Profile Background Photos to Be Retired

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   Christy Kirwanposted 7 years ago

   I have a very quick announcement today. We are retiring profile background photos soon (the images and themes you can set to appear as the background to your HubPages profile page).
   
   This is a feature that is relatively infrequently used. Additionally, when it is used, images are often uploaded that are not of a high enough resolution to appear crisp and clear, potentially making profiles look unprofessional to readers. We know that some authors did use this feature to create attractive and professional profile layouts, and that this announcement will come as a disappointment to some, but the feature was not used well or frequently enough to justify spending engineering resources to maintain it. We appreciate your understanding as we occasionally reshuffle our resources to put them where we think they'll do the most good for the greatest number of authors.

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      kenneth averyposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      @Christy,
      I am not anywhere near to the resolution that you and HP are requiring, so please, check MY profile photo and see if it will do. Thanks.

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      paradigmsearchposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I figured that out around a year ago I think. Feel free to use mine. If you come up with a better RGB, I can't wait to see it. And I will steal it.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 7 years agoin reply to this

      So there will be nothing but a blank white space there?  Could you at least add a standard colored background for us?

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         paradigmsearchposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Agreed. This will be fun and curious.

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         Jeremy Gillposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         I was about to ask that same question. I hope we have more than white space.

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            paradigmsearchposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            Don't get me started on white space. I wrote an article about it. Word processing and the internet is literally blinding people. The lutein eye pigmentation is gradually used up and does not replace. If you do word processing, change background to light gray. Switch back when ready to whatever.

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               Jeremy Gillposted 7 years agoin reply to this

               Interesting. Some further thoughts:
               
               1) Christy mentioned some authors were misusing background and creating potentially-unprofessional profiles, but only a handful of readers view profiles anyway, and one could argue any author worth their salt would know to find an aesthetically appealing image. Though I do understand we want HubPages to be reflected with quality pictures.
               
               2) Could a pixel minimum or admin-approval remedy the problem instead of a total removal?
               
               That said, I'm no expert on technical maintenance. To us non-techs, it might seem easy to maintain a feature already implemented and programmed, but perhaps there are several hidden fees we're unaware of. Either way, here's hoping to something other than superfluous white space.

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   Wesman Todd Shawposted 7 years ago

   Well mine looks pretty good. I hope you all will arrive at something to put back there. It would be less aesthetically pleasing to be a blank white.

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      kenneth averyposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      @ Christy . . .HELP! I cannot deal with a blank white space!

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   FatFreddysCatposted 7 years ago

   I never used one, so I'm good. (shrugs)

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      Titiaposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      You do have one though, it's a soft greenish background on your profile page.

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         FatFreddysCatposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         I didn't put it there. That must be the default color.

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   Chriswillman90posted 7 years ago

   I hope there's at least a standard professional background theme we can choose from. I too don't just want a blank space.

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   jansharesposted 7 years ago

   Bummer. Will miss my background. It has special meaning for me, my own photo, not randomly chosen.

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      kenneth averyposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      @janshares, dear Friend, how can I know if MY profile photo will be okay? Can you check it for me? I am not that computer-pixel friendly. Thanks.

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         jansharesposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Not sure I understand what you're asking, Kenneth. Sorry.

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         agvulpesposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Hi Kenneth your Profile background image is the cup of coffee on two books on your profile page. That image is one of the images offered by HP for us to use !
         If you want to look go to your own profile page and 'click' on the 'Edit Profile' link and scroll down a bit

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   Fenixfanposted 7 years ago

   Phew! I know a lot of hubbers are disappointed, but I am not photogenic in the least amount. I've had the same profile picture for seven years because I just can not seem to take a good photo. Even in my current profile picture I have a weird facial expression.

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   Dolores Monetposted 7 years ago

   Jessie and Kenneth - you guys don't feature background pix. Look at your profile page and you will see a little cup of coffee. That is the background. They did not say they are getting rid of the actual picture of you.

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   snakeslaneposted 7 years ago

   I keep checking my Profile page to see if my background is still there (it's still there!). Mine is taken from a swatch of blue paint I created in Art class 35 years ago, I love that blue hue! Although I have no way of knowing if the digitally rendered piece is true to my original colour. Just thought I'd share this. For fun I guess. Bye bye blue...C'est la vie...
   

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      paradigmsearchposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Saw on profile, excellent.

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         snakeslaneposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks, long gone now.

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   Rochelle Frankposted 7 years ago

   I think it is fine. Not much of it shows anyway-- especially on mobile devices, so I can see that it's probably not worth maintaining.

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    RTalloniposted 7 years ago

    Oh well...    It was fun while it lasted.  I was looking forward to playing with it again one day.  Maybe I should delete my hub on the topic of the background...or not just yet, maybe.  Decisions, decisions.
    
    Seriously, this is probably a good idea all round. Thanks for the heads up.

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       Jeremy Gillposted 7 years agoin reply to this

       Hmm, you could leave it as a testament to time, perhaps with a note explaining the feature is now gone.

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    luvly4luvposted 7 years ago

    Waoh! I don't even know we have such feature like background profile image here. I have never been able to discover that

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    Venkatachari Mposted 7 years ago

    Nice to learn about this one more restrictions on us writers.
    
    But, Christy, you haven't clarified about what will be left there behind your photo. So many people have asked about it. But none replied.
    
    It's not going to be a white space there!

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    prairieprincessposted 7 years ago

    In my opinion, this is another move to taking HP less personal and about the writer and more about corporate identity. I am sad -- I liked using my own photo on my profile to create a unique look to my profile.

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    Joseph Lawrenceposted 7 years ago

    Please provide an alternative. Backgrounds make Hubs more appealing.

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    Jeremy Gillposted 7 years ago

    I'm still curious as to whether there will be a new alternative option for profile customization. Any information would be appreciated, though perhaps the decision hasn't been made yet.

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