Welcome to this simple banner making tutorial!

Banner making is not as complex as most people think it to be. It just requires basic knowledge of tools, some handy resources easily available and a wild imagination and voila!...Your banner will be ready in no time.

There are many online programs used to create a banner. Here I am going to be showing you how to create on by using one of my most favorite programs- PIXLR

Pixlr is free and does not require one to download it. Plus it has got many features and at the first glance could look intimidating, but if you learn to use it, you'd know just how much fun it can be. So without much further ado, here is the tutorial:

STEP 1:

Open Pixlr EDITOR. You can do that most easily by clicking on google and then typing Pixlr. There will be three options: Pixlr Express, Pixlr-O-Matic and Pixlr Editor. Please click on the Pixlr Editor. A tab looking like this will open up:

STEP 2:

Please select open a new image. This will lead you to the size. The banner size ideally is 1000x500/550 (width x height). So add it there:

The page will now open up, much like your paint with a blank sheet. Now is the time to insert a picture that you like of your face claim. 
If you go on google to search the image, look for images having the tag of a PNG. 
That means that the image background would be transparent.

STEP 3:

After either saving your image or simply clicking on copy image address, go to the LAYER option. Click on open image as a layer or image url as a layer depending on how you have your image.

STEP 4:

As you can see from the background of my previous image, my picture is too big. So I have to resize it. The easy way to do that, is to click on Edit->Free transform

Transform to whatever size you desire and click on okay.

STEP 5:

Repeat Step 3 and 4 to add more images

You can always go back to your images to change or edit simply by using the arrow tool and by selecting the image from the layer box indicated below:

STEP 6:

Adding a text can really be easy. Just click on the A icon. You get to chose a variety of fonts. You can always download more fonts from Fonts 1001 and other such websites.You can change the size,colour etc.

STEP 7:

This is the very basic banner. The next step is to add some effects to it. I generally use the gradient too, (marked in the previous picture )to do it.

First click on Layer->New Layer

Then Click on the gradient tool. On the top bar, you'll notice something called as the gradient. Click on that and different types of Gradient options will pop up.

I will be selecting the double grey ones since I like how the effect comes out, especially since I do not have a background of sorts. You can change the colour by clicking on the two cylindrical image type on top.

Once you have selected your desired colour, drag across your picture as shown below.

Once you have done that, the image should somewhat look like this.

Now click on the music tone type icon on the right of the page in the layers section (as marked in the image above)

Now you will be able to change the Mode and the opacity. For this image, I am changing the mode to Multiply and the opacity to 50.

The image should now look like this:

AND VOILA! A very simple banner is ready!

EXTRA STEPS:

Now you can go ahead and add more stuff to it. Max is a Dhampir, so I thought to add his weapon of choice in it too, using the same method as step 3 and 4.

Now as you can see, the image is not a transparent on, but it can be made transparent easily. 

Click on the magic wand tool type on the left hand side, below the square kinda thing and above the gradient tool. (See the image above)

Now simply click on the white portion on the image. You would see it being selected and moving like a row of ants.

Then go to Edit->Cut.

You will see the unwanted background being removed. Alternatively, you can also use the eraser tool. It should now look like the image below.

Resize it if required and place it where ever you desire.

You can create the shadow effect I gave to it, by simply right clicking on layer option on the right hand corner and selecting duplicate layer. After duplicating it, you can change the opacity of one of those layers to give this shadow look.

You can basically end it anytime you like or just go on and on adding effects.

Don't worry, with some practice, you'll be able to know exactly what to do, where to go and what to add.

HOW TO SAVE THE IMAGE

Don't forget to save your work. To do that, simply click on file->Save-> Leave it untitled for now and simply click save. It would lead you to your documents and there you can change the file name.

Your Banner is now ready to be used!

To use a banner on ECRP, you just have to upload it on either Imgur, Photobucket, Flickr etc where you can get the links and then use the codes (Give under profile code sharing forum) to place it on your profile. Please do note that not all themes allow the use of a banner in which case, you can easily use it for your bio.

Hope this tutorial helped!

If you have any questions, difficulties etc, please feel free to drop me a message.
Also there are many banner making tutorial available on youtube, so don't forget to check that out!

Wish you guys the best of luck in your own unique banner creation!