Customize Your Anki Background: A Step-by-Step Guide to Master Your Study Space

Ari Horesh -

Welcome to the world of Anki, my fellow future doctors! Today, we're going to dive into the realm of customization and learn how to change your Anki background. As we all know, Anki is an incredible tool to help us learn and memorize vast amounts of information. But did you know that tweaking the look of your Anki cards can make your study sessions even more enjoyable and efficient? Let's explore this together!

Why Change Your Anki Background?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let's briefly discuss the benefits of changing your Anki background:

  1. Personalization: Adding a touch of your unique style makes your study space more inviting and enjoyable.
  2. Visual Stimulation: A visually appealing background can boost your motivation and focus.
  3. Memory Retention: Associating information with specific colors and images can improve recall.

Now that we know why it's essential, let's move on to the exciting part – how to change your Anki background!

Step 1: Choose a Background Image or Color

First things first, decide on the background you want to use. This could be a solid color or an image that resonates with you. Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect background:

  • Solid Colors: Opt for colors that promote focus and relaxation, like blue or green. Avoid overly bright colors, as they may be distracting.
  • Images: Choose high-resolution images that are visually appealing without being too busy. You can find great images on websites like Unsplash, Pexels, or Pixabay.

Remember the mnemonic "Calm Cards Carry Knowledge" (CCKK) to remind you to choose a calming and non-distracting background.

Step 2: Access Your Anki Card Template

Now that you've chosen your background, it's time to access your Anki card template. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open Anki and select the deck you want to customize.
  2. Click on the "Browse" button at the top of the window.
  3. Locate and click on the card you want to edit.
  4. Click the "Cards..." button near the top-right corner of the window.

This will open your card template, where you can edit the HTML and CSS code for your Anki cards.

Step 3: Add Your Background to the Card Template

Now that you've accessed your card template, it's time to add your chosen background. Depending on whether you've opted for a solid color or an image, follow the appropriate steps below.

For a Solid Color Background:

  1. Locate the style section within the card template.
  2. Add the following CSS code snippet:
.card {
  background-color: YOUR_COLOR;
}

Replace YOUR_COLOR with the color you've chosen (e.g., blue, #00FF00, or rgb(0,255,0)).

For an Image Background:

  1. Save the image you've chosen to your computer.
  2. Move the image to your Anki collection.media folder. You can find this folder in your Anki directory (e.g., C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Anki2\User 1\collection.media on Windows).
  3. Locate the style section within the card template.
  4. Add the following CSS code snippet:
.card {
  background-image: url("_your-image-file-name.extension");
  background-size: cover;
}

Replace _your-image-file-name.extension with the name and extension of your image file (e.g., my-background.jpg). Make sure to include the underscore (_) before the file name, as this is required for Anki to recognize the file in the collection.media folder.

Step 4: Preview and Save Your Changes

Once you've added the appropriate CSS code snippet to your card template, it's time to preview your changes:

  1. Click the "Preview" button at the bottom of the card template window.
  2. Use the arrow buttons to navigate between card types and make sure your background looks good on all of them.

If you're happy with the results, click "Close" in the preview window and then click "OK" in the card template window to save your changes. Your Anki cards will now display your chosen background!

Optional: Customize Text and Element Styles

Now that you've changed your Anki background, you might want to further customize the text and element styles to match your new look. To do this, simply modify the CSS code in the style section of your card template. Here are a few examples:

  • Change font color:
.card {
  color: YOUR_TEXT_COLOR;
}
  • Change font size:
.card {
  font-size: YOUR_FONT_SIZE;
}

Replace YOUR_FONT_SIZE with the desired size (e.g., 16px, 1.2em).

  • Change font family:
.card {
  font-family: YOUR_FONT_FAMILY;
}

Replace YOUR_FONT_FAMILY with the desired font (e.g., 'Arial', 'Times New Roman').

Feel free to experiment with other CSS properties to create the perfect study environment tailored to your preferences.

Wrapping Up

Congratulations, future doctors! You've now learned how to change your Anki background and customize your cards to enhance your study experience. Remember the mnemonic "Calm Cards Carry Knowledge" (CCKK) when choosing your background, and don't be afraid to get creative with your card design. Now go forth and conquer those flashcards with style!

Happy studying!