This post is dedicated to all frustrated users of WP themes, that have issues with TimThumb auto image resizing script, created by Darren Hoyt. As you’re probably aware almost all BizzArtic themes use this script to re-size images to specified size so this issue is very important to me … thus I’ve decided to post a tutorial for using thumb script correctly and short troubleshooting guide for most common issues:
Guide to using auto re-sized thumbnails
Click upload button when adding/editing post or page
Select images to upload
Copy full URL path to image located on your server
Paste full URL path to image in custom field provided
Add 'image' custom field & paste full image URL path
Troubleshooting
- If you’re a HostGator customer, read this!
Contact Hostgator support and ask the to do the following:
Please add following rules [ 1234234,340151 ] to mod_security for yourwebsite.com
Please whitelist for the domain.
However double check that Hostgator have done both permission changes. They might do the first one (1234234) but the problem will still exist, ask them again for both (1234234, 340151) and it will work.
- Chmod ‘cache’ folder in theme files via FTP
Change permission settings to 755 or 777 -View this tutorial to learn more.
- Upload image to to your blog
Images uploaded on other CDNs won’t work due to copyright restrictions of auto resizing script so don’t try to just upload path to images hosted on services like Flickr or Photobucket.
- Make sure you have PHP GD library installed
If you get the following error: “GD Library Error: imagecreatetruecolor does not exist” contact your hosting provider and ask them to activate GD library for you.
- Make sure you have the latest thumb.php script
Open thumb.php file located in your theme folder. Open it with your favourite code editor and replace the whole code with one located here: http://code.google.com/p/timthumb/source/browse/trunk/timthumb.php.
- Image must be hosted under your blogs domain
Path to your auto-resized image must include your domain, IP address won’t work.
Still having troubles?
Comment below, I’m sure we can find the right solution for you …
Dumitru Brînzan
1 year ago
Just this weekend I had a very disgruntled customer because of TimThumb not working… after some googling I have found that HostGator indeed has this issue with their mod_security.
This tutorial would have saved me a lot of time and explanations
P.S. There are hosting providers that don’t allow .php scripts to have the 777 file permissions, as well as the directories in which they reside. That is also a problem sometimes
Pateador
1 year ago
Excuse me, can i do that with a free bizztheme template? Thax
Just Seth
1 year ago
im a JustHost customer. iv tried what you said above and its still not working. all i keep getting are question marks and the boxes change formation and size, can you please help me
Željan Topić
1 year ago
Can you share a link to troubleshooting website?
Justin
1 year ago
So I just moved my wp-content to an S3 bucket that’s being virtually hosted at the same domain and now my images wont work with the thumb script. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Željan Topić
1 year ago
Don’t know why, but images must be uploaded to your blog via WP upload to work, … strange issue but TimThumb author made it work this way.
Matt
1 year ago
I’m also on JustHost. I tried altering public_html permissions to 777, it caused the site to go invalid. Server error. Putting them back to 755 restored it to functionality.
The images work great within my post, but on the home page I get technicolor stripes. Anybody figure out how to fix this. I love the theme but I’m gonna drop it soon if this mess isn’t sorted out.
Thanks.
Here is the site so you can see what I’m talking about. http://flashingtears.com
Željan Topić
1 year ago
Matt, stripes appear because you don’t have any issues with script but you need to follow the tutorial:
1. Upload image to your blog
2. Paste full URL path to image in custom field provided
Matt
1 year ago
Ok. The problem was that I wasn’t including “www” in the link address. Whatever, ok.
Now I’m getting the same issues the other people were having. The resize is poor and the “link” is only a box with a ? mark.
Hmmmm
Željan Topić
1 year ago
No hard feelings, I always give my best to help my readers,…if you have any better solution in mind, please share,…I was thinking about adding image upload to post settings so no copy/paste of image path would be needed.
Shrikant
9 months ago
My custom (TimThumb) field is named ‘thumb’ instead of ‘image’ – is there anywhere I can change the theme settings to looks for images accordingly?
I’ll have manually add custom fields to all blog-posts, otherwise – which does not make me too happy!!
HELP!
Željan Topić
9 months ago
It really depends on theme you use,…where auto-resized images are displayed look for this code:
if ( get_post_meta($post->ID,'image', true) )and change image into thumb.Matt
1 year ago
Ya, I tried that, but something is wrong with the input box. It spans the width of the page, and won’t save the image address. I figured that was the problem. Any idea on how to fix that?
I’ll keep screwing around with it. Thanks for the quick reply.
ptamzz
9 months ago
I dont know about the width… but i faced the same problem of the image link disappearing from the custom image field.
I found out that I had one existing Custom field with the name ‘Image’. So i removed it and it got fixed.
Tony
1 year ago
Hi,
(Theme activated and Default theme options saved – WP 2.8)
I cannot see any Custom field when I add or edit a Post..
Any suggestions?
Pateador
1 year ago
It’s working great!!!! Thank u!!!!
Samantha
1 year ago
Okay, I cannot get my featured images to show up, no matter what I do.
The permission on my cache file is 777.
I uploaded the image as directed, putting the correct path (to my uploads folder) to the image as a link URL for the image, in custom image location, and the custom image field as directed.
When I look at this address, the image is definitely there.
But my image won’t show up in the featured section of my home page, only the post’s title and category. What am I missing? I’m using WP 2.8.3, if that matters. I haven’t added any plugins or anything yet.
My site is http://www.aworldexplored.com if you want to take a look. I’ve only added one post until I’ve sorted this new theme out. Help! And thanks!
Željan Topić
1 year ago
If you’re Hostagtor customer you should try contacting them about your issue.
Jay
1 year ago
Having same issue, however, I do not have the custom image location as you noted in the help above. http://bizzartic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/upload4a.png
I followed your instructions exactly. I’m running WP 2.8.4
Jay
1 year ago
Strangely, it works in Inuit, but does not work in Rask for me.
Željan Topić
1 year ago
As far as I know Rask doesn’t use auto-resized images.
Jay
1 year ago
Big “duh” moment for me. I’ll be way over there hiding in shame.
Dean Soto
12 months ago
Did everything in the instructions and still no luck. I have Bluehost, and according to them they do not use mod_security. I typed in the full address in custom field, updated the TimThumb code, and changed permissions to the cache folder. My website is http://www.prosulum.com. I really want to use your theme. It is awesome.
Dean Soto
12 months ago
Nevermind! Your these rocks. It was because the image that I was using was too large. Thanks!!!
Netbloke
12 months ago
I am working on a site and used your suggestions with no luck. the file is there but it is not finding it. could it be because the domain is not pointed at it yet?
URL is
http://63.249.18.115/~becu/
Image is here:
http://63.249.18.115/~becu/wp-content/uploads/savethedate.jpg
netbloke
11 months ago
Ok so I have the domain working with the site now and it still is not showing up the image. any ideas?
http://www.aerospaceconference.coop/
Netbloke
11 months ago
Fixed! It will not work via IP address, have to have the domain running.
Željan Topić
11 months ago
Tnx for this info, I’ll put this into tutorial
rop
12 months ago
Thank you for providing this tutorial. I got the image resizing to work fine. I deactivate all my plugins. Completely remove the theme and reinstalled it. However the Carousel does not work…. I still have all my plugins deactivated. Do you know what could be the problem? Thank you in advance for all the help.
Here is my URL: http://akibavault/theImmag/
albert
11 months ago
can i change the box of “iso therm news” with my own image? how? thank u
Željan Topić
11 months ago
Upload your own logo in Theme options panel
Jaylyn Bergner
11 months ago
Hey there,
But, obviously, I need it to work for me and we have no idea what’s wrong with it. Thanks much!
I’m having the same problems as Dean. I’ve had my coder go through it, and we still can’t figure it out. I’m also with Blue Host. I’m not allowed to change any permissions for the cache…in that there is no option to. I’ll deactivate everything and try uploading again. I’d love to use this theme because it’s my favorite so far.
Željan Topić
11 months ago
I’d love to help but permissions on your files should be editable and set to 755 at least.
Cristopher Boyer
11 months ago
I was having issues with the images, until I added the custom field manually. Something’s wrong with the Custom Location box, it does not retain any URLs that are put in when I save the post. Not sure what’s up with that, but when I add the custom field by myself, that works.
Nikhil Pai
11 months ago
I have got the images working on my site now. However if my original images are rectangle, the script crops off the edges of the image with a result that the thumbnail looks a cut down from the sides version of the original image. Any solution?
Željan Topić
11 months ago
Edit
thumb.phpscript, you’ll find in theme files, … edit crop settings according to your wishes.A_Fotografy
10 months ago
Ok I must be dumb. I’m new to this coding, and working on my blog now. Theme is great love layout and all rest of it, but can’t figure out how to add this thumbnail on home page for single column.
went trough tutorial, but can’t figure out where is this custom field for pasting url.
Sorry, but I have very little knowledge of this.
Thanks
A_Fotografy
10 months ago
sorry, shame on me, found it. sorrry
A_Fotografy
10 months ago
Hello again,
Looks like it’s not working had a look around to get more info. Just came across this sitehttp://www.darrenhoyt.com/2008/04/02/timthumb-php-script-released/
and they are talking about this script
where do I enter that?
Had a look on their forum, but no luck.
Thanks
lumansupra
10 months ago
I still don’t get auto resize.
when I right-click and view image of the empty frame
this message is showed up
“The image “http://www.lumansupra.com/wp-content/themes/isotheregm/thumb.php?src… and so on” cannot be displayed, because it contain errors.
and, I have done about copying full url image including http, and adding custom fields. but no show… I wish I made mistakes… hehehe
thanks…
Željan Topić
10 months ago
http://www.lumansupra.com/wp-content/themes/isotheregm/thumb.php?src… isotheregm? – change to isotherm.
lumansupra
10 months ago
sorry, that is mistyping.
that’s timthumb isn’t working… but actually, I’ve got the solution. since hostgator’s issue about mod_security discussed many people around, I found that custom field you told me in the support_guide.txt is full path, including strong>http:// has to be modified. see below…
http://lumansupra.com/wp-content/themes/StudioBlue/thumb.php?src=http://lumansupra.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/picture.jpg&h=90&w=90&zc=1
and should be like this…
http://lumansupra.com/wp-content/themes/StudioBlue/thumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/picture.jpg&h=90&w=90&zc=1
so, when I deleted my domain at custom field, it works.
Željan Topić
10 months ago
Interesting, tnx for sharing =)
Andrew MacPherson
9 months ago
I use Hostgator + WordPress MU and had to modify this slightly to get it to work.
If the uploaded image URL is:
http://example.com/files/2009/11/filename.jpg
I have to remove the domain and add the full sub-directory path so it looks like:
/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2009/11/filename.jpg
(in the “Custom Image” field)
Note: /1/ in the modified URL may be a different number depending on which sub-blog in MU you are using this on
Andrew MacPherson
9 months ago
Moderator: There is an extra ‘/’ in the modified link above. It should be:
/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2009/11/filename.jpg
Željan Topić
9 months ago
Fixed – tnx for sharing
mulnim
8 months ago
I have the same problem. but i use you way. that solve my problems!!!tnx anyway!!!
kenwooi
9 months ago
im currently testing out this template. great one actually..
initially, i added an image URL that is not hosted in my blog’s server..
it’s an image i look from google..
I added the image URL to custom field and settings, but it doesnt work!
but then when i uploaded the image to my server, it works!
so, MUST the image be uploaded IN the blog’s server?
can’t it work with external image URL?
Željan Topić
9 months ago
It must be uploaded to blog server – TimThumb script makes this due to copyright issues.
mulnim
8 months ago
i want to build a comment page. but i use the commom way it didn;t work….can you teach me how to build a comment page….tnx
Marek
7 months ago
Many thanks to share this solution. Most helpful was comment by Andrew MacPherson about removing the domain from image URL.
Great job!
Regards from Poland
Joe
6 months ago
Hey,
One question:
In your tutorial you have posted two different URLs in the custom fields.. Is this correct?
James
6 months ago
I’m going crazy here trying to solve this problem.
Instead of a nice picture I’m getting this horrible code in all six fields.
Andrew Wendt & Nick Wendt Journalism Portfolio Andrew Wendt & Nick Wendt
Please help, I’ve tried everything you have suggested. I’ve updated my tumb.php and followed all the procedures step by step.
Regards, James
Achi Dente
5 months ago
Hi,
May be the wrong place, but can you tell me if I can get more than 4 posts for the “Rest of Entries” section when I have the featured post active?
Right now, I have my featured posts (which includes 6 posts) at the top, looks sweet — but below that, I only have 4 additional posts (for a total of 10 on the front page.
Can I have 8 additional posts instead of 4 under my featured posts?
tchago
5 months ago
Hi Željan. Congrats for your themes, they’re awesome!
I’m having a hard time with one of your themes. I was using InuiTypes, wich is awesome, but now that I’ve got the Berita, I don’t have the Custom Image field anymore. In the Support Guide you say “When you are creating a post you have option called Berita Featured Image Settings”. Is not there. What should I do?
Sorry for posting this under another theme post, but there was no reply on Berita’s page.
Thanks in advance
randi
5 months ago
any more suggestions. I tried everything in your instructions over and over again. images don’t show.
Rüdi
3 months ago
Had the same problems.
I Changed permission of the cache folder settings from 755 or 777 -
It works.
Changed it back to 755 – it works too!!!!!!!!
Confused …
Ariel
3 months ago
How can i get rid of the auto-thumbnail thingy from the theme? I want to add it manually…
Cambrey
2 months ago
Hey,
I used the Inuit Types theme on wordpress.com to much success. However, I’m using it on a self-hosted site and I can’t figure out how to get the “featured image” feature to work. There’re isn’t even a box for for me to select a featured image/thumbnail when I’m writing a post.
The is the old site: http://girlsaboutdtown.com
This is the new site: http://0307438.netsolhost.com/dgirls/
How can I get the featured image feature to work? I’ve tried the cache and I’ve also tried the security settings.
Thank you in advance!