First off, you need to sign in.

Go to MY ACCOUNT -- MY IMAGES -- select TBLOG if you wish to upload into your tblog account. You can upload your avatar and SELECT IT as your avatar by clicking the box and saving.

All your uploads will appear on your CSS form under the TEMPLATE CHOOSER in the java boxes.
You need to click open the box to make a selection of what you wish to use (includes backgrounds).
You can upload your avatar and SELECT IT as your avatar by clicking the save box and saving.

Go to MY BLOG.
Select TEMPLATE CHOOSER
Go to EDIT MY COLORS
On your RETRO (example used) template I noticed several java boxes that you can change your backgrounds if you have uploaded into your tblog account.
If you are not sure which is which, then I suggest that you upload three very different backgrounds and test each one out in each section.
You may want to print out the CSS page and then mark the page so you know what goes where so you don't get so confused.

SAVE your page always (very important!).  A confirmation page comes up and then you can SELECT VIEW YOUR BLOG (with the changes) or CONTINUE TO EDIT.

Note where your backgrounds go when the saved page comes up.

If you don't like it you can always check "revert" and it goes back to the original look.

When you have completed this, you may want to delete the sample backgrounds you tested in your tblog picture archives and upload your own, what you want to use on your page.

Redo the above process with the backgrounds you want.

ADD/EDIT your HTML (still under TEMPLATE CHOOSER)
Here you can click on a box to see where your chosen template (RETRO) allows HTML and then you can add a banner and other coded items.

ADD/EDIT MY LINKS - exactly what it says and you can  put them in the order you desire.

Now if you wish to have visitors to your blog -- fill out your profile with as much or as little as you desire.  What is your comfort level?
Add some TAG interest words that describes your blog, or interests.  This is what people will use if they are searching for people with like interests.
The avatar picture you selected from your uploads should be there.

You can acquire friends. You need to ask people to approve you as a friend.
You can visit blogs and just type in the name of the tblogger and add to your BOOKMARKS too.
On your BOOKMARK page, you will see the last post and they are in order from the most recent post to a stale blog, no post in a long time.

MY SETTINGS -- where you can change your email and settings.

Under MY BLOG you already did the template tweaking.

You can also select to add a post, edit your post or comments, or change your BLOG SETTINGS
BLOG SETTINGS are your BLOG NAME, DESCRIPTION, (shows up and listed in a search)
- disable comments,
- controlling who can comment (no one, any one on the net, or tblog members only)
- how many blog entries per page (more entries, the longer the page scrolls)
- your time zone

I hope this helps you a bit.  It is always so confusing when you are new.

Template Review -- you need to play a bit to get yours to look the way you want it.
All tBlog Links and ads are fixed on every template.

Almovara template -- you cannot add a picture background or a background on your blog enteries, only HEX colors. The one HTML box is at the top of the page. Links and Archives are in java boxes at the top of the page making it a very neat look. Ads are at the bottom of the page.

How to add pictures/banner to the Almo Vara template (text file, opens in new window, contains coding for adding to any blog template that has a side bar HTML boxes).

Pictorial tutorial -- Almo Vara -- where the HTML boxes are on this template (opens in a new window).

TBlog Default allows you to add backgrounds. HTML can be added to either side of the three column template.

Pictorial tutorial -- Default -- where the HTML boxes are on this template (opens in a new window).

Sport -- you can add a header and footer background but you cannot add a blog entry background (known as a "wrapper").  HTML box is along the right hand side where you can add all sorts of stuff before the fixed links. You cannot remove "About Me" at the top of the right column. A background can be added for blockquotes.

Blue -- Allows for page background and blog ("wrapper")&nbs p;entry background.  Navigation bar and content bar can also have backgrounds too. HTML box is under all the fixed links.

Pink -- similiar to Blue BUT with major limitations.  You can add a header, footer, navigation bar backgrounds. At the time, I could not see where the HTML boxes were nor were they working when I was playing with it having HTML in several boxes, saving and viewing.  This means counters or other images could not be added to the side navigation bar.  Overall, this template is basic and you can do a lot with it if you just want a fun but plain look and no custom HTML fixings on the sidebar or anywhere else on the template.

Pictorial Tutorial -- Pink -- no HTML boxes but some advice (opens in a new window).

Yellow - this template had the most features of all.  You could put backgrounds almost anywhere, page, blog, navigation bar, header, and footer.  HTML box was under all the fixed links.

Retro - HTML box is under the blog -- I think this is strange.  The "wrapper" on this is the page background, You can have a header also. The "content body" is the blog body and you can put a background there also.  The Footer contains the image so you would have to put the same "content body" image in that space if you wish your page to be consistant looking.

C3ROFire -- You can change that flaming picture with one of your own, just upload into your album and choose it in the java drop down box.  Currently, you can no longer change the image of the burning van making this template a waste.  A body background can be added but make sure it just says "repeat" in the box so the whole page gets the background.  You can also add a blog background (where your posts are) and make sure the box says "repeat".
The navigation bar can also be customized. Not any more.
I would not recommend using this template unless you LOVE the burning van image.

Updated: 4/08