Not too long ago, I was finally provided access to ‘New Twitter’, a big step forward in functionality, layout, and organization. I suppose with such a large majority of Twitter users accessing Twitter via 3rd party programs, some inspiration for a new Twitter may stem from the desire to pull users back to the companies native web application interface. Either way, today we’re going to look at the impact that ‘New Twitter’ has on your Twitter wallpaper.
Twitter backgrounds are important for one reason; they allow you to match your branding across your website or other media efforts. Lately though, their importance has weaned for a couple of reasons; Firstly, with more and more users accessing Twitter via mobile devices or desktop applications, they never see backgrounds. Secondly, with ‘New Twitter’ a user will probably end up opening new users profiles in their sidebar.
Twitter backgrounds used to have much more real-estate to deal with. Now we’re quite limited with the visible background areas on the right and left of the interface, which reduces the branding possibilities available.
Twitter’s New Interface Dimensions
Width 1040px
- 100% of users will always see at least 41 pixels on each side.
- 72% of users viewing in 1280 x 800 or higher resolution will see 108 pixels on each side.
- 28% of users viewing in 1440 x 900 or higher resolution will see 200 pixels on each side.
- 4% of users viewing in 1920 x 1080 will see 312 pixels on each side.
Keep these dimensions and numbers in mind when developing your new wallpaper.
Tags: Background, Branding, Chris Savoie, design, Interface, New Twitter, Twitter, Wallpaper
I’ve been looking and waiting for his info. Thanks much for it!!!
One question: Do you know whether the new layout aligns in the center or whether it aligns to the left.
Thanks again.
Hey Paul,
Glad it was helpful for you. I took a quick gander at my own twitter page, and resizing the web browser reveals that the backgrounds are still aligned to the left of the browser.
Thanks again Chris for the info.
As you pointed out, it’s posing an interesting choice for me: which resolution will I design for?
(made the same decision for the old Twitter, but got to make the decision again!)
I guess as a designer, most of the people i end up connecting with on twitter are mostly also designers. I figure we all have huge monitors and I think my current background will remain the same for now.
I’ll be working on some new Canada’s Web Shop backgrounds next week and I’ll probably design for 108 pixels on each side. It’s tight, but it seems to be the most common.
I found just what I was needed, and it was enetartiinng!
Losing those 142 pixels is really limiting! But I think I’ll go with you and do the 108 design. I was going to try and match my background with the 1040 width of the new foreground but of course those odd
people with the 1440×900 will not see the grand background experience I’ve created for them (or will at least wonder what the heck is wrong with my background).
I’ve also seen some creative solutions with users displaying information vertically instead of horizontally, because yeah, 108 pixels is quite small.
I know you are working and don’t want to monopolize your time, but if you’re able, I’d love to see the examples of these layouts.
I’m on a roll right now with what I’m working on, but I’ll see if I can’t find what I was looking at yesterday with examples closer to the end of the day. Check back in a couple hours.
Hey thanks. Will do.
Gooood Morning Paul,
Couldn’t find what I was looking for last night, but I found the profile I was referencing with a uber narrow background. Take a look here: http://twitter.com/hughbriss
Good morning to you too.
That’s a great example. He’s worked it well. He’s got a similar problem to me in that the org name is long and doesn’t do well horizontally. I like his fix. I may have to mimic it.
Have you heard any dates yet on when the new twitter becomes permanent for all? I think it was last week I read that it was still a few weeks out.
Hey, thanks again.
(Just followed you.)
I haven’t looked into dates much. As much as I like the new web interface, I still enjoy the Tweetie Client for OS X.
Can anyone provide me with a link to some PSD files to edit?
Sorry Roch, I haven’t created a template or found one for new twitter backgrounds. If you find one on ‘the google’ maybe post it back here and let us know, it might be useful to our readers.