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I just recently signed up for a free blog on word press.
orchidstras.wordpress.com
I want to upload a theme from the internet. I'm a photographer and want something that showcases my work better (something with categories ie. landscapes, city, portraits).
I am having trouble figuring out how to do this. Can I not? They are free themes I have found. Does word press not let you upload?
The blog I need help with is orchidstras.wordpress.com.
The only themes we can use on free hosted WordPress.com blogs are found here > Appearance > Themes and there are 200 of them
see also > http://theme.wordpress.com/
There is no FTP access to free hosted WordPress.COM blogs and we cannot install plugins, upload third-party themes or edit templates or themes. Those found on the internet are for WordPress.ORG installs which run on different software.
http://en.support.wordpress.com/ftp-access/
http://en.support.wordpress.com/plugins/
http://en.support.wordpress.com/themes/adding-new-themes/
There is no upgrade you can purchase from WordPress.com that changes anything stated here http://support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/ and restated again here > http://en.support.wordpress.com/domain-mapping/#important-notes-before-upgrading and restated again here > http://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-design/#frequently-asked-questions
To use a third party theme you will have to hire a web host and set up a self hosted WordPress.org install.
Well I know that Tumblr you can upload third party themes. Tumblr kinda sucks though. Doesn't look very sleek.
How can they but not wordpress?
Because of the way WordPress.com’s technical infrastructure is designed, we are not able to support uploading of custom WordPress themes. There is no FTP access to free hosted WordPress.com blogs that are all on the same multiuser blogging platform for security and stability reasons.
ok. Thanks.
So lets say I use one of Wordrpess themes. Can you customize the theme at all or do you have to pay? So, if I upload a photograph, can I change the size? Or allow a viewer to click on the photo so that it enlarges?
So, if I upload a photograph, can I change the size? Or allow a viewer to click on the photo so that it enlarges?
Yes and yes.
Can you customize the theme at all or do you have to pay?
Many themes have custom headerimages and custom backgrounds and some have other customizable features too.
See: http://wpbtips.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/color-customisable-themes/
A few themes do provide for changing font color in the Blog Title and/or optional Tagline and/or links. In the majority of themes font changes to font families, colors and size in the blog title, tagline, menu, post titles, page titles, categories and tags, widget headings and text, comments, and links, etc. cannot be done without CSS editing.
Read > http://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-design/
Every free theme I have tried on wordpress only lets me do things like change text color. I don't see anything that gives me more advanced capabilities. Is this something I have to pay for?
On another note...
What would it cost me to set up a blog that I could upload a custom free theme from the internet?
So in order to do all that CSS editing. I would have to pay for it? I would also know how to use code?
don't see anything that gives me more advanced capabilities. Is this something I have to pay for?
We cannot edit templates and themes on free hosted WordPress.com blogs.
We can purchase an annually renewable custom design upgrade and use CSS editing to change fonts and appearance only. It cannot be used to change the way any theme functions.
http://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-design/
http://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-design/editing-css/
What would it cost me to set up a blog that I could upload a custom free theme from the internet?
There is no upgrade that you can purchase from WordPress.com to do this at all. To use a third party theme you will have to hire a web host and set up a self hosted WordPress.org install. You can then hack a theme free of charge. You will be responsible for all upgrades, installations, backups and troubleshooting. If you install a theme or a plugin that negatively affects your blog, then you have to figure out what went wrong and fix it. For self-hosting figure an average monthly total cost (including cost of a domain name) of about $10 to $25 generally, but that all depends on storage and bandwidth requirements.
So in order to do all that CSS editing. I would have to pay for it? I would also know how to use code?
Yes and yes.
Thanks for all your input. Sorry I'm asking so many questions.
If I wanted photo categories on my page. I could purchase the annual custom design upgrade, then I could ask for encoding everything on a forum?
Would this be worth it? I'd imagine that it would allow you to do a little more with my site
You don't need any upgrades to use photo categories. That's not a design issue. You could just use a Custom Menu and put in links to various categories or even sub-categories, like Photography->Teapots or whatever.
http://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/
The Custom Design upgrade allows you to change things like backgrounds, fonts, headers, the size of columns, hide things like the date of posts. Basically, if you are a decent web designer it allows you to completely change the look of a theme but not its functionality. Well, in truth it allows that even if you're a bad designer, unfortunately. But I've seen some lovely things done with the custom design upgrade.
Thanks raincoaster!
How much is the upgrade? Have you used it?
I haven't used it because I SUCK as a designer. I'm a pretty good director but no designer at all. It's $30 and worth it if you're not someone who's fond of grey text on a black background.
@orchidstras
How much is the upgrade? Have you used it?
Please use the links I provided and read what's at them:
http://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-design/
http://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-design/editing-css/
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