Well Blogger has come up with yet another way to add a custom background to our blogs. The good news is, this time it's really easy, and there's NO CODE involved! Yay!!
(You can click on any of the images to see them larger)Step 1: The first thing really is that you will need to make sure you already have a background saved to your computer, since you will be uploading it later. You can use any of the ones that I've made from HERE, or you could use your own if you have one.
Step 2: Go into your Dashboard and click on "Template Designer" as shown above.
Step 3: Select "Picture Window". You will notice there are 3 options for "Picture Window", use the first one, next to the arrow, is the best option (with the blue sky). Select it by clicking on it.
Step 4: Click on "Background" and you will see a screen like the one above. Then click on the tiny white arrow next to the box labeled "Background Image". You will then see a pop up box like the one in the image below.
Step 5: In the pop up box select "Upload Image".
Step 6: Next click on "Browse" and find the background image that you have saved on your computer, and select it. Then click "Done".
Step 7 - Make sure you deselect the box marked "Scroll with Page". (If you don't do this, your background won't fill the whole page, and it will look yucky!). Then click on "Apply to Blog".Yay! Your done!!
I'm so excited about this new way to add a custom background on Blogger! The background will load faster and you will be able to take advantage of all the great new features on Blogger's New Template Designer, like customizing your columns and footers etc. So much fun!
Going forward I will no longer be making Minima Backgrounds, since there is no longer a need to do so.
Please Note: For those of you that paid for a custom background from a Web Designer, make sure you back up your blog and design first, as you will loose the design (if not saved to your computer) when you switch to the New Template Designer. I would also highly recommend that you discuss making this change with your Web Designer before changing to the new templates.
Thank you SO much Karen, this is something that I'd put on my 'to do' list and you've explained it so well that even techno gumby like me can surely do it!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you,
Felicity x
Thanks Felicity! It really is easy!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you too!
Wow thanks! I will try this.
ReplyDeleteKathy
No more Minima?!?
ReplyDeleteBut what about we, who are guarding our old Stretch Minima, *with our lives*?
I switched to New Editor templates on my Test Blogs, and can not go back to old Stretch Minima. -sigh-
But have not switched, on my regular blog!!!
Hi Aunt Amelia,
ReplyDeleteIf you go to my "Super Simple Tips" section, you will find a tutorial on how to get back to Minima again. It's not gone, just hidden a bit!
Thank you so much for this great tip. You are very good! love you site. Sharon
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for making this super easy for us. I practiced and changed the look of my blog
ReplyDeleteI wonder how I can change the footer which is gray into a white one.
Thank you! I just changed mine and it loads much faster and without showing the "blank" background for a second. That second of the blank background has always bothered me. You are awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks you guys!
ReplyDeletePam, I agree with you, that delay was super annoying!!
Hi Karen....Thank you so much for this great information...My only problem was that Blogger kept rejecting the image as being too large. The file size is 1450x1225 so it falls within the perameters....I tried resizing it but that didn't help. Any advice?
ReplyDeleteHeather
Hi Heather,
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you got it working I can see a background on your blog. Or are you trying to load a different one? Sometimes Blogger has glitches, and you just have to wait a bit and try again.
Thank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in CBH Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, under the Blog Resource(s) post on Jan. 05, 2011. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteNew blogger here.... Thanks so much for sharing all the info here. I will be using it!!!!
ReplyDeleteJudi
Saw this post a few days ago and just got around to trying it out. Thank you so much for taking the time to make the instructions easy to follow. I really, truly appreciate your work!
ReplyDeleteThankyou Karen, Its because of people like you that people like me can pretend to our friends that we are computer litirate :-)
ReplyDeleteKaren, your directions were so clear, and I followed them to a 'T'. The only thing I changed was that Blogger suggested loading an image that was at least 1800x1600 pixels in order to go full width on the screen. So I changed the size of my image, then did a "Save As" so I wouldn't lose the original. I got a message that the image was successfully uploaded to my blog, but it's not showing up - just a big white space, now. Can you advise me on what size my image should be, and what format I should save it as? I am using Photoshop CS3. Thanks. Blog: http://cricutcard-iologist.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteKaren, I decided to use your beautiful Valentine background and header. Thanks so much - your designs are lovely.
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteI saw that message too and when I changed the size to their recommendations, it didn't display properly so I'm ignoring it! The regular size fit just fine anyway, so I don't know why I bothered!
Thank You soo much! I can't wait to try this!
ReplyDeletethanks so much! i used the aqua music background on my blog!
ReplyDeletepearlshaynea.blogspot.com
Karen, I'm just wondering, how come there is no need for minima anymore. I just switched to that template, and am in the process of trying to get it looking decent. The MAIN reason I switched was because of the wide layout. Is there an easy way to make the picture window template wider that the 1000px, max?
ReplyDeleteYou are awesome girl, and LOVE your blog.
Thanks a ton for all your greatness!!!
Bella :)
Hi Bella,
ReplyDeleteYes, you can widen it. There's a great tutorial on how to do that, you can find it Here. I used it myself and it works perfectly. There are lots of advantages to using the new templates, there are so many more options for layouts, you can customize your footer, even upload your own background if you choose to etc. Lots more options to make it how you want it, easily! I was originally against it all, only because you couldn't use a custom background when they first rolled it out, you could only use the ones that they designed. Now that they have fixed that, it really is the best of both worlds!!
Hi, Karen! I liked very much your bakgrounds. I made everything, but I couldn't put it on my blog. I don't know why. Could you help me? I don't know how...rsrsrsr...I'm from Brazyl and have a little dificult to do this, but I translated try twice.Kiss: Carol (www.blogcarolcarneiro.blogspot.com)
ReplyDeletethanks , these instructios were really helpful to some one just getting started!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the information on how to create a blog ... it was super easy...and I've always wanted to enlarge the title of my blog and took a little time to tweak. Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen, just used your aquamusic background and my blog looks so much better and it was very easy. I have to say I think I have an obsession with your two blogs, hopefully it will wear off one day!
ReplyDeleteThank you for clarifying how this is done! You have no idea how many frustrating hours I've spent trying to figure it all out. This makes everything easier.
ReplyDeleteRose
Hi Karen,
ReplyDeleteI have a three column layout of yours that I've had for a couple of years I think. I want to switch to one of your two column backgrounds now. 1) can I easily do this in the new template designer since my background is based on the older layout? and 2) do I have to drag all my left side bar gadgets to the right sidebar before making the template change?
It sounds like I select the new template then upload the new header and background files. Lastly, when I click on Template Designer, it says "you've customized this template. Remove customization". That scares me - must I do that first and what will be removed?
I've loved using your designs the last few years and have gotten so many compliments on it. Thanks for all you do sharing this happiness in the blogosphere!
Warmly,
Sharon
muito legal!
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteSorry for the delay, I just found your comment! Since you are using the new template designer, you can just save one of my two column designs to your computer and then follow the instructions on this post for adding it to your blog. Only the background is replaced, nothing else will change. I'm not sure about the customize message that you received, maybe you changed something else while you were working on your blog? I would just exit out and retry it again to be safe. Good luck!
Clever lady! If you were here I'd hug you. I just applied the Paris post background to my blog and LOVE IT! I'm going to do the link back now. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for such a great easy tutorial and the beautiful background for my blog. :) I posted a button from you on my blog:) and hope you´ll pay me a visit to see how this looks. My blog link is: http://www.agnarogn13(dot)blogspot(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wallpaper and tips, but I am having a problem. It shows up on my blog for a second and then switches to solid blue. What have I done wrong?
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Have a sunny day
Linda Marino
Linjmarino@gmail.com
http://worksfromtheattic.blogspot.com/
Hi Karen, Thanks so much for the great guide to posting a background and for the lovely green and cherries background. I love all your blogs! Thanks, Carryn :)
ReplyDeleteWow! That is so much easier! I just love the Pink Damask Delish and I love it!
ReplyDeleteHi: I followed these directions but it isn't fitting correctly. (There's no way to unclick the scroll with box now--they've changed it; do you think that could be causing the problem?)
ReplyDeleteYour work is always beautiful, and I've loved using it in the HTML box versions but I can't get the noncode ones to work. Wah!
Thanks for sharing your work!
I can not even put into words how excited I am! I have been trying to customize my blog for months and now I can make it look exactly how I want and FINALLY get past the formating and adding photos to launch..........a million thank yous!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHello Karen - LOVE your work first of all! I keep trying to use your linen background and it keeps saying image too large...what to do? I have tried resizing a million times!I am on picture window template like it says! I would LOVE to use a bit simpler design, say ethereal, but not sure I can use a background of yours on this template???HELP!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much,
Rae
Thank you so much for your simple yet wonderful instructions. I really appreciate the time you took sharing this tutorial with us. I just changed my background and now I am onto my header. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteShauna
myshaenoel.blogspot.com
thanks, it helps me a lot :D
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to do this but it's saying the file is too large. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteDarn, thought this was the answer I wWas looking for but your directions didn't work.When I used no tile and no scroll it was just a small background image. I thougth maybe it was my image but I tried one of your backgrounds and it did the same thing.
ReplyDeleteThank you SOOO much! Your directions were so easy to follow and now I've got one of your lovely linen backgrounds on my blog. So happy with how it looks. Thanks again!!
ReplyDeleteVery easy instructions, thanks so much! I just chose the Frenchy red linen one! I'll be adding your blog to my bloglist!
ReplyDeleteRondell
Thanks for sharing the idea there would be some apprehensions from segment but i am up for it.
ReplyDeleteredimensionner photo
Well done for all your hard work in providing this high quality blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving your tips .. I will try it and then again come on your blog.
ReplyDeletego pro hero
Grazie, ho usato il nuovo metodo facile e il tuo design felice.
ReplyDeleteMa ho ancora da lavorare tantissimo sul mio nuovo blog... troppi guai! :)
buona serata
Hi Karen...Thanks for the awesome sites! I am a long time fan of the Graphics Fairy and recently found the Background Fairy. I've been trying and trying to install the linen background but am told the file is too large. When I reduce the size to only 300K it doesn't look good on my site. What am I doing wrong?
ReplyDeleteHi Hi, I arrived yesterday via behind your educational site with lots of tips! I want my blog switch to Picture Window template, about the backgrounds, that the best work. But how do I get now placed a new background, if you have no background of the examples used.I use them with a code so I don't know how to do this. And if I want it to fit, do I need to first remove my old template, or go without saying that if you are ready with the new?? I am so afraid that my entire blog is gone ... hopefully you understand my question.Thank You. www.vlijtigelies.blogspot.com
ReplyDeletenice post and lots of infromation about the provided treatment.. thanks
ReplyDeletewhat is m2m
vlijtigelies, Yes, if you are already using a different background, you must remove it first before installing the new one.
ReplyDeletethank you so much ! im a new blogger, and im learning here !! TY !!
ReplyDeleteHi lovely lady.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for all your Inf.
I have your Button on my blog now.
XXOO Diane
Really i appreciate the effort you made to share the knowledge.The topic here i found was really effective
ReplyDeleteretouche image
it says that the images are too large... what do I do? how do i make it smaller?
ReplyDeleteplease help!
thank you
ashleybdesigns@hotmail.com
thanks you buddy
ReplyDeletehttp://filehomes.blogspot.com/
Lovely place. I have tried to follow through google connect and get this message every time:
ReplyDelete"We're sorry...We were unable to handle your request. Please try again or return a bit later.'
Good Info.
ReplyDeletehttp://filehomes.com/
Sorry, but I did all of this and STILL can not get my image to fill the whole screen. I tried cropping the image. I tried changing the CSS. I changed the alignment to "center". And a bunch of other stuff for over an hour. I am an artist and it would REALLY be helpful if I could display my work behind my posts. Help!
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much! I have been so lost with starting my blog and this was a major help. I really can't thank you enough!
ReplyDeleteI have been visiting various blogs for my Remove Background research. I have found your blog to be quite useful. Keep updating your blog with valuable information... Regards
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! This is very helpful. However, I have been having difficulty with uploading my background. Whenever I try to upload the background I want, it says the file is too big. I want it to be a full background, but I have no idea how to make it 1800x1600 or greater, as it says it needs to be.
ReplyDelete