How To Create A Facebook Timeline Banner in Picasa

First, download Picasa 3.9 for free from Google!!  Picasa is NOT where your photos will be stored, it is simply a user friendly interface between your hard drive and a fun, easy editing tool.  It is fully integrated with Google+ also.

Open Picasa and at the top left choose Import.

This will permanently add this photo to Picasa's library (unless of course you delete it from your hard drive!).  If you want to temporarily edit a photo in Picasa and export it but not keep the original in the library you can also choose File>Add a File.

Import the file(s) you want to use into the library. When the import is done, select the photo(s) you want to use in your banner.  Essentially what we are going to do is create a "collage".  You can do this with 1 photo or many photos.

If you are using only one photo, proceed as follows:

Select the photo so it appears in the picture tray at the bottom left.  Go up to the menu bar and click on Create and choose "Picture Collage".  A new tab will open within Picasa that looks like this:

(click to enlarge)

On the left, make sure "Picture Pile" is selected as your style.  This allows you to move the photo around freely and also resize/rotate it within the collage space.  

Click on the page format menu drill down.  Choose "Add Custom Aspect Ratio":

For Facebook Timeline banners the ratio is 851x315 pixels.  Enter these into the Dimensions boxes that pop up and give it a name.

Choose that as your Page Format.  Next hover over your photo and position/resize it how you want it.

Click on "Create Collage" once you are satisfied.  It will only take a few seconds and then it will give you the collage in an edit window:

Click on the Text button and a list of fonts, sizes, and colors will come up.  Add your text and then use Ctrl+S to save.  If you do not save your changes they will not be present when you upload to Facebook, and it does not prompt you to do so.  When you save, if you do not redirect where the save is going to happen, it will save it in your Pictures Library (Windows 7) under a Picasa folder, and then inside a Collages subfolder.

Once it is saved it is ready to use!  You can edit this collage the same as you would edit any other photo in Picasa.  Frames, effects, retouching, etc. all of that is available on Collages.  There are also more ways than one to do things but this is what I have found to be the easiest!