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Synfull — CSS cursor tutorial

Published: 2009-01-17 20:51:30 +0000 UTC; Views: 42767; 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

brokenlegs1 In reply to ??? [2011-06-14 00:32:47 +0000 UTC]

How do you become subscribed to dA?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to brokenlegs1 [2011-06-14 09:17:57 +0000 UTC]

You simply buy a premium membership from the shop tab at the top of your page.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

brokenlegs1 In reply to Synfull [2011-06-14 17:38:44 +0000 UTC]

Ok, thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Nana-Beats In reply to ??? [2011-05-24 23:26:39 +0000 UTC]

Link of a normal cursor? WHat you mean with that?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Nana-Beats [2011-05-25 10:38:51 +0000 UTC]

You have two images, one for the normal cursor and one for the link cursor (when hovering over a link). You need a URL (link) to both of these to place in the CSS code

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Nana-Beats In reply to Synfull [2011-05-25 12:25:13 +0000 UTC]

I know that, but you wrote this
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;} <-- this part i don't get.
You mean the link of the cursor you use in the first one?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Nana-Beats [2011-05-25 12:34:46 +0000 UTC]

You need two different images which once uploaded will give you 2 different URLs. The first URL goes into lines 1 and 2(a:link and a:hover). The second URL goes into line 3(body).

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Nana-Beats In reply to Synfull [2011-05-25 13:06:07 +0000 UTC]

Ahhh oke thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

The-Cookie-Crum In reply to ??? [2011-03-28 20:59:24 +0000 UTC]

good work super helpful

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to The-Cookie-Crum [2011-03-29 01:18:30 +0000 UTC]

glad to know

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

AzureSquire In reply to ??? [2011-03-28 02:54:29 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for these handy tutorials

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to AzureSquire [2011-03-28 08:38:34 +0000 UTC]

No problem

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Mang0l0v3r In reply to ??? [2011-03-11 12:13:29 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much for this Very useful!
So much fun going through my journal now

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Mang0l0v3r [2011-03-12 00:55:43 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ShadowRyghas In reply to ??? [2011-03-07 18:36:13 +0000 UTC]

What the... I did what it said, what the heck? It won't work X.X It looks like you said in your FAQ.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to ShadowRyghas [2011-03-07 19:44:09 +0000 UTC]

If you send me the code in a note i can have a look if you like.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

kittykittyhunter In reply to ??? [2011-02-16 15:53:17 +0000 UTC]

This was super helpful; thank you.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to kittykittyhunter [2011-02-16 18:30:45 +0000 UTC]

No problem

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

IceXDragon In reply to ??? [2011-01-08 00:36:45 +0000 UTC]

Can you just put it anywhere in the CSS? Or does it have to be in a certain place?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to IceXDragon [2011-01-08 00:39:58 +0000 UTC]

anywhere

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

IceXDragon In reply to Synfull [2011-01-08 00:43:01 +0000 UTC]

Alright, thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

iRomyXD In reply to ??? [2011-01-06 01:08:38 +0000 UTC]

We upload it in a curor file or..? owo

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to iRomyXD [2011-01-06 01:28:37 +0000 UTC]

This cursor only works in your journal, so isn't a cursor file. You upload the 2 images simply as images - .gif or .png work

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

starfire-wolf In reply to ??? [2010-12-04 07:30:20 +0000 UTC]

Thanks a bunch c:

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to starfire-wolf [2010-12-04 12:22:56 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Medaglione In reply to ??? [2010-11-02 08:39:39 +0000 UTC]

wait, so we need to upload two pictures~?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Medaglione [2010-11-02 17:20:38 +0000 UTC]

You can use 1, but if you want the picture to change when you hover over a link you need 2

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Geo-Shan In reply to ??? [2010-10-05 19:30:14 +0000 UTC]

This is what i tried:

a:link {cursor:url([link] ), pointer;}
a:hover {cursor:url([link] ), pointer;}
body {cursor:url([link] ), pointer;}
and it didnt work : o

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Geo-Shan [2010-10-05 19:56:44 +0000 UTC]

They changed the system so the download link no longer works. Right click on the image and select 'view image' this should lead to a white page with just the image in. Then take the url for this page instead

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Geo-Shan In reply to Synfull [2010-10-06 17:06:49 +0000 UTC]

Its okay i did it using photo bucket and it works now! Thanks anayway!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

yvor In reply to ??? [2010-09-10 13:28:16 +0000 UTC]

You are a genius. Thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to yvor [2010-09-10 18:07:07 +0000 UTC]

No worries

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Serah-Laboratories In reply to ??? [2010-08-22 16:15:11 +0000 UTC]

Does it matter where I put the codes in Skin CSS?
I have tried out different places, but it's not working

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Serah-Laboratories [2010-08-22 16:16:47 +0000 UTC]

I believe it should work anywhere

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Serah-Laboratories In reply to Synfull [2010-08-22 16:18:36 +0000 UTC]

It doesn't Cr@p, why does dA have to make such irritating CSS codes? xD

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Serah-Laboratories [2010-08-22 16:51:47 +0000 UTC]

Send me a copy of the CSS cursor thing in a note and i'll see if theres anything simple i can spot which is wrong

Or, does it give you any sort of error message when you try to us it?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Serah-Laboratories In reply to Synfull [2010-08-22 16:58:00 +0000 UTC]

It says that there are some problems with the '}'s, but when I make some space between them, it doesn't say anything
It'd be awesome if you could take a peak
I'll send you a note :3

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to Serah-Laboratories [2010-08-22 17:24:04 +0000 UTC]

I believe deleting the first } as said in the note should solve this

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Serah-Laboratories In reply to Synfull [2010-08-22 17:34:08 +0000 UTC]

It still doesn't work

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

EclipseMoonBeam In reply to ??? [2010-07-12 21:46:21 +0000 UTC]

it says CSS Error:
Brackets in values - other than url([link] ) - are disallowed (token: url(link to link cursor), pointer)

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to EclipseMoonBeam [2010-07-12 21:50:59 +0000 UTC]

Can you copy and paste the cursor CSS you are using (complete with the links you've input) into a note to me please

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

EclipseMoonBeam In reply to Synfull [2010-07-12 21:53:34 +0000 UTC]

Sent~

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to EclipseMoonBeam [2010-07-12 22:21:18 +0000 UTC]

Had a quick looks and i can't see what up with it so unfortunately i can't be much help. You may be abole to find someone over at a CSS group such as #eCSSited that may be able to help though

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

EclipseMoonBeam In reply to Synfull [2010-07-12 22:28:38 +0000 UTC]

Ok Thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

EclipseMoonBeam In reply to ??? [2010-07-12 18:32:53 +0000 UTC]

Do you put it in CSS or Header or footer or..

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to EclipseMoonBeam [2010-07-12 20:01:15 +0000 UTC]

CSS

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

EclipseMoonBeam In reply to Synfull [2010-07-12 20:14:34 +0000 UTC]

Aw, its not workin...

:c...Do you
HAVE
to put it on Deviantart?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to EclipseMoonBeam [2010-07-12 21:19:33 +0000 UTC]

I'm not sure what you are exactly asking

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

EclipseMoonBeam In reply to Synfull [2010-07-12 21:21:25 +0000 UTC]

Have to put the cursor.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Synfull In reply to EclipseMoonBeam [2010-07-12 21:28:10 +0000 UTC]

I am still not sure exactly what you are asking so i hope one of these covers what you mean

1) The cursor designs do not have to be uploaded on this site. You can use another as long as they support direct linking
2) The CSS code does have to be placed in the CSS section of your journal code
3) I am not sure if the CSS code will work combined with the CSS for another site

👍: 0 ⏩: 0


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