...cause FB Timeline is coming to your computer on Feb 4th wether you want it or not!

I wanted to switch to Timeline mode for quite some time now, but I didn't have a clear idea for the cover.
Finally, Heather's post got me into "Stop procrastinating and just do it" mindset, so I begin to work on it.
First of all, my daughter (a graphic designer and avid user of all new technolgies) pointed me to a nice blog post that not only presented quite a few nice samples, but also contained a link to a PSD template that contained all the info I needed to create one for myself.
For the first implementation I have decided to go with a relatively simple solution - I only wanted my profile picture to kinda blend with the larger cover one.
After few experiments I found a combination of cover (larger background) and profile (smaller thumbnail) I was OK with.

What I have learned.

If you want to be exact, you have to work with exact dimensions.

The cover size is actually 851x315 pixels. A bit unusual, but the template helps you to deal with it.

The trick was to work in the profile image. The actual size (if you want it to be properly blended) is 125x125 pixels. However FB doesn't allow you to use anything that is less than 180 pixel wide , which it then resizes itself down to 125x125. Without spending too much time over this internal conflict, I simply enlarged my 125x125 version (which was perfectly blending with my cover) up to 180x180 and offered this version to FB. Now it "swallowed" the image without any complains and I got what I wanted.

Hope this info helps you to get your covers in order!

And don't forget to share your own versions!

Here is my first attempt. I'll admit, a little boring but I just wanted to give it a quick try. Need to come up with something more creative:



BTW, thanks for the tips Nik.

Originally Posted by anonymouscuban Here is my first attempt. I'll admit, a little boring but I just wanted to give it a quick try. Need to come up with something more creative: BTW, thanks for the tips Nik.

That's pretty damn cool for a first attempt!
And you're most certainly welcome!

Originally Posted by Moving Pictures Maybe I'm dumber than a sack of hammers, but I can't even find what it is that a) you guys are using and b) the entire facebook community is whining about.

It's about this: http://www.facebook.com/about/timeline
The link to a blog with the Photoshop template is in my lead post.
HTH

Can the cover photo be changed?

Originally Posted by Cowboydoug Can the cover photo be changed?

Yes. Both the cover photo and the profile photo are separate images and both can be changed independently.

Originally Posted by Nikolai That's pretty damn cool for a first attempt! And you're most certainly welcome!

Thanks Nik. I'm a bit conflicted on how I feel about the white space to the right. I think it may be cool if I had the camera strap showing on the right but maybe it's cleaner as is.

There are a lot of cool things you can do with this. The dimensions are a little weird but easy enough.

Originally Posted by anonymouscuban Thanks Nik. I'm a bit conflicted on how I feel about the white space to the right. I think it may be cool if I had the camera strap showing on the right but maybe it's cleaner as is.

Yeah, I hear ya. Oh well, the good thing is - we can always change them once we get a better idea :-)

Originally Posted by anonymouscuban There are a lot of cool things you can do with this. The dimensions are a little weird but easy enough.

Totally!
And with that template who cares about what the exact dimensions are - you just use it and make it look good locally.

Just updated my timeline cover. Thought I'd share.

Wanted to present the softer side of me.

Originally Posted by anonymouscuban Just updated my timeline cover. Thought I'd share. Wanted to present the softer side of me.

Please, please, for the love of God PLEASE, tell me those aren't your lip prints.

Is a cool timeline cover though!

Originally Posted by Bryce Wilson Please, please, for the love of God PLEASE, tell me those aren't your lip prints. Is a cool timeline cover though!

LOL. No but it looks like they are huh? They're brushes on Photoshop.

So what do you think? Does it portray me as a very serious person? That's what I was going for.

Originally Posted by anonymouscuban LOL. No but it looks like they are huh? They're brushes on Photoshop. So what do you think? Does it portray me as a very serious person? That's what I was going for.

Serious my a$$..........................you look like the Rock on drugs.

Sam

I thought the Rock looked like the Rock on drugs??

OMGAWD Nickolai has a face!

Originally Posted by anonymouscuban Just updated my timeline cover. Thought I'd share. Wanted to present the softer side of me.

Awesome! And thanks for the tips Nik. Here's my first try.

Originally Posted by dlscott56 Awesome! And thanks for the tips Nik. Here's my first try.

Nice!

just found this thread! love it!

Originally Posted by dlscott56 Awesome! And thanks for the tips Nik. Here's my first try.

This is great Scott. You know, I still have yet to make a page for my Photography. The one above is my personal page.

more business and less creative than others here...

Originally Posted by jarboedoggart more business and less creative than others here...

Wow! That's awesome. Really professional looking and well done.

Originally Posted by anonymouscuban This is great Scott. You know, I still have yet to make a page for my Photography. The one above is my personal page.

Thanks Alex. Already changed it some. Couldn't stand looking at myself so made a simple logo in place of that image.