With summer now in full swing it may be time to freshen up your blog’s appearance. One way to do that is to try on a new blog theme. WordPress.com currently provides 67 theme choices that can be made by selecting one from Dashboard -> Designs. Also note that 26 of these theme choices also allow for customizable headers and that the sizes for each are provided in the FAQs.
Free blog headers are available from several sources on the web and in each case it’s important to read the information regarding permission for use and attribution requirements. Also note that you can make your own using free stock images.
This one came from Invision Graphics and they require a link back to their site if you download one of their many header choices. With a little bit of resizing work you can make mini graphics from your header choices to place in text widgets in your sidebar like I did.
Smashing magazine also had a contest in which 38 graphic designers participated in producing free headers that you can choose from. This post presents the results of the contest — 45 beautiful blog header designs you can use for free. Below the designers have described their themes, intentions and shown us some examples of how header graphics can be used. This one is an example.
Every website is unique and the masthead banner images for each will have its own theme and style. At themeheaders.com they have edited the photos to be in the size of 800×140 (width x height) or more in different categories.
At Free Web Page headers you can browse the collection of free web page headers graphics (high quality 800×200 JPG’s). These graphics are provided under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.
Blogger Talk has a small collection too. All blog graphics are linkware. If you use any of these images on your blog, link back to bloggertalk.net using a text link or one of our custom buttons. Do not link directly to the graphics, right click and select save picture as. Our graphics are not to be offered for download; in addition, are headers are not to be redistributed for financial gain.
At Questioning SEO Content Writing Doubts you will also a selection of attractive free blog headers.
Free header Image also offers an interesting selection. Click on any image to enlarge and download. This blog is dedicated to free header images and some poems.
The Blog of Dysfunction - Ten Free Cutline Header Images – Ten header images for the theme Cutline, by Chris Pearson. Each image is 770px x 140px, contained in a Flickr set. These images were adopted from other images (resized/optimized). Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0. Blix Theme – Free Headers 16 images for the Blix theme, of varying textures and colors/gradients. The theme was later released by WP designer Sadish as Blixed. No specific terms were listed.
Blog Header Generator: Spiff up your wordpress blog with a custom header. Create a custom blog header for your WordPress 1.5 or higher blog with your own photos. Just choose or upload a photo and then download your new header graphic.
If you would prefer to make your own blog headers it’s easy to do. Search for royalty free images. Use Paint, Adobe Photoshop or a free software program to optimize and edit the photos you choose.
Irfanview, Picasa, GIMP, Photofiltre, FastStone, Pixia
Related posts found in this blog:
Kubrick header generator
WordPress Blogs: Free badges, banners, buttons, labels, logos
How to add a countdown ticker to your blog
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robertstevenson
July 7, 2008
Wonderful post. I think visitors like treats. A refreshing new layout will breathe new life. A new personalized header will help your blog’s identity. Great tips and useful advice.
OBA
July 7, 2008
What no reels LOL
Impressive themes though
timethief
July 7, 2008
@Robert
Thanks. I felt like I needed a treat myself. I have a tendency to be too darn serious and what the heck it’s summer. So, pass the suntan lotion and fire up the BBQ. :)
timethief
July 7, 2008
@Ben
I’m glad you approve. I have noticed you talent at helping others customize their sites so I do hope that these resources will be useful to you. :)
timethief
July 7, 2008
@OBA
I promise that I will look for “reels” after the next order is shipped. I’m up to my ears in work right now and craving a vacation. ;)
Benny Greenberg
July 7, 2008
These are sweet. I am one who likes to create his own stuff, but this collection is worthy of any blogger and blog. Nice Work!
cooper
July 7, 2008
This is great. For those who don’t have tie to look you do all the work for us. No need to bother just come here.
Teck
July 7, 2008
Thanks for the treat post I’m one those bloggers that like to create
there own custom headers I will for sure check out these links and see
what I can contribute to a pre made custom header theme… :)
Teck
Jennifer
July 7, 2008
Let me add two additional resources: fd’s flickr toys has a generator for Kubrik http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/
And my own humble collection for Cutline http://justjennifer.wordpress.com/2008/06/01/freebies-for-cutline/
No sun and no grilled meats for me. What’s a girl to do?!
Nita
July 8, 2008
A very unusual post and thanks for the links TT! Am bookmarking this post for future use.
Shirley
July 8, 2008
Those are nice! Stumbled.
Teck
July 8, 2008
Hello TT dropping by again to let you know I stumbled your post… :)
timethief
July 8, 2008
@Cooper
Hello there. I’m so glad to hear that you approve.
timethief
July 8, 2008
@Teck
We share the same preoccupation with creating our own headers … lol You are most welcome. :)
timethief
July 8, 2008
@Jennifer
Thanks for the additional resource links. I hope your are keeping well. :)
timethief
July 8, 2008
@Nita
Thanks for saying thanks. I hope you have the opportunity to use some of these resources later on. :)
timethief
July 8, 2008
@Teck
Thanks! :)
Trisna
July 8, 2008
Really useful info… i just update my blog skin, and pretty difficult to choose which banner i should use… if i know about this sooner, i won’t have the trouble :(
Thanks Timethief
~^_^~
Trisna
July 8, 2008
speaking of application, timethief… i saw your reply-comment list… you were trying to replying to all of your commentator…
Might i suggest you to use a disqus comment app. ?
you can see how the application goes in here
http://tinyurl.com/6gqrmy
it helps you to reply under the comments directly…
(^_-)
Have a great day!
AD
July 9, 2008
Oh thank you so much I am looking forward to reading you everyday.
timethief
July 9, 2008
@Trishna
Hi there. Thanks so much for the blog visit. If you bookmark this post then you will know where to come to the next time you do a theme update. BTW this is a free-hosted wordpress.com blog so I must use the comment system that’s built into it. Also I like answering each comment individually. Come again soon and all my best to you. :)
timethief
July 9, 2008
@AD
I’m so glad to hear that you like my blog. I don’t publish new posts every day in the summer months. I usually publish one or two posts per week at this time of the year. During the rest of the year I usually publish a new every second day. This is because I’m really busy working extra hours during the summer months. It’s nice to meet you and thanks for commenting. :)
schizo
July 10, 2008
hi time thief, thanks a lot for adding my post in your list. Nice blog you have here. drop by again.
ciao
me
timethief
July 10, 2008
@schizo
You’re welcome :)
John Welsh
July 10, 2008
Thanks very much for the “nudge”. I look forward to learning from you. I am new to blogging and find it enthralling. I have now put you on my blog roll so will dip in and out.
Maria
July 11, 2008
I really wish that I used WordPress instead of Typepad. I have wanted to design my own header and this post has given me some ideas on how to get started. Thanks!
searchingwithin
July 11, 2008
Love the headers, and you also supplied some great reference pages.
Melissa
July 11, 2008
Very nice collection and lots of great graphics – thanks for pulling it together :)
timethief
July 11, 2008
@John Welsh
Thanks for the blog visit and the link. It’s appreciated. I hope you find my blog posts to be informative and helpful. :)
timethief
July 11, 2008
@Maira
You can always switch to wordpress if you want to. http://faq.wordpress.com/2006/11/09/import-from-blogger-typepad-mt-lj/
timethief
July 11, 2008
@searchingwithin
I’m glad you liked the free headers I found. best wishes for happy blogging. :)
timethief
July 11, 2008
@Melissa
Thanks :)
azureislands
July 14, 2008
Thanks for the info…I’m thinking of changing my header on azureislands so I will look very carefully. I’m also contemplating a new blog may find something I can use!
Cheers Heather
Shiva
September 16, 2008
Thanks for listing our website themeheaders.com, we recently launched another website that has many features, you can check out us at [http://www.headerspot.com]
timethief
September 16, 2008
Hello there,
You’re welcome and yes I’ll check out the new site.