Change The Header Image In Basic WordPress

On first installation you will have only 2 themes available, the Kubrick theme shown which is labelled the default theme and the WordPress Classic.

Even with the default themes, opening up the Appearance panel shows that there is no facility to change the header image although you can change the colours and fonts.

If you want to change the header image you first have to find the right image file.

You can do this using your ftp software and some deduction – and swap it for another image but with the same name.

In this case the default theme is called Kubrick. All the images associated with this theme are held in the images folder within the /default (Kubrick) theme which is held within the /themes folder within the /wp-content – and we can deduce that the file kubrickheader.jpg is very likely the header image file.

WordPress is nothing if not logical and organised. Once you become familiar with the structure of how files are held and where then it becomes easier to locate what you are looking for.

Use your ftp software to download a copy of the kubrickheader.jpg file and save it on your computer.

Hover your mouse over the file in My Documents and a small window will open showing you the size of the image in pixels. I can't show what it looks like because I can't capture the mouse over window but in this case the image is 760 x 200 pixels.

Create your replacement image to the same dimensions and label it '-NEW'.

Rename the original file on the server by adding '-OLD'.

Making sure you have different file names just ensures you can tell one from the other on the server listing.

Rename the file back to the original by removing the -NEW addition.
This will leave you with your new image file but with the old name.

The end result will be that you have your new image file uploaded in place of the original.
But because you have given it the same name and file size then the software doesn't know the difference and continues to operate normally.
You still have the original file in place but now labelled with '-OLD' so you can go back to the original if you change your mind.

BUT..! You haven't finished yet. The Kubrick theme has a software file to enable you to manipulate the gradient and font colours. Unfortunately, this overlays the new image so you also have to get rid of this.

You will find this file in the /themes/default/images folder.
Click edit in your ftp software. This will download the file to your PC and open in whatever software you have specified. Make sure this is a text editor – not a word processor like MS Word.

Use a text editor to edit the file.
Entering /*…… and then ….*/ will make the software ignore everything between the two.
This action will turn the header black.

Slightly lower down the page comment this out as well.
Save the file and you may also need to exit the text editor. This will save the edited file back to the website server.
This will remove the colour gradient block and only show the required image.

Strangely enough, although the original image was 760 x 200 I found this was too large for the replacement and by trial and error found that 740 x 200 fitted the width of the blog. You may have to try the same trial and error process.

Don't forget that your blog Title and Description show in the header so do not try to use an image with other text as the default blog text will always show. You will need a different theme if you want to manage all aspects of your header.