Blobular Zine: Issue 1 Options

[technicolour]

On behalf of myself, and hopefully everyone else, we like to welcome you to the maiden issue of what will hopefully become a regular thing. We started this as just an idea to give some new ideas out. Many people won't, normally, go out and attempt to expand their horizons so we are bringing it to you! So. Consider this a magazine you wait for to come in the mail.

The Critique Corner & Second Opinion
Want some advice? Submit your work now and we might display it here with some constructive criticism.

Myspace 2.0
Myspce unveiled their new redesign and we are here to explain for you. Learn how to edit and improve those dull default layouts.

Contest!
There's nothing like a contest to get something going. Consider it practice too!

How To Make a Good Fan Graphic
For the sake of Twilight and Harry Potter, stop this madness! With this we explain how to improve your fan graphics. Don't think so 'in-the-box'. Try going out of the box for a change. And no, this does not mean make your graphic a circle.

Resources
Resources are vital to any graphic. Check some of these resources out for some inspiration and new ideas. Props to JC, our resident resource man.



Ideas? Suggestions for the next issue? Please PM any Design Staff member and we will surely take them into consideration.

[schizo]

Myspace 2.0

As soon as you change something that people have grown to know and love for years, everyone immediately feels the need to complain and express how angry they are. That is exactly the reaction the new Myspace 2.0 profiles received. A lot of 1.0 lovers refused to convert their profiles, and there are probably plenty that never plan to. Although changes can be a pain to get used to, the upgrade to 2.0 might actually be worth it.

In general, 2.0 offers users many more options than 1.0. You now have the ability to hide almost any part of your profile without searching through Google for the code and ending up with some site's ugly credit taking up half your page. Also, simply having either a "public" or a "private" profile is no longer the only option. Friend categories can now be used to determine who can see what on your profile.

2.0 also makes it easier to customize your profile. Modules can be moved and rearranged, the number of comments displayed can be changed, and there are features in the profile editor that allow you to change basic fonts, colors, and backgrounds - no HTML or CSS knowledge required! Myspace even provides you with a good variety of premade themes to choose from. Some are girly, others are grungy, and some are just sleek and professional. They even decided to throw in a Mario Lopez theme, so there is something for everyone. Plus, the theme editor pops up in a nifty bar above your profile, so you can view any changes you made without hassling with tabs and windows.

If you would rather not have Mario Lopez's mug in the background of your page and really prefer picking out layouts or creating your own, there is always the option of inputting your own CSS. Unfortunately, the classes and such used for creating 1.0 layouts no longer apply, so old layouts will not work. However, with a little research and studying up, you can learn the new CSS just as quickly as you learned the old. If anything, the new CSS is easier and cleaner to work with. Myspace has thankfully switched from using tables to divs, and there are now names for more areas of your profile which gives you more options when it comes to customizing.

For those of you who prefer to use premade layouts, you will probably have to wait a bit longer before 2.0 layouts are a common thing to see on layout sites. Just as with the new navigation bar, it will take a little while before 2.0 profile customization reaches its full potential. Luckily, there are already a few great layouts out there that might help inspire other designers with different ideas to try it out.

The first two sites featured have fairly basic layouts, but they prove that 2.0 layouts can be customized exactly the way 1.0 layouts were. The last two designers have gone a little further and have made divs.

Click the screenshot to go to their sites.



Still not ready to make the big switch? That's perfectly fine. Myspace gives you the option of sticking with good ol' 1.0.