Blog setup confusion

  • Unknown's avatar
    jimmyreina · Member ·

    I am new to this, and for me, the learning curve is steep.
    I signed up for a free blog, and perhaps you get what you pay for.

    I chose the twenty twelve theme, and as initially established, it looks bland-very bland.

    I assumed it can be spiced up by using the “Customize” button on my dashboard, but that just brings me to the bland blogsite. Under “Custom Design”, it appears that I can buy upgrade packages for Fonts, Colors, and CSS (whatever that is), for $30, but is that the only option for dressing up a blog?

    I am also having a problem establishing a header.
    I am trying to display a long, panoramic photograph like a banner above the title, across the top of the page. I was able to find a Header” button, and upload the photo, but the header destination cut it in length by about 75%! It also doesn’t seem to have placed anything across the top of the page.

    I then uploaded the photo as a post, and the appears whole, but it is tiny, perhaps 1″ x 3″.
    How can I make fill the screen?

    I am sorry to take up so much space here, but I am frustrated.

    I’m an old dog, please teach me some new tricks.

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

  • Unknown's avatar
    jimmyreina · Member ·

    I am new to this, and for me, the learning curve is steep.
    I signed up for a free blog, and perhaps you get what you pay for.

    I chose the twenty twelve theme, and as initially established, it looks bland-very bland.

    I assumed it can be spiced up by using the “Customize” button on my dashboard, but that just brings me to the bland blogsite. Under “Custom Design”, it appears that I can buy upgrade packages for Fonts, Colors, and CSS (whatever that is), for $30, but is that the only option for dressing up a blog?

    I am also having a problem establishing a header.
    I am trying to display a long, panoramic photograph like a banner above the title, across the top of the page. I was able to find a Header” button, and upload the photo, but the header destination cut it in length by about 75%! It also doesn’t seem to have placed anything across the top of the page.

    I then uploaded the photo as a post, and the appears whole, but it is tiny, perhaps 1″ x 3″.
    How can I make fill the screen?

    I am sorry to take up so much space here, but I am frustrated.

    I’m an old dog, please teach me some new tricks.

  • Unknown's avatar
    timethief · Member ·

    I assumed it can be spiced up by using the “Customize” button on my dashboard, but that just brings me to the bland blogsite. Under “Custom Design”, it appears that I can buy upgrade packages for Fonts, Colors, and CSS (whatever that is), for $30, but is that the only option for dressing up a blog?

    Yes, WordPress.com sells custom design upgrades. They allow us to “preview” change that do not actually display on the blog unless we purchase the upgrade.

    If you have not purchased the custom design upgrade note that no changes you try out aside from those such as Custom Background, Custom Header, etc. which are stated on the theme description pages in the features column (right hand side) will be visible to visitors.
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-design/
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-design/editing-css/
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-design/custom-fonts/

    You do not need to load the design tools unless you have the Custom Design upgrade. All of these functions can be accessed from your dashboard – without loading the custom design tools – no upgrade required.
    Appearance > Header
    Appearance > Background
    Appearance > Theme Options (applicable only to some themes)
    Settings > Reading (set a static front page)
    Site Title and Tagline > Settings > General

    If you are using the preview mode for the Custom Design upgrade some of the settings in that mode will save but they won’t show up on the front end unless you purchase the upgrade.

    To go back to the free options, go to Appearance → Themes → Customize → Colors and click the “exit the preview” link in yellow at the top of the panel on the right.

    See also: http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/video-tutorial-customizing-your-theme/

  • Unknown's avatar
    timethief · Member ·

    I am trying to display a long, panoramic photograph like a banner above the title, across the top of the page.

    The size and shape of header image that you can successfully upload and display on any blog is determined by how the theme is designed and what’s coded into the theme. This is the link to the detailed theme description page fro Twenty Twelve http://theme.wordpress.com/themes/twentytwelve/

    The suggested header image dimensions are 960 by 250 (width, height). However, both are flexible so you can upload a smaller cropped image if you wish. The width is limited to 2000.

    See:
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/themes/custom-header-image/
    http://theme.wordpress.com/themes/features/flexible-header/

    Important: Only .jpeg, .gif, and .png files can be used. All cropped images will be converted to jpegs. Using an image of exactly the right size will produce the best results, and this is certainly recommended. To preserve transparency in an image use a .gif or .png image of exactly the right size.

  • Unknown's avatar
    jimmyreina · Member ·

    Thanks, I worked through it.
    I assumed that even though my file size was reasonably large, the WP software would resize it to fit the theme criteria. Once I resized the file on my end, it uploaded properly, and I was able to use it.
    Thanks again for your response.

  • Unknown's avatar
    timethief · Member ·

    That’s good news. :)
    I do not rely on the cropper. I presize and optimize before uploading.

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