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Synfull — CSS cursor tutorial

Published: 2009-01-17 20:51:30 +0000 UTC; Views: 42765; Favourites: 1035; Downloads: 986
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Description One of the nice advantages of CSS is the ability to have a custom cursor within your deviantART journal. The process of making a cursor is fairly quick and simple and you don’t need any CSS coding experience to get it to work.

The Requirements
The main requirement for using a CSS cursor within your deviantART journal is a premium membership. Sadly this is not a free feature, so if you have a ~ symbol next to your username you won’t be able to use this code on your own account.

To make a CSS cursor you first need 2 images. The first of these is a normal cursor which is the default image you want your cursor to display when on your journal. The second of these is the link cursor designed for when your cursor hovers over or click on a link. If you don’t want the image to change then simply use one image for both sections.

The images don’t have any size requirements though it is recommended you don’t make them much bigger than 25 x 25 pixels as large cursors can be impractical. The images are saved either as a .png or .gif and must be static as any animation won’t appear.

The Process
First the images need to be hosted on a website. This could be your deviantART account (or sta.sh) or some external image hosting site such as photobucket or imageshack. You just have to remember that these files can’t be deleted whilst the cursor is in use. Once they have been uploaded you need to attain the direct links to the images. The direct links will lead to a webpage where the image is shown on a plain background. These links can be acquired by right clicking on the image and selecting 'copy image URL/Location/Address'. (dependant on web browser).

These URLs then need to be pasted into the code shown below in the relevant places.

Once you have filled in the CSS code you then need to place it within the Skin CSS section of your journal. At the time of writing this tutorial (September 2012) this can be accessed by clicking the ‘Edit skin button on the journal submission page. Within Sta.sh writer this can be found in the lower right corner, where as it is located in the top left on the regular journal submission page.

The position of the code within any other CSS doesn’t really matter provided that it isn’t in the middle of another line of code. If you are unsure then it is best to place it at the very top or very bottom. This also makes it easier to locate in future in case there are any issues or you wish to edit it.

Once you have completed the steps above simply click save on the CSS page and save your journal and start enjoying your new CSS cursor.

The Code

a:link {cursor:url(url of link cursor), pointer;}
a:hover {cursor:url(url of link cursor), pointer;}
body {cursor:url(url of normal cursor), pointer;}

Example code
Below is an example of the code corrected filled in. It is very easy to accidently delete a bracket or comma which will break the code, so please take care when inputting your links.

a:link {cursor:url(http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs48/f/2009/171/7/2/Link_cursor_by_deviant.png), pointer;}
a:hover {cursor:url(http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs48/f/2009/171/7/2/Link_cursor_by_deviant.png), pointer;}
body {cursor:url(http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs48/f/2009/171/7/2/Normal_cursor_by_deviant.png), pointer;}

Troubleshooting
If you have any issues with your cursor then it is suggested you check:

- You haven’t accidently deleted anything from the code
- There aren’t any unnecessary spaces added by mistake
- The links are direct links and not links to a regular deviation page/gallery
- The code has been successfully pasted into the CSS section
- The correct CSS has been applied to your journal (not a previous copy)

If you are still unsure of the issue and need some assistance then you can contact me via note with a copy of the code you are using and I will try my best to fix the issue. Please don’t edit or add spaces to the code before sending it to me as this prevents me easily spotting the problem. It is also important that it is sent in a note as this allows me to access the code intact rather than formatted versions displayed in dA comments.

Please also note that I don’t have any knowledge of desktop cursors or general CSS coding. Please direct any questions regarding other elements of CSS to a CSS related group and take into account these tips when asking for help




Other tutorials

You can find all of my other tutorials on this page: [link]
Related content
Comments: 409

Synfull In reply to ??? [2013-06-01 17:16:07 +0000 UTC]

Glad you find it helpful

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Valz138 In reply to ??? [2013-05-26 17:40:15 +0000 UTC]

Hello! I've used your instructions but apparently I can't make cursors work properly. Actually, it may depend on something else because I can't see any custom cursor on Journals: I know that there are but I can't see them, only the default hand. I couldn't find the reason why and thought that maybe you can help me. I use IE9, maybe this is important... Thanks in advance and, above all, thanks for this guide!^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Valz138 [2013-05-26 20:44:36 +0000 UTC]

That may be the issue - I can't say. If you want to send me a note (not comment) with the cursor code you have been using and I can double check that the code isn't the issue.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Valz138 In reply to Synfull [2013-05-27 04:57:59 +0000 UTC]

Thanx! (Sent you a Note^^)

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

selftaughtartist1 In reply to ??? [2013-05-24 04:49:37 +0000 UTC]

this is so helpful!! thanks

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to selftaughtartist1 [2013-05-25 23:22:51 +0000 UTC]

Glad you think so

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

selftaughtartist1 In reply to Synfull [2013-05-26 01:33:15 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

bubbIies In reply to ??? [2013-05-20 12:09:37 +0000 UTC]

I used this tutorial for one of my first journal skins ;u; thanks! [link] <33

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to bubbIies [2013-05-20 14:32:02 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SketchyCharmander In reply to ??? [2013-03-31 20:06:52 +0000 UTC]

I've tried and it didn't work... Could you possibly help me with the coding and such? :c

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to SketchyCharmander [2013-03-31 22:18:25 +0000 UTC]

If you send me the code you were using in a note I can have a look

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

SketchyCharmander In reply to Synfull [2013-03-31 22:18:45 +0000 UTC]

Ok, thanks.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

dracocrowshiin In reply to ??? [2013-03-25 07:19:15 +0000 UTC]

ive tried this about 5 times checking everything and using different cursors just in case even went to resizing nothings worked ;w;

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to dracocrowshiin [2013-03-25 10:36:45 +0000 UTC]

If you send me the code you used in a note I can probably sort out the problem.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

dracocrowshiin In reply to Synfull [2013-03-25 16:56:33 +0000 UTC]

sent~

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Celestial-Chronicler In reply to ??? [2013-02-02 23:00:21 +0000 UTC]

May I ask the difference between a Link Cursor and Normal Cursor?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Celestial-Chronicler [2013-02-03 00:23:57 +0000 UTC]

The link cursor is the cursor that shows when you hover over/click on a link.
The normal one is when the cursor is hovering over the normal section of the journal.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Celestial-Chronicler In reply to Synfull [2013-02-03 00:28:16 +0000 UTC]

Oh! That makes sense, thank you ;v;

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

opori In reply to ??? [2013-01-13 01:13:59 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for this tutorial! ^-^ And its fun to do cursors

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to opori [2013-01-13 11:13:11 +0000 UTC]

Glad you find it useful

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

opori In reply to Synfull [2013-01-13 14:21:02 +0000 UTC]

of course! ^.^

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

frillyfins In reply to ??? [2013-01-10 22:22:30 +0000 UTC]

This is really helpful and simple, especially now that I have a Premium!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to frillyfins [2013-01-11 22:14:13 +0000 UTC]

Glad you find it useful

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

frillyfins In reply to Synfull [2013-01-11 22:15:25 +0000 UTC]

Very useful
(once I get off my lazy butt and actually work on a journal CSS)

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Ravenswd [2013-01-08 11:46:54 +0000 UTC]

Thank-you for this!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Ravenswd [2013-01-10 04:09:19 +0000 UTC]

No problem

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Cacooni In reply to ??? [2012-12-28 21:51:38 +0000 UTC]

Can you do this on your page?
Like a page cursor instead of journal.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Cacooni [2012-12-28 21:54:52 +0000 UTC]

Sadly no, just your journal

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Starlightthewolfgirl In reply to ??? [2012-11-18 14:37:51 +0000 UTC]

Drat.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Starlightthewolfgirl [2012-11-19 02:00:48 +0000 UTC]

?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Starlightthewolfgirl In reply to Synfull [2012-11-19 02:01:31 +0000 UTC]

I don't have a sub.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

brindlecatt [2012-11-15 20:03:19 +0000 UTC]

So helpful!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to brindlecatt [2012-11-15 20:11:55 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

frillyfins In reply to ??? [2012-11-10 14:05:49 +0000 UTC]

This seems pretty useful! I'll keep it in mind when I get a Premium.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to frillyfins [2012-11-11 01:04:51 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Strawberrie-Latte In reply to ??? [2012-09-30 00:24:34 +0000 UTC]

Does this work with a "MacBook Pro"?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Strawberrie-Latte [2012-09-30 01:20:09 +0000 UTC]

the type of computer doesn't matter

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Strawberrie-Latte In reply to Synfull [2012-09-30 01:23:28 +0000 UTC]

Okaii thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

crystallized-skies In reply to ??? [2012-09-22 01:30:18 +0000 UTC]

Awesome. I will definitely be using this.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to crystallized-skies [2012-09-22 23:13:21 +0000 UTC]

awesome

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ariisuki In reply to ??? [2012-09-19 03:21:44 +0000 UTC]

Just what I needed!!! Thanks <333

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to ariisuki [2012-09-19 22:01:48 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

iHeadsetShiba In reply to ??? [2012-08-12 02:26:19 +0000 UTC]

its not working for me, where exactly do i put it?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to iHeadsetShiba [2012-08-14 20:29:50 +0000 UTC]

Looks like you managed to figure it out already

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Raidae In reply to ??? [2012-06-18 01:59:31 +0000 UTC]

Do you know anything about computer cursors? I was commissioned to create one, and I made it 29x21 pixels, and my computer stretched it when I installed it. >.< Do you know what could be going on?

👍: 0 ⏩: 2

iVickery In reply to Raidae [2012-07-12 11:59:10 +0000 UTC]

32x32

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Synfull In reply to Raidae [2012-06-18 15:23:32 +0000 UTC]

Nope, sorry - Only CSS ones

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Raven-Blossom In reply to ??? [2012-06-15 20:32:28 +0000 UTC]

Do I just stick it anywhere in the code, should it be in the body text place...? Where am I supposed to put it? XD

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Raven-Blossom [2012-06-15 20:56:14 +0000 UTC]

Just stick it anywhere

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Raven-Blossom In reply to Synfull [2012-06-15 20:59:56 +0000 UTC]

It has to be inside of one of the the brackets though, right?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1


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