the contents by the height of the pic) or there is a simple line of CSS code that will move the contents down for you.

What style are you using?

[reggietate.livejournal.com]

Not entirely sure :-) Even though I only picked a new one this morning!

Hang on... Expressive, I think it is, Butterfly Red. Does that help?

Oh, and in case you were wondering where it had got to, your birthday fic will arrive sometime before the next millennium, but I've had to scrap the original story cos it was pants, so there's a major rewrite to get through first! I never thought Nick, Ryan and friendship could be so difficult!

[munchkinofdoom.livejournal.com]

Yep, I found it after commenting here. Unfortunately, Expressive doesn't have an option for headers or background images!

LJ is a bit cheeky here. There are only 3 styles that have an option for a header. But the good thing is that there are 23 styles that allow for a background image (two are only for paid accounts etc). It doesn't matter if only a few of those 23 styles allow for background picture properties, as the CSS code for that is dead easy. The code for adding a header/background image for a style that doesn't give you either is a bit more complicated even though it is only a few lines long. Mainly because there are so many variables to account for in positioning it and all sorts of other stuff.

This is the url for the list of styles that allow for a background image - http://community.livejournal.com/s2howto/16047.html

I'd suggest looking at them to see what simple one you like, and I can give you the code for lowering your LJ contents if the style you like doesn't give you the option. The code is dead simple as the only variable is how far you want to lower your content. Which usually about the height of your pic, give or take. Funnily enough, it isn't exact. *headdesk*

Fred just threw her hands in the air and gave me her password, so I did everything for her. But I can probably talk you through the worst of it on IM if you were worried.

The only think you'd need, of course, is a header image... *veg*

ps: oops! I can wait for birthday fic! *g* I can even beat your bunnies for you if it helps. Mind you, you might have to hide me from fred, as I'm supposed to be working on this Wednesday's instalment of S&S, not graphics!

pps: *headdesk* Your best bet seems to be Component or Smooth Sailing. They can both be easily modified to allow for a header image and already have a tag list. I can tell you from experience, if you don't know what you are doing in CSS, adding a tag list or tag cloud is nightmarish. I've done it for my LJ and for wakeling_fans and it involves creating a theme layer and is an interesting exercise that I'd not recommend for a beginner!

[reggietate.livejournal.com]

LJ is a bit cheeky here. There are only 3 styles that have an option for a header. But the good thing is that there are 23 styles that allow for a background image (two are only for paid accounts etc). It doesn't matter if only a few of those 23 styles allow for background picture properties, as the CSS code for that is dead easy. The code for adding a header/background image for a style that doesn't give you either is a bit more complicated even though it is only a few lines long. Mainly because there are so many variables to account for in positioning it and all sorts of other stuff.

Interesting. One of these days I ought to learn a bit of HTML, really. It's one of those things that's always been in the 'one day' pile :-)

I'd suggest looking at them to see what simple one you like, and I can give you the code for lowering your LJ contents if the style you like doesn't give you the option. The code is dead simple as the only variable is how far you want to lower your content. Which usually about the height of your pic, give or take. Funnily enough, it isn't exact. *headdesk*



Thanks, I'll have a look at that.

ps: oops! I can wait for birthday fic! *g* I can even beat your bunnies for you if it helps. Mind you, you might have to hide me from fred, as I'm supposed to be working on this Wednesday's instalment of S&S, not graphics!

LOL! There's no hurry. I'd probably want to make/snaffle a header first, anyway, so no worries. I wouldn't want to keep you from S&S too long or the Floppy Ears of Doom might come calling on me ;-)

pps: *headdesk* Your best bet seems to be Component or Smooth Sailing. They can both be easily modified to allow for a header image and already have a tag list. I can tell you from experience, if you don't know what you are doing in CSS, adding a tag list or tag cloud is nightmarish. I've done it for my LJ and for [info]wakeling_fans and it involves creating a theme layer and is an interesting exercise that I'd not recommend for a beginner!

I'll go and have a browse this afternoon, and see what's on offer. Ta very much for the info!

[joereaves.livejournal.com]

Over on IJ someone worked out the css code for a tag cloud for pretty much every style, since they have so few. i may have to bug you about how to do a header later, although I just use a sticky post for now because it lets me add text and such. Wouldn't change my IJ but I might change LJ.

[munchkinofdoom.livejournal.com]

Yep, just give a yell if I can help. Or put a post on your LJ... I suspect there are quite a few of us who can pitch in if needed.

So someone on IJ has added tags automatically to the styles available? Or is there a comm over there, like How2, that talks you through it? Adding custom CSS is easy. Having to create a custom layer not so much.

But, yep, adding a header is easy for any style that allows background images.

[joereaves.livejournal.com]

It's one of the comms for newcomers. Someone there was asked how to do a tag cloud in one specific style and when she posted the code there were comments for others so she did every one and made posts so you can just copy/paste it, which is what I did.

IJ people are incredibly welcoming and helpful. I think it was someone on the 07refugees comm. LJ is nice if you're in the right comms but I find that everyone on IJ seems to be relaxed and helpful.

I know nothing about CSS at all. I like the way I have my IJ set up with a sticky post and links to my fic index and such, but I'm not so happy with my LJ.

[telperion-15.livejournal.com]

And very shiny it is too! *drools*

You realise that we're going to be all distracted when trying to read your fic now, don't you? ;)

[fredbassett]

They are very droolworthy, aren't they!

[master-kogane.livejournal.com]

I love the warm colors of the layout!

[fredbassett]

Thanks, sweetie :) I claim no credit for any of it.

[capn-mactastic.livejournal.com]

*admires your shiny, pretty, pretty*

[fredbassett]

Ma boys are very smoochable, aren't they!

[capn-mactastic.livejournal.com]

They are tasty, tasty. also, I'm developing a small crush on Ben Miller

[fredbassett]

LOL, I developed a large crush on Ben Miller a while ago!

[mysteriousaliwz.livejournal.com]

Ooooooh!
*admires the Pretteh*

[fredbassett]

*polishes the pretty*

[byrons-brain.livejournal.com]

Ooooooooooh lovely!

[fredbassett]

Isn't it shiny!!

[thefakebook.livejournal.com]

Guh! *licks the screen*

[fredbassett]

It really is very lickable indeed.

[kerry-louise.livejournal.com]

Oh da pretty *pets the pretty boys* kudos to Munchkin... *ruffles the pups ears* sometimes I think you're a very spoiled puppy, lol.

[munchkinofdoom.livejournal.com]

*laughs* It was her early birthday present, but I suspect she's going to want fic too... *hides*

[fredbassett]

*makes puppy dog eyes at Evil Twin*

[munchkinofdoom.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Give me a pairing (cackles) and a prompt and I'll see what I can do.

*eyes approaching Wednesday warily*

[fredbassett]

Stephen/Ryan + desperation.

But NOT until you've sent me the next ep of S & S !

[munchkinofdoom.livejournal.com]

I haz a bunny! I hate you.

*eyes Wednesday with even greater trepidation*

[fredbassett]

I am a cute doggie, how can people resist me>

[verito295.livejournal.com]

*guh*
Oh wow.. *stares*
*drools*
Wow ok well I know I'm biased, but gah Lyle looks just sooo good and Ryan's little smile.. and Stephen's stubble! *swoons* Between this and your 'heat' ficlet you're killing me this morning honey

[fredbassett]

I know, the stubble is just perfect. They all are!

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Very cool.

[fredbassett]

Munchkin is a star!

[rospberry.livejournal.com]

Oh, VERY pretty!!! *stares*

[fredbassett]

I get distracted every time I look at them ....

[fififolle]

Oh that's lovely!!

[fredbassett]

It certainly is!

[deinonychus-1.livejournal.com]

ooh, pretty.

Right, I know I've been crap and not commented on a lot of fic this week - it's because I haven't had time to *read* the sodding fic! But now all my shopping is done, and I have sat down with a drink and intend to wallow in fic for the next few hours before tonight's Casualty. Starting with S&S.

[fredbassett]

LOL, you have a lot to get through! Have a lovely time!

[deinonychus-1.livejournal.com]

everyone's been so damn *prolific* with fic this week. Which is great, but as the week went on I could see everything on my f-list and knew I was just falling further and further behind on reading stuff. *flails*

[fredbassett]

I think it's all been in Denial, apart from May's A/C final part in P-Fanfic, which I think you've read, so just work your way forward or backwards through Denial and you won't miss anything.

[cordeliadelayne]

Ooh, pretty :D

[fredbassett]

I think I'm a little bit in love with these boys!

Love your icon!!

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Oh, yum! *Dribbles, drools and licks the screen*

[fredbassett]

*mops drool off screen*