Three distinct problems:

1) Losing ALL “formating”
If you write html * {margin: 0 0 0 0; padding: 0 0 0 0;}, in Wordpress at least, you lose the possibility of ALL formatting in the posts … that is, “paragraph” tags don’t give a full space between paragraphs; headers aren’t as tall as they should be etc etc.

Solution: Include the margin settings in the “Body” tag.

(more…)

HELLOOOOOOO Tony.TheHungs.Org
1. Backing up database:
Use this plug in — http://www.skippy.net/blog/category/wordpress/plugins/wp-db-backup/

Alternatively — there is a “long” manual way via myPHPAdmin:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Backing_Up_Your_Database

1b. Created new database on Dreamhost (named “Tony”)

2. Installing Wordpress on another server (the usual stuff)
* had to install it on a dreamhost server (this one!)
* created a new “database” entirely so it didn’t have to share the other one with the main blog (thehungs.org)
* in creating a new database, keep in mind the config file: the DB_HOST is **NOT** “localhost” as it is with so many other configs … it is rather “mysql.tony.thehungs.org” or whatever you happen to name it.

3. Re-installing the new backup
The Wordpress Code x has some interesting instructions:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Restoring_Your_Database_From_Backup

However — the latest version fo myPHPAdmin isn’t accounted for!
Here’s what I did –>
panel.dreamhost.com –> ManageMYSQL –> Click on “MyPHPAdmin” next to databaseyou’re interested in –> Select the database you’re interested in on the left –> Click on IMPORT tab –> browse for the SQL file you have backed up and way you go …

Problem shooting:
You need to edit the table wp_options, and edit the first row: siteurl, so it reflects your new one — otherwise when you try and migrate to your new server, you’ll get problems (and all the links will still point to the old one). After that, try and go to the admin panel and point it to your new one and you’ll be good to go.

Background is is all mucked up.

Not centered — with stuff all shifted to the right.

Interesting … not done so on laptop.

Or now, on MSIE

** CORRECTION: It doesn’t render with Firefox 1.0.4 … Interesting … why is that?? Also; can’t get MSIE to run, so difficult to tell; should I use that VISTA renderer?

Previous problem: apparently thought couldn’t nest DIVs — well you can.

The problem was trying to nest divs with no content.

When you actually thrown in content there is apparently no problem at all.

Thank god there is a simple solution! :)

Ended up using Andy Budd’s simple box method:

Create a gif for the background, the top, and the bottom of the box.
Then create the box thusly:

<div id=”box”>
<h2>Header</h2>
<p class=”content”>CONTENT GOES HERE</p>
</div>

#box — background is a y-repeating background (the main background)
#box h2 — background is the “TOP” background
p.content — background is bottom background

PROBLEM:
Nexting DIVS inside the “Content” area … it breaks up the box!
It looks like the DIV is sitting on TOP of the parent DIV, without the parent DIV extending around the “child” DIV.

GRrrrrrr!

A List of Photoshop Tutorials:

1. How to create good knockouts or Masks: http://www.heathrowe.com/tuts/knockout.asp?knockout=intro
2. Elegant Studio Shots: highlighting, mirroring, etc http://www.photoshoplab.com/tutorial_The-Elegant-Studio-Shot.html
3. Stencil-like image: http://tutorialseeker.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=865
4. Andy-Warhol effect on Images: http://www.melissaclifton.com/tutorial-warholphoto1.html
5. Creating a 3D Box: Using “3D Transform” http://www.spoono.com/photoshop/tutorials/tutorial.php?id=26
6. Cutout Images and Transparent Backgrounds — actually, a neat trick with magic wand to select “selectable” black areas, and then PASTE an image into those areas.
7. Pop Icon effect: http://www.fierydarts.com/effects/creating-pop-art.htm
8. 70’s Screen Effect: http://www.designerdrugs.be/?ps=that70stutorial
9. Half-tone effects: http://www.designerdrugs.be/?ps=lichtenstein
10. Che Guevara Stencil (using Filters): http://www.designerdrugs.be/?ps=cheguevara
11. Making crooked images straight: http://www.designerdrugs.be/?ps=measuretool
12. Creating “Sticky Tape” (to put on “pictures”): http://www.stealthdesignz.com/index2.php?page=photoshop/stickytape
13. Vector Masks: http://www.alanhettinger.com/tutorials/vectormask/001.php
14. Photos to line art (COOL): http://www.heathrowe.com/tuts/lineart.asp
15. Layer Mask: http://www.picturecorrect.com/photoshoptips/blending_photos.htm
16. GENERAL:
1. http://fotofects.com/authors/1/Denny-Tang
2. http://www.photoshoptower.com/tutorials/index.php?p=1

Requires a bunch of programs/ skill sets:
A background graphic — need to use Photoshop
A header/logo graphics — ditto
A navigation scheme — Photoshop or CSS, your pick

And CSS to wrap it all together.

To create that header graphic, we use Photoshop.
There are excellent tutorials on how to create, like the one at Zymic.

Basically:
Create a rectangle
Create a layer underneath it with a nice complementary color
“Cut out” parts of the rectangle with the Polygonal Lasso tool … this creates a selection that is easily “deleted”.
Then, alter the layer settings of the original triangle to look cool: embossed, drop shadowed etc.
With cut outs, you can create asymmetrical headers that look cool.