Posted by Kim on March 20, 2013, 10:50am
Today, we present Jane's final tutorial on taking your character profiles to the next level.Check out the first and second tutorials, and then dive in to this chapter on giving some final polish to how text and information is presented on your profiles.
How to make your profile look clean and neatly aligned
Saluda (played by Hooke) uses simple bolded text to create section titles, then makes use of the indent tag to create simple, clean, understandable-at-a-glance sections on his profile.
Your profile is already pretty, but you want that final touch to make it look very clean and orderly?
You might want to align the text as blocktext, meaning all your sentences will extend to both sides of the page, using this:
Code:
[justify] text goes here [/justify]
The Vessel (played by Hooke) uses a combination of centered text, italics, and bolded first letters of each line to create a poetic introduction. Plus, check out the use of images as tasteful dividers!
Don't use the same size for your text on your whole site.
This looks plain and makes it hard to read. Some important points or words should be emphasized to lead the eye through the profile. Less important information can be made smaller so people can read it if they want, or skip it if they are looking for the main points.
The code for changing the size of your text is:
Code:
[size=2] text goes here [/size]
You can use numbers 1 through 7 when picking your size.
BBcode gives you many possibilities you can use to your advantage to make text stand out.
Code:
[b] text goes here [/b] = bold
[i] text goes here [/i] = italics
[u] text goes here [/u] = underlined
[s] text goes here [/s] = strike out
The text on your profile sticks to the top/bottom, no matter what you do?
"White space" or blank characters like enter or lots of spaces are trimmed off the beginning and end of text widgets when they are saved. If you want a way around this, insert some BBCode and do not put any text inside it, just hit enter a few times. Then this "White space" will not be at the beginning of your text, so it will not be trimmed off when you hit save.
Code:
[b][/b]
I did not put anything inside the bold tag, so nothing will appear on my profile.
But the new lines above this sentence will be preserved.
Removing the default titles from widgets
I personally use a single text-widget for my sites. However if it confuses you, you can use more.
You don't have to put text into the widget's title box. Leave it blank if you think it doesn't go well with your layout.
A neat way to organize the statistics of a char is to use columns.
Chandra Winters (played anonymously) uses columns to organize some basic information about herself into two sections on the same line, making efficient and pleasant use of visual space.
You can find the code for the columns here.
You can use other Bbcodes in the columns too, for example the collape tag.
You will find out that the size of the columns depends on the text. This can make the columns look cluttered, because they aren't aligned the way you want them.
A solution is to create a transparent picture of a certain size.
The picture has to be just a pixel in height, and for example 250 pixels wide.
If you add that picture in the first line of every column, they will all have the same size.
Different screen resolutions
If your profile looks all pretty but another user points out that some of the alignments you made are not working, it could always be that the other user is using a different resolution to view sites.
Use Ctrl + Mouse Wheel to zoom in/out, to see how the page would look in different resolutions.
Just do your best to make it look good, but if you are worried, you can include a note that informs people that they may need to try a different resolution to see your best work.
Bastion Maltro (played anonymously) uses multiple techiques to create a varied look to his text, from changing the size, adding bold and italics, and in some cases, just plain using extra spaces!
Jane has generously offered to prettify one lucky person's profile! Just leave a comment on this news post that includes the words "I am entering to win that profile." Next week, we will draw a winning name!
Only players who have not previously had Jane prettify one of their profiles may enter, to give everyone a chance to experience her talents.
Thank you Jane!
As thanks for sharing some of her tricks of the trade, Jane has been awarded a nice big shiny trophy for her profile. If you appreciate these tips too, please shower her in kudos explaining her generous and helpful spirit to the world!
Comments
I am blushing so hard!
Thank you Kim, and thank you all for making me smile.
I am glad that the tutorial helps, and I am looking forward to see so many pretty profiles
Thank you Kim, and thank you all for making me smile.
I am glad that the tutorial helps, and I am looking forward to see so many pretty profiles
I am entering to win that profile! Jane thank you SO much for all the hardwork you put in to do these tutorials they totally rock and HELP all of us! You're the best and thanks Mod staff for thinking of this AWESOME topic!
You're the best and thanks Mod staff for thinking of this AWESOME topic!
I am entering to win that profile!
All of these were awesome tutorials! I looked forward to all of them, and someday when I have time, I hope I can try some of this stuff out! thank you Jane for sharing them with us!
All of these were awesome tutorials! I looked forward to all of them, and someday when I have time, I hope I can try some of this stuff out!
thank you Jane for sharing them with us!
omg, so many people entering
This will be so much fun!
This will be so much fun!
Wowweee, what a great response! 
I am entering to win that profile
Some great tips here!
.
Some great tips here!
.
I am entering to win that profile. Because, you know, why not?
Also, these tips are marvelous, as always!
Also, these tips are marvelous, as always!
"I am entering to win that profile."
Washikumi
March 20, 2013
7:36pm
These tips are great, oh wow. Thank you so much for sharing!
Also, "I am entering to win that profile."
Also, "I am entering to win that profile."
I am entering to win that profile!
I can't wait till I have some down time to try out all these neat tricks that she has taken the time to share with us. I know I have been dying to try my hands at this! Thanks so very much Jane for giving your time to do this
I can't wait till I have some down time to try out all these neat tricks that she has taken the time to share with us. I know I have been dying to try my hands at this! Thanks so very much Jane for giving your time to do this
I am entering to win that profile.
Love ya Jane, you're always so good at making wonderfully beautiful profiles!
Love ya Jane, you're always so good at making wonderfully beautiful profiles!
I am totally entering to win the profile. Thank you so much for all the tips, it has been fun to see the different ways to make a profile stand out.
D'aww
Thank you all so much for your kind words. *blushes*
I am so happy that Kim asked me to write the tutorial, and that people respond to it so well.
Thank you all so much for your kind words. *blushes*
I am so happy that Kim asked me to write the tutorial, and that people respond to it so well.
I am entering to win that profile!!! Your rpr's are so awesome, Jane <333333
I am entering to win that profile.
Some day when I'm on RPR on my own computer I need to try all this stuff out. All the profiles that have been prettified are looking great!
Some day when I'm on RPR on my own computer I need to try all this stuff out. All the profiles that have been prettified are looking great!
Jane is awesome, and she should feel awesome.
I am most certainly entering to win that profile. I've been trying to organize Xor's site for years.
I am most certainly entering to win that profile. I've been trying to organize Xor's site for years.
@Lily: For me it is easier to work with existing profiles.
If you have the text, its easy to wrap the code around it - like wrapping a gift
If that makes any sense.
If you have the text, its easy to wrap the code around it - like wrapping a gift
If that makes any sense.
I am entering to win that profile. Because why wouldn't I? I always feel I need some more work done, so maybe having someone who actually knows what they're doing get on it will work some wonders!
LOoks amazing Jane
Dog
March 21, 2013
4:27pm
http://www.rprepository.com/c/tige/
These have been so helpful. Thanks Jane!