When I resize my window, the image conforms somewhat but now the text doesn't. I'll keep messing with it.

body.custom-background {
background-size: contain;
}

I am attempting to get my custom background image to fit to any screen in CSS but can't quite figure it out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I've given the css is this post as go: http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/customize-sidebar-and-column-widths?replies=9#post-936080
but it didn't seem to do anything. When I put it into the css tool thing, it went blue (which I assume means it's working?) but the changes didn't seem to appear on the theme.
Maybe I'm doing to wrong?

CSS is theme specific. Your current theme is Truly Minimal, but the instructions you linked to were for Minimum—that's a different theme, the same CSS won't work for both.

when I change the colours using the customise upgrade, the dotted lines that separate the page disappear - is there anyway I can stop this?

I tested this, and the dotted lines don't disappear for me, but the color of those lines don't change so they might be pretty hard to see depending on what colors you've picked.

Specifically, I'm trying to change the width of my sidebar (I'd like it to be a bit narrower).

Here is an example to get you started. What it does is sets the sidebar area to 20%, then it expands the main column area by changing the right margin to 24% (the extra 4% is the gutter), and then it changes the background-position to move the dotted line over (the dotted line is setup as a background image on the ".site-main" property).

.site-main .widget-area {
	width: 20%;
}
.site-content {
	margin: 0 24% 0 0;
}
.site-main {
	background-position: 746px 0;
}

After you adjust the width of a main content area (like we did with the margin on ".site-content" in this case), you should adjust the content width value to match. You can do that by setting the Content Width value to 726 px on the Appearance → Themes → Customize → CSS panel.

I'm new to css and just can't seem to figure it out. Am I meant to be able to see the existing css 'options' (not the right word but you know what I mean) when I'm in the customise mode?

You should use your browser tools to find the current CSS. Right-click on any element, and select the "Inspect Element" option. It will show you the HTML element you clicked on as well as all the CSS that applies to it on the right. Usually, you can click on the right thing in the HTML and then copy the CSS selectors from the right and adjust it to make changes. Those modified pieces are what should be added to the Appearance → Themes → Customize → CSS panel.

I'm new to css and just can't seem to figure it out. Am I meant to be able to see the existing css 'options' (not the right word but you know what I mean) when I'm in the customise mode?

Specifically, I'm trying to change the width of my sidebar (I'd like it to be a bit narrower).

Also - when I change the colours using the customise upgrade, the dotted lines that separate the page disappear - is there anyway I can stop this?

It's more than a help. In fact I'm totally impressed. If you ask me it looks absolutely perfect now. It's more than I expected. Thanks for all the work you put in. Same goes to James as well.

Out of interest and because we discussed it in this topic. Is the highlighting of author comments a feature of "Truly Minimal" by design or has this been added by one of the Theme wranglers?

Cheers
Martin(IQ)

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

We've released a fix so that only author avatar to be highlighted. Also I agree with you about the choice of color was too strong so I've changed it to the same color as links, and reduced the thickness.

I hope it helps.

We'll look into this though.

it is possible that the author didn't comment

The author on FlareThemes is Tavicu a.k.a admin. The same user commented at the bottom. It's even the same gravatar. So the author did in fact comment. His comments should be highlighted with an orange border if this is a feature of the theme and I understand this correctly.

Are you absolutely sure the orange border is not a result of maybe the use of Gravatar hovercards or maybe some changes by some theme wrangler on Automattic?

I'm not sure, maybe because it stands out so much? :) You'd have to ask the designer:

I've checked the LiveDemo at http://www.flarethemes.com/. Especially the Post with Comments test. Not a single orange border there. That's why I was surprised to find the orange border on WordPress.com

do you mean the orange border is supposed to highlight only the comments of the blog owner?

That is correct.

But why the bright orange?

I'm not sure, maybe because it stands out so much? :) You'd have to ask the designer: http://www.flarethemes.com/

do you mean the orange border is supposed to highlight only the comments of the blog owner? That would be okay. But why the bright orange? It pops out to the max . I understand it's the link hover color but why not something more modest like the dark grey (#8C8C8C) which is used e.g. in the .entry-meta class?

Adjusting the CSS means Custom Design Upgrade, doesn't it? Unfortunately I'm with timethief on this annually renewable thing.

Let's say all I would change is the highlight color. Why would anyone pay 30$ year after year for such a minor adjustment? I'm sorry but I don't see the value in it. I know it's not your fault. Just wanted to clarify my view on this :)

Cheers
Martin(IQ)

The orange border is supposed to be on your comments, to denote the post author, and you can change the color by adjusting the CSS.

However, it shouldn't be applying itself to further replies. We'll see what we can do.

You can see it e.g. → here. Check the comments.

It's because of the following CSS Code

.bypostauthor .avatar {
    background-color: #FF5C0C;
    padding: 5px;
}

I've checked the Live Demo as well as the FlareThemes page. None of these show the ugly orange background color. To be honest the color doesn't even match with the other colors of the theme. Yuck! ;)

Could this be fixed to look like the Live Demo?

Happy blogging!

Hi @laylakaw! Sorry, the ability to install new themes is a self-hosted WordPress feature, and not available on WordPress.com. You can read about the differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com here.

On WordPress.com, you can choose from a wide range of different themes by browsing the Theme Showcase.

I hope this clears things up!