karlyns.com » Graphic Design

Web and graphic design Examiner

karlyn — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:33:45 +0000

I was recently accepted as a writer for the Examiner and would love for you to check out my articles. I am the Riverside web and graphic design Examiner for the Gadgets and Tech category of Examiner.com. Stop by and subscribe, will you? Then you’ll get notified when I post new content there.

I will also post new article notifications on the FB page I created specifically for this new job of mine. Visit here. Consider becoming a fan there as well. I really appreciate your support – Thank you!

Google Buzz Icons

karlyn — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 01:47:00 +0000

Have you got the Buzz? Chances are you do. If you use GMail, then you’ve seen the new Buzz right under your inbox. I think Google’s Buzz is a nifty new little gadget and social tool and I wanted to put a cute little Google Buzz icon on my sites to help draw some new followers. I could find many Buzz icons out there, so I created some of my own and am offering them here to share.

These Google Buzz icons come in two sizes (Large: 132×131 and Small: 73×71) and a choice of four colors: black, blue, green and red.

Two samples of the “Black” display here:

All if the icons show here. Yes, they are transparent, just click the little thumb-sizes to view.

These are free to use and spread around. Just do not edit them or claim them as your own. Right-click to save to your own computer and upload to your own server. Please not hot-linking.. upload to your own webhost. Thanks and enjoy!

Best Blogger Themes and How-to

karlyn — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:18:46 +0000

http://anothercute.blogspot.com/

Google’s Blogger site has been popular for some time now. In a matter of minutes, you can get a new blog of your choice up and running with ease! A beginner? No problem. You don’t need any previous design or html knowledge at all, and i’m not exaggerating at all, when I say, just a few clicks and you’ve got a website!

Blogger gives you a nice selection of themes to choose from, to get your new site going. But, it’s the same selection that thousands of other people are choosing from that very moment as well. It’s nice to get in on a bit more variety, right? Right! So, here are some of my favorite free blogger themes (or skins as they are sometimes referred) sites. Once you’ve found one you want to try out, scroll down here for a simple “how-to” so you can try it out.

eBlogTemplates:
This site requires a quick registration, but then you have access to their free blogger download links. These are some of the best, quality templates I’ve found. They offer wordpress templates as well.

FinalSense: I like final sense because the blogger themes are easy to browse with the categories they set up, like “2-column”, “3-column”, “Animals”, “Country/City” and many more. The “Demo” link is a little slow because it shuffles through an ad first, but by just clicking on the image you like, then the title of the theme below it, you are good to go! This site provides you with an XML code, instead of a file download. For “how-to” on this code, see directions below.

InstantShift: One of my favorites sites, of course they have a post capturing the top blogger themes of 2009! 120 of them to be exact!

Directions on How to install new templates: (don’t worry, it’s easy!)

If you are working with an XML File:

First, unpack (unzip) the XML file you just downloaded
Log into blogger
Click on “Layout”
Click on “Edit HTML”
Click “Download Full Template” in case you need to retrieve it later. It’s your backup
Click on “Choose File”
Locate your new theme file and “open”
Click on “Upload”
Save

If you are working with an XML Code:

Select (Ctrl+a) all code and Copy (Ctrl+c)
Log into blogger
Click on “Layout”
Click on “Edit HTML”
Click “Download Full Template” in case you need to retrieve it later. It’s your backup
In big box of Code, right-click and “Select All” (or Ctrl+a) and Paste (Ctrl+v)
Save

The last step is to, of course, enjoy!

New Years Desktop Designs

karlyn — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:43:30 +0000

Here is a collection of some of the greatest desktop designs to help ring in the new year – 2010! HERE.

Jazz up your computer with a cool new MMX Holiday Design. I chose this great black design with bright 2010 sparklies below..
Click the thumbnail.

Merry Christmas from Karlyn!

karlyn — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:05:22 +0000

May your Holiday be filled with Joy!

Holiday Desktop Designs

karlyn — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:16:08 +0000

Over at InstantShift, I was delighted with the collection of festive desktop background designs and wanted to share them with you. From the festive fun, to the elegant, there’s sure to be a design you’ll enjoy too.

Why not dress up your pc a little and pick out your favorite one or two.. save to your computer, then right-click on the image, choose “Set as Desktop Background” and Voila.. enjoy!

So click here to view this beautiful collection of holiday desktop designs.

This is the design I chose and am using right now.. Click to see larger view. It will open in a new tab/window.

Great, Free Vintage Graphics

karlyn — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:25:23 +0000

Recently, I’ve enjoyed re-discovering classic vintage designs. I’ve come across some fabulous vintage art in the form of old advertisements, antique cards, illustrations and hand-tinted photos, online. I think they look wonderful as is, but I have some fun playing around with them in assorted design programs.

I thought I would share a few of my favorite vintage graphics sources with you. These are some of the first places I go when looking for new vintage image offerings. If you enjoy vintage too, enjoy!

Also, Art Freebies and Vintage Pixels

Fun Photo Editing Design

karlyn — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:35:31 +0000

I was playing with a new design program this morning, called PhotoFiltre. I was really quite impress with the wide array of features this little program offers. PhotoFiltre boasts itself as a “… a complete image retouching program.” but I say, it’s much more than that.. especially with the availability of all the free plugins and addons!

This program is available free for private and educational use and I’m seriously considering getting this added to our computer lab at school. I think this would be a great addition to my design curriculum for next year. My students really enjoy the filter effects they have access to on the design programs we currently use (artweaver, paint.net), but PhotoFiltre comes with way more options, right out of the box, including masks, a great variety of filter effects, and even automated batch image operations – very nice!

For commercial use, you will need to register and pay a modest amount. Well worth it if you ask me. Check this program out at photofiltre.com.