Hello yet again! Welcome to part 3 of Getting the most out of your CSS Journals. If you haven't done so already, check out parts One and Two. In this edition, we'll be dealing with custom journal icon images, using Pasties in your journals, journal features (showcasing some of the top journals around dA) and as an added bonus, a really nifty PHP script you can download to compliment the use of pasties in journals. Onwards we go!

Custom Journal Images

Sure, the little blue book works well with some themes, but it's not always the most gorgeous thing to see. Hiding it isn't always an option. Sometimes you just want to use your own journal icons. Unfortunately dA doesn't have a way to let you take care of this. But CSS does!

HTML:

<img src="your_journal_image.jpg" class="journalicon" />

CSS:

.journalbox .journaltop img {
display:none;

}

.journalicon {
top:12px;
left:5px;
position:absolute;
}

.journaltop h2 {
padding-left:20px;
}

This works well with the default dA journal layout. Of course you'll need to change the values a bit for your journal if it doesn't look right.

Pasties-Like images in your journal!

This is an extension on Last week's GD / PHP write-up. Recently, dA introduced Pasties. Little javascript snippets that allow you to display images on your website, from dA. Using GD and PHP, you can harness the power of pasties, in your journal. However pasties are slow on the update. The latest image on dA isn't always the latest. What if you could have up to the second images on dA, or anywhere you so desire? Included in my gallery, is a PHP script that lets you grab pictures from dA, much in the same way as pasties, but a lot more flexible. It's free to use in your gallery.

You can download the script from here. Make sure you read everything carefully!

Journal features

This is the place to showcase journals that show an exceptional amount of design work, and a unique sense of style. This week's showcased journals are:

=mynti

This deviant's journal is a showcase of what one can do with a simple layout and some colourful images. She also does templates for use on dA. A nice clean layout, with variation in colour and style, equals one awesome layout!

=mindfuckx

=mindfuckx knows his CSS, and isn't afraid to use it. His collaboration with =NickCreevy to bring you a vista-style journal skin is certainly one to check out.

:silverspider2005:

A superb use of Z-Ordering, and breaking out of the traditional square journal mould, silverspider2005 has crafted a journal both easy on the eyes, and a footer to die for



And that concludes week three. Stay tuned for next time, when we reveal more tips, tricks and hacks for journals. If you have a hack, or want to suggest an awesome journal layout, feel free to Note me and we'll work something out. See you all around!