Template Designer: Add style with custom CSS code snippet

Modifying your blog appearance usually requires you to edit your template’s existing CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) code or adding new codes.

To add a CSS code snippet, go to Template > Edit HTML > Proceed (for old interface: Design > Edit HTML) page and insert the code in the CSS section of the template.

That’s what you would do if you are using a regular layout template. However if you use the new Designer Template, there is another way. You can do it right from the inside of Template Designer.template designer custom css

Some of the advantages of using this method:

  • Safer -you don’t need to enter the Edit HTML page (where all your template codes reside), thus eliminating the risk of messing up your existing codes.
  • Instant preview -Template Designer provides live preview. You will see changes even as you enter the code.
  • Easier to undo -the added code will stay there in the editor. To undo, you can come back to the editor at any time and remove the added code.

Here’s how you do it:

  1. Go to Template > Customize (for old interface: Dashboard > Design > Template Designer).
  2. In Template Designer page, click Advanced in the menu on the left.
  3. Then scroll down the submenu and click Add CSS. template designer add custom css
  4. Enter the CSS code snippet in the editor on the right. 
  5. Hit Enter key and view the change live in the preview pane located on the lower half of the screen.
  6. Click the orange Apply To Blog button on the upper right corner of the screen to save the snippet.
  7. Click Back to Blogger link to return to Page Elements page.
  8. Done…. enjoy!

71 comments to "Template Designer: Add style with custom CSS code snippet"

mas doyok July 1, 2010 at 7:37 AM    

why template by templte dessigner make browser work slowly... ?

Greenlava July 1, 2010 at 5:01 PM    

@mas doyok
One of the reasons is because of a large background image file. Some background images exceed 200kb!

Susan M. Ebbers July 3, 2010 at 12:36 PM    

Thanks for all the super help! I refer to your page frequently.

Quick question: I use the new template called Watermark. The advanced designer gives forces me to choose for ALL page text, either bold or not, either italics or not. If I choose bold, it makes everything bold, even the text inside each post. I want some of the sidebar stuff to be bold but the posts to be in plain text. Any ideas? Here is my site: http://vocablog-plc.blogspot.com
Thanks,
Susan

Susan M. Ebbers July 3, 2010 at 12:38 PM    

PS..I posted the question here because I thought you could give me a CSS code snippet for Watermark, so I do not have to make everything bold, or everything plain text. See prior comment. Susan

Greenlava July 3, 2010 at 1:20 PM    

@Susan M. Ebbers
To bold text in a widget, use this code snippet:
#YourWidgetId {font-weight: bold;}
replace YourWidgetId with well, your widget Id.
For example,
#LinkList4 {font-weight: bold;}
will bold the text inside your "Authors" widget.

How do you find your widget Id? Read How to find Blogger widget and section Id

Susan M. Ebbers July 3, 2010 at 8:07 PM    

Thank you so much! It worked for all my links lists (I followed your directions for "How to find Blogger widget and section"

Arun July 3, 2010 at 9:21 PM    

I need your help Greenlava. In my blog you can see labels arranged in the order next to other. I don't like that. I need to arrange the labels one below other. My labels are in the sidebar named "DoFollow Blog Category". The labels are there arranged one near to other. But I need it to placed one below other. Hope you get it. Please help me.

Greenlava July 4, 2010 at 5:38 PM    

Go to Design > Edit HTML and find this code:
.rightsidebar ul li {
float:left;
list-style-type: none;
margin: 0 0 5px;
padding-left: 15px;
background:url(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6pbSFKC8YH4/SnahfzT3m4I/AAAAAAAABG0/OOasfxGZIBk/s1600/bullet_black.png) no-repeat left center;
}

replace float:left; with display:block;
That should do it.

Arun July 4, 2010 at 8:13 PM    

You are great.You are my brother. I asked this help to many bloggers. They told me to place this widget to middle wrapper to adjust. I was not intersested and finally you helped me. I was planning to change this template for this reason. You are great, great, great. Thank you so much. I will do a great favor to you in return later. I will inform you at that time.

Also if I need more help regarding coding. I will definitely ask you. Feel free to help me.

Arun July 4, 2010 at 10:16 PM    

I need one more help. In Revolution church blogger template, http://revolution-church-bloger-updated-v1.blogspot.com, you can see it by clicking the link above, you can see sidebar widget title decorated in a style. I mean black background with solid white font. But I am using WoodMag blogger template and the widget post title is plane. I need the title to be changed exactly as in church theme ie, dark background with white font. Is there any way to change the code for that.

Greenlava July 5, 2010 at 9:04 AM    

@Arun
Find this:
.rightsidebar h2,.midsidebar h2{
color: #000;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: bold;
text-transform: titlecase;
margin: 0px 0px 5px;
padding: 3px 0 6px 0px;
background:url(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sunpK_FtO1E/SmLcWE0YCAI/AAAAAAAAAJE/XLBnsrGWN0A/s1600/hl-dot.gif) repeat-x bottom center;
}

replace it with this:
.rightsidebar h2,.midsidebar h2{
color: #fff;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: bold;
text-transform: titlecase;
margin: 0px 0px 5px;
padding: 3px 0 6px 0px;
background-color; #333;
}

Arun July 5, 2010 at 10:08 AM    

Not working brother. Take a look. Here I can't see the title. I hope you got what I asked. I need exactly as in church template like Black background and white color font using same font style as in church template. I didn't change the code you provided. It is there in my template, so you can analyze it.

Arun July 5, 2010 at 11:17 AM    

But I tried in my own way. I am not sure it is right or not.

This is your code

.rightsidebar h2,.midsidebar h2{
color: #fff;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: bold;
text-transform: titlecase;
margin: 0px 0px 5px;
padding: 3px 0 6px 0px;
background-color; #333;
}

Slightly modified by changing the code to this way:
.rightsidebar h2,.midsidebar h2{
background: #333 url(http://s243.photobucket.com/albums/ff129/piratedpunk/revolution-church/headline.png);
color: #FFF;
text-transform: uppercase;
margin: 0 0 10px;
padding: 3px 0 3px 7px;
font: bold 11px Arial, Tahoma, Verdana;
}

u can see it applied in my blog now

Is it right or not ?

Shreedhar July 6, 2010 at 2:37 AM    

Thanks for this helpful tip.

Is there any way to customize css only for the pages part of blogger? I mean the new feature that allows one to have static pages - I would like to use some customer css on those pages but not have them defined for other blog pages. It seems that is not possible currently. Is there any way to achieve that?

Greenlava July 6, 2010 at 8:38 AM    

@Arun
Yeah that is correct.

@Shreedhar
I have a tutorial just for that -Apply different layout/styling to static pages.

Susan M. Ebbers July 7, 2010 at 11:18 AM    

Hi again. New question: Is there a CSS code I can insert that will widen the pageList tabs bar? I am using new template Watermark by Peterson and I am disappoinged with the tabs bar. As it is, I have 7 pages but only 5 or 6 will hyperlink, unless I make the text size of the tabs very small. If I zoom out, then fewer and fewer page links work. My overall page layout is 1000, but it would appear that I only get to use about 700-800 for tabs.

A related but less vital problem is that when I use a tab background color in the designer, template every tab slot gets a background color, even empty slots, so it looks goofy.

My blog link is below, thanks!

http://vocablog-plc.blogspot.com/

Greenlava July 8, 2010 at 4:39 PM    

@Susan M. Ebbers
1. I'm not whether it's a bug or simply bad design, I applied the same template to my test blog, and got similar result. Anyway I think I found a workaround. Add this code
.main-outer .cap-left {display:none;}

2. Background color for the tabs (not the bar), here it is:
.tabs ul li {background-color:silver;}

as for no.1, be on the lookout for any side effect just in case. Please tell me if there is.

Anonymous,  July 19, 2010 at 12:38 PM    

How do I upload my own photo for a background? I've tried several different CSS codes and none of them seem to work for me. Help!!

Greenlava July 19, 2010 at 4:13 PM    

@Kate
Read How to use your own background image in Template Designer

raja August 12, 2010 at 4:52 AM    

HI FRIEND I WANT TO CHANGE POST TITLE FONT SIZE..

http://www.muthupet.cz.cc/

HELP ME...

Greenlava August 12, 2010 at 11:29 AM    

@RAJAGANAPATHI
Your template is not of Template Designer's.
Do this instead:
Go to Design > Edit HTML and look for this code:
.p-head h2 {
color:#000000;
font:bold 34px/34px Arial;
letter-spacing:-1px;
}

to resize the font, change the 34px/34px figure.

sleuth August 15, 2010 at 4:12 PM    

I got a question for you.... I have inserted a code to automatically resize me videos on my blog affecting all the objects...but I want to also put soundcloud files on my blog...which are also considered objects...but i dont want them to be the same size as the videos...how can i do this???

Greenlava August 16, 2010 at 11:02 AM    

@sleuth
One way is by putting the object in a div or span tag, then give the tag a class, like this:
[div class="soundcloud"]
YOUR SOUNDCLOUD OBJECT CODE IN HERE
[/DIV]

and then add this CSS code right before ]]>< /b:skin>:
.soundcloud object {STYLING CODE HERE}

AllieMakes! August 24, 2010 at 9:17 AM    

Trying to add a customized signature to my posts in this new template designer. I can not figure this out. Is there a code I can add for my signature in photobucket to add as a signature? Many Thanks, Allie

Greenlava August 25, 2010 at 10:46 AM    

@Allie
Your present code:
[a href="http://s835.photobucket.com/albums/zz279/alliemakes/?action=view¤t=BlogSignaturecopy.png" target="_blank"][img alt="Blog Signature" border="0" src="http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/zz279/alliemakes/BlogSignaturecopy.png" /][/a]

replace it with this:
[img style="border:none;-moz-box-shadow: none;-webkit-box-shadow: none;box-shadow: none;" alt="Blog Signature" border="0" src="http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/zz279/alliemakes/BlogSignaturecopy.png" /]

Heidi Joy Pesterfield August 30, 2010 at 1:40 AM    

All I want to do is change the left hand alignment of my header photo & title of my blog (averageclimber.com) so that it is centered above the main body of my blog. From reading this, I now understand HOW to do it, but do not understand WHAT exactly the CSS Snippet IS, or where I find it. Help!

Greenlava August 30, 2010 at 5:46 AM    

@Heidi Joy Pesterfield
You will find it here: Aligning header image and texts

Sarah January 31, 2011 at 12:42 PM    

So helpful!!!! Thanks! =)

Tru February 1, 2011 at 4:39 AM    

Is there a way to make the blog description a different color than the title ?

Greenlava February 1, 2011 at 2:03 PM    

@Tru@TRU TALES FEATS
That's easy :), add this:
.descriptionwrapper {color: PUT_COLOR_CODE_HERE;}

Darlene February 27, 2011 at 12:35 AM    

what CSS code should I enter to center header? I am making a blog for my mom and I really need this!

Greenlava February 27, 2011 at 12:54 AM    

@Darlene
Go here: Center or right align header image and title on Blogger
You need no.1 and no.3 in that tutorial.

Peter Hons March 6, 2011 at 12:52 AM    

What a great site!

I tried so many other sites that did not work. Yours worked a charm. I am very grateful and have bookmarked it as well as passed it on to others,

Thanks again!

Admin March 8, 2011 at 6:05 PM    

Help please...


https://picasaweb.google.com/113067723029419441812/Mar7201103#slideshow/5581378259106587186

Abigail Rogers March 13, 2011 at 9:46 AM    

Beautiful! Thank you so much :)

Veronica March 16, 2011 at 1:32 PM    

awesome!!!! thank you!

Simon Morris March 17, 2011 at 8:55 AM    

Excellent - works a treat, thanks! :-)

josh April 20, 2011 at 10:43 PM    

thank you very much. now my customized header is centered. thank you, friend. God bless you.

K.R. Munro May 15, 2011 at 11:36 PM    

works great, first time! Thanks! :)

Savannah Thea May 26, 2011 at 5:58 PM    

What is the CSS code? Where do i can find it?

Greenlava May 28, 2011 at 12:38 AM    

@Savannah Thea
What is it that you're trying to do? Maybe I can help you make a CSS snippet for it.

Anonymous,  June 5, 2011 at 2:05 AM    

wow... i like this blog..:)

Unknown July 7, 2011 at 6:45 PM    

Thanks, it has worked first time!

Hardy Jackson July 20, 2011 at 11:40 PM    

Just want to thank you very much for helping me with centering my blog title & description using the code you posted here. Great work keep it coming! :-)

yuu August 17, 2011 at 6:42 PM    

OMGGGGGGG!! successsss!!!! thank you so much!!!i love it!! and thanks for your patient :)

Kate August 19, 2011 at 11:47 AM    

This totally worked :) Thank you!

Anonymous,  August 19, 2011 at 4:49 PM    

How To reduce Header Distance Like Yours
Also Hot To make Navigation bar close with header i could not find that tips i hope you will reply soon

Anonymous,  September 17, 2011 at 3:18 PM    

thank...............

AngelasEyeOn October 19, 2011 at 7:38 PM    

Awesome thanks. Worked like a charm and painless too. I had thought going the blogger.com route would get a site I only need temporarily up quicker and easier than wordpress. Ha! lol! Should have found your blog first! :-D

shahhrul Hasanal October 27, 2011 at 8:30 AM    

Thanks for fix.. Anyway you have discuss how get google snippet in serp? like star rating.. profile plus 1.. picture snippet.. breadcumb snippet.. :D

The Box November 5, 2011 at 2:27 AM    

In dynamic views - flipcard - when you click on a post - the post background always shows up as white. Is there a way to change post background from white to black?

Greenlava November 6, 2011 at 12:59 AM    

@The Box
You can change the background color in Template Designer > Advanced > Page > Background Color.

C.E.R. February 11, 2012 at 2:50 AM    

Hi. I really hope you can help me. On my blog (anfnewsnow.blogspot.com), I would like to space the tabs found below the header evenly intead of having them lined-up to the right. Also, I've been trying desperately for months to find CSS to remove those extra bars that extend to the left and right of the tabs beyond the vertical boundaries on the left and right of the header. I would completely appreciate your help, please!

M.E. Davis February 11, 2012 at 1:26 PM    

Thank you! This has been extremely helpful!

Greenlava February 13, 2012 at 12:58 PM    

@C.E.R.
To match the bar's width to that of the header image's, add this snippet:
.tabs-outer {margin: 0 auto; width: 928px;}

To increase the gap between tabs, refer to this tutorial:
Template Designer: Change the style / appearance of page tabs

C.E.R. February 16, 2012 at 8:04 AM    

Thank you so so so much, Greenlava! Your help is highly appreciated!

Angry Bird Space March 22, 2012 at 1:28 PM    

thanks, how to make snippet??? and review star in search google result?

Unknown June 7, 2012 at 5:48 PM    

nice tutorial but the thing is how do i know for which widget i am applying my style sheets...i am confused..could you please suggest me how do i add custom code to any of my widgets in the right side..like recent posts..i twitter updates etc...my blog is http://www.phphunger.com/

Mrs4444 July 17, 2012 at 10:59 AM    

This is excellent. Thank you! :)

K.B. July 22, 2012 at 11:05 PM    

Seriously helpful! Thanks!!!

pcb August 4, 2012 at 9:52 PM    

Thanks for the easy fix for centering header image!

Rebecca @ My Yellow Life September 20, 2012 at 6:14 AM    

Worked perfectly! Thanks! :)

Anonymous,  October 18, 2012 at 1:11 AM    

Thank you I have now centred my image instead of title and description using your css code. However what do I need to enter into the css editor to make a border around the image?

Greenlava October 18, 2012 at 12:26 PM    

@Anonymous
You mean header image?
Use this (example):
.Header img {border: 1px solid #aaaaaa;}

Say Luscious December 5, 2012 at 7:51 AM    

Thank you!! I was so frustrated with my header!!

Internov December 28, 2012 at 5:54 PM    

Thank you this article. Helped with the alignment of my site Image in the header.

Question about the CSS code. I have another CSS code added there to enable 'h1' tags. Does the sequence order of the codes matter?

tq

Greenlava December 28, 2012 at 7:42 PM    

@Internov
CSS code sequence matters only when you address the same properties in the same selector/element. For example:
h1 {font-size: 44px;}
h1 {font-size: 32px;}
The rule that come last will override the previous ones. In this case your h1 will have font-size of 32px.

Mihaela Diaconescu February 2, 2013 at 7:16 AM    

Thanks for all your posts regarding CSS code for Blogspot. They were extremely helpful and I appreciate that you try to help everyone and solve their issues!

Carolyn ♥ February 20, 2013 at 2:07 AM    

I have a CSS question for you.
I would like to use Stipple, an image tagging tool, on my blog, (You can read about this feature at Stipple.com) but I'm having trouble installing it. Apparently Stipple's Java script is over-riding my site's template by hiding the image borders.

The kind folks at Stipple tell me ""This issue is caused by an edge case where an image has both a wrapping link, as well as padding added via CSS. The only fix, unfortunately, is to change the CSS to put the padding on the tag wrapping the image, rather than on the image itself. This would need to be done in the template that your theme uses."

I have removed Stipple from my site for now until I can find a fix, as I really do like the image borders of my template and would like them to remain. I have no idea how to write java script although I'm really good at copy and paste. A sweet friend suggested I ask you for help. She tells me you can work miracles. Any help would be much appreciated.

Greenlava February 24, 2013 at 1:07 AM    

@Carolyn ♥
I'm afraid the solution suggested by Stipple is not practical, since it requires you to wrap each image with a tag, manually.
Why don't you reinstall it, maybe we can figure something out to override Stipple's styling (after seeing it live).

Katie - Something to be Found March 22, 2013 at 9:07 AM    

So helpful, thanks!!