Three New Desktop Wallpapers!

I have to confess that these have been sitting around in my 'puter for probably the past year. Sometimes I make things and let them "age" a bit. You know, sort of like what you do with red wine. Sometimes they come out better; sometimes not. I hope these wallpapers are well-aged.

The first one I call "Mexican Sunrise" although initially I called it "Mexican Sunset." I believe the former is correct, because I recall getting up early one day in our hotel room in Puerto Vallarta and watching the sun rise as the workers began coming in for their shift. You can see a little bit of the mountains surrounding the city through the fronds of the palm trees near the room. It was my first trip to Mexico and a really interesting one. Some parts of it reminded me of California, especially when we went on a bus ride through the countryside to a treetop zip ride excursion in the mountains. Anyway, I digress.

The second wallpaper I call "Color Bump." It comes from experimenting with some of the features in Paint Shop Pro. Kind of fun to play around with things in the software program. This is nice because it is just colors on your desktop. Bright and cheery, I think, not to mention a little psychedelic.

The third wallpaper is just as colorful and I call it "Wild Colored Bubbles." Again, it comes from experimenting with Paint Shop Pro, this time with tubes. I just let the mouse go wild with a bubble tube. Maybe not for adults but certainly nice for a kid's computer.

You can see all of these new desktop wallpapers on page three of the wallpapers section. You can also access them from the main page of the site.

This is it for March. I do have a set in the works and I will release it next month. Promise!

Who Is This? Or How Not to Use the Graphics

Going through my Sitemeter stats today, I found an entry for a page that is not mine on someone's desktop (again!) Obviously, someone is using either a background graphic or a background graphic from a set with my HTML code fully intact with my Sitemeter code and viewing it on their desktop.

While I do not mind people copying the layout from a sample page, you really must delete my text and my Sitemeter code from the page. If you do not know how to do that, don't use the code. Start from scratch with your own HTML editor.

What is also disturbing is that this person may be viewing a pornographic web page either saved from the 'net or he/she is the one who created that horrible page. That would be in direct violation of my Terms of Use. Section 8: It is absolutely forbidden to use any piece of the linkware collection or any of the bits-and-pieces within pages promoting child abuse, hate, bigotry, racism, animal abuse and/or illegal or legal pornographic activities."

I have taken screenshots and printed out the pages from my Sitemeter stats and from my search on Google for this page. While the page name is not exactly the same, it is easy enough to change the filename within the directory where the file is stored on the computer.

Edit: It appears that this visitor is using the set for legitimate purposes but I wish he or she would remove my Sitemeter code now. They are also using my page name and adding number 1, 2, etc. on subsequent pages of their site. That is why I thought what I did in the stricken paragraph above. I'm somewhat relieved now. I'd hate having to take legal action; it'd be such a mess.

Visitor 8500

Forgot to mention the stats for visitor number 8500 yesterday.

Actually, the visit occurred on March 11 so I'm late again with this report. He or she comes from near Euless, Texas using a computer with Windows XP and IE 6. They used Google to look for interface sets and were disappointed to find only one on my site (alas!) so they didn't stay long.

Sorry about that. I do have some interface sets in the works, but nothing near being released yet. I have spring on my mind so that's what's coming out next.

March Update

Hey there! Unbelievable how time flies when you're very busy. I'm glad I was productive last month, because I'm not this month. I've been busy with a home remodel, so this weekend was the only time I could work on anything. I've started a vacation-oriented set and hope it will be completed and released before the month is out. I will post details of the set on the release date, so come back here or check back at the web site.

I don't know about you but I'm ready for spring and summer!

Downtime

Recorded on March 1 for less than one hour.

New Top Border Web Page Background!

Spring will be here soon and in anticipation of that event I've created a top border background with a red flower from the Spring Flowers tube. Not to be satisfied with just plunking it down on the graphic, it's softened with Virtual Painter into a watercolor and embellished with Bezier curve "leaves."

View the thumbnail here.

Be sure to use the username and password required to view the full-sized page which has more details and suggestions for the layout.

This will be it for February's offerings. Only four days left of this month. How time flies!

New Background Tile Graphics!

Did some quick creations of two new mini-tiles and a solid color background tile. One of the mini-tiles is a jell heart, which, unfortunately, is a little too late for Valentine's Day but can be used for any "sweetheart" page. It has a white background. The other mini-tile is a shamrock, just in time for St. Patty's Day or whatever. The regular size tile in a solid color is green. This tile can be paired with the shamrock tile in the CSS code for the background, if you want something other than a white page which is the background color of the shamrock mini-tile.

View and download the mini-tiles here.

View and download the green background tile here.

All of the above background tiles created with Paint Shop Pro; mini-tiles created with PSP tubes also.

Another Milestone: Visitor 8000!

I'm so late in reporting this as usual. My husband and I have been busy remodeling a kitchen, entryway, and half bath which has taken up our weekends since September. Plus, during the week we've gone shopping for materials, etc. The spate of graphics I've been able to release lately are rare nowadays. So long story short, I missed the arrival of visitor number 8000.

He or she is on Earthlink and hails from the Chicago, Illinois area. This visitor was looking for the Aramis font using the Viewpoint search engine on February 9th. They are a PC user with Windows XP and IE 6. Their search for the font would have taken them to my Resources page and then on to 1001 Free Fonts. They could also download the font on that page since it is okay for me to distribute it.

Thanks, visitor 8000, for visiting Arride Graphics!

New Desktop Wallpaper: Jupiter System Montage

Man, am I on a roll this month!

I've just uploaded a new desktop wallpaper with a space theme of Jupiter and her moons. Comes in three sizes: 800x600, 1024x768 and 1152x864. Nice warm colors with this one.

Go to the second wallpapers page then click on the size you want to place on your computer's desktop. A new window opens with the graphic on the page and follow the directions at the top of the page, mainly using your right-click or hover menu to set the graphic as desktop wallpaper or background.

Remember, these graphics are not meant to be used for web pages. Way too big. Enjoy!

Yikes! It's Another Heart Graphic

Before I get to the newest background tile graphic, I need to apologize profusely for making it difficult for anyone to download ANY background tile. I use a template for my main pages and those pages had a right-click disabling script and meta tag on them. So no one could use the right-click menu. I've fixed the affected pages.

On to the newest graphic: I call it "Heart-y" and it's another fancy heart background tile. In a change of process, I've included some sample pages where you can see how it looks tiled using both HTML and CSS. Hope you enjoy this addition to the Valentine or love-themed background graphics!

View the newest graphic.

New Valentine's Day Side Border Background!

Hey, just in time for Valentine's Day web pages or other such "love" pages is Fancy Art Heart. Originally created as a heart only graphic giveaway on my personal blog last year, it's reincarnated as a fancier web page background.

Okay, I confess. I didn't want to start from scratch so I dug up this graphic. I really like the look. It's made from Microsoft Webdings and prettied up using Paint Shop Pro 7. I'm thinking of making a smaller version of the original graphic to use as a mini-tile or maybe even using the original size for a background tile. Let me think about this a little more...

Anyway, enjoy using the background and remember to link back to me!

Short Downtime

The site experienced a short downtime today, Feb. 1, at approximatedly 7 a.m. PST as reported by one of my uptime monitors. It lasted about one hour. No other monitors reported this.

New Desktop Wallpaper: Sunflower Row!

In anticipation of spring and summer, I've just released a new desktop wallpaper called Sunflower Row that'll chase away the winter blues. It features a row of large sunflowers, natch, at the top of a graduated green background. It's available in three sizes to fit screen resolutions from 800x600 to 1024x768 to 1152x864. Created with Jasc Paint Shop Pro tubes, it's sure to brighten up your day every time you get on your 'puter.

Be sure to check out the coordinating but not matching top border web page background called Sunflower already featured at Arride Graphics.

This will close out January's graphic offerings. Be sure to check the main web page or this blog often for new stuff next month.

New Side Border Background

Just uploaded a new side border background called Snowshoes.

This background has old-fashioned snowshoes criss-crossed on a bed of snow. The snowshoe graphic starts at about 130 pixels from the left edge of the background with enough space for your menu or other links on the left side of the graphic. The sample page shows how you can use it.

View the thumbnail on the main side border page and click it to access the full page in a new window. Please remember to use the login information provided on the page as all background graphics are now in a password-protected directory.

Left Border Backgrounds Page

New Old Look and New Desktop Wallpaper

Just updated the pages on the site with an old look made new with changed Flash header and graphics. Layout is a little different, too, with rollover navigation buttons.

More important, there's a new, wintry desktop wallpaper called "Snowy Shrub." Created from my photograph of a lonely, snow-covered shrub in my mountain back yard. Kind of makes you feel chilly, especially if your house is cold. Brrrr!

See the third wallpapers page for it. Comes in three sizes.

Happy New Year!

Wishing all the best to you for 2006!

Wishing for lasting peace and harmony among us all.

Wishing for a better world in which our children and all following generations can live.

Minor Corrections

I just noticed three bad Blue Vinyl Fonts links on the resources page and corrected them. I also corrected some info and link to Paint Shop Pro -- it's now at Corel and now in version 10 instead of 9.

You'll now be able to go to the correct pages. My apologies for the inconvenience of sending you to the wrong places earlier.

Holiday Wishes

Since I will be visiting family for an assortment of things including a niece's birthday and my brother flying in for the holidays, I want to wish all of you now a merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah, both falling on the 25th this year. And since I don't think I'll be near a computer on the 26th either, happy Kwanzaa and Boxing Day for those who celebrate or observe those holidays.

Me, I've been bad by not releasing any sets yet. Winter just started yesterday so I think I still have time to put out another wintry set. If not, then look forward to something for spring.

2006 will be more busy for me because I need to take an outside job to support my hobbies and other household expenses. Bye, bye jeans. Time to put on a business dress for those interviews!

Visitor 7500!

Another milestone reached today before noon PST. Happened sooner than I thought it would but how nice it did.

Visitor number 7500 hails from Nicaragua and surfs using a computer with Windows XP and IE 6. This visitor was using Google to find butterfly wallpaper. Unfortunately, all I have is the Butterfly Nebula wallpaper, so this visitor didn't stay long.

Thank you, anyway, for stopping in.

Snowflake Font

Around this time a lot of people search for snowflake dingbat fonts and how to use them. While I don't offer fonts at this time, I can point you to places where you can find those fonts.

P22 is a commercial font foundry. They offer a lot of cool fonts to buy. If you subscribe to their newsletter (and what fontaholic wouldn't?), you sometimes get free, limited use fonts. Their snowflake font was one offered awhile ago to us subscribers, but you can still download it on this page. Consider buying one or more of their cool, reasonably-priced fonts as well.

Chank! is another commercial font foundry that offers free fonts from their on-site and guest designers. A free dingbat by Spunk called Spunkflakes is your key to snowflake font heaven. Available in Mac and Windows formats. Consider buying for cheap, Chankflakes or FriskyFlakes (really cheap!), both available as Mac or Windows versions. Snowflake dingbats are also available in an open type package of multiple fonts for only $49 on their site.

Aenigma Fonts offers a PC only free dingbat font called Faux Snow. Click on View to see one example or on CS to see the whole character set. Clicking the name opens the download window. Another possibility is the font, 90 Stars, which actually look like five-pointed snowflakes to me. Check out the character set first.

You can also find a servicable snowflake (one style only) in the Microsoft Wingdings using capital T. It's not the prettiest snowflake but it has the requisite six-sides. I created a background tile using this font that you are free to download to use on your computer's desktop or a web page. Go to my patterned tiles page at http://www.arride.com/ptiles5.html to view and download this graphic.

How to use:

After you download the font, open the file into your fonts folder in your computer's hard drive. In Windows navigate to your control panel then open the Fonts folder. Once inside, click on Install font then navigate to your downloaded font. Be sure you've unpacked the font from its zip file first or else you won't see it to install it.

Most PCs using Windows will have a built-in paint program called Paint (duh) and you can use that to create a snowflake from the selected font. However, it is not a sophisticated enough program to create one as a transparent background .gif usable on different colored web pages nor with layers on another graphic such as a photo.

For that I suggest looking at some of the graphics software listed on my resources page. I might add that Paint Shop Pro is perfect for this purpose.

If you want to use snowflakes in a text document such as a letter, you won't have to worry about any of the above. Just use the dingbat like you're using a different font by changing the font selection in your document. However, keep in mind that unless your recipient also has the same font in their computer, they will not see the snowflake in the document as is. In order for the recipient to see a snowflake, the snowflake has to be added to the document as an image. A printout of the document from YOUR computer will have the snowflake, of course. This caveat is true of web pages also.

Those are just a few of the places to find snowflake fonts and use them. You can find more by searching in your favorite search engine or directory using the words, "font dingbat snowflakes."

(edited 11/27/2007 to add disclaimer in paragraph 9, on 11/28/2007 to add another font in paragraph 4, and on 12/14/2007 to add the link to a snowflake graphic)