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Editing Images For Your Customized ActiveRain Blog

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Services for Real Estate Pros with RealSatisfied

ActiveRain custom graphicJeannette Neerpat used Twitter to cry out for some help last night.

She was having trouble editing the graphics she wanted to use in Brad Carroll's ActiveRain Custom Blog Builder. So I asked her to send me the graphics she was trying to use. As I guessed, they were not in the correct proportions and needed some work.

Well, since I don't make a living customizing blog graphics, I decided to kill two birds with one stone.

I decided to edit Jeannette's graphics for her using online tools anyone could access and record my actions so that others could do it themselves. Since Jeanette was not the first person to ask for my help, making this video is a way of saving me from having to say, "I'd really love to help, but..." :)

If you're reading this on the post date, then you'll see the final result right here as the skin for this blog.

Jeannette's images were much smaller than they needed to be. This is why there are some of the quality issues in both the background graphic and the header image, but they created an acceptable customization in my opinion. For thoe of you coming around later, you may be able to see these exact results on Jeannette's blog, but my guess is that she'll probably want to play with this a bit and make it even better than it is now. So, the graphic above is an illustration of the what the final product looked like.

If you want to learn how to customize graphics yourself, here's the video.


Customizing Graphics For Your AcitveRain Blog Skin from respres on Vimeo.

EDIT: The specs for headers have changed since the recording of this today. Instead of 125 pixels high, the header must now be only 115 pixels high. Also, the entire portion of the video about using Flickr is now unecessary, since Brad has made it possible to upload the graphics instead of requiring that you provide a link. The photo editing tips in the video are still valid, as long as you use the new height for the header graphic.

Comments (121)
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Tracy Santrock
Fonville Morisey/Santrock Realty Group, Inc. - Cary, NC
Raleigh - Cary Realtor/Broker In Charge

I'd say I was about to go to twitter and boo hoo but you've save the day once again Jeff!

Jun 08, 2008 01:47 PM
Pam Dent
Gayle Harvey Real Estate, Inc. - Charlottesville, VA
REALTOR® - Charlottesville Virginia Homes / Horse

Jeff - Thanks for taking the time to instruct those of us who may be technologically challenged.  I have already customized my blog but I'm bookmarking this in case I want to change it up in the futrue.

Jun 09, 2008 06:54 AM
Brian Solinsky
Keller Williams Realty - Puyallup, WA
CDPE, CNE, ABR

Jeff - thank you for taking the time to help Jeannette and others in the process.

Jun 12, 2008 04:36 PM
Carrie Perez
Elk Rapids, MI
MBA

Thanks for sharing! I am going to put this info to good use!

Jun 18, 2008 09:22 AM
Jeremiah Wean
Lakewood Lending Group, LLC (NMLS#132141) - Indianapolis, IN
NMLS#132221

Great tutorial.  I didn't realize the size constraints.  I just used 2 random pictures. 

Jun 21, 2008 02:15 PM
Kathy Anderson
Arizona Luxury & Lifestyle Living - Cave Creek, AZ
Arizona Homes For Sale, Sun City Grand

Thanks for the info Jeff.  I read Brad's post but was having trouble myself and decided to come back to it, then never did.  I'll try again.

Jun 22, 2008 02:22 AM
Leslie Stewart
Oregon Licensed Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals - Stayton, OR
Realtor, ABR, CRS, Oregon Licensed Broker

I have bookmarked this and it will be my homework tonight.  I tried Brads version with no luck a couple of months ago.  I look forward to figuring this out.  Thanks

Jun 22, 2008 05:03 AM
Anonymous
Lauren Boland

Thank you so much for the video!!!  Excited about what i can build!!

Jul 09, 2008 08:06 AM
#111
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

I'm just trying to figure out how to make some minor changes to my outside blog. I have no idea how my old photo ended up on that page.

Jul 26, 2008 12:06 AM
Jon Wnoroski
America's 1st Choice RH Realty Co., Inc. - Green, OH
Summit County Realtor

Thank you!  This is another great tutorial... it's a tremendous help!

Jul 26, 2008 12:27 PM
Richard Baggett
AFI Mortgage - Lake Charles, LA

wow.... This guy is for real huh?

Aug 11, 2008 09:37 AM
Brad Hanks
RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc. - Bellingham, WA

Jeff:

Thanks for a great tutorial.  Only sorry it took me so long to get here and view it.

Quick question for you - what softward are you using to get the screen capture video.  I'm using Snagit, but it doesn't seem to have the features you're using.

Thanks again!

Aug 27, 2008 03:19 AM
Johnathan Smith
Coldwell Banker DiTommaso Realty - Staten Island, NY

thanks for the information and the tip

Johnathan Smith
Staten Island
http://www.johnresales.com

Aug 31, 2008 12:01 PM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

OMG Jeff thank you.  I bookmarked this blog right after you posted it and then Brad updated everything and it freaked me out so my header remained blank for MONTHS.  I finally made the time to go back to his blog and your and I'm so jazzed...I love my new header and after I relistened to you tutorial video three times AND made notes, it was SO-O easy.  I'm sorry that I didn't do it sooner.

Thanks SO much for taking the time.  This will be one of those posts that will live on for a LONG time. 

I'm sure you and others will recognize the image on my header. (-:

Oct 23, 2008 02:37 PM
Lina OL
Deluxe Home Staging & Design - Northbrook, IL

Wow thank you so much!  That was very helpful and I loved making my header! 

Oct 08, 2009 05:37 AM
Dan Quinn
The Eric Steart Group of Long & Foster Real Estate - Silver Spring, MD
Dan Quinn

Thank you very much.  You said you're not a pro but your video sure fooled me!

Oct 22, 2009 11:47 AM
Gregory Bain
Mezzina Real Estate & Insurance - Little Egg Harbor, NJ
For Homes on the Jersey Shore

You make it seem so easy. I'm going to give it a try and let you know how I made out. Thanks.

Dec 28, 2009 01:44 PM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

Here I go again reading one of your old posts that were sent to me recently. I will ignore what has changed and focus on the editing.

Apr 25, 2010 03:05 AM
Daniel J. Brudnok, REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach, REALTORS - Exton - PA License #RS-225179-L / Delaware License #RS-0025038 - Downingtown, PA
SRES, e-PRO,ABR,GREEN,CSP

I need this, I have been away for a while and this was very timely.....

Apr 25, 2010 03:10 AM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

Do you still use Vimeo for your tutorials? If not, how do you do them? This post is still great after all these years.

Apr 25, 2010 03:16 AM
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