Hey, I am looking to create a simple and clean wordpress slideshow header on a wordpress theme site. I am using weaver ii theme for it. I have tried to use a header slideshow plug-in but it's just way too glitchy and sloppy. I would like to use a fade effect as well. Oh and I would like to have the slideshow header display only on the front page. Can anyone help me out with this?
May be this wordpress slide show plugin will work for you http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/slideshow-gallery/
Search for "Wordpress slideshow plugins" on google and you will get several links of different style slideshows. Go with the one you like most.
If you just want this feature on your site without using another theme, I suggest you check out a sample theme with this feature and migrate it to your site.
for wordpress slide show at home, you can use jquery slide show plugin. and you can make your own plugin using jquery slider in this. many jquery sliders are available on net. for displaying on only home page you can keep this header in upper part of index file in theme of wordpress. you need to keep the header part ifix with index pge coding. this header will come only at home page, and not any other page.if you will keep this slider on content page on index file then it will come on all pages.it is very simple. try to do it. From admin side you can fix that which page will come at home page .Else you can read any tutoral on net, you will get its answer easily.
I would suggest using easing slider or nivo slider plugins for wordpress and use a custom hook_after_header to get it up. Those two are very easy to set up and use.