The new layout I did for Cindyisms the other day utilized some new techniques in layout I hadn’t gotten to work previously. This has given me the itch to re-design SEB, but I’m pretty happy with the layout it currently has so that leaves me in a bit of a quandary.

Then I realized I should just break down and do like some other sites are doing and set up my blog to allow it to be skinned by visitors to the site. There are a number of excellent tutorials on how to do this out there and it doesn’t look like I need to become a master of PHP to write the small bit of code that would be required so I think I’ll take the plunge and see how badly I can mess things up.

Of course you have to have alternate layouts before you can have the option to skin so I’m left wondering just what I want to do in the way of new layout. I’ve been prowling around Day Dream Graphics lately which is a site offering free website layouts using images from various anime series and some of the designs are just stunning. Half of the effect, I know, comes from effective graphic design which, I also know, I suck at. So that leaves me with the realization that I need to practice more and finally break down and learn how to use Photoshop instead of Photo Impact, which is what I currently use.

The graphics part of web design is always what has frustrated me most. I can dream up awesome layouts, but my ability to actually translate my thoughts into usable graphics is often cause for high blood pressure and indigestion. I understand the principles behind what I want to do, I just don’t seem to be able to put them into action. So that leaves me with even more stuff to practice I suppose.

Still, the itch needs to be scratched at least to the point that I realize I’ve hit my limitations so we’ll see what kind of mess I can get myself into.