Did I skip over the "right" Theme for me, or is it yet to be published?
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My apologies in advance for the length.
Granted I’m probably having more difficulties than most bloggers when choosing a Theme, by blogging bi-lingually, however I can’t help wonder at some more pure Internet-International concepts, such as:1) A tag cloud serves the purpose of showing the reader/user, at a glance, which are the bloggers’ favorite topics. Which is why I wonder at the brick-like tags of some Themes.
2) Maybe some bloggers don’t make any use of categories (I don’t brows blogs from the kitchen myself, but it stands to reason they would use them).
I use them to clarify the posts’ intent/mood/type.
Of all free Themes I’ve checked, only Adaption and Lovecraft show the posts’ category at the top of the post next to the date (without messing it up with tags, directional confusion, too much info, background color and so on).3) If I’m not mistaken ever since the mid 80’s, in order to differentiate links from regular text, they were given an underline and the color blue.
In my own humble opinion, at this time and age, when so much more can be on offer (pix, clips, colors, menus and what-not) it is even more important to differentiate links from all the rest.
Both Adaption and Lovecraft show possible links in either what looks like the default text color (which clearly tells the reader/user “don’t hover around here, there’s nothing to click”) or red (which to the veteran reader/user might present some moments of head-scratching bewilderment). Just yesterday, at one of WP’s commons, a blogger told me she got confused by my blog and didn’t manage to navigate within it.4) Side-bars seem to be not to everyone’s taste, which is perfectly OK.
I need one in order to have my commenting tip permanently on-screen. Which is another feature I like about the Adaption and Lovecraft Themes. But I do wonder at the titles of the widgets. BLOCK titles take more space than Title Ones and I don’t know they’re better/clearer.5) User Experience (I’m not sure if that’s the name for it) should be a whole science by now (Internet being about 30 years old). Of the two Themes I can use –
I like the non-breaking titles of pages / blog name / tag line of Lovecraft, and their position. But font sizes seem “wrong” (a readers’ eye can too easily ignore the pages).
Adaption’s titles of pages / blog name / tag line seem more prominent, but no room for long ones. And I wonder at how much a reader even notices the sides of the blog (though this Theme’s red background probably helps).
While I don’t mind Adaption’s use of the color red during 364 days of a year, there is one day a year I find it offensive. Which is another point in favor of the Lovecraft Theme.
The Header photo size as well – Adaption’s is too small to be clear (in my case), Lovecraft’s is too big and overpowering.For these reasons, I’m looking for a Theme that features a tag-cloud, displays categories prominently, supports underlined blue links (both the ones within the post and the ones on the side-bar), allows a permanent side-bar and long titles in a clean, neutral, minimal-like way with a clear medium sized header.
Is there such a one that I failed to notice? / Will there be one in the future?Again, I’m sorry I couldn’t shorten this and hopefully my frustration doesn’t show… Thank you for your patience and have a great weekend :-)
LThe blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Hi,
1) A tag cloud serves the purpose of showing the reader/user, at a glance, which are the bloggers’ favorite topics. Which is why I wonder at the brick-like tags of some Themes.
A blog administrator is under no obligation to inform the visitor regarding the preferences of previous visitors. In other words, I may not want you to know anything about the relative popularity, to date, of posts, pages, or tags on my site.
2)…Of all free Themes I’ve checked, only Adaption and Lovecraft show the posts’ category at the top of the post next to the date (without messing it up with tags…
The first theme I checked, Koi, displays categories at the top of the post next to the date, and clearly distinguishes categories from tags. The second theme I checked Illustratr, displays categories just below the post title, and both tags and the date at the bottom of the post.
3) If I’m not mistaken ever since the mid 80’s, in order to differentiate links from regular text, they were given an underline and the color blue.
Since you can change the background color of a website on most themes, and the color of the text in a text link on any theme, to any color of your choice, it presently makes little sense to limit the default color of a link to blue, or any other color. Some themes use no text color for links. I don’t find this confusing.
4) …BLOCK titles [in sidebar widgets] take more space than Title Ones and I don’t know they’re better/clearer.
This is a design choice made by the theme’s creator(s). You should be able to modify the font size, color, and style of the text in the widget titles with CSS customization.
5) To obtain your desired specifications regarding size, position, and font of various titles and subtitles (tagline), background color, header size, etc. will likely require some customization. Some of these aspects will be customizable at no cost, while others might require Custom Design, available only with a paid upgrade.
Regards, doc
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I’m sorry to have been unclear. Of course there are no obligations at all. The Internet can be the most free space :-)
What I meant is that within a tag cloud: as a blogger a visitor to my blog sees which are my most used tags, which stand out in font size; as a reader I see other bloggers’ most used tags.
The brick-like tags (of Adaption for instance) are just there, giving no info to anyone.Koi is not minimalist, too much color for me, the frilly bits at the top spill over the text and again I was unclear – I’m not looking for tags at the top of the post.
Illustratr has no side-bar.Again I’m sorry but I was never able to change the color of a link in a post (if there is such an option, I’d be happy to learn how, as long as it’s not HTML related). And I also never could influence anything within a widget, other than contents. Including Text widgets.
With Adaption hovering over the links in my two text widgets changed the link color from black to red. It doesn’t happen with Lovecraft.While I appreciated in advance that most of what I raised here is a design choice made by the theme’s creator(s), I don’t think I pointed to anything any blogger will object to. Some might even like having, some time in the future, a new theme that takes these points into consideration :-)
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Hi,
What I meant is that within a tag cloud: as a blogger a visitor to my blog sees which are my most used tags, which stand out in font size; as a reader I see other bloggers’ most used tags. The brick-like tags (of Adaption for instance) are just there, giving no info to anyone.
I understood what you meant, and my response on this point remains the same. Some website owners may not want to provide information to the visitor regarding the popularity spectrum implicit in a tag cloud where the size of the tag is a popularity indicator. I presumed you meant that type of tag cloud.
Koi is not minimalist, too much color for me, the frilly bits at the top spill over the text…
At Customize > Colors & Backgrounds, you can change the entire background on the Koi theme, not just the border, or particular areas of the background, as is the case with other themes. A custom header may be added. It was/is not my intention to shoot down your ideas. I was just indicating that alternative perspectives exist, and that I believe that creators of themes are generally aware that their choices on particular aspects of a theme will appeal to some and not to others.
It would probably be more appropriate to post a broad critique of multiple theme design aspects such as your OP to the Ideas forum. You may add a “modlook” tag to the sidebar of this topic to call for staff attention.
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Regarding tag clouds vs. tags of equal size on individual posts:
Most themes have optional sidebar or footer widget areas, and some have slide-out header widget areas, where a tag cloud widget may be added. The tag cloud may then be displayed on any post or page on which the widget area is visible. Many would likely find this option preferable to the inclusion of a tag cloud on every post. Do you propose to have a tag cloud on every post of the posts or blog page? -
@musicdoc1
This is not a criticism; it is meant to be helpful. Although we Volunteers can answer themes focused threads like these, I tagged this thread for Themes Staff as kathrynwp is the Staff member who specializes in answering threads like this one. -
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First, I didn’t know that Koi can be so changed and thank you for telling me. I will give it another try.
As for the rest of it, I feel like you and I are speaking two different languages.
Even your own link to a tag cloud opposes what you yourself said.So from the beginning just to clarify:
An individual post has its own tags. It cannot have a cloud but tags indicating it get added to one, if one is in existence somewhere on the page (like on a side bar).A tag cloud has no connection to any popularity other than how many times the blogger used that specific word as a tag.
It says nothing whatever, relates in no way and has no connection to “preferences of previous visitors” who cannot touch it, or influence it in any way.
Besides, having an option available doesn’t obligate the blogger to use it.And it really wasn’t a criticism in any way. Non of it. Too bad you took it like that.
I totally agree that “alternative perspectives exist” but that’s just the point I was trying to make. Among the many perspectives, I was surprised and frustrated to find none who is truly a modernized classic. -
@ L, respectfully
You are correct about the size tags in a tag cloud being unrelated to popularity. I was confused, conflating two different ideas. Variable tag size in tag cloud widget is an indicator of the frequency with which a tag has been assigned to posts on the site. I understand that.
1) A tag cloud serves the purpose of showing the reader/user, at a glance, which are the bloggers’ favorite topics. Which is why I wonder at the brick-like tags of some Themes.
I thought you were suggesting the option of a tag cloud replacing the “brick-like tags” present on the posts of some themes? If you meant that tag clouds on some themes display “brick-like” tags, then I apologize for misinterpreting what you meant. The image of sample site at the top of the Adaption theme guide has what appears to be a tag cloud widget displaying all of the tags in rectangles differentiated only by the length of the tag. I wasn’t aware that tag clouds on some themes were displayed without tag size variation, or some similar form of emphasis of various degrees, indicating the frequency of use of the tag.
And it really wasn’t a criticism in any way. Non of it. Too bad you took it like that.
Whether we call it advocacy of another way of doing something, or criticism of the way it is done now is an exercise in tautology. It’s the same thing.
Regarding aspects that you question or don’t approve of in the OP, or which you find (in some cases) less well-suited to your purposes, you use phrases such as:
- I can’t help wonder at
- Which is why I wonder at
- But I do wonder at
- font sizes seem “wrong”
- (a readers’ eye can too easily ignore the pages)
- (which to the veteran reader/user might present some moments of head-scratching bewilderment)
- there is one day a year I find it offensive
- too small to be clear
- too big and overpowering
With respect to ideas that you propose as better or more reasonable alternatives, or (in some cases) more appropriate your purposes, you use phrases such as:
- it stands to reason that
- If I’m not mistaken ever since the mid 80’s
- In my own humble opinion, at this time and age
- another point in favor of
- truly a modernized classic
When we promote one idea or method over another we may call it advocacy. But advocacy of one way of doing something instead of another inevitably involves criticism of the other.
Regards,
doc -
Correction:
Remove/ignore the inadvertent question mark at the end of the statementI thought you were suggesting the option of a tag cloud replacing the “brick-like tags” present on the posts of some themes?
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Thanks for apologizing. Tag size variations is what I meant.
(My dictionary defines a wonder as “a want to know”. A question, not a judgment).
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lweaves – hi there! Looks like there’s been some good dialogue in this thread already. If there’s anything specific I can still help out with, do let me know and I’d be glad to chime in.
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Hi there too, kathrynwp :-) but to call this “good dialogue”… I’ll assume it means you’re swamped so I’ll be brief:
I’m looking for a Theme that features a tag-cloud, displays categories prominently (at least at the top next to the date), supports underlined blue links (both the ones within the post and the ones on the side-bar), allows a permanent side-bar and long titles/tag lines in a clean, neutral, minimal-like way with a medium-sized header.
Is there such a one that I failed to notice? -
Have a look at Lovecraft:
https://lovecraftdemo.wordpress.com/
Its tag cloud displays tags in relative sizes, it has a sidebar, and displays categories below the post titles.
It comes with several free custom colour palettes, including a teal and bluish purple, which are used for link colours within the site as well as other colour accents. If you need a more specific shade of blue you can achieve that with some custom CSS – this would target links within posts, and you could get help with the rest in the CSS Customization forum:
.entry-content a { color: #0b40a3; }What do you think?
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I switched to Lovecraft the day after it came out and was very happy about it until a blogger told me she got confused by my blog and didn’t manage to navigate within it, didn’t see what is clickble versus what isn’t.
Which drew my attention to what I previously failed to see.
I’ve checked it now and changing colour palettes doesn’t apply them to the side bar.
The one Theme I encountered that is clearest on links, posts and side-bar alike, is Big Brother (which I can’t use).
But again, it is not just the colour. What I’m looking for is the classic Internet links that are also underlined, and I don’t think I saw any since I joined WP…
(the CSS, is that free too?). -
I think the reason links aren’t often underlined in sidebar widgets – outside of text widgets, say – is that it ends up looking very cluttered to have lists of underlined things one underneath the other. The underlines actually end up impeding readability instead of fostering clarity.
Since you want fine control over the visual aspects of your site, my suggestion would be to use custom CSS to craft the exact look and feel you’re going for. Custom CSS is part of the Premium plan.
Big Brother (which I can’t use).
What was the issue with using Big Brother?
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The easy answer:
for me (a bi-lingual blogger) Big Brother, like most (if not all) Themes that display a lot of info immediately following the posts’ title, causes directional confusion (RTL and LTR get mixed up and unclear).The more complex answer:
I don’t want control, however it may seem on the face of it.
It might be that I have some different experience, and/or different knowledge, and/or a different taste (and maybe a different outlook).
In any case the Internet is a huge field in life where a lot is possible. WP Themes may seem diversified and appealing to many, but not to all. And that’s fine. Gives designers room for brilliance :-)To sum it all up – the short answer to my original question would be that no, I didn’t miss a Theme, since there is none that modernizes the classic Internet concepts and ideas.
And that also is perfectly fine.
I’m just one blogger out of millions, I don’t expect special consideration.
Many thanks for your time, I do (!) appreciate your willingness to help :-) -
If you want a wider variety of themes, going with a self-hosted site might be a route to explore – there are thousands of themes available, rather than the 300+ available on WordPress.com. In a pool that large hopefully you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for. Good luck with your quest!
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