Can anyone recommend a good LJ layout?

[red_satin_doll]

ETA 11/18/12 :  I've decided to go with Blue Woodcut for now, although it doesn't use Ariel-style font (or have tags in a column.  I can deal.)  It's actually quite similar to the Weston series template gabrielleabelle used but is not completely identical, and rarely seen (at least in this corner of the Buffy-fandom sandbox I play around in.)  And: pretty.  Easy on the eyes counts for a lot. Thanks everyone for your suggestions. 

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Exactly what the title says: I chose this particular template because it had: black print on white ground (hey, I'm getting older, kids - readability?  It's an issue - and if it is for me, then....); color around the edges to catch the eye; fairly clean and simple graphic layout; and, the tags were visible.  (The template I originally chose was nice, but tags were not visible, so why even bother?)

But - now it's starting to irk me. It feels as though the text is squeezed in too narrowly, and thus my icon becomes more prominent right at the top of each post (or maybe I need to downsize my icons), which distracts my eyes visually when I put a photo at the top of the post.

So, if anyone can recommend another layout - and, oh yeah, it has to be one of the free ones. 

I'm not "fussy" - I prefer "particular", thanks muchly.

Comments

[kikimay]

I'm also too picky, so I understand completly! I think you should try the Weston series, maybe you'll like it.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I just looked at your LJ again - and I think the weston series is also the one that gabrielleabelle used? So I might try that.

My question - how do you get that wallpaper imagery in the background of it? Do you have to have a paid account to be able to do that?

[kikimay]

It's exactly the same! You don't have to pay to change the background. You need to upload a picture on Tinypic, for example, and change the CUSTOM.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I'm looking at the site now - I guess Tinypic is a bit different from Photobucket or Fotoflexer? (Fotoflexer is the editing suite that used to be on Photobucket. Now I only use Photobucket for storage since they got a different editing suite, which is useless for my needs.)

I'll give that a go in the near-future, thanks! I looked at all the templates recommended to me here, and there are quite a few nice ones. Choosing will be hard. (I'm not famous for my decisiveness, alas.)

[kikimay]

I changed my background a thousand times today. I'm right there with you, believe me.
You can use Photobucket or Tinypic, it doesn't matter, you have to take the http of the image you like and modify the custom stylesheet. (Mine, for example, is now blue) Download a picture you like, take the http for desktop with Photobucket or Tinypic and modify the custom.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Ok thanks! I'll give that a go. And if I can't figure it out, I'll come crying to you, ok? (Actually I'm pretty good with computer stuff once I figure things out. I just haven't done a lot with images other than create icons.)

[kikimay]

Of course, I can help you!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Gratzi! (And that's pretty much the extent of my Italian.)