What you’ll need:
Gimp image creating software- Download GIMP here
Image hosting site- I recommend Image Shack other image hosing sites limit the size of your upload.
Creative spirit
Step 1
Open up Gimp. Create a new image by going to File-> New . This base layer needs to be 1450 x 1100.
Fill this layer with a color. At this point any color will do. To do this click on the “Bucket Fill Tool” on the left side toolbar. Then click on the new image you just created. You can change the fill color by clicking on the Foreground & Background color change squares in the middle of this left side toolbar.
Create a smaller layer by clicking on New Layer on the right hand toolbar. This layer needs to be 750 x 1100. Select “White” under the “Layer Fill Type” options.
Click and hold at the + sign. When you click a small dark triangle will appear above the layer ruler at the top of the screen. As you move the cursor the triangle will move. Shift the triangle so that it is at 725.
Step 3
Now that you have the two essential layers in the right place play with the background. Add color texture, shading or even your own photo. Keep in mind that the small layer is where you text will go so you need to be able to read text on it. But the big layer is fair game for anything your imagination can cook up. Make sure that you have the correct layer selected on the right side panel.
Keep in mind that nothing below the small layer will be seen unless you adjust the opacity of this layer. Most of all Have Fun.
Many of Gimp’s fun effects can be found under the Filters menu at the top of the screen.
For the purposes of this tutorial I am going to use the Coffee Stain filter. This filter adds extra layers to your image. If Gimp does this you just want to make sure that the smaller text layer is always on top. You can do this by clicking and moving the small layer to the top of the layer stack in the right toolbar.
Play around with the background until you are happy with it.
Step 4
Save you new background. Save it once in Gimp’s. xcf format.
Then to a save as and save it also in .jpg format. To do so add ".jpg" to the end of your document name.
When the “Export File screen” comes up click “Export”. Then click “Save” on the “Save as JPG” screen.
Saving it in both formats means that you can go back and alter it if you need to. Upload the .jpg document to the image hosting site of your choice. Once you’ve done this you can close out of Gimp.
Step 5
Upload the .jpg image onto the image hosting site of your choice. Below is an explanation of how to add it onto Image Shack.
Open http://www.imageshack.us/
If you don’t have an Image Shack address you can upload an image from the main page and sign up for an account later.
Click “Browse…” and select the .jpg background image you just created.
Check the box next to “resize image?” and select “optimize without resizing”
Then click “start upload!”
Image Shack will take you to a page with all the links you need. For the next step you will need the Direct Link code that appears on the top of the page.
Step 6
Now you need to add the image onto your blog. Copy the html code below and insert it onto your blog. Copy the direct link from your image into the area on the html code that says “Insert your direct URL here”.
For Blogger you can add this HTML code to your page by creating a new gadget in the Layout area.
Go to Layout
Click Add a Gadget
Click the plus sign next to HTML/ Java Script
Then cut and past the script below into the Content area.
Replace the text “Insert your direct URL here” with the direct link from your image.
Click Save on the pop up screen
Click Save on the Edit Layout screen.
Congratulations you’re done. Enjoy a brand new background made by you.
View Instructables version of this tutorial.
How to make your own completely free blog background - More DIY How To Projects
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