Introduction
While Ticketmaster provides default images, using your own artwork ensures your website maintains a consistent and professional look. Follow these steps to prepare and upload your custom images.
Steps
Preparing Your Artwork
Before uploading, it is vital to prepare your files correctly. Incorrectly sized images can "break" the website layout or significantly slow down loading times for your visitors.
Aspect Ratio (16:9): Always design your artwork in a 16:9 widescreen format (e.g., 1920x1080 or 1280x720 pixels). This ratio ensures that the image fits perfectly into the event headers and grids without being cropped or stretched.
File Optimization: Large image files consume server memory and lead to slow page speeds.
Format: Use .jpg or .webp for photos.
Size Limit: Aim for a file size under 300 KB. You can use free online tools like TinyJPG or Squoosh to compress your artwork before uploading it to WordPress.
Replacing the Ticketmaster Image
Even if an event is synced from Ticketmaster, you can manually override the media in the WordPress editor.
Set the Featured Image: Located in the right-hand sidebar. Click "Remove featured image" to clear the default Ticketmaster sync, then click "Set featured image" to upload your custom 16:9 file. This image appears on the main event listings.
Update the Event Detail Image: Scroll down to the Events section (custom settings panel). Here, you can upload a specific Event Detail Image. This is the version that will appear inside the individual event page.
Best Practices for Consistency
When your custom image is uploaded, WordPress will prioritize it over the automated Ticketmaster feed. However, it is a good practice to check both the "Featured Image" and the "Event Detail Image" fields to ensure your branding is uniform across the entire site.
Summary
Using custom 16:9 artwork rather than Ticketmasters default imagery, allows you to maintain full control over your brand's visual identity. By optimizing your images to stay under 300 KB, you ensure a fast, professional experience for your users while preventing technical issues related to server memory.