trying to avoid the cookie cutter blog theme without upgrading
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I was trying to research and make sure this hasn’t been asked (forgive me if I should of look longer or harder : / ).
I came to WP for the community and live feed tag search perk, even though this site has more themes it has the least amount of customization even for having an upgrade option. Some sites that offer what I think is preferable customization ‘for free’ blog hosting: tblog, blogger, greatestjournal (when it existed for anyone who remembers).I could be wrong but the assumption of why there isn’t more customization is because of the designer of the theme has to make that available. So my suggestion or question is can we have (if there happens to be volunteers willing or however WP does things for the free blogger) for each or more themes: the customization option for header, header size, background picture or color, link colour and text colour or get more themes with more customization options even if they are simpler themes.
I think this would benefit either choice and hope this is regarded as constructive suggestion/question. :)
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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A little while ago, the “theme team” here was created, and since that day, they have been cranking out some themes with more customization that any of us here have been used to.
Theme team announcement: http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/the-theme-team/
Themes released since April 15th, 2010
http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/new-theme-greyzed/
http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2010/05/26/new-theme-paperpunch/
http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2010/05/21/new-theme-notepad/
http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/new-theme-enterprise/
http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2010/05/06/new-theme-bueno/
http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/new-theme-vostok/
http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2010/04/27/new-theme-structure/
http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/new-theme-twenty-ten/
http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/new-theme-under-the-influence/
http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/new-theme-inuit-types/That’s 10 themes in about 19 days and all of them have great new features we have all been waiting for.
Themes here have to be modified so that they will work with the features and restrictions here at wordpress.COM, and to make sure there aren’t any security holes in them. The “themes” forum here is where staff has asked that we make theme requests. If you see one that you think is great, suggest it.
I don’t think you are going to see any of the really complex themes with a boat load of options showing up here. A couple of the more advanced themes I’m researching and testing right now have over 20 pages of settings for all sorts of things. I don’t think we are going to see anything that complex here. Unless you have serious “geek” some of these themes with the boat loads of settings can really get you twisted up in a hurry.
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Also, if you have CSS editing experience, you can get the paid custom CSS upgrade ($15USD), which will allow you to stylize the themes here, but it does not allow you to change the functionality. Since there is no official support for the CSS upgrade, do not buy the upgrade unless you have at least a moderate understanding of CSS. Before buying the upgrade, you can go to appearance > edit CSS and wordpress has provided a preview function where you can try out changes before you buy the upgrade.
http://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-css/
http://en.support.wordpress.com/editing-css/Also note that CSS is theme specific, so you cannot use the CSS from other themes with the themes here at wordpress.COM.
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I myself have only html experience through the blog sites mentioned and am in no position for a pay upgrade hence my title explicitly stating without upgrading and even if I could CSS is like another language just when I am somewhat comfortable with html.
Thanks for the info tho ‘the theme team’, I had no idea about this project. Just even when I see a theme I like, the only things I want to change are not available is just starting to get to me. Not that I am not appreciative but blinding white and bright colors (personal visual sensitivity) are not for me and dark themes w/ custom header (and/or possibly custom bg) are scares or is accompanied by a color I’d need to change to actually use.
But knowing I just need to sit on my hands till my dream theme pops up does adds some hope and relief or when I give up cut my losses and move on (c’est la vie), cause when it comes to free you can’t have everything.
Thanks again.
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Ah,so there is a theme team! I love that! I love that new themes are coming out. Even when I know my subject cannot use a certain theme, I love it that it exists for someone else.
What I would love: THE INCLUSION OF A YELLOW HIGHLIGHTER feature. I don;t mean the ability to change the color of a word. I mean the ability to make it look that something important has been highlighted.
Please forward this to the Theme Team. :-)
~Lorna
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@lornakismet-with all due respect, it’s not nice to “take over” someone else’s thread, especially since this has nothing to do with what the original poster is writing about. You can certainly post ideas for consideration in the Ideas forum or send them directly to Staff via the contact form http://en.support.wordpress.com/contact/
@hollownessdevoured set up a new “test” blog and tinker, tinker, tinker. There’s lots that can be done with some of the newer themes if you’re willing to experiment.
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Most of the Themes allow at least some changes, I am not sure if the super pick a box and things change a lot are on wp.COM, however changing colors of the Header, putting in a picture for the header image will help reduce the “cookie cutter” look – using a Text Widget to add an image to the Sidebar can also change the look a bit.
There should be several small ways to change the look without upgrading to CSS.
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@hollownessdevoured
Many new themes have customizable features that we can use to create a customized appearance. Please consider registering another blog to use as a test blog and then try some of them out. We have lots of Volunteers who have been experimenting with them and we would be happy to help you.
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