Many of you have been asking me for some tips on how to create your own personalized blog header/banner from a photo. As you have seen over the last 18 months, I have changed mine about 50 times, and still have many more to share with you. I LOVE taking photos and really enjoy turning them into personalized blog banners for my blog.
So.. here is how I do it…
1. upload a photo from my camera to my computer… for instance.. this one:
{{I took a photo of a bowl of ornaments at Crate & Barrel! (hee hee)}}
2. Open the photo in Adobe Photoshop Elements. and CROP it to 770 pixels wide by approx 225 pixels high.. this gives you a rectangle, and this size works well for the size of my blog.. it may vary depending on which blog service and which template you are using. Your blog hosting service should be able to tell you how many pixels wide and high your photo should be cropped to.
3. Alter the photo is cropped, adjust the settings if you want it lighter, darker, etc (for mine, I lightened it to make the ornaments look white)
4. Add your text (I made my text into a .png file which is like a watermark so I can drag it onto any photo without retyping it each time)
5. Add a border, and here is what I came up with:
6. Upload it to your blog.. you may need to check with the tutorial section of your blog service for more info.
If you want to see a few of the other photo banners I've created for myself, CLICK HERE.
If you are feeling like you just read that entire post in Greek or Chinese, you are not alone. When I first started my blog, I played around with this for about a month until I could figure it all out. There are services and demonstrators who do this for a living who would be happy to help you I'm sure.
Here are a few people I know who provide blog services:
Michelle Laycock stampinkitty@sbcglobal.net https://www.laycockdesigns.com
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Amy Celona
Web & Blog Design, Development & Hosting for Small Business
EMAIL | Design@WebsByAmy.com WEBSITE| www.WEBSBYAMY.COM
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Great tutorial. How about one showing how you made the shaker globe at the bottom of your posts! 🙂
Robbie
Your banner is just beautiful! Thanks for the tip on how to take a simple picture into one of your creative banners.
Thanks so much! I have always wondered how to do this.
I just want to thank you for you blog. I visit it daily and you have the BEST ideas!
Thanks for sharing each day and Merry Christmas:)
Thanks so much for the blog banner tips, I really appreciate it. One question though, how do I make it into a .png file (step #4)? I just bought PE 7 as a gift from hubby but won’t get to use it till after Christmas.
Thanks so much for sharing this tip. I have always admire your blanners and was planning on email you with the question. Do you own Adobe Photoshop Elements or is a service over the internet.
Have a wonderful Christmas??
Anne
Patty,
Thank you for your post today! It was an unexpected Birthday Surprise. ;o) At least it will get me a little closer to what I want to do with my blog. You and your blog are awesome!!!
Stampin in the SON! jenni Hogan
http://www.stampinintheson.com
Thanks so much for the info. I think I will give this a try after Christmas.
Happy Holidays
Heather
Dear Patty,
Thank you so much for posting this information. It took me a while and some help from my dh, but I finally did it. If you want to see my very first one, it’s at: http://astampersperspective.typepad.com. I just got a brand new Canon Rebel xsi and I’ve been having fun taking tons of photos. So, I see TONS of new banners in my future thanks to you!
I really love you blog and find great inspiration from you. Thanks for taking the time to share! Stampin’ Hugs and Merry Christmas!
Fabulous! I was trying to make my own over Thanksgiving break and just wasn’t liking how it was turning out. I’ll use your tips and get to work on one for my blog real soon! Love, love, love your blog…
Thanks for this, it helped demystify the whole process a little bit.