I am an internet marketing specialist at a web design company; I’m surrounded by expert web designers every day.  I guess it’s ironic, then, that I frequently find myself in need of a simple design to use for online marketing purposes– a thumbnail here, a template there… The fact is, our designers are super busy doing high end work and spending their time creating a marketing doodad just isn’t  worth their time.

One such occasion when I found myself helplessly facing a design-related task to further my marketing efforts was when I wanted to create a custom Twitter background.  Every Twitter user who is intent on being taken seriously has to have one, duh. Eventually, I sacked up, bought Photoshop Elements (a light version of Photoshop, which I wouldn’t recommend buying instead of the real Photoshop, by the way,) and did some research on how to create my own twitter background.

Here’s my lesson to share with you, then:

Creating a Custom Twitter Background For Design Dummies (such as myself)

1.) Sizing the template–

Create a blank template in Photoshop that is 1920 x 1200 pixels large.  Keep the resolution at 72 (a golden rule when you’re going to use an image on the web.)

2.) Space your design appropriately–
Since the Twitter feed messages will occupy most of your twitter page, you only have so much space on the left and right side of your background that will remain visible.  To be exact, from the left edge, you have a 364 pixel width of visible space.

3.) Design away–
Throw in some images, text, etc into the Photoshop template.

4.) Saving the image–

When you go to save your Twitter background, make sure that you save it as a JPG file, at 72 res, at the correct dimensions (listed above,) and at a high or very high quality.  This is the file that you’ll upload to twitter.  If you want to be able to go back in and edit your background (not a bad idea if it’s your first time doing this,) save it as a PSE (in Elements,) or a PSD (in Photoshop) file.

Remember to have some patience! My Twitter backgrounds started out looking really hideous and now I think they’re half decent!  Good luck!