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Utilizing the Blackbox Module

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The Blackbox: My Favorite Module

I have been building lenses on Squidoo for over a year now and one of my favorite modules to use is the Blackbox. It's a small module, but it can pack a punch. Until recently I assumed that most people were using the blackbox in a similar manner. When AJ mentioned my blackboxes on Squidlog in her post AJ's Musings: Lessons I learned recently - thinking outside the box and the tank I realized that was not the case. Since AJ's post, I have received numerous comments and e-mails regarding my blackboxes.

They are attention grabbers.

When it comes to computer graphics and codes, I am usually fumbling around in the dark, but I can do the basics. Adding a little pizzazz to your blackboxes is relatively easy. I'm going to show you what I do and you can take it from there.

The Blackbox can be a blue box, lightblue, green, gray, orange,
or red. I prefer to use the black background and add color to the text.

Adding Color to your Text

Before I start I want to give credit where credit is due. I obtained the color codes from
Guide to Colors on HTML a lens built by Trekkiemelissa. All the colors you could possibly want to use are listed there.

I would also like to thank enslavedbyfaeries for helping me figure out how to display the codes on this lens.

1. Write your text. (Remember the blackbox is small so keep it short.)

2. Add the following code:

3. <b style="color: COLORCODE; font-weight: bold;"<TEXT</b>

4. Replace the TEXT with your text.

5. Select a Color Code and insert.

6. Hit save.

Follow the rainbow!

Adding Pictures

Adding a picture or animation to a blackbox is no harder than adding color to the text, but you will need the html code for the picture or animation. If you are not a member of Photobucket you might want to consider joining. It's free and it gives more freedom when it comes to adding pictures to your lenses.

Pictures are not hard to add, but most pictures have a white background. They don't always look right on the blackbox. I prefer animations or clipart that has been uploaded with a clear or black background. I get my animations from the Animation Factory, but a word of caution, there is a yearly fee for the service. Wherever you get your pictures, clipart, or animations, inserting them into the black box adds pizzazz.

"A writer only begins a book. The reader finishes it." Samuel Johnson

Adding Pictures and Animations

I usually add whatever color I want to add to my text first. It doesn't have to be done first, but it's what I'm used to.

To add a picture or animation you need the html code for the picture first.

I prefer to put the picture/animation to the left of the text, but it can be centered or to the right as well.

<img src="URL OF THE IMAGE YOU WANT TO DISPLAY" align="left" style="margin-right:30px;"/> Then you can start typing your text......

Add your text ...

Important!

Uses for the Blackbox Module

Highlighting Important Facts

Quotable Quotes

Adding Trivia

Adding Humor

Breaking up large blocks of text

I rarely add a title to the blackbox module as I cannot add color to it.

Lenses That Utilize the Black Box

Give the Blackbox Module a Try

I hope this brief tutorial on creative uses for the Blackbox Module was helpful. It is one of my favorite modules and I find myself using it more and more.

It's tiny but it's mighty.

Quotable Quotes

by: Editors of Reader's Digest

Amazon Price: $5.55 (as of 02/15/2012)

Most of the quotes I use in my blackbox modules comes from Quotable Quotes.

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curious0927 Feb 14, 2012 @ 5:49 pm | delete

Glad I found it! I had no clue we could do so much with the "black box". I use it for a Page Break usually. blessed!

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CTsHeart Dec 6, 2011 @ 3:43 pm | delete

I am new to squidoo and am learning. Thank you for creating this helpful lens!

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Eclectic-Librarian Nov 5, 2011 @ 2:50 pm | delete

I love how color and design affect the look of any page, online or off. Found this very useful as I am about to resume squidooing (squiding?) after a long hiatus. Thanks!