You will need a background blank to place your banner on. We used a black blank which is 600 wide and 130 high. If you wish to use this blank it may be found here Blank Gif

You are now ready to assemble your background. This can be done using Image Magick
When you get to Image Magick enter the URL for your blank gif and click "mogrify". On the next page select "Composite" from the choices at the top. On this page enter the URL of your banner gif, then you enter the parameters for the location of the banner gif on the blank gif.

Parameters consist of 2 + or - numbers. The first number designates the number of pixels from the left or the right side of an image. With + being from the left side and - being from the right side. The second number designates the number of pixels from the top or the bottom of an image. With + being from the top and - being from the bottom.

Our banner dimensions were 138x37, we wanted the banner to appear on the far right. Here's a formula that we used to locate the banner on the blank, this answer will be your first parameter number. Deduct the width of the banner + 5 from 560. For our banner this number is 417
We wanted the banner gif to be centered vertically on the blank so we deducted 37 (height of the banner) from 130 (height of the blank), divided the answer by 2, this number will be the second parameter number. For our banner this number is 48
We entered +417+48 That will be 417 pixels from the left and 48 pixels from the top. Leave the location pulldown button on center, leave the composite operation on "over" and click "composite" If you like the results, click on "output" at the top of the page, if not push back and make adjustments. On the next page select your image extension and click "output" You will see your finished image in a thumbnail, click on that and you will be ready to go transload your finished background.
Here's a tip: before you transload you may want to copy the temporary URL from Image Magick and paste it into your email sig as a background and send it to yourself with text to see if this is what you want. If so go ahead and transload!

Be careful of your color scheme so you can find a text color that is easily read on your new background.
This basic process can also be used to make award gifs or jpgs and other decorative banners for your pages.

You can also rotate your banner like this at Image Magick before placing it on the blank gif. Just put the banner addy in and click "mogrify". On the next page select "transform" from the options at the top. On the next page enter your parameters, the parameters for the above gif are -20 which will rotate the gif counterclockwise 20 degrees, then select "rotate" on the radio buttons, click "transform". If you like the results follow the instructions above to save your image.

You can also "paint" the blank to any color you prefer. Enter the blank addy, click "mogrify" On this page arrow down to the paint options. Leave "type" on color and "method" on floodfill, delete white and enter your color choice, either as a name or hex value. Here's a Color Chart to help you decide. Click the image map on the blank and click again to color. The next page will show you the results. If you like those results you're ready to place your banner. Select "composite" and proceed according to above instructions.

Below are some examples of what you can do. Let your imagination take over from here.....now off with you, go make your background!!!