Free themes limitations
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Are any of the free themes customizable?
The photos of each theme show things like three photos in a header (but there is no way to insert any more than one photo.)
There is no way to change the background color without purchasing an upgrade.
So I guess everything you say about each theme is true–if we purchase an upgrade. Is there any way to tell what comes with a free theme without opening and activating each theme?
I may lose a customer over this issue. I’d appreciate any help you can give me.The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Are any of the free themes customizable?
All themes here Free and Premium can have changes made to their appearance but not the way they function via a custom design upgrade.
There is no way to change the background color without purchasing an upgrade.
That’s not true. There are many themes that have that feature free of charge. 243 Custom Background WordPress Themes allow us to upload your own image as the background of your blog, or select a solid color of your choice. http://theme.wordpress.com/themes/features/custom-background/
The theme you use now is among them http://theme.wordpress.com/themes/suburbia/ http://suburbiademo.wordpress.com/
Every theme has both a detailed theme description page and alive demo site like the ones I linked to above.
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In the Suburbia theme the “S” on the top left corner is the header image that you can replace with one of your own. The custom header image is 155 by 155 (width, height). That header image can be replaced here > Appearance > Header.
Featured images sizes are critical to display.
On the main page, Suburbia doesn’t display regularly inserted images. Regularly inserted images only display when a post is viewed on its own page – not on the front page.
To have front page image display you need to set a featured image to each post and make each post a sticky post. Note that the size of the featured image does matter. Featured image sizes are critical to display. The featured image works best with images at least 350 by 248 (width, height) – smaller images will not work.
Setting a Featured Image > http://en.support.wordpress.com/featured-images/#setting-a-featured-image
Sticky posts > http://en.support.wordpress.com/posts/post-visibility/#sticky-postsIf you don’t see the Featured Image module on your Add New or Edit Post page, please make sure you’ve selected Featured Image in your Screen Options. http://en.support.wordpress.com/screen-options
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We haven’t decided which theme to use–because it looks like there is very little design flexibility with the free themes.
The client wants three photos in the header photo area. I’m not sure what you mean by Featured Images; it sounds like images can’t be added on pages unless they’re linked to a post.
I’m also not sure what you mean by “regularly inserted images.” I insert all my images by using the add images menu.
She also doesn’t like black backgrounds, so I was looking for some way to change the background colors in themes we’ve tried.
I’m sorry, but I’m more confused than ever. Thanks for trying to help. -
Themes Showcase link http://wordpress.com/themes/ note the searcbox for features.
All support docs are at http://support.wordpress.com
On the bottom of your Admin page you will find a link to the step by step Learn WordPress.com blogging Tutorial prepared by Staff. http://learn.wordpress.com/
The client wants three photos in the header photo area.
One can make a single composite header image out of three images offline and then upload that composite image as a header image.
Also one can upload multiple individual header images and set them to rotate. Go to > Dashboard > Appearance > Header
I’m not sure what you mean by Featured Images; it sounds like images can’t be added on pages unless they’re linked to a post.
Here’s the link to the relevant support doc en.support.wordpress.com/featured-images/
I’m also not sure what you mean by “regularly inserted images.” I insert all my images by using the add images menu.
That’s what regularly inserted means http://en.support.wordpress.com/images/
She also doesn’t like black backgrounds, so I was looking for some way to change the background colors in themes we’ve tried.
Themes Showcase searchbox http://en.wordpress.com/themes/
Free light colored themes with custom backgrounds
http://en.wordpress.com/themes/filter/light+custom-background/type/free/Custom backgrounds relevant support doc http://en.support.wordpress.com/themes/custom-backgrounds/
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I’m sorry, but I’m more confused than ever. Thanks for trying to help.
I suggest that you take the time to setup a test blog and work through the step by step learn wordpress.com blogging tutorial before you try to address any client’s needs. http://learn.wordpress.com
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oops! Here’s the link to the relevant featured images support doc http://en.support.wordpress.com/featured-images/
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Thanks for all your help. I’ll definitely take your advice.
(I bought a WordPress course a couple of months ago and used the knowledge to update and edit another client’s website. I was really excited about WordPress then–which is why I signed a contract with two new clients to develop/maintain their sites.
It would be nice if I could put my clients on hold while I learned the upgraded WordPress, but I have deadlines to meet.)
Thanks again! -
Do you mean three separate photos that rotate or one header with three pictures in it? Some themes do the first easily (I’m using Suits on http://Drinkscoaster.com for instance) and any theme with custom header will do the second provided you use a graphics program to edit the three images together prior to uploading.
You will also want to read this http://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/ VERY important.
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