Okay, I'm hooked

[arianna]

It's been a week, I think ... my how time flies, lol! Doesn't take long to get hooked on LJ, does it? I've just upgraded to a paid account (and one of these days, I'll figure out how to personalize the way this LJ looks, but for now, I'm contenting myself with uploading great icons, like this one by taibhrigh! Just could NOT resist when I saw it, !

Comments

[jessriley.livejournal.com]

Hmmm told you so (Who said that? Was not I *EG*) Icons are my addiction. I love them and it didn't take me long to want the extra space. If you get a moment, wander over to ts_stills and take a look at what they're up to. Making some great stuff.

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

I heard that! (Snicker) I was over at ts stills earlier and that's when I decided I had to jump in and get the space for 100 icons. I can see that they'll add up quickly, lol!

Not only am I having fun, I've suggested to Syl that she should get an LJ, too. God, I'm so easy !

[craftypug.livejournal.com]

hee hee! Welcome to the addiction that is Live Journal. Nope it doesn't take long at all. Just wait until you're paying for 100 icons.

Yes! taibhrigh makes wonderful icons! She's made many of mine. :)

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[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Kayra, LOL! I already am! I decided I might as well jump in all the way!

*G*

[starwatcher]

.
one of these days, I'll figure out how to personalize the way this LJ looks,

Okay, here's the text of a new part I just added to my "How-To" page. It should get you started.

So You Want to Customize Your Live Journal

Changing the look of your LJ page is fun, but can be time-consuming trial and error before you're satisfied; give yourself an hour or so to "play". When you run out of time, change back to where you were before. The edits you made in your "trial new page" will wait for you; you can pick up later where you left off.

1. Go to your User Info page.

2. At the bottom of the page are several small links. Click on 'site map'.

3. On the site map, click on "Customize Your Journal", about halfway down the left column.

TIP: Open a second browser window (by clicking on your Internet icon). Go to your LJ page. Now you'll toggle back and forth between "customization" page and "your LJ" page. On the customization page, after you've made some trial edits - and saved them - go to the other window and refresh your page. You can quickly see what your changed page would look like, then make more edit changes, or go back and try a new layout.

4. Select your style system - probably S2, because it supports more options (like link lists) than S1 does.

5. Select a new layout. There are previews, but they don't really give you the true feel. It's easier to click a new layout name, click 'Change', then refresh your page in the other window and see if you like the look.

6. Select a theme (color scheme). Here, the previews give you a fair idea; select the one closest to what you'd like to have; you can do more customization later.

7. Click on 'Change Individual Settings', then 'Edit Customizations'. Depending on your layout, you have the option of setting font, colors, position of some items on the page, color, and various other specifications. After each section is edited, save those changes, then refresh your page in the other window to see if you're satisfied with the result.

NOTE ON CHANGING COLORS: For each item of the page, you can check 'Override default'. Then a 'Choose...' button will appear. Clicking on that will take you to a gradient color palette; click somewhere on the palette to select the color you want.

If you want more specific control of your color choices, visit the tutorial site, HTML Goodies, with particular attention to Non-Dithering Colors. Here you'll find a table of 216 colors - and the codes to make them - that (supposedly) will always look the same no matter website they're on. For my page, I selected three or four colors that I liked, copied the codes, then just played with combinations until I was satisfied.

And that's all I know about customization. You can do more, but you'll have to ask someone more knowledgeable than I.
.

Re: *G*

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Linda, this is terrific!!! Thank you so much! I can see I'll be playing tomorrow instead of writing my HTLJ episode, lol! At least, for part of the day!

Re: *G*

[starwatcher]

.
Hey, looks good! I wondered if my directions were clear enough, but if an absolute newbie can do it, I guess it's okay.

You're welcome.
.

Re: *G*

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Linda, glad you like what I came up with. It's pretty basic, still, I guess, but with your instructions, it was really easy to do. Thanks so much!

[fluterbev.livejournal.com]

Hee! See, that's what it's like. You dip your toe in, and it grabs you and doesn't let go. I originally only got one to join sentinel_thurs, and it all escalated from there :-).

I find it the most brilliant place to communicate with like minded people. I've had the best chats here on LJ - nothing beats it. And you get to know people on a whole other level.

So glad you are here!

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Bev. I really am enjoying the stories, the art in the icons, the conversation. Just had a couple of interesting exchanges with ekwin as a matter of fact! And it's sure the place to get 'news' about my buddies while it's still hot off the presses!

Okay, I'm hooked

[annieb1955.livejournal.com]

Yep, I'm right there with you. Don't know what it is that hooks you but it sure does.

Re: Okay, I'm hooked

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Annie, re: what hooks us? Well, for me, the fact that it was really easy to get into (thanks to Jess and StarWatcher and others who gave tips, shared flists, etc), the discussions are interesting (more so than on the lists I'm on, at least in the last year or so), the icon art is fabulous, there's fast access to stories, like Sent Thurs but also when writers in the flist post their stuff -- all in all, a far more satisfying experience, at least in this first ten days, than I've found lists (other than Storyfinders) for quite some time now. When I see all the naysayers ie on Senad lately, I wonder why their experience, if they tried it, was so negative (though I can see that dial-up would be cumbersome, maybe). Most commenters seem as ignorant as I was before trying it -- expressing opinions without really having knowledge of what it's really like. (shakes head -- makes me shudder to think I might have sounded like some of them).

Re: Okay, I'm hooked

[(Anonymous)]

Well, I'm on dialup and I don't find it cumbersome at all. Maybe I'm just used to the slowness of it. I like the immediacy of LJ and like you, I'm finding the discussions interesting and more positive in general than the email lists seem to be these days. There seems to be a lot of negativity on the lists at the moment.

Annie

[audrarose.livejournal.com]

I think I warned you about the time-suck factor... *bg* There's a wonderful TS community on lj, and then suddenly other fandoms reach out and grab you, too. It's fun!

Congratulations on your LMFA noms, btw. I think we're friendly competition in a category or two. *bg*

[caarianna.livejournal.com]

Audra Rose, congratulations on being on the ballot, too! That's so great!