How to Create a Banner for your Twitter Page Tuesday, May 26 2009

There’s been much discussion recently about using Twitter (and whether or not it’s useful, helpful, any good, etc). The only thing I’ve found that I don’t like (so far) is that when I go to someone’s page, their web address is often truncated and their bio/profile is often cut off as well. So I created a banner for my Twitter page which has all my main web addresses and a few thumbnail prints. Voila! Now people don’t have to click through to another page to see my web address!

On Twitter, you have the option of selecting a pre-made background image or choosing your own. If you select your own, you can either have it show up in the left corner or tile the image across your page. I thought it’d be great to create a banner image that fills the left side of the page (not tiled across the page) so that people could see a lot of relevant in formation at once and it worked!

These instructions are for Photoshop. Other similar programs probably have a similar approach.

Open Photoshop and click on File>New. A window will pop up with fields for Name, Width, Height, Resolution, Mode and Contents. Name the file whatever you choose. For the width, enter 225 pixels. For height, enter 550 pixels. (This size will ensure that your banner will be visible on the left side of the Twitter page and that people will not have to scroll down to see all your info. You can, of course, elect to make it a longer banner, if you don’t mind the scrolling). For resolution, 96 pixels/inch is fine since this is only for the web. Select RGB Color for Mode. In Contents, click on an either white or background color. Note that if you select white, you can always change it later with the paint bucket.

Next, size a few thumbnail images. I wanted three images on my banner so I opened each image in Photoshop, clicked on Image/Size in the toolbar, then re-sized each image so that it was close to 100 pixels tall. Note that the image just has to fit within the 225 pixel width.

Then I copied each image into the banner. So, for each image, make sure it’s open, then use the Rectangular Marquee to select the entire image. Hit Control-C (or copy), then open the banner and hit Control-V. Now your image is in the banner on a new layer. Use the pointer tool to move it wherever you want within the confines of the banner. Repeat for any other images.

Then add text. This could be your web address or a few words about who you are and what you do. Remember, Twitter is about connecting, however superfluously. The more people know about you, the more they may want to show their support in your artistic endeavors. Just click on the text tool and type away to your hearts content, checking that the font size/color works well within your banner. Move the text to wherever you think it looks best and you’re done. Well, almost.

Save the banner. In Photoshop it will automatically save as a PSD file. I’d recommend saving it as a PSD so you can change it later of you desire. Then click on Save As, and save the image as a JPG. Save it somewhere easy to find. You’re going to need it in just a minute.

Go to Twitter, log in and click on Settings in the upper right corner. The next page will have 6 tabs across the upper portion of the page; one of which will be “design”. Click on it. Then you’ll see some pre-selected backgrounds. Beneath them on the left, you’ll see “Change Background Image”. Click on that. A field will open up below with a box next to it which says “Browse”. Click Browse and locate your image. Once you click on your image, click on “Save Changes” at the bottom of the page. Don’t click the box which says, “Tile Image”. Now you’re done!

Hope this has been a help. You can see my banner at www.twitter.com/kcwgallery. See you out in the Twitter-verse!

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How Music Stays With You Sunday, May 24 2009

For my birthday I treated myself to a CD and DVD, both by the british pop duo Erasure. The CD is an expanded version of their greatest hits and even though I have the first version, I bought the expanded version. The DVD is of their most recent tour supporting their CD, “Light at the End of the World”. The show was filmed live at Royal Albert Hall in England.

Now, Erasure has been around since the early ’80′s. Their formula has not changed much. Big club-style dance songs interspersed with midtempo pop tunes and a ballad or two. It’s been that way through all their 13 studio albums spanning over 20 years. Vince Clark founded the band after having left both Depeche Mode and Yaz (both of which he also founded). Clearly his musical partnership with Andy Bell was what he had been searching for.

In over two decades, they’ve sold over 20 million albums with nary a single personnel change, band break-up, or label change. They’re never in the news for personal dramas such as rehab or other “rockstar” BS. They just write, record, and tour. Vince has married and had a son. Andy has ended a long relationship, been diagnosed HIV positive, and had both of his hips replaced.

I heard them first in early 1986 when I was music director for my college radio station, KACC. I was fairly underwhelmed at the time and didn’t respond to them. A year or so later, I went to see Duran Duran, and Erasure opened for them. Andy Bell walked out onstage at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater in conservative Orange County, California wearing lycra shorts, a pink tutu, and Doc Martins. They KILLED Duran Duran (who were at one time a surprisingly good live act) and I was hooked. I’ve seen them a number of times since (10, I think…).

I was just starting to come to grips with the whole gay thing and Erasure was unafraid. While I loved that Andy was unapologetically gay, I also loved that Vince was unapologetically straight. They obviously enjoyed working together and I thought it was cool that a straight guy and gay guy could be friends and work so closely together and not give a crap about what people might say. I thought it’d be cool to be open and be good friends with straight guys and have them NOT be wierd about me being gay. Twenty years ago, that was unusal. I didn’t think it was even possible. Today, the vast majority of my friends are straight guys. Cool how that turned out, huh?

I didn’t go to the show on the most recent tour so I was curious to see the DVD. It, much like the most recent album, hearkened back to their dance-club past. The set list is full of high energy songs, with only a smattering of slower tunes. Due to the hip surgery, Andy doesn’t move quite as much as he used to. He’s also dropped a bit of the theatrics and is in fine voice. The three female backup singers are a hoot and Vince is his usual, reserved self. The show is big and fun and joyous; which is a treat to watch.

And while the lyrics will never be construed as deep, many of the songs have become more meaningful as they (and I) have gotten older. Some of the slower songs have taken on an aching quality in light of Andy’s HIV diagnosis.

All that is to say that, if you’re lucky, there are bands and songs that follow you throughout your lifetime. Erasure and I have grown up together. Other bands, friends, and lovers have come and gone; but Erasure are still there and still consistently making the music they want to make. I’ve retreated to them often when I need to blast my head open with a kickin’ song with a sing-along chorus. Sunroof and windows open – “Sucker for Love”, “Drama!”, or “Stop” cranked up all the way – sometimes, things like that (and a cold Shiner Bock, of course) are what make the day worthwhile.

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