New Theme: zBench
Today’s new, feature-packed Theme has a really polished design that can give your blog a more technical look—without appearing too cold. I think you’ll really like it. Let’s take a look at zBench.
The zBench Theme in action
zBench has a lot of great features that make personalizing your blog a snap. Features like custom background images and colors, a custom header image, bonus widget areas in your site footer, and custom menus with beautiful drop-down effects. My favorite feature is probably the alternate layouts available in Appearance → Theme Options. With one-click you can have your site sporting multiple sidebars in several different configurations!
The multiple layouts available with zBench
Designed by the enigmatically named zwwooooo, zBench is available now for WordPress.com users and, for self-hosted WordPress.org sites, from the WordPress.org Themes Directory.
Quick Specs (all measurements in pixels):
- One sidebar: main column width is
633, sidebar width is263. - Two sidebars: main column width is
633, feature sidebar width is263, primary sidebar width is105. - One sidebar on either side: main column width is
472, sidebar width is186. - Footer widget areas are
187wide - Custom image header dimensions are
960by200(width, height).
Oct 27th at 2:15 pm
Wow…talk about great timing! This is exactly the kind of layout I have been looking to use! Thanks WP!
Oct 27th at 2:16 pm
It’s a nice theme, but I’d prefer a few more journalist style themes in future.
Oct 27th at 2:16 pm
Another great customizable theme! Cool!
Oct 27th at 2:22 pm
Oy… I just changed mine to the Elegant Grunge, but this one is exactly the kind of stuff I’ve been looking for with multiple sidebars. Good on ya!
Oct 27th at 2:23 pm
Really like the ‘Options’ on this, I’ve been wanting to try a change.
Oct 27th at 2:26 pm
Very nice theme, clean layout.
I also agree with chrisspyrou : do you plan to add some journalist oriented themes in the future. I don’t know if “journalist” is the same as “magazine” but I’m interested in themes like Arras Theme.
Oct 27th at 2:43 pm
More magazine-type or journalist themes are on the horizon. More of all types of themes are on the horizon!
Oct 27th at 2:28 pm
Very cool and simple
Oct 27th at 2:32 pm
I’m always looking for a new theme! This one looks swell!
Oct 27th at 2:34 pm
Awesome new theme. I may just give it a whirl!
Oct 27th at 2:44 pm
Great, I love this theme.
Oct 27th at 2:44 pm
Love the layout customization. Thanks!
Oct 27th at 2:44 pm
It’s a nice theme, but not as nice as my current one
Oct 27th at 2:45 pm
This may just be the most flexible themes of all!
Oct 27th at 2:52 pm
I’m never going to get any work done while I play around these :O (on my other blogs…I need a really wide one/flexible width for my main blog!).
Oct 27th at 2:57 pm
I’m trying it – I like the 3 column left & right sidebars…
Oct 27th at 3:04 pm
It’s a really flexible theme, but my love for DePo Masthead remains strong. It helps present my translations in a very professional manner and it relegates all the standard website clutter to the bottom, instead of to the side (gives more space, conducive to reading).
Oct 27th at 3:09 pm
Clean and nice … but not for me. Thanks anyway.
Oct 27th at 3:12 pm
Once I have some time-I’m switching over for sure!
Oct 27th at 3:14 pm
Another one so fast! You’re spoiling us (and we like it
). Almost as good as the previous one (I don’t like the font in this one too much, but all the rest looks great).
Oct 27th at 3:19 pm
I haven’t done exploring “Elegant Grunge” yet and there’s a new one already? Looks nice!
I’m going to check it in the Theme Directory asap. Thank you!
Oct 27th at 3:20 pm
Thanks for all the new themes, I really mean it! But….they look all the same… why?
Oct 27th at 3:25 pm
We always try and shoot for variety but if we haven’t been quite hitting that for you we’d love to hear your theme suggestions in our themes forum. The more themes the merrier!
Oct 27th at 3:27 pm
This theme looks a lot like a couple others. But I like being able to choose layouts.
Oct 27th at 3:28 pm
Now that’s more like it. I didn’t like the previous one but this is awesome.
Thanks, guys.
Oct 27th at 3:31 pm
I like this theme. Although I have settled with my theme long back and I am quite happy with it, I’d like to congratulate the WordPress team for coming up with newer and better themes every now and then. Cheers!
Oct 27th at 3:50 pm
These great themes almost make me want to have multiple blogs, so I can use them all.
But then again I really have not that much time or things to say to ‘fill’ more than one blog.
Oct 27th at 4:02 pm
Nice. I like the options.
Oct 27th at 4:04 pm
Random question: Where do the names come from?
I’m trying to find a “bench” in the design, but no luck. Since the designer’s screen name begins with a “z,” that was my first thought…
Oct 27th at 4:26 pm
Great theme, really nice, I like it.
Thanks for this.
Oct 27th at 4:27 pm
Thanks so much! Had zBench active yesterday on my demo blog trying it out and really love the look and the layout options.
One thing I would love to see the Theme Team continue to do is a demo blog for each of the new themes. It really is incredibly helpful.
Oct 27th at 4:30 pm
Ah, great! Here is yet another monotone-colored theme! Plus, there is “Sidebar-Content-Sidebar” selection under the “Theme Options!”
Oct 27th at 4:46 pm
Sounds cool. Let me try.
And yeah, please keep on adding new themes from time to time.
Oct 27th at 4:50 pm
This theme is zzzupperrr.
Oct 27th at 4:56 pm
Nice theme, but that font is ugly. Love the font used with Vigilance and Twenty Ten.
Oct 27th at 5:01 pm
Now that’s a nice design! I think I’ll give it a try.
Thanks, WP!!
Oct 27th at 5:02 pm
Yeah. This is going where I’ve been interested. it’ll need the right background before I change over but I like a lot of what is happening in this one. Outstanding exploration and variation, zwwooooo.
Oct 27th at 5:12 pm
Great options with this theme. I also like the new search feature you have added to our toolbar. I like being able to search all sites. I do that with almost every post to see like-minded blogs. Today it was poetry. Who knows what it’ll be in two days. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — WordPress rocks.
Oct 27th at 5:46 pm
I like this cool theme, but just wondering why there is no “featured image” support, although I can customize the header image.
Oct 27th at 5:56 pm
Featured Image support for zBench is something we’ll definitely take under consideration for a future enhancement.
Oct 27th at 6:12 pm
Well done!
Oct 27th at 6:21 pm
Looks cool, going to try it now.
Oct 27th at 6:24 pm
These new themes always look nice but I hesitate before moving from the standard 2010 theme which looks/works nice enough. I cant forget the first time I tried blogspot many years ago and I spent more time customizing the design than writing posts…. Is there any ‘killer feature’ in these new themes that really justifies changing?
Oct 27th at 6:48 pm
If a theme looks like it will work better for your blog, that should be the most compelling reason to switch. If Twenty Ten is working for your blog, by all means, stick with it! It’s a beautiful theme—one of our favorites!—with tons of really great features. But if zBench looks like it might work, preview it in Appearance → Themes. We’d love to hear what you think about it (or any other theme) in our themes forum.
Oct 27th at 6:38 pm
I’ve been waiting for this simple design for way too long. Just right for me
Oct 27th at 6:57 pm
So spoiled for choice. WordPress, what impresses me so is what you provide for free. There are few like you! It is much appreciated.
Oct 27th at 7:03 pm
Thank you for the new themese of late. I like the simple design and flexible features of this one. Would love it if you were to add featured posts as mentioned above. I’m still very happy with Inuit Types plus CSS, but I will check this one out for sure. Would love to see more journalist style themes too.
Oct 27th at 7:22 pm
Hmmm, choices, choices. Keep ‘em coming!
Oct 27th at 7:38 pm
Not for me–I like a little more funk–but excellent nonetheless. Very crisp and clean. I love it!
Oct 27th at 7:40 pm
Molto bello!
Oct 27th at 7:41 pm
I agree with everyone asking for more journalist-style themes. I love a lot of the themes you guys put out, but I haven’t found a new one that quite fits my blog
Oct 27th at 8:49 pm
I like that! I wish you could make a Kubrick 3 column these but have the middle collumn to fit 500 wide images
Oct 27th at 9:25 pm
banjo KaZOOie that looks Awesome!
Oct 27th at 9:41 pm
It look really nice! I’m going to try it!
Oct 27th at 10:18 pm
Some really interesting configurations possible with this one! Very nice.
Oct 27th at 10:24 pm
Hey Theme Team! This looks like a theme that I’ve been waiting for: One with a main column width of at least 600 pixels with sidebars! Will try it out now! Hoping for more “wide” themes. Thanks very much Theme Team!
Oct 27th at 11:18 pm
Another theme already! Keep it up, WordPress Team!
Oct 27th at 11:31 pm
I love the twenty ten on my gardening with Border collies blog because of the custom background. Will have to look at this one. Thanks for all the options. I feel like a kid in a candy store.
Oct 27th at 11:49 pm
I really love WordPress. But this is weird – nowadays it seems almost every design you roll out looks JUST like the previous design you rolled out.
What’s going on, folks? Your fans love and miss your creative juices!
Oct 28th at 2:30 pm
We’re always trying to flex those creative muscles. There’s been some real variety among the past few theme releases and there’s more coming in the near future.
Oct 28th at 12:09 am
Awesome Theme and is nearly exact in what I have been looking for in overall flexibility.
Much appreciated!
Oct 28th at 12:11 am
Why does this remind me of Coraline (the one I have right now)?
Oh yea, it’s Coraline with a new name…
Oct 28th at 2:34 pm
While Coraline and zBench are very different they do share the same multiple layout options. We hope that will let everyone take both themes and personalize them to suit their blogging style.
Oct 28th at 12:51 am
You guys work fast!
Great theme, but I’m thinking I’ll stick with Twenty Ten for now.
Oct 28th at 1:38 am
Nice, I added it as my theme!
Oct 28th at 1:41 am
Hmmm! I love it. Especially the header: light, simple, attractive. The flexibility of layout options is superb! That’s my theme now!
Oct 28th at 1:55 am
I like this a lot! I just changed my theme, so I’m going to leave it alone for now, but I definitely wanna look to play around with this in the future.
Oct 28th at 2:51 am
Keep them coming. 2010 has definitely seen more themes arrive than ever before. Long may it continue.
Oct 28th at 3:05 am
I love this!
Oct 28th at 4:41 am
This is a FANTASTIC theme for anyone! Almost perfect! Customization is great, and it can suit the needs of anyone! Thanks WordPress, you out did yourselves!
Oct 28th at 5:24 am
One word: awesome!
Oct 28th at 8:09 am
Interesting name but it looks quite similar to many other themes. Looking forward to some themes with personality!
Oct 28th at 9:00 am
This is a great theme, perhaps I will apply it to my tech website soon. A little transparency and maybe a few drop down boxes here and there, would make is look no less than exquisite. Great work!
Oct 28th at 12:31 pm
Nice clean them. It will take a lot to make me change though – I just love my theme and how it works with my header image.
Oct 28th at 12:57 pm
Cool! I really love this one. I especially like the ‘box-y’ look
Oct 28th at 1:41 pm
WOW! Another new theme. You guys really make it hard to choose. I love this one as well.
Oct 28th at 3:19 pm
This theme is amazing.
Oct 28th at 3:53 pm
Another theme already! Keep it up, WordPress Team!
Oct 28th at 11:29 pm
^^ what Colleen Young said
thankful everyday for WordPress.
Oct 28th at 11:49 pm
Nice theme. Only one thing. I’d like to add one picture as a header background and one picture as a footer background. Thanks!!
Oct 28th at 11:53 pm
I would like to add my vote to magazine-type themes like Arras. Cheers.
Oct 29th at 3:57 am
Wow this is epic. ♥
Nice and clean but still interesting.
Oct 29th at 4:51 am
Wow. It’s another awesome theme. Cool.
Oct 29th at 5:27 am
Level of customisation is great – another one for the “let’s try” list. Thanks a lot
Oct 29th at 6:52 am
Nice theme. It will be next on my blog.
Oct 29th at 7:16 am
Very nice! I like how you can change the configuration of the sidebars with the click of a radio button. Keep them coming.
Oct 29th at 8:50 am
Nice theme. I keep trying to find that theme that fits my writing and photoblogging style. Perhaps this is the one.
Oct 29th at 1:19 pm
It’s a nice simple theme.
Oct 29th at 1:27 pm
Ok, as soon as I saw this layout I couldn’t resist and shifted to it, even if I had resolved to stay a little longer on the latest. The last three WP themes, however, are an embarrasingly wide choice of perfect design .
Oct 29th at 3:25 pm
More than the new THEMES, I wish our wordpress launches/provides new widgets for our blogs. Desperately waiting. O God!!!
Oct 29th at 3:31 pm
Yes it is great
I got awe struck and instantly picked up
Oct 29th at 10:25 pm
This looks quite nice, but very similar to many of the recent themes.
Oct 29th at 11:04 pm
Looks great! So many themes to choose from…
Oct 29th at 11:28 pm
Is it me or themes seem to all look the same lately?
Oct 30th at 12:37 am
Awesome theme! I like it!
Oct 30th at 9:03 am
New theme looks great. Not sure however that I want to change at the moment. Keep new ideas coming though.
Oct 30th at 4:58 pm
I agree with some of the other comments – the themes look so similar – and I am still not seeing one theme that features a more light-hearted look that is softer – something that fits a more artistic or hobbyist type blog. How about coming up with another option? Not all of us are techies…
Oct 31st at 1:51 am
Could we please have a theme that had this type of great flexibility as well as a choice of fonts at a touch (fingers & toes crossed here)?? If such a theme already exists (I’ll bet I’ve just missed it) please direct me to it. This ever lengthening list of great WordPress themes is just GREAT!! Thanks guys and keep up the good work!
Oct 31st at 7:25 am
Hi, I want to put the tagline under the blog title, how do I?
Oct 31st at 10:38 am
It’s a beautiful theme, simple elegant and the sidebar doesn’t blend with the background either. Loved it and changed to it from spectrum immediately.
Now I don’t know why, but its not in the theme list anymore.. I hope that it wont stop working at my blog suddenly, because I don’t want to change it anytime soon.
Nov 5th at 11:47 pm
Don’t worry, it’s not in the list because you have it already activated.
Oct 31st at 12:58 pm
I’ve been waiting forever for a theme like this! It just needs a few details, which I could probably do on my own, but It’s just what I have been looking for ever since I got my site… Thanks alot!!! 8-0