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Synfull — CSS cursor tutorial

Published: 2009-01-17 20:51:30 +0000 UTC; Views: 42766; 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 ??? [2012-06-15 21:26:36 +0000 UTC]

I usually stick it right at the end after all the previous code

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Coven-tina In reply to ??? [2012-06-06 20:49:39 +0000 UTC]

Worked like a charm! Thank you for sharing this tutorial!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Coven-tina [2012-06-07 10:25:08 +0000 UTC]

No problem

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

icefire8521 In reply to ??? [2012-06-02 18:09:25 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, this has helped.

If you remember your "free programs" journal and remembered this you could have come back and converted it to something like .png in Iaza so you can resubmit it in tutorials. I know, this was submitted in January and that journal was submitted in November.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to icefire8521 [2012-06-02 18:11:00 +0000 UTC]

It's actually submitted purposely as a .gif so I get a preview image xD

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

icefire8521 In reply to Synfull [2012-06-02 18:18:11 +0000 UTC]

Oh. gif's can use previews? Nevermind then.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Thorn-Irken In reply to ??? [2012-05-27 23:26:24 +0000 UTC]

Do you think you could make a tutorial on how to make a journal to go along with this? it would really help me a lot and I'm sure a lot of others!

but if you don't want too I understand, it can be a hassle

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Thorn-Irken [2012-05-27 23:58:36 +0000 UTC]

I don't actually know how to make CSS journals. I received this code from someone else and can explain how to use it and that's about to. There are already plenty of other CSS tutorials out there though written by people who do know what they are talking about

You can find them here: [link] [link] [link]

Though you will have to buy a premium membership if you want to use a CSS journal or cursor

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Thorn-Irken In reply to Synfull [2012-05-28 16:54:05 +0000 UTC]

Wow thanks so much!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Zedna7 In reply to ??? [2012-05-20 12:29:27 +0000 UTC]

I've put my own cursor in the links, but it won't work for me, I've inserted it into your code:
a:link {cursor:url([link] ), pointer;}
a:hover {cursor:url([link] ), pointer;}
body {cursor:url([link] ), pointer;}
and the two I've inserted is normal:[link] and link:[link] (after I've pressed the 'download' button)

Do you know what I've done wrong, and it there any specifik place they should be inserted in the journal?

Sorry to ask you, but I'm new to CSS and so wanted to have my own cursor ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Zedna7 [2012-05-20 12:50:41 +0000 UTC]

I've sent you a note which should help

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Zedna7 In reply to Synfull [2012-05-20 14:28:18 +0000 UTC]

thanks so much

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

JeanaWei In reply to ??? [2012-05-04 09:49:13 +0000 UTC]

Thank you, whoo, this is so cool!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to JeanaWei [2012-05-04 19:08:59 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

PointAdoptiez In reply to ??? [2012-03-17 01:39:19 +0000 UTC]

It says we can't use this if we're not subscribed, but am I allowed to make one for a friend who is?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to PointAdoptiez [2012-03-17 02:01:18 +0000 UTC]

It only states that because it simply wont work if an un-subscribed member tries to use it on their own journals

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

PointAdoptiez In reply to Synfull [2012-03-17 02:10:40 +0000 UTC]

Kay, thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

riccassley In reply to ??? [2012-02-21 08:22:55 +0000 UTC]

Does this is the same way used for Gallery CSS?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to riccassley [2012-02-21 14:42:07 +0000 UTC]

I can't say I've ever tested it to try

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

riccassley In reply to Synfull [2012-02-21 15:38:10 +0000 UTC]

Well, I will try now.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

blueberrysc7 In reply to ??? [2011-12-02 23:52:40 +0000 UTC]

Is there any way to be able to do this on a Tumblr page?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to blueberrysc7 [2011-12-03 00:35:02 +0000 UTC]

No idea. Never used Tumblr myself

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

brunliek In reply to ??? [2011-11-23 01:16:43 +0000 UTC]

Hey Karen!
My link cursor will work, but for anything else. I don't think there's anything wrong with the code:

a:link {cursor:url([link] ), pointer;}
a:hover {cursor:url([link] ), pointer;}
body {cursor:url([link] ), pointer;}

I'm clueless.

👍: 0 ⏩: 2

Synfull In reply to brunliek [2011-11-23 01:39:28 +0000 UTC]

Can you send me this in a note? I can't copy and paste it with the links intact from a comment

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

brunliek In reply to brunliek [2011-11-23 01:17:35 +0000 UTC]

* everything else won't work except for the link cursor.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Deakka In reply to ??? [2011-11-19 02:49:42 +0000 UTC]

It doesn´t work for me D:

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Deakka [2011-11-19 03:35:46 +0000 UTC]

If you want me to try and help then send me a note with the code you're using

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Deakka In reply to Synfull [2011-11-19 20:28:28 +0000 UTC]

okay

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

a2j3 In reply to ??? [2011-09-29 07:56:41 +0000 UTC]

very nice and easy to follow. Thank you so much.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to a2j3 [2011-09-29 21:04:15 +0000 UTC]

No problem

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

General-EbonRose In reply to ??? [2011-08-26 21:50:40 +0000 UTC]

What about the text cursor, the I shaped one?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to General-EbonRose [2011-08-26 22:57:30 +0000 UTC]

I don't think that one appears when hovering over a journal

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

OnionBlaze In reply to ??? [2011-08-21 10:19:31 +0000 UTC]

I'm gonna try this later.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to OnionBlaze [2011-08-22 09:31:01 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

OnionBlaze In reply to Synfull [2011-08-22 09:37:40 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

9joao6 In reply to ??? [2011-08-20 16:17:06 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the info! Hey, mind me asking and if you don't want to answer, you don't have to, but are you a regular dA Premium, or a member staff?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to 9joao6 [2011-08-20 18:15:19 +0000 UTC]

I used to be a volunteer for the site. So i have a never ending premium membership, but i'm not a volunteer/staff member of dA

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

9joao6 In reply to Synfull [2011-08-20 20:21:31 +0000 UTC]

Ooh, never-ending premium membership? Awesome! Thanks for the info

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

NynyWeenie In reply to ??? [2011-08-18 01:33:18 +0000 UTC]

Well put! Will give this a shot!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to NynyWeenie [2011-08-18 10:10:40 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

shadow-fan12 In reply to ??? [2011-08-14 09:37:35 +0000 UTC]

this helped so much thanks x3

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to shadow-fan12 [2011-08-14 19:03:13 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

shadow-fan12 In reply to Synfull [2011-08-14 19:06:34 +0000 UTC]

ive now finally made my first journal skin! yayz x3

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Mannylinn In reply to ??? [2011-08-10 16:46:58 +0000 UTC]

Does it work in a custom box or the deviantID? 'Cause I tried, and it didn't work...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Mannylinn [2011-08-10 17:04:10 +0000 UTC]

Can't say i've ever checked, so from your experience, probably not

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Mannylinn In reply to Synfull [2011-08-10 17:57:23 +0000 UTC]

Could you.. uhm.. check if it's possible with any other code? 'cause it's possible in the gallery and the other places that has CSS as an option.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Mannylinn [2011-08-10 18:02:51 +0000 UTC]

Like i said in the artist comments, i don't actually know CSS - i just have experience with fixing this bit of code. So i don't really know anything about using it

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Mannylinn In reply to Synfull [2011-08-10 18:49:30 +0000 UTC]

okay.. (:

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

pjuk In reply to ??? [2011-06-15 14:19:26 +0000 UTC]

thank you for posting this
was looking for a tutorial on google, and then the best one was right here on dA...as usual

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to pjuk [2011-06-15 18:43:42 +0000 UTC]

yeah

👍: 0 ⏩: 0


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