New Layout, Holy Buttons!

[spoonyriffic]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I got a Paid Account (and whoo to more userpics, seriously), and I redesigned my layout! Yay! It took forever to do, because LJ kept screwing up and not loading the page right, and the header was being stupid, but I finally got it DONE. *pats self on back*

I found the template at thefulcrum, and it was made by grrliz. It was originally almost all white with blue and black text, but I changed the color scheme to go with the header, which I made. *loves header*

There will be other minor tweaks, but nothing anyone will probably notice, so whatever. *snorfle*



Edit: I noticed that on monitors with low contrast/brightness that the header looks weird.  The shadows lighten up (so you can see more of Gibbs' face), and you can see the lines where my blending brush didn't quite catch, so it looks a little choppy. If it looks smooth and dark to you, then it should be fine. If your monitor has a different setting on it though, I'm sorry - I'll try and make the picture as smooth as possible.

Comments

[xanthelj.livejournal.com]

OMG! That header picture! *swoons*. There is a whole *story* right there! What is it? Who is going to write it? *g*. Beautiful.

[spoonyriffic.livejournal.com]

Heeee, thanks! I know, right? It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted out of the header, and I spent a lot of time on Google Images. I found some really interesting pictures. *snort*

And honestly, I don't know! I didn't have any story in mind when I was making it, but when I was finished, I realized that it had the potential to inspire an angsty story. If the picture strikes anyone with inspiration, I wouldn't mind at all if they wanted to write a story. I'm not even going to think about it now, because I know if I do, I'll get sidetracked from The String Theory. :D

[xanthelj.livejournal.com]

You made it yourself? WOW! I am full of admiration. IT could be read on so many levels. Just flippantly and canonically - Gibbs is massaging his sore hand and Tony his sore head so there could have just been a really almighty headslap *g*. But also angstily - they both look very hurt/comfort *g*. Or there could be an undercover mission as neither of them is quite dressed as we're used to seeing them. Or there could be an element of "oh shit - what did we DO last night?" regret. Or some kind of revenge - Gibbs looks like he could be about to go beat someone up or has just landed a nasty punch on someone. The possibilities are endless and inspiring.

Also, I haven't seen EITHER pic and that made it seem really fresh - it wasn't the same pictures being recycled. Lovely work :-)

[spoonyriffic.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! You're right! - it's very mesmerising. It would be a great photo prompt - the possibilities alone are daunting.

To tell you the truth, I didn't have to do much to the Gibbs portion of the header. It was already in that black/tannish color. I just flipped it, brought out the tan a little more, and resized it (the original is big). The Tony portion I had to tweak a little - it was in full color. The wall was green, and his sweater was orange. It's some random promo shot of Michael Weatherly, and I had to use it. I was almost sad to get rid of the colors, because they're so pretty, but I still liked how it turned out. Photoshop is a lovely thing, if you know how to tame the stupid thing. *snort*

[xanthelj.livejournal.com]

I loved seeing the originals - that MW one is quite weird. I prefer it now you've played with it. I'm rubbish at Photoshop type stuff - I don't have the patience - but I love manips and graphics that really tell a story so I loved this one :-)

[spoonyriffic.livejournal.com]

I thought you might like to see what they looked like before. *g*

I know what you mean about the MW one - it's like they said, "Hey, let's take a picture near this avacado green popcorn ceiling wall!" It's completely and utterly random, yet I still adore it. I was tempted to use this picture, and a number of others, but I felt that the one I chose fit the best. *nods*

Photoshop is a nightmare. The only reason I use it is because I have a genius cousin who showed me how, and I still don't get how to use half the stuff he showed me.

[xanthelj.livejournal.com]

That other pic is interesting but nowhere near as good as the one you used. Having said that - what you did with it is what made it so evocative!

[spoonyriffic.livejournal.com]

I like his foot in the picture. I was like "Heee, MW's foot!"

Ah hem.

Thank you! The shadow, blur, magic eraser, and exposure settings are my best friends.

[xanthelj.livejournal.com]

Yes! Foot! Squee!!!

*ggg*.

[nikitariddick.livejournal.com]

Kudos to you!

LOVE the new look!

And I am with Xanthe, now you need the story to go with it!!!

N

[spoonyriffic.livejournal.com]

Heeee, thanks!

You know, I'll most likely write something to go with it after I'm finished with The String Theory! *g*

[ravens-rising.livejournal.com]

Its so preeeeetty! *stares at Gibbs' hands*

Plus I totally third the 'it looks like a story' comments. :D I think it's because their poses are so unique, especially the Tony/MW one. It looks like a story header to me.

[spoonyriffic.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *beams*

I shall probably use it (or a variation of it) as a story header in the future. *shifty*

[ravens-rising.livejournal.com]

Oh reeeeeeaally? I'd poke you, but I'm more eager to see more String Theory. So I'll refrain. For now. Mwahahaha. XD

[spoonyriffic.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling it isn't going to stop you in the future. *SNORT*

*g*

[ravens-rising.livejournal.com]

...*shifty eyes* Who, me? *halo*
^_~

[spoonyriffic.livejournal.com]

Yes, you. *throws a Gibbs!stare at you*

[ravens-rising.livejournal.com]

OH NOES! *cowers and attempts to look innocent*

[spoonyriffic.livejournal.com]

That does not work against the Gibbs!stare!

Because, well... it's Gibbs. :D

[ravens-rising.livejournal.com]

I know. XD It was worth a try? *hides behind Tony*

[spoonyriffic.livejournal.com]

Tony's worked for the man for 8 years - he can take the stare! :D

[ravens-rising.livejournal.com]

WHEW. Maybe I'll escape this with my life intact after all! Free to bother writers all over the world! XDD

[spoonyriffic.livejournal.com]

Yay! XD

Just keep looking over your shoulder...

[ravens-rising.livejournal.com]

... *is now paranoid for life* XDD