Step One: Creating The Header Background

Step 1.1: The first step in getting ready to create your web page graphic header is to open Photoshop Elements.

Step 1.2: Go to the FILE menu, NEW, and then click BLANK FILE:

Step 1.3: When the PROPERTIES box appears, enter in these dimensions:

Section #1: Enter the name written as: header

Section #2: Enter 625 to 650 pixels for the width and 150 for the height

By default the RESOLUTION will be set to 72 pixels/inch. The color will be pre-set to RGB Color (if it's not, choose RGB from the list) and BACKGROUND CONTENTS will be set to WHITE.

Step 1.4: Now click the OK button.

This is the document you will see when you're done:

Step 1.5: Now you need to save the document with a filename of header.psd so you're going to go to the FILE MENU, then choose the SAVE AS button:

Step 1.6: When the SAVE AS OPTIONS window appears, enter these settings:

Section #1: Save to the "MY WEB SITE" folder you created when you started the program.

Section #2: Enter the filename of: header.psd

This screen capture shows the exact settings to use:

Step 1.7: When you're done with the settings, click the SAVE button on the bottom right hand side. That will close the window and you will return to the main workspace.

Tips on Creating Your Graphic Header

The best size for a graphic header is between 625 and 650 pixels wide by 150 pixels high.

Of course you can use a larger size, but those dimensions are the most commonly used size.

You can create a perfect graphic header using nothing more than 1 image and some text with layer styles, or gradients applied.

You don't need to get fancy. Sometimes less is more!