May 28, 2013

Google Plus Profile Photo Template for Square Logos | FREE Download PSD Photoshop

May 28, 2013/ Andrew Macarthy

Google Plus Doesn't Like Square Logos

In the first major design change to Google Plus earlier on this year, the social network's profile photos were changed from a square to a circle. While a circular shape works well for head and shoulder photos of individuals and plenty of company logos, if your logo is a square shape - like mine for 500 Social Media Marketing Tips is - then, by default, it doesn't fit... some proper squarelogoism going on from Google! As you can see from the examples in the image above, uploading a square logo sees it being cropped on all four corners, and it just looks messy. Even if you play around with the site's cropping or scaling tools, you really fix it.

The Solution: A Google Plus Profile Photo Template

As a work around to this problem, I have built a simple template for Photoshop or GIMP that will allow you to create and upload a square logo that fits inside the default circular parameters, as in the image above. Of course, you stand to lose a smidgen profile photo "real estate," but what you gain is logo that will display without cropping on your cover photo, and next to every post and comment you make around the site.

The template is 1000 x 1000 pixels big - four times the minimum size that Google+ recommends - meaning your logo will enlarge into a nice, large image when clicked on from your page.

How to Use the Template

When you first open the template, this is what you will see. The green circle represents the Google+ profile photo circle, while the red square shows the "safe" area in which you can add your square logo design. You've got some leeway in all four directions outside of the red square, but anything that passes into the white area will not be visible. So, first of all, hide my "Place your logo within this red square" layer and insert your logo on top of the red square layer instead.

Note: I have chosen a white background for this template to match and blend seamlessly the white of the Google+ layout, though you may choose to experiment with different colours if you wish. If you delete the background and make it transparent, Google+ will not recognise it, and replace your image with a black background by default.

Once you have inserted your logo, hide the red square layer and you'll have something like this.

To finish, hide the green circle layer to remove all traces of the template, as above, and save your image as a PNG or JPEG file.

Uploading the Profile Photo

Visit your Google+ page and click on your existing profile profile photo to upload your new one in its place. When you select the file and it uploads, make sure to drag the cropping lines all the way out to the corners , as above. If you don't, your logo will not look right. When you're done, click the "Set as profile photo" button.

The Finished Result

Here's that finished result once again. Hopefully yours will look very similar!

Download the template

This Google+ template (and several others for all the biggest social networks - expertly measured, simple to use, and up-to-date) is available instantly as a downloadable zip file via the purchase link above. For more information on all my social media templates, click here.

Note: Payment is fast and secure via PayPal, but you do not need a PayPal account to buy and download.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrew Macarthy is the author of the #1 Amazon Web Marketing Bestseller, 500 Social Media Marketing Tips, available for Kindle and in paperback.

Buy 500 Social Media Marketing Tips

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007L50HE6
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007L50HE6

Follow Me:
http://www.fa cebook.com/500socialmediatips/
https://pinterest.com/500socialmedia/
http://www.twitter.com/500socialmedia
http://www.youtube.com/5 00socialmediatips

April 24, 2013

Social Media Templates 2014, 2015 PSD | Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, YouTube One Channel

April 24, 2013/ Andrew Macarthy

Introduction

I've previously posted several social media templates in individual blog posts, but I think it would probably be more handy for you guys to be able to grab them all in one spot. This also means that I can easily update the templates and links should the designs change - as we know they often do!

The templates for Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube are in the .psd file format, which can be opened and edited in Photoshop or GIMP (a free photo editing program). Each template includes simple instructions for where your design should be placed in order to be viewed optimally on each site.

Want me to build and design your social profiles?

Even with the templates below, I understand that designing and building great social media branding can be tricky, especially if you have never used Photoshop or don't have the time to do the work due to a busy schedule... that's where I can help!

If you'd like me to create your social media branding for Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and more, purchase via PayPal below (no PayPal account required) or get in touch via the Contact Me page. I'll get back to you shortly afterwards to find out about your requirements.

Facebook Cover Photo Template

This is the basic Facebook cover photo template. It'll help you create a design that is optimised for desktops and ensure that your profile photo doesn't obscure any of your design's most important information. For more information and detailed instructions for using this template, click here.

Facebook Cover Photo Template Optimised for Desktop and Mobile

This template takes into account the appearance of cover photos and profile photos on the Facebook mobile app and is recommended for those who want to super optimise their Facebook Page. For more information and real-life examples, click here.

Twitter Background Image Template

To get the most out of the Twitter Background Image template, i.e. to optimise it for viewing by all Twitter users, I urge you to read this blog post before downloading: http://andrewmacarthy.com/andrew-macarthy-social-media/free-twitter-background-template-psd-2013-1920-x-1200

Twitter Header Image Template

This template will help you brand your Twitter header photo without having any of your most important design elements be hidden by your profile photo, name, bio, etc. Simply add your design to the grey areas and remove all of the template layers before saving. If you would like to create a seamless header and profile photo on Twitter, click here for instructions:

Google Plus Cover Photo Template

The Google+ cover photo is massive! This template has the correct dimensions for you and a guide (the green bar) to make sure that none of your design is hidden by a dark grey gradient added to the bottom of all cover photos on Google+.

Google Plus Profile Photo Template for Square Logos

Google+ doesn't like square logos. Getting one to upload properly is a bit of a nightmare, but this template will help you upload one without it being cropped or chopped off by the default circular profile photo. For more information and step-by-step instructions on using the template, click here.

YouTube One Channel Template

This YouTube template will help you create channel art optimised for all devices, from mobile phones all the way up to HDTVs. The different-coloured rectangles represent how much of the design each device will see, while the coloured squares represent the position of your channel icon on different devices. Have your design fill the whole space, but remember that only content in the brown area will be seen by everyone on every device. For detailed instructions about how to use this template, click here.

Download these templates

All of these templates - expertly measured, simple to use, and up-to-date) is available instantly as a downloadable zip file via the purchase link above. For more information on all my social media templates, click here.