Backgrounds for MySpace: The Ultimate Tutorial

I enjoy a unique MySpace page, and I'm sure most of you would too. Wouldn't it be nice to have a list of web-sites that provide great MySpace backgrounds/layouts without all of the ads and pop-up nonsense? Well that's exactly what I'm attempting to do. I want to come up with a list of web-sites where you or I can find a few MySpace layouts and/or themes without all the wasted time.

Lets start our search looking for backgrounds/themes only. Backgrounds come in a variety of themes or genres, floral designs, solid colors, favorite sports teams, celebrities, fashion, and just about anything else you can imagine. Lets decided what the top-three web-sites are for tracking down a clean MySpace background. Why only three you ask? Well, unfortunately the web is becoming an abundance of repeat information, so all other web-sites I could list probably offer the same things, just in a sloppier fashion.

Remember, if you know anything at all about web-design, you could make your own background in Photoshop. That will lead to a far more custom background and something that's truly unique. This will surely set you apart from the competition. If you think this is for you, skip this list of web-sites and move to paragraph nine.

Back to the web-sites. Lets start here.

1. www.freecodesource.com - they seem to offer a huge variety of MySpace code. Starting at backgrounds/themes working into graphics, cursors, flash, videos and even entire layout generators. This is a great place to start if your just beginning to work with MySpace.

2. www.freemyspacebackgrounds.net - this web-site may seem entirely too simple, but that's exactly what we're looking for. They offer a massive amount of MySpace backgrounds. Including, but not limited too, flower, skull, glitter, holiday, colors, scenic, nature, and even a few animated designs.

3. www.doobix.com - Doobix is one of my favorite web-sites for finding great backgrounds for MySpace. They have so much to offer and manage to keep their site relatively clean. Doobix offers MySpace backgrounds, layouts, simple code, flash toys and generators.

If you aren't able to find what your looking for in at any of the three web-sites above then you need to take a step back a re-evaluate your situation. If you use MySpace to talk with friends and keep in touch with family from around the world, then keep browsing the web. Search Google. Try using searches like "MySpace Layouts" "MySpace Generators" "MySpace Backgrounds" "MySpace Flash", eventually you will find something that suites your taste. If your using MySpace as a free advertising block for your company and/or business then it's time to design your own MySpace layout. Don't worry, it's not nearly as difficult as your think it is.

Lets talk about creating your own MySpace layout. You can either use a MySpace Generator for a more generic way to create custom themes or you can start from scratch. The second option is what we'll talk about now. Here are a few helpful resources when attempting to create your own layout from scratch.

1. www.skem9.com/layouts/help.php - this has proved to be a very helpful resource when designing your own layout. the author of this piece begins to explain CSS, CSS Classes, A MySpace Starter Sheet, and CSS Elements. If you are not happy with what's already out there for backgrounds, then follow this tutorial and make your own.

2. http://www.squidoo.com/myspace_div_overlay - this is another article, similar to the one above but with a useful number of links. Included here are How To Keep Your Pages Light, Minimal DIV Overlay and a MySpace DIV overlay series.

3. http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2006/04/hacking-myspace-layouts - here is a web-site that gives you inside tips and tricks to hack your current MySpace background, tables, or other areas of the page. He also jumps into a list of things you can't do on MySpace and How To Visualize the Finished Product.

MySpace Generators offer people will little coding skill the chance to produce they're own unique MySpace layout, however even these get played out after a while and become cliche. You will be far happier with a totally custom coded theme, firstly because it's all about you. Secondly, you will have learned a boat load about design and the interactions it has with the web. Generators can be found at all three sites listed above for finding backgrounds.

MySpace backgrounds/themes can make or break your social networking ability. A clean, catchy and fresh MySpace page will surely draw attention and prove to people your not like everyone else. While a regular, boring MySpace page that 500 other people happen to be using too, will bring you no extra attention. So take your time, evaluate how important MySpace is to you and act accordingly. Remember, developing a solid MySpace can take months or even years.