Post Settings

Crimson includes a dedicated Post settings group that controls how your posts are rendered by default across the site. Right now, Crimson provides one key setting in this group:

• Default Post Template

This setting defines the global default layout for all posts—so when you publish a new post, Crimson already knows whether it should show a Table of Contents, whether that TOC should be sticky, and whether a sidebar should appear.

Where to find this setting

In Ghost Admin:

Settings → Design & Branding → click Customize → open the tab Theme → scroll down to see Post

Then look for: Default post template

Post settings

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Default post template

Purpose

The Default Post Template sets the baseline post layout for your entire publication.

It controls:

• Whether a Table of Contents (TOC) appears

• Whether the TOC is sticky (stays visible while you scroll)

• Whether a sidebar appears (and whether it stays sticky)

• Whether the layout is optimized for long-form reading vs minimal distraction

Why this matters

Choosing a good default improves:

• Reader experience (especially for long tutorials)

• Navigation (TOC helps readers jump between sections)

• Consistency across your site (posts feel uniform)

• Time on page (TOC + sidebar often increases engagement on long posts)

Possible values

This setting allows to select from:

1. With Normal TOC and Sidebar (Default)

2. With Sticky TOC and No Sidebar

3. With Normal TOC and No Sidebar

4. With Sticky Sidebar and No TOC

5. With No TOC and No Sidebar

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Template options explained

Below are the available options and what each one means in practical terms.

1. With Normal TOC and Sidebar (Default)

Example: https://crimson.themeupstudio.com/the-refugee-crisis-millions-flee-conflict-seeking-safety/

Normal TOC and Sidebar

What you get

• A Table of Contents appears (typically near the top of the post layout)

• The TOC is normal, meaning it scrolls away as the reader scrolls

• A sidebar appears beside the content

Best for

• General blogs and publications

• Medium-length posts (where a sticky TOC may feel too “busy”)

• Sites that want structure, but not too much on-screen UI

Good to know

If your posts are mostly short (under ~800 words), TOC might feel unnecessary—consider a “No TOC” template instead.

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2. With Sticky TOC and No Sidebar

Example: https://crimson.themeupstudio.com/gerrymandering-under-fire-legal-challenges-target-rigged-districts/

With Sticky TOC and no Sidebar

What you get

• A sticky TOC that stays visible while scrolling (great for navigation)

• No sidebar, so the layout stays clean and focused

Best for

• Long tutorials, documentation-style posts, guides

• Posts with many headings (H2/H3)

• Readers who want quick section jumping without extra sidebar content

Good to know

Sticky TOC works best when your content uses proper headings (H2/H3). If a post is written as plain paragraphs with few headings, the TOC won’t be very helpful.

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3. With Normal TOC and No Sidebar

Example: https://crimson.themeupstudio.com/remake-fatigue-is-hollywood-out-of-original-ideas/

With Normal TOC and No Sidebar

What you get

• A normal (non-sticky) TOC

• No sidebar, giving more space to the main content

Best for

• Clean editorial posts where you still want a TOC

• Medium-length posts that benefit from structure

• Minimal layouts that still support navigation

Good to know

This is often the “best of both worlds” when you want TOC support without the visual weight of a sidebar.

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4. With Sticky Sidebar and No TOC

Example: https://crimson.themeupstudio.com/corporate-giant-faces-antitrust-lawsuit-monopolies-under-scrutiny/

With Sticky Sidebar and No TOC

What you get

• A sticky sidebar (stays visible while scrolling)

• No TOC

Best for

• Publications where the sidebar is the star (newsletter signup, featured links, ads, author box, etc.)

• Shorter posts where a TOC is not needed

• Layouts that prioritize calls-to-action and secondary content

Good to know

This template is a strong conversion-focused option if your sidebar contains membership CTAs or key navigation.

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5. With No TOC and No Sidebar

Example: https://crimson.themeupstudio.com/word-of-mouth-hit-obscure-thriller-series-goes-viral/

With No TOC and No Sidebar

What you get

• No TOC

• No sidebar

• A clean, distraction-free reading experience

Best for

• Essays, storytelling, opinion pieces

• Short posts, announcements, personal notes

• A minimal “writer-first” style blog

Good to know

If your audience reads mostly on mobile, this can feel excellent because it removes extra UI elements and keeps the content front and center.

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Overriding the template for a single post

Even though this setting sets the default, Crimson allows you to override the layout on a per-post basis.

How to override the post template (per post)

1. Open the post in Ghost Editor

2. In the right sidebar, open Post settings (the settings panel)

3. Find the Template dropdown

4. Select the template you want for that specific post

5. Update/Publish the post

Override default post template for a single post

When should you override?

Override a single post template when:

• A post is unusually long (use Sticky TOC)

• A post is short (use No TOC / No Sidebar)

• A post is a landing page style article (use sidebar-focused layout)

• You want a different reading experience for a special series