Blogger Design-Day Two

Today we'll focus on comments.  In particular, IntenseDebate comments.  I've already received several compliments on the system.
It's rather simple, at least my part of the tutorial is.  In order to exchange your blogger type comments with IntenseDebate's comment system, just go to their site, log in.  Go to 'sites' and add a site.  Then from there you'll do a few simple things such as downloading/uploading your HTML template.  Roughly, it should take fifteen minutes.  The system they use takes care of most of it for you which is very nice.  You will have to register to join the site, but it's free to join.
Drop me a comment on what you think of the comments!

Blogger Design-Day One

I originally read this tutorial from The Neverending Shelf.
Today I want to focus on what was one of my favorite things to change.  The Favicon.  It may not seem very important but it adds a little bit of individuality and uniqueness to your blog.
1}The first thing you need to do is to find an image you would like to use.  The image should be sized at 16 x 16 to 32 x 32 in order to fit properly (however I just took mine from it's full size and it worked fine, so I'm not completely sure if that's necessary).  The image needs to be saved as a jpg, png, or a gif file.
Once you have the image upload it into an online photo account such as PhotoBucket.  If the image is exactly how you need it and you found the image online, you can simply right click the photo and then go to 'View Image' and it will take you to your link.  Here's the link I used for my image:  http://www.realarmorofgod.com/store/cart.php?m=popup&id=2289
2}Make sure you have the link for the image copied to your clipboard before you go to the next step.
3}Now, go into your blogger account.  Go to 'Layout' or 'Design' and then click 'Edit HTML'.
4}Press CTRL+F and then search the head tag '</head>'
Directly above this tag paste the following code:


<link href='image URL' rel='shortcut icon'/>

In the middle of the above code where it says 'image URL' delete and in it's place put your image URL.  Press 'Preview' and see if it is how you would like it to look.  If it is, press save and 'Wazzam!' you've got yourself a custom Favicon.

Blogger Design and the Simplicity of It

Many of you will remember a while back when I changed my entire blog design from the classic template to the current one using a little thing called 'Template Designer'.  I also added other pages on the blog at that point.  Just recently I've been working some more on my design.  You've probably noticed that it looks pretty much the same.
The reason for this being that I worked on the minor things.  For instance, you'll notice that the comment system is different.  I now use a system called 'Intense Debate' for the comments.  The reason for this?  It is much better.  You can reply to actual comments as well as things like giving replies a thumbs up or thumbs down.  I really like it.
Also, you may have noticed that the favicon (the little thing on your search bar by the address of the site) has changed from the ordinary orange Blogger B to an image of my choosing.
I've also done lots of other little changes.  While I haven't changed much and am no HTML master, I have learned a few things.  Next week I will be going over a few of these things throughout the week-so you won't to miss that.  It's really not difficult.  The hardest part is finding the right tutorials to help you make the changes.