Documentation
See how Aftertype's Ghost themes install and configure before you buy. Start with the guide for your theme, then use the general steps below.
On this page
Theme guides
Magazines & long-form
Northline
Newsletters & creators
Azimuth
Podcasts & audio
Sounding
Before you buy
Confirm your Ghost plan
Custom themes work on Ghost(Pro) Publisher or higher and on compatible self-hosted Ghost installations. Ghost(Pro) Starter does not allow custom themes.
Confirm the theme fit
Each theme is built for a different kind of publication. Compare the themes, then open a product page for features and demo links.
Back up before changes
Before replacing or updating a live theme, download the current active theme from Ghost Admin and keep a current content export.
Installation
- 1.Download the theme ZIP from your purchase email.
- 2.Open Ghost Admin and go to Settings > Site > Design & branding.
- 3.Open the theme area and choose to upload a theme.
- 4.Select the downloaded ZIP and wait for Ghost to validate it.
- 5.Preview the theme with your content before activating it on the live site.
If Ghost rejects the upload, do not unzip and rebuild the package. Copy the validation message and email it with your Ghost version to support.
Initial setup
Brand and navigation
Set your publication title, description, logo, icon and navigation in Ghost Admin. Review long navigation labels on both desktop and mobile before launch.
Routes and collections
Some themes use layouts that depend on routes and collections. Where a theme does, the purchased package contains the routing file and instructions. Back up your existing routes.yaml before uploading a replacement. The guide for your theme lists exactly what it needs.
Test representative content
Preview a long article, a short article, a post without a feature image, tag and author archives, member signup and search. The live demo shows the intended behavior for comparison.
Memberships
Aftertype themes use Ghost's native membership system. Configure membership access and paid tiers in Ghost Admin; payments are handled by your own Ghost/Stripe configuration, not by Aftertype.
- Test free-member signup and email confirmation.
- Test login and account management.
- If you sell paid memberships, test monthly and yearly tiers.
- Review every membership call-to-action with your own publication copy.
Customization
Use Ghost's built-in brand, navigation and design settings first. For small presentation changes, use a controlled CSS override through Code Injection so the original theme remains easier to update.
Direct code edits are allowed under the license, but save them in version control or document them clearly. Replacing the theme with an update can overwrite modified files.
Updates
- 1.Read the changelog and note any action required.
- 2.Back up the active theme and any customized files, and test on a staging site first when you can.
- 3.Upload the theme ZIP exactly as downloaded. Do not rename it: Ghost names the installed theme after the zip's filename, so a renamed file installs a second theme with empty settings instead of updating this one.
- 4.Review your theme settings and key templates with your content.
Free updates for as long as a theme is actively maintained, including updates for new major Ghost releases. The guide for your theme explains how settings carry over between versions.
Support
Email support with the theme name, Ghost version, page URL and a screenshot or exact error message. I aim to reply within two business days.
Support covers installation, documented configuration and confirmed defects. Bespoke design changes, hosting administration and third-party integrations are separate work.
Last updated: October 11, 2026
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