How to Make Random Header Images?
Written by Jai on May 2, 2008 – 12:14 pm - 5,633 views
You are using a neat WordPress theme with an image header but want to have multiple images that you can randomize on your blog? Here is how to go about it…
STEP 1 - Editing Images
Make all your header images that you want to randomize of the same size (dimensions) and format. For example, if you have GIF images then all should be of the same extension. I hope you get the point.
STEP 2 - Naming Images
All the names of your header images should follow a similar pattern. Here is an example we will use :-
blogtop-1.gif
blogtop-2.gif
blogtop-3.gif
blogtop-4.gif
We do this because when writing the code, we will try to randomize the number part (logically, randomization is done by numbers in any programming language) and keep the text part similar for all.
STEP 3 - Moving the Image Files
Move all your header image files to the “images” folder in your theme folder. Most probably, if you are using a theme that uses images, then it should have an “images” sub-folder. If not, make one and put all your header images in there.
STEP 4 - Randomizing the Images
Open your header.php file from the theme folder in a text editor. Put this code just below the
tag.<?php
$header_image = rand(1,4);
?>
The rand() function actually picks up a random number from the number of items you have specified. We are going to use this function to randomize and pick 1 item from the 4 header images in the “images” folder. So, if you have more than four images, just change 4 to your number.
STEP 5 - Using the Randomization in the Actual Header
This part can be a bit tricky as it will require you to find the code where your theme calls the actual header image (the one being used in the default theme). Usually, most of the professional theme designers define the header image through the CSS background property of the header DIV. So, you will have to get rid of that technique and use the old school HTML technique to call the image in the header DIV or the place where you want your header image to be located.
Ideally, the following piece of code will pull your header images in your theme :-
<img src="<? bloginfo('template_directory'); ?>/images/blogtop-<? echo $header_image; ?>.gif" alt="header" />
So, basically this code will insert the value of the variable $header_image after “blogtop-” and this will pull out the image from the “images” folder. All you have to do is figure out where exactly to place this img code in your theme header.
This concludes the random header tutorial and if you have questions, just ask here in the comments.
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21 Responses
to “How to Make Random Header Images?”
4 Trackback(s)
- May 2, 2008 : Randomizando o topo do seu blog : Peru não pia
- May 3, 2008 : jaehong75.com : links for 2008-05-03
- May 8, 2008 : ?wp???????????? | ??-Do it win yourself
- Jul 2, 2008 : Como fazer “headers” aleatórias?
on May 2, 2008
Very useful.I can make some header images by myself
on May 3, 2008
Nice tutorial, Jai. BTW, currently I am using Silver Light theme. How do I insert or change the header file so I can replace the title to an image of my choice? Thanks
on May 3, 2008
good tutorial, useful for me.
thxs
on May 3, 2008
Great little tutorial here. I knew that it had to be pretty easy, but I hadn’t had a reason to use random images yet. Thanks for the info!
on May 3, 2008
It’s a great job, easy and useful, thks.
on May 3, 2008
i am using a script that does this, and i looked for months before i found it….I call my pap code in the css itself though….
on May 3, 2008
Thanks for this code. Been reading your blog post for quite some time now, silently.. and I have to say, No regret. Thanks once again, Jai
on May 4, 2008
Pretty Simple, but useful!
Thanks
on May 5, 2008
Wow, that’s a great idea. I should be able to do that by myself, although I’m a noob
But I like how that looks like, definitely.
on May 6, 2008
Nice tutorial. I used a similar method on a vBulletin forum a while back, with great results.
on May 10, 2008
Good article, Thanks. I will take a minute for doing in my blog. Uoppps, thanks a lot. Great jobs
on May 19, 2008
I am not able to under stand the 5th stage. you can visit my site to see the theme I am using.
on May 21, 2008
thats very useful, thanks so much.
on May 24, 2008
Great tips, I might create few header and let it randomly load, let my reader feel not so bored after view my blog…
I also might create season header, like new year, or xmas… and let it random load…
on Aug 15, 2008
Hello, my web site using freshy theme. And I can’t do the Step 5.
I have to put that code on the header.php
Or I have to find that code in the header.php and change it?
And what do I do with the css file?
on Aug 31, 2008
This tutorial is cool and i wanna use it for:
http://www.deskbeauty.com
on Sep 6, 2008
good!!!!!!!