The options you use to specify a Thesis Post Image and/or Thumbnail are located on the Edit panel for each Post or Page, under Post Image and Thumbnail.

Post Image ∞

Before adding an image, you should click the +more info link to the right of the words “Post Image”. In the explanatory text there, Thesis will give you information about the maximum width it has determined that you should use for post images, based on the current width of your content column; for example:

Based on the current width of your content column, the maximum width for post images is 480 pixels. Based on your content width and current font size settings, the maximum width for framed post images is 458 pixels.

Keep this information in mind when choosing an image to upload; if you choose an image which is too large, you probably won’t be happy with how it looks on your site.

To add a post image, you first upload it into WordPress using the “Add an Image” button in the “Upload/Insert” toolbar located above the content editing window. After the image has been uploaded, WordPress will display a window containing information about the uploaded image, including its Link URL.

Copy and then paste that Link URL into the Thesis post image URL field (remember to include the http:// portion of the URL).

If you like, you can also add your own alt text for the image in the post image alt text field. You can also elect to override your default Post Image settings for whether or not to include a frame, as well as the horizontal and vertical position of the Post Image.

Thumbnail Image ∞

There are certain areas, such as teasers, where displaying a full-size post image would not work well due to space limitations. In this case, Thesis will automatically crop the post image you’ve designated into a thumbnail, using either the Default Settings for its dimensions, or your own specific thumbnail dimensions for that particular Post.

Please note that automatic thumbnail generation requires your image to be hosted in the same domain as your site – automatic thumbnail generation based on remotely hosted images is not currently supported.

If you like, you can also add your own alt text for the thumbnail in the thumbnail image alt text field. You can further elect to override your Default Thumbnail Settings for whether or not to include a frame, as well as the horizontal and vertical position of the Post Image.

If you prefer (or, if you are not using a Thesis Post Image but still want to use a thumbnail image on teasers), you can supply your own thumbnail image by entering its URL in the Thesis thumbnail image URL field (remember to include the http:// portion of the URL).

If you do this, the new thumbnail image will not be cropped, so make sure that you size the image appropriately before entering its URL in this field.

Display Author, Date, and Category ∞

This custom code will give your teasers a byline in this format:

by (author) on (date) in (category)

First, uncheck the author name, date, and primary category elements under Design Options > Teasers > Teaser Display Options to avoid duplication.

Then, place this code in custom_functions.php:

function my_teaser_byline() {
	global $thesis_design;
	$date_formats = thesis_get_date_formats();
	$use_format = ($thesis_design->teasers['date']['format'] == 'custom') ? $thesis_design->teasers['date']['custom'] : $date_formats[$thesis_design->teasers['date']['format']];
	echo '<span class="teaser_author">';
	thesis_author();
	echo '</span>';
	echo "\n";
	echo '<abbr class="teaser_date published" title="' . get_the_time('Y-m-d') . '">on ' . get_the_time($use_format) . '</abbr>' . "\n";
	$categories = get_the_category();
	echo '<a class="teaser_category" href="' . get_category_link($categories[0]->cat_ID) . '">in ' . $categories[0]->cat_name . '</a>' . "\n";
}

add_action('thesis_hook_after_teaser_headline', 'my_teaser_byline');

Display Date, Edit Link, and Category (on Separate Lines) ∞

This version pulls together the date, edit link, and category, then adds paragraph tags to the category function to put it on a line by itself.

First, uncheck the date, edit post link, and primary category elements under Design Options > Teasers > Teaser Display Options to avoid duplication.

Then, place this code in custom_functions.php:

function my_teaser_byline() {
	global $thesis_design;
	$date_formats = thesis_get_date_formats();
	$use_format = ($thesis_design->teasers['date']['format'] == 'custom') ? $thesis_design->teasers['date']['custom'] : $date_formats[$thesis_design->teasers['date']['format']];
	echo '<abbr class="teaser_date published" title="' . get_the_time('Y-m-d') . '">' . get_the_time($use_format) . '</abbr>' . "\n";
	edit_post_link(__('edit', 'thesis'), '<span class="edit_post">[', ']</span>');
	echo "\n";
	$categories = get_the_category();
	echo '<p><a class="teaser_category" href="' . get_category_link($categories[0]->cat_ID) . '">' . $categories[0]->cat_name . '</a></p>' . "\n";
}

add_action('thesis_hook_after_teaser_headline', 'my_teaser_byline');

Place this code in custom.css:

.custom .teaser {
   width: 100%;
   margin-top: 2em;
   padding-top: 2em;
   border-top: 1px dotted #bbb;
   text-align: justify;
}
.custom .teasers_box {
   padding-top: 0;
   padding-bottom:0;
   border-top: 0;
}

Change Color of Teaser Titles ∞

Place this code in custom.css, and adjust the color values to your requirements:

.custom .teasers_box h2 a {
  color: red;
}
.custom .teasers_box h2 a:hover {
  color: yellow;
}

Reduce Paragraph Spacing (Before and After Excerpt) ∞

Place this code in custom.css:

.custom .teaser .format_teaser {
   margin-bottom:4px;
   margin-top:4px;
}

Adjusting Teaser Length ∞

Place this code in custom_functions.php:

function my_excerpt_length($length) {
   return 50;
}
add_filter('excerpt_length', 'my_excerpt_length');

Remove Ellipses ∞

Place this code in custom_functions.php:

function no_ellipsis($text) {
    return str_replace('[...]', '', $text);
}
add_filter('the_excerpt', 'no_ellipsis');