How to Make Facebook Profile Art

There was a post on Mashable last week that profiled some creative ideas for the new Facebook profile layout. Well, it called them 'profile hacks' but I hardly think tagging some pics can qualify as a 'hack' ... it really is that easy.

Here are some instructions for creating the Facebook profile layout art seen in this article, but it assumes a basic knowledge of Photoshop and some creative flair.

Good luck!

1) Screencap your Facebook profile and paste it into Adobe Photoshop
2) Create a layer mask over the profile pic and the 5 profile thumbs across the top. You may also want to post a gallery and include these thumbs in you design. If you don't know how to make a layer mask, fill a new layer with white, change the layer transparency to 50% and use the selection rectangle to draw over the profile pic and thumbs, deleting the white layer over the top. Set back to 100% transparency.
3) Create your design behind the white layer so you can see what it looks like made up in the format of profile pic and thumbs.
4) Using guides drawn top, bottom and sides of the profile pic and thumbs, select the photo/art area.
5) In the edit menu, select 'copy --> merged'.
6) Create a new file for that image. Repeat for all thumbs and profile pic.
7) Save these as thumb1 to thumb5 and upload them into a gallery.
8) Upload your profile pic to the profile pic section
9) Tag yourself in your thumbs, but be sure to do it in reverse order ... ie the one you want to show up on the left (first position), tag it last.
10) If anyone else tags you, this will ruin the order of your thumbs! Disable this option or be ready to quickly delete tagged photos!



Here is my first effort, using a cartoon of a Fairy in a Christmas hat that I did for Xmas last year.



Post your creations ...