Getting to know WordPress Featured Images from a user standpoint: what are featured images, their evolution in Codex, some popular & free magazine themes for WordPress, how to use featured images in WordPress without changing your base theme via plugins (sidebars, archives, related/random/recent posts) and how to start experimenting with the Featured Images code, online and through a local installation of WordPress.

1. WORDCAMP NYC 2010
DATE
FEATURED IMAGES BY
OCT 16, 2010 SARA ROSSO

2. SOME OF MY
WORDPRESS
SITES
SERIAL WP USER, AUTOMATTIC EMPLOYEE
ABOUT ME

3. What are featured images?

4. Evolution of featured
images

5. Some "Primitive"
featured images
used via Custom
Fields since vers
2.0 (actually 1.6)

6. First appearance in
core: 2.9
First explicit inclusion in 2.9 as “Post
Thumbnails”

7. UI name changed to
Featured images in 3.0

8. To use featured images,
You don’t need to be a
developer.

9. I lied.
You do, a little.

10. Activate post thumbnail
support first
Add to functions.php (inside the <?php ?>
loop)
add_theme_support( 'post-
thumbnails' );
Appearance > Theme Editor > functions.php

11. Or....
Find a theme that
incorporates them
automatically!

12. Rise of the magazine theme

13. Arras theme
HTTP://WWW.ARRASTHEME.COM/

14. Magazeen
HTTP://WWW.SMASHINGMAGAZINE.COM/2009/02/23/MAGAZEEN-FREE-MAGAZINE-LOOK-WORDPRESS-THEME/

15. Mimbo
HTTP://WWW.DARRENHOYT.COM/2009/01/30/MIMBO-30-RELEASED/

16. Isotherm
HTTP://BIZZARTIC.COM/BIZZTHEMES/ISOTHERM/DOWNLOAD/

17. Art-Magazine
HTTP://TOPLEZ.TEXTDRIVEN.COM/DOWNLOAD-THEME

18. “Normal” themes are
catching on, too
Override the custom header image by selecting a
Featured Image for each post or page
HTTP://WORDPRESS.ORG/EXTEND/THEMES/TWENTYTEN

19. But...
You don’t have to
change your base
theme to use featured
images!

20. (But you do need to
activate post-
thumbnails in your
theme’s functions.php)

21. Add in featured images...
everywhere
• Recent posts • Related posts
• Random Posts • Create a temporary
static page
• Category Pages
• Top post slideshows
• Visual Archives

22. Using a shortcode plugin
Useful for images
that repeat
themselves in the
post.
Set once, use
many
HTTP://WORDPRESS.ORG/EXTEND/PLUGINS/ADD-POST-THUMBNAIL-SHORTCODE/

23. What’s a shortcode?
A way to include / activate a php function in
WordPress without using PHP
example: [shortcodename parameters]
used extensively on WordPress.com

24. Auto-add featured images
HTTP://WORDPRESS.ORG/EXTEND/PLUGINS/GET-THE-IMAGE/

25. Feature posts in a widget
HTTP://WORDPRESS.ORG/EXTEND/PLUGINS/SM-STICKY-FEATURED-WIDGET/

26. Sticky Posts plugin in action

27. Snazzy archives
HTTP://WORDPRESS.ORG/EXTEND/PLUGINS/SNAZZY-ARCHIVES/SCREENSHOTS/

28. Snazzy archives in action

29. To get started, you must
set featured images for
all your posts

30. How to set a featured
image
• Upon creation of a
new post
• Upload Image > Use
as Featured Image
• Post-publication
• Edit Post > Set
Featured Image >
Media Library or
Gallery > Use as
Featured Image

31. Some things to consider
• Default image size used in thumbnails
• Working with small, medium, large images
• Upload multiple versions or a cropped copy

32. Where else would you use
featured images on your
own site?

33. For the more....
adventurous

34. Get started experimenting
Install a version of your site on your home
computer (with WAMPP/XAMPP)
http://www.whenihavetime.com/how-to-install-
and-try-wordpress-on-your-home-computer/
Tools > Export / Import
Install themes & plugins on local site version

35. Benefits of WP locally
Practice importing and exporting
Apply and modify a WordPress (free/paid) theme design and
play with other design features
Create your own custom WordPress design (theme) from
scratch
Install and practice with plugins, write your own
Get to know the WordPress interface and its features
Practice inserting your own content, managing images, and
other key WordPress lessons
and…you can install MULTIPLE instances of WordPress – so
you can work on more than one blog at a time!

36. Want to get into the
featured image code?
Start with the Codex:
http://codex.wordpress.org/
Function_Reference/the_post_thumbnail
Make use of existing plugins and shortcodes
where possible - improve them!
Suggest new variations/features to plugin
developers (nicely) :)
Make sure to make a working copy of your theme
before playing around!

37. Thank you!
Sara Rosso
www.sararosso.com
on Twitter
These slides will be on:
WhenIHaveTime.com