WordPress: Set different header images for pages and categories
With the Unique Headers WordPress Plugin you can set different header images for WordPress posts, pages and categories. The individual header images replace the standard header image on the respective pages.
Many themes offer the option of adding a header image in addition to the logo image. This is mostly displayed as a decorative element or eye-catcher.
A request that is often expressed is to individually define different header images for pages, posts and categories. Here, however, the conventional feature for the header image quickly reaches its limits.
As always, there are a variety of plugins to be able to set the header image flexibly and individually.
Upload default header image to WordPress
The header image is a WordPress core feature and is available if the active theme explicitly defines support for the feature.
In this tutorial I am using the TwentySixteen theme, which shows the header image under the logo and the navigation.
The current header image can be added under Design → Customizer → Header image :
The exact placement and display of the header image depends on the theme used. TwentySixteen shows the header image continuously on all pages of the website and automatically links it to the homepage.
If several header images are uploaded, the random display of an image can be selected from all available images.
Different header images with Unique Headers plugin
If, however, a specific header image that is individually tailored to the content is to be used for each page, the WordPress header feature is not sufficient.
Some themes replace the standard header image on static pages and posts with the featured image. So it's worth checking the handling in the theme. Individual header images may already be possible with the use of contribution images.
If, as with TwentySixteen, there is no support for this, or if individual header images are also to be specified for categories and archive pages, a plug-in solution can be used.
My preferred and often recommended plugin is Unique Headers .
Adds the ability to use unique custom header images on individual pages, posts or categories or tags.
The prerequisite for the correct functioning of the plugin is that the active theme must support the core feature for the header image.
Define different header images for pages and categories
Unique Headers adds a new metabox to every post and every page, with which a header image can be set individually.
If an image is selected, it will replace the traditional header image in the exact same place.
In addition, different header images can be selected for each category and each keyword.
Of course, the plugin also works with custom post types and custom taxonomies.
Size of the header image
The plugin shows the selected header images in their original size. These are therefore not adapted to the defined width and height of the standard header image.
The uploaded header images should therefore be adjusted to the correct size in advance using a graphics program. Alternatively, images can first be uploaded as a normal header image in the customizer in order to use the image cropping feature of the core.
Different header images as a result
Great tip, thanks a million! Exactly what I was looking for, you don't have to fumble around FTP-wise, but can select the image directly during processing, test it and, if necessary, simply exchange it later.
Your site is great overall, I'm currently working on my side and have landed here several times - always very useful information.
Thank you, I'm happy freut
You need a plugin in WP for every thing
It's annoying, just ballast.
It's nice for you if you can program all of this yourself in WP, I'm glad that the plugin programmers make it available to me (and mostly for free) so that I can use it without blasting my WP and bloggers like Brian write about it without having to dig through 2400+ plugins and try them out.
Thank you, Andrea 🙂
I am very happy if my plugin ideas help someone.
Hi there,
Thanks for the tip. I installed the plugin at Catch Base, assigned a separate header image to each page and everything seemed fine in the preview. But after saving, the same image suddenly appears on every page, namely the header image of the page that I edited last? What could that be?
Hello Michel,
Unfortunately, I cannot give a general answer. Could be a caching plugin or the theme.
So only trying it out helps here. Deactivate all plugins, test the Unique Headers plugin with different themes, look for other plugins for the header image, etc.
Many Greetings,
Brian
Thank you for your information and help on your blog.
Installed the Unique Headers WordPress plugin. However, I can't find a way to give a category its own header image. It is not a problem for individual contributions. What did I ignore?
thanks
Helmut
Hello Helmut,
To add an individual header image for categories, the respective category must be edited under Articles> Categories. Only there is the option for the header image available.
Not all options are available when creating a new category in the overview. Therefore, after creating a new category, this must be edited afterwards.
Many Greetings,
Brian
Could it be that Unique Headers WordPress Plugin doesn't work with the Activello theme? In any case, the desired success does not materialize.
It can be. The theme has to use the header image feature of the core and implement it correctly so that the plugin can hook up. So it won't work with every theme.
Many Greetings,
Brian