n00b question about using a custom theme on WordPress

  • Unknown's avatar
    abigapple · Member ·

    I’m completely new at trying to customize any kind of blog theme, so my questions may be a little dumb. I downloaded a theme online, advertised as a WordPress theme, which I assume means WordPress compatible. So I’ve got a folder, with a lot of php files, an html file, and a CSS style sheet. I wanted to modify the theme, not in any really heavy way, I just changed a bunch of the images that were already there–so I made new images, and saved them under the same filename as the corresponding images in the original theme.

    Now I’ve got a folder of some php files that I haven’t touched, an html file that I haven’t touched, a style sheet that I changed only to delete an image altogether, and a folder of images that I’ve redone but saved with the original filenames.

    Here’s the question–after purchasing whatever it is I have to purchase to customize my WordPress CSS, what else do I need to do with the folder of files that I have in order to make it work properly? I’m sure that this is a huge and ridiculous question, but if someone could just point me in the right direction, I’d be very grateful.

    -Rachel

  • Unknown's avatar
    thesacredpath · Member ·

    If you are hosted here at wordpress.COM, we are limited to the themes listed under appearance > themes. We cannot upload themes found on the internet.

    The CSS upgrade allows you to stylize the themes we have here but the CSS upgrade is not recommended unless you have experience with CSS. There is no official support, and few here with any in-depth knowledge of it. You can use the CSS free preview function to try out changes and once you get things the way you want them, then you can buy the upgrade.

    http://faq.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/about-the-custom-css-upgrade/

    Where can I find CSS customization help?

  • Unknown's avatar
    theimpossibleprincess · Member ·

    Hi Rachel,

    With the paid CSS upgrade the only part of the theme you will be able to edit is the style sheet, you cannot add a completely new custom theme. Which means that unfortunately the folder you have downloaded is not really of any use.

    The easiest way I have found is to first choose a theme that best matches the actual blog layout you are looking for – this part of the theme is hard coded and cannot be changed even with the upgrade.

    You can now use the CSS upgrade to change the styling of that theme, this means you will be able to alter things like;

    Background colours and images
    Text size and colours
    Column and sidebar headers
    General formatting
    Link colours, sizes and backgrounds
    Navigation bar

    CSS can be a bit tricky to get the hang of, but I’m slowly getting to grips with it. If you want a quick look at what I’ve managed so far, my blog uses the Freshy theme with my own styling:

    http://theimpossibleprincess.wordpress.com/

    Hope this is of some help.

    If you have any specific questions I’ll do my best to help you.

    Dave

    P.S. A link to your blog would be really handy.

  • Unknown's avatar
    abigapple · Member ·

    Aha…that makes it all much clearer. Thanks!

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