Canned Backgrounds

If you’re feeling creatively challenged, or if you’re strapped for time and looking for a quick fix then visit one of these Twitter background sites and explore patterns, prints and images that can be used to spice up your page.

TwitBacks

Twitrounds

Twitter Background Images

My Tweet Space

Themeleon

Custom Built

Here’s a little secret, you can use PowerPoint and Mac’s Keynote software to design your own fancy Twitter background. There are two main elements to consider before you start to build-out graphic elements, monitor resolution size and final image size.

W3Schools current trends show that more than 76% of computers are using a screen resolution higher than 1024x768. The higher the resolution, the more that a user will see of the Twitter background. Having a grid that shows you how many pixels your background components need to be constructed at will make things much easier to put together.

Depending on what resolution size you decide to design your background for your placement dimensions will vary. Try giving yourself a width of 250 pixels from the left margin for your left hand graphics and at least 85 pixels from the top header bar. Experiment to see what works best for your layout and design. Here's a sample background template from Smashing Magazine to help illustrate how dimensions can be laid out.

Remember that the final size of your design is important because Twitter caps the size of backgrounds at 800k. Try to use JPGs and lower resolution images to avoid ending up with a file that’s 10MB in size.

When you’re ready to start building a background, open up PowerPoint or Keynote and create a blank slide that’s sized to the resolution of your choosing. Use the rulers and drag and drop guides to help you position your background elements. Once you’re satisfied with your creation do a Save As or Export and process as a JPG, GIF or PNG. Try uploading to your Twitter account to see how it looks.

Sidebar Promotion

Just like tweets are limited to 140 characters or less, Twitter bios must be 59 characters or less. That doesn’t leave a ton of room to promote your brand. That’s where the sidebar area comes in handy. You can use the left hand side of your Twitter background to feature other social media profiles, your blog URL, contact information and even some additional highlights about your brand, product and services.

Stellar Backgrounds

A collection of creative Twitter backgrounds is featured below for inspiration and ideas on to set-up your own. Enjoy!

twitter.com/kriscolvin

twitter.com/coreyweb

twitter.com/ijustine

twitter.com/robingood

twitter.com/elitistsnob

If you're still hankering for more then check out some of these outstanding links and resources below:

How To: Create Custom Backgrounds for Twitter, YouTube, & MySpace | Mashable

Twitter Background Design How-To and Best Practices | Chris Spooner

A Tutorial On Designing a Twitter Background | SEO MoFo

When it comes right down to it, logos are used to identify. They represent products, businesses, services and so much more, but ultimately they are used to create, describe and signify what something is all about. Logos are like poetry. Where poets use select words in a small sentence to convey large meaning, logos share volumes of information about what they represent. From quirky to conservative and edgy to punchy, developing a logo takes some consideration and planning. So here's a few tips to make your logo successful and few more to avoid using.

Logo Don'ts

1. Font only logos. Stay away from a font-only logo or one that uses to many fonts. Text just isn't going to leave a lasting impression. It's easily forgettable and it doesn't make a visual impact that people can connect with.

2. Clipart. Keep your artwork original. Have images designed to fulfill the scope of your branding project. Using a pre-made art doesn't look cohesive and comes across unfinished. Good design should connect to the purpose of your logo and its overall intent.

3. Scale. Logos should be built to with the ability to adjust in size without losing quality in the design. This also means don't use rasterized images for your logos. Rasterized images can provide inconsistencies in reproduction and appear pixelated.

4. Trendy. A logo should have longevity and be around for awhile. Using trends means you're not making your logo timeless. Without a unique approach to logo development it can appear like a copy-cat or outdated within a small amount of time.

5. Selfish Design. Build a logo for your customer, not for the designer's ego or your own. Your logo needs to reach and appeal to your target audience and anxious graphic artists that see your logo as an opportunity to stamp with their own personalities aren't going to produce what you need.

A good approach to logo design is working with a professional who takes the time to consult with you and learn about your needs, wants and goals. Getting a sense of who will be purchasing, subscribing or using the offer behind the logo will make a big difference in the logo's design and final outcome. A solid logo should follow a few basic principles.

Logo Do's

1. Clear. Too much detail can be overkill for a logo. Cramming in too many elements can cause it to appear cluttered and distracting. Simple design makes a logo recognizable and customers will remember it.

2. Versatility. Think about how the logo will be used and where it will be used. Your logo should look and work well in color and as a black in white image. It should also be flexible enough to use on the Internet or on an outdoor board. The color palette should be simple. Too many colors can potentially cost quite a bit down the road for promotional items and printed pieces.

3. Image. A good logo doesn't have to describe what a company does or is. Consider the star-emblem that Macy's uses - it doesn't sell stars, or the Mercedes Benz icon - they sell cars, but you don't see a miniature-auto for a logo.

4. Format. Using vector images will give your logo greater flexibility and preserve its basic structure. This is important when it comes to sizing for different media products, marketing outlets and any other situation that features your logo.

5. Feedback. Definitely keep communication transparent with your designer. It will help keep your logo project on the right path. Be cautious when sharing your logo designs with others. It's ok to get an opinion from someone, but involving parents, friends, colleagues and partners may hinder the design progress of the logo and derail the logo from meeting it's objectives.

Hopefully these basic tips will get your logo design moving in the right direction. There's a million great resources available online for additional logo design tips and tricks. Take a look around and you're bound to find some excellent information.