Picture Window Dark

I picked the dark theme of the Picture Window Template.

Transparent text header images work again.
YAY!
However, Blogger is automatically stretching the image.
The transparent text still looks okay, so I'll leave it alone.

However, I tried an old header image with text and the automatic stretch made the image and text blurry. Yuk. I couldn't figure out how to display it at its original size. I've used an old header image before and it worked okay. So this is a new glitch. The header image sizes I tried were 740x150 and 560x150. Both were stretched bigger and looked blurry. I think I tried a different height as well and that didn't work either.

Tried using my own background image, which is a new feature (9 Sep 10) in Template Designer and that worked just fine. The option is under Background. After you upload your image, then you get the options for tiling and alignment. The image is stored in your Blogger Picasa account. So it can be deleted later if desired.

Screenshots and image samples:

Seamless tile I made. (Free to snag if anybody wants it.)


Screenshot:


I also like this space image in the Science category of background images available in Designer Template and decided to use that on my main blog.



Had to add blockquote coding again and changed the colors to a dark purple.
Code and info is here.

colors I used:
border:#67228a
background: #411757

Screenshot:

Picture Window Gold Pattern

Tweaked my template again.
How about gold, taupe, black, white

Transparent Header images no longer work in Blogger, so I went back to a plain text Header until that gets fixed.

Here's a screenshot (Laptop):


Border code:
dotted black on bottom of post and solid black on top of post.



Pattern:

Picture Window - Bottom Border Divider

I add a bottom-border divider to Picture Window Template.

Can change it to desired color via Template Designer, Advanced, Post, Border Color.

Border Screenshot:


Code screenshot:(Edit HTML area of Blogger.)

Picture Window Autumn

Same Picture Window Template.
Add autumn leaves background for the obvious choice autumn template.

I bought a Laptop, so now I get a 14" 16:9 screen view and the 17" 4:3 screen view of my old monitor.

Laptop View Screenshot:


The image:


Other autumn leaves background images:

Picture Window Sunrise

I've been hungry for orange lately.
Decided to fiddle with Blogger Templates again and see what I could come up with in the color orange that's "naturey."

Used my same Picture Window Template with the serene Mountain scene.
Changed the background image (Nature category) and used the suggested text colors.
Had to change the Post Border color and Post Background color to transparent (Advanced Section).



It was a little tricky getting the header text to be readable yet blend in.
I came up with a gradient for text on transparent png image.



Added one of my bird pics (70% opacity) on my transparent bg name avatar.
Not sure how I like it.

Here's the screenshot result of my template now:

Back To Picture Window Template

Back to Picture Window Template. LOL
I got on the minimalistic idea with that gray Awesome Template (previous post), but found I like the transparency of the Picture Window Template rather than the boxy look of the Awesome Template.

I found a nice serene soft mountain background under the nature category.



I did have to set the posting area to semi-transparent so the background would show thru that area. I also got rid of the borders. The right column is semi-transparent by default.

Then I fiddled with a header title, which turned out to be a selection with a soft drop shadow in Paint Shop Pro 9. Got rid of the splashy purple flower avatar by profile area and added my name in a fancy font but soft dark gray.

I'll sit with that for awhile.

Pink Themes

Continuing with the pink theme.
A few different backgrounds.
Same semi-transparent white header image I created.

Picture Window Paper Texture Header

I made my own header image and like that better than using the one from the template.
I tested three different kinds and decided I like the semi-transparent white version the best.

Here are examples of what the three versions look like when applied to this template:



NOTE: Font is TraftonScript.

Picture Window Paper Texture

I like the Picture Window Template because of that semi-transparent sidebar.


I selected the single column right sidebar layout.
This would give me a wider post area for bigger photo postings if so desired.

I selected a texture and color.


Made the posting background, header background and text the color pink.
If I find a color I like when I'm fiddling around, I do a screenshot of it so I don't lose the color.



I like the Watermark Template too, but that's more limited because the sidebar is totally transparent and you can't read the text very well if you use a different background. I'll post an example of that too eventually.

My First Template

My first template I made with Template Designer and the one I'm currently using on my main blog. I really like it.
It is the Picture Window Template with double column right sidebar layout.
I selected a different background in the Nature category.
Added my own header image.
Fiddled with the other element colors.

My Own Image Background goes with this template.