My Background Image is fuzzy and will not place properly

  • Unknown's avatar
    matthewseanmclachlan · Member ·

    Hi,
    My theme is the minimal “Spun” theme. I uploaded my image, but to get it to fit near it had to be 700 pixel, it is fuzzy, cropped and looks horrible as far as quality. Do I need to buy a theme that is larger or am I not doing something right with what I got. Also the widget for categories goes through the image I want it beneath the board, can I move this. Please be specific, I am a nube when it comes to web design. Here is my website for reference: http://matthewseanmclaughlin.com/

    thanks for your help in advance!
    Matt

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

  • eurello · Staff ·

    Hi Matt – It looks like you’ve uploaded a large background image. Background images like that can be really tricky for displaying your content normally around them. Typically a background image would be a subtle, repeating pattern or something like that.

    Your menu is overlapping the image because currently you don’t have any content on the page. I recommend adding a couple of posts and pages and some images – it’s actually much easier to set up your site after you’ve added some content, so you can see how everything is going to look.

    Once you’ve done that, you can preview some different themes from Appearance->Themes->Live Preview. You might want to make a static front page with that image in the page itself, rather than as a background image on your theme:
    Front Page

  • Unknown's avatar
    matthewseanmclachlan · Member ·

    Hi Eurello!

    I took your advice adn switched to another theme and used Front Page! Genius! :)

    This one is working better but it may be because I’m causing it to operate in a way unintended. My site is: http://matthewseanmclaughlin.com/

    I’ve used pages not posts as a way to upload images, my reason for this is to have only one menu screen (the top task bar) to direct the viewer. If there is a better way let me know! Two downsides to this I currently face is with this theme in order to keep the white background all my images cannot be uploaded separately, I have to make a long vertical canvas that includes all the images for the page (see logos/typography). It would be great for a viewer to be able to click on each image and have a blown up version to see.

    Also the bottom of the page includes a comments section and a search bar enclosed in a gray box, all three I would like done away with, but have had no luck in doing so. I assumed “Blog at WordPress” would have to remain.

    Lastly, when I hover over the images and click they take me to the next page, this is definitely not an option I want, I think it would confuse the viewer.

    My site “I want” help with is: http://matthewseanmclaughlin.com/

    Thanks so much! Matt

  • eurello · Staff ·

    Hi Matt –

    So to disable the comment box, you’ll need to edit each page separately and uncheck the boxes in the Discussion module as shown here:
    http://en.support.wordpress.com/enable-disable-comments/

    You can turn comments off altogether in Settings->Discussion, but that won’t apply retroactively to the pages you’ve already published.

    As far as it clicking through to the next page, that’s how Duotone works for navigating through posts. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to click through the pages in the same way. I’ve opened a bug report just in case.

    You might want to create galleries on your pages for displaying multiple images:
    Gallery

    You might also want to check out some other photo blogs on WordPress.com, such as the ones in the photography topic page here, just for some ideas of what’s possible:
    http://en.wordpress.com/tag/photography/

  • Unknown's avatar
    matthewseanmclachlan · Member ·

    Hi Eurello!

    Once again your tips have worked out great. I’ve started using the gallery, which not only took away my previous problem, (clicking an image and being directed to another page), but I also think it looks more professional. I have some remaining follow up questions.

    In regards to the “removing comments” question I had previously. I tried systematically removing the option from the pages/posts but the option still appears. My goal for this site is to remove any extraneous text/colored boxes, etc. as much as possible leaving only my graphic design work to be seen and a page which I will create devoted to contact information.

    This means I would like to deactivate and remove: the comments, reply, search engine, and the gray box that hovers around my work and pages.

    My other question is in regards to the size of the image I am using as my “homepage.” On my computer the default magnification of the image leaves a large amount of negative white space. I would like to increase the size of the image so that it comfortably fills the “homepage,” is this possible? I think I’ve increased the size some, if I knew exactly what pixel measurements I should I might not have to guess.

    http://matthewseanmclaughlin.com/

    thank you soo much!
    Matt

  • eurello · Staff ·

    Hi Matt,

    I tried systematically removing the option from the pages/posts but the option still appears.

    The comments are still enabled; for example if you scroll down here:
    https://matthewseanmclaughlin.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1&action=edit

    You can see the Discussion module still has checked boxes:
    https://cloudup.com/cRC3F4CmBe2

    You’ll need to uncheck those and update the page, for each page.

    As far as the other elements, you could hide them using CSS but for that, you will need the Custom Design upgrade:
    Custom Design

    I would like to increase the size of the image so that it comfortably fills the “homepage,” is this possible?

    It looks pretty good to me right now. It’s at 840x691px and your theme’s max content width for horizontal images is 840px. You might have already adjusted this.

  • Unknown's avatar
    matthewseanmclachlan · Member ·

    Hi Eurello,

    I said: I tried systematically removing the option from the pages/posts but the option still appears.

    You said: The comments are still enabled; for example if you scroll down here: https://matthewseanmclaughlin.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1&action=edit

    You can see the Discussion module still has checked boxes: https://cloudup.com/cRC3F4CmBe2

    You’ll need to uncheck those and update the page, for each page.

    My response: Okay, I do not see that option you sent of a screen shot.
    When I take that hyperlink to that screen the closest I get to “Discussion” is clicking> Settings > Discussion. But never am I prompted with those boxes to check or to uncheck. Please advise.

    I am currently in the process of purchasing Custom Design and will let you know how that goes…

    Thanks,
    Matt

  • Unknown's avatar
    matthewseanmclachlan · Member ·

    Okay, I also checked about using the CSS code to modify my theme (trying to get rid of the gray boxes for starters). It mentioned being able to go on forums to ask questions about what code I’d have to write to make those changes. Is this correct, and can I go to you for this question: removing the gray so it is only white with the appropriate text being the current color?

    Thanks,
    Matt

  • eurello · Staff ·

    Hi Matt – The Discussion module was not enabled in your Screen Options. I logged into your account and enabled it for you, so you should see it now in the edit view of each of your posts and pages and can use it to turn the comments off, as described. Let me know if you still have any trouble with that.

    By gray, do you mean the gray comment icons? Those won’t appear once you turn the comments off.

    Staff can only provide limited help with CSS. I’m happy to help you with what I can, but you can get more expert CSS assistance in the CSS forum:
    https://en.forums.wordpress.com/forum/css-customization

    We’ve also got a great series on the Daily Post teaching our users basic CSS. You should check these out! They’re a big help:

    An Intro to CSS, or How to Make Things Look Like You Like

    An Intro to CSS: Finding CSS Selectors

    Intro to CSS: Previewing Changes with the Matched Rule Pane

  • Unknown's avatar
    matthewseanmclachlan · Member ·

    Hi Eurello-

    1. If I go Settings> Discussion> and scroll down there is no option as shown in your screenshot.
    2. If I go Page> Home> and scroll down- past the check boxes for “Likes and Shares” is where I’m assuming this option should be- I still see no option for un-checking the boxes you took a screen shot of. Please verify If I am in the places I should be looking for to un-check this box.

    Thanks! I will start checking into those forums. It’s really those two things now for me, making it all white except for text, and making my homepage graphic big enough to take up the entire area of the screen. It looks ways better when blown up.

  • eurello · Staff ·

    Hi Matt – It’s not in Settings->Discussion. Please go here, for example:

    https://matthewseanmclachlan.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=766&action=edit

    You’ll see the Discussion box in the modules below the post editor – I think right above Comments. Uncheck both boxes in it, then update the post. Do this for each of your published posts and pages.

    Then, if you also want comments to be off by default for future posts/pages, go to Settings->Discussion and uncheck the box for ‘Allow people to post comments on new articles’ at the top and save:
    https://matthewseanmclachlan.wordpress.com/wp-admin/options-discussion.php

  • Unknown's avatar
    matthewseanmclachlan · Member ·

    okay, yeah that option does exist for that page but….does not exist for
    this page:
    http://matthewseanmclaughlin.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1&action=edit

    This website I have been working on specifically: http://matthewseanmclaughlin.com/

    My questions have NOT ever been related to my other website:
    https://matthewseanmclachlan.wordpress.com

    Sorry for the confusion, I hope this further clarifies.

  • eurello · Staff ·

    Hi Matt – On that page same page here:
    http://matthewseanmclaughlin.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1&action=edit

    Please click the Screen Options tab in the upper right-hand corner of your screen as shown here and this box will open up with the options shown. Put a check mark next to Discussion:
    https://cloudup.com/ci7C4iRINRc

    That will make the Discussion module show as it does on your other blog.

  • Unknown's avatar
    matthewseanmclachlan · Member ·

    Ah, it’s so obvious now lol thank you. Okay that did eliminate the comments option, excellent.

    But of course it did remove the other gray box. For this it seems I have no choice but to purchase the CSS Design feature.
    This feature should enable me to?

    1. Enlarge the Home page screen
    2. Delete this remaining gray box

    I’ll start reviewing the links you sent me.
    Thanks,
    Matt

  • eurello · Staff ·

    Hi Matt – The CSS upgrade would let you hide the gray box using CSS. However, in Duotone, the gray box is actually the page content area, as you can see on your Logos page here:
    http://matthewseanmclaughlin.com/logostypography/

    I’m not exactly sure how to do what you’re after, but you could ask for advice from the CSS experts in the CSS forum here:
    https://en.forums.wordpress.com/forum/css-customization

  • Unknown's avatar
    matthewseanmclachlan · Member ·

    Yep I want that box white too! Yeah, you’ve been a great help! I’ve already put in a request to them for input. I’d like to have the code figured out before actually purchasing. I can’t believe there isn’t a template to facilitate what I’m attempting. Granted, it’s very minimal but I have seen many designers’ site emulate what I am attempting.

    Thanks again for all your help!
    Matt

  • eurello · Staff ·

    Hi Matt – If you could link me to one of those sites, I might be able to point you to a theme that will get you closer to it. I’m not totally sure what you’re envisioning, and that’d help me see it. :)

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