Post signatures range from the plainer style, with text only, to more complex image files.

These are a few of the nicer sig files I’ve seen used on people’s blogs, to give you some ideas if you decide to use an image signature.

Whichever you would like to place on your blog, it’s relatively simple.

1. Backup index.php

Download a copy of index.php and save it on your hard drive. This is just in case you make a mistake while editing your theme.

2. Edit index.php

Open index.php in your theme editor. Now look for these lines of code:

<?php the_content(); ?>

You will need to insert your signature text or image file here, in between these two lines

<p class=”postmetadata”>

3. For text, insert this code

<p>your text</p>

4. For an image, insert this code

<p><img src=”your image location” border=”0″></p>

The border attribute will override any image border settings in your blog theme, and ensure that your image doesn’t end up with an outline that you didn’t want.

5. Repeat for single.php

This will ensure that the signature appears when posts are viewed on their own page.

6. Repeat for archive.php

Likewise, for when posts are listed in archive form

7. Repeat for page.php

Do so only if you wish your blog signature to appear at the bottom of pages you have created.

And don’t forget to save each file after adding your code.

Have fun!

So what types of images will you be using on your blog and what sizes should they ideally be?

Headers

There are plenty of fast-loading blogs out there with headers of up to 100Kb, but that would have to be the upper limit for file size.

WordPress recommend that you keep it down to 50Kb for the header, but I think that perhaps their info is a little outdated.

Buttons (125 x 125 pixel)

My button here for Jane Blogs is only 17Kb and so is the one for my personal blog.

I would suggest the maximum size should be 50Kb, although Project Wonderful allows images of up to 100Kb to be used in their advertising program.

Post Illustrations

The smaller, the better. Less than 50Kb, definitely.

You’ve thought of something else?  Give me a yell!