New Theme: zBench

October 27, 2010

Ian Stewart

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):

  1. One sidebar: main column width is 633, sidebar width is 263.
  2. Two sidebars: main column width is 633, feature sidebar width is 263, primary sidebar width is 105.
  3. One sidebar on either side: main column width is 472, sidebar width is 186.
  4. Footer widget areas are 187 wide
  5. Custom image header dimensions are 960 by 200 (width, height).

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136 Comments

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  1. Alex Ninamori 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!

    Like

  2. chrisspyrou Oct 27th at 2:16 pm

    It’s a nice theme, but I’d prefer a few more journalist style themes in future.

    Like

  3. gbvaz Oct 27th at 2:16 pm

    Another great customizable theme! Cool!

    Like

  4. Green Day Mind 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!

    Like

  5. Christy aka Mamarazzi Oct 27th at 2:23 pm

    Really like the ‘Options’ on this, I’ve been wanting to try a change.

    Like

  6. plg 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.

    Like

  7. Mahmoud Metwally Oct 27th at 2:28 pm

    Very cool and simple 😀

    Like

  8. rubiescorner Oct 27th at 2:32 pm

    I’m always looking for a new theme! This one looks swell!

    Like

  9. Matt George Oct 27th at 2:34 pm

    Awesome new theme. I may just give it a whirl!

    Like

  10. Lindea Oct 27th at 2:44 pm

    Great, I love this theme. 😀

    Like

  11. Pearlie Oct 27th at 2:44 pm

    Love the layout customization. Thanks!

    Like

  12. Ljubomir Gatdula Oct 27th at 2:44 pm

    It’s a nice theme, but not as nice as my current one 🙂

    Like

  13. purplexity Oct 27th at 2:45 pm

    This may just be the most flexible themes of all!

    Like

  14. neurotype 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!).

    Like

  15. Adrienne Oct 27th at 2:57 pm

    I’m trying it – I like the 3 column left & right sidebars…

    Like

  16. blattdorf 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).

    Like

  17. aangron Oct 27th at 3:09 pm

    Clean and nice … but not for me. Thanks anyway.

    Like

  18. Hollie @ Lolzthatswim(andRun) Oct 27th at 3:12 pm

    Once I have some time-I’m switching over for sure!

    Like

  19. suchglidingwonders 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).

    Like

  20. lusysunsetgirl 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!

    Like

  21. jeyaphoto Oct 27th at 3:20 pm

    Thanks for all the new themes, I really mean it! But….they look all the same… why?

    Like

  22. Gally Lines ~ LestISmiteThee.wordpress.com Oct 27th at 3:27 pm

    This theme looks a lot like a couple others. But I like being able to choose layouts.

    Like

  23. arvind 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.

    Like

  24. Sourav Roy 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!

    Like

  25. Tatu 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.

    Like

  26. Mary Oct 27th at 4:02 pm

    Nice. I like the options.

    Like

  27. Mikalee Byerman 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…

    😉

    Like

  28. Admin Oct 27th at 4:26 pm

    Great theme, really nice, I like it. 🙂

    Thanks for this.

    Like

  29. Jennifer 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.

    Like

  30. FLYNN 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!”

    Like

  31. kannadasongsdownload Oct 27th at 4:46 pm

    Sounds cool. Let me try. 🙂

    And yeah, please keep on adding new themes from time to time.

    Like

  32. dhimasln Oct 27th at 4:50 pm

    This theme is zzzupperrr.

    Like

  33. Snarky's Machine Oct 27th at 4:56 pm

    Nice theme, but that font is ugly. Love the font used with Vigilance and Twenty Ten.

    Like

  34. Pingback: Theme of the Week: zBench « WPVerse
  35. ikiru2009 Oct 27th at 5:01 pm

    Now that’s a nice design! I think I’ll give it a try.
    Thanks, WP!!

    Like

  36. Rick Daddario 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.

    Like

  37. Tom Baker 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.

    Like

  38. Akitaka 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.

    Like

  39. garymon Oct 27th at 6:12 pm

    Well done!

    Like

  40. Mahfooz Oct 27th at 6:21 pm

    Looks cool, going to try it now.

    Like

  41. chicostein 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?

    Like

    • Ian Stewart 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.

      Like

  42. boolscott Oct 27th at 6:38 pm

    I’ve been waiting for this simple design for way too long. Just right for me 🙂

    Like

  43. Pingback: New WordPress theme zBench « Guide for bloggers
  44. Colleen Young 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.

    Like

  45. Sandra Lee 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.

    Like

  46. rawqueen Oct 27th at 7:22 pm

    Hmmm, choices, choices. Keep ’em coming!

    Like

  47. Anne Lessing 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!

    Like

  48. dueperuno Oct 27th at 7:40 pm

    Molto bello!

    Like

  49. bassitone 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

    Like

  50. Lorna 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 🙂

    Like

  51. Samantha Oct 27th at 9:25 pm

    banjo KaZOOie that looks Awesome!

    Like

  52. Sekhemty Oct 27th at 9:41 pm

    It look really nice! I’m going to try it!

    Like

  53. shamballa9944 Oct 27th at 10:18 pm

    Some really interesting configurations possible with this one! Very nice.

    Like

  54. Recis|Rules 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!

    Like

  55. Eric Oct 27th at 11:18 pm

    Another theme already! Keep it up, WordPress Team!

    Like

  56. rosedale Gardens 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.

    Like

  57. danyasteele 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!

    Like

    • Ian Stewart 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.

      Like

  58. Parsifal Oct 28th at 12:09 am

    Awesome Theme and is nearly exact in what I have been looking for in overall flexibility.

    Much appreciated!

    Like

  59. mrasherkade 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…

    Like

    • Ian Stewart 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.

      Like

  60. Pingback: Updated my Blog Theme – zBench « The Canning Fool
  61. smcgamer Oct 28th at 12:51 am

    You guys work fast!

    Great theme, but I’m thinking I’ll stick with Twenty Ten for now.

    Like

  62. ivanmonroy Oct 28th at 1:38 am

    Nice, I added it as my theme!

    Like

  63. tsatmbafeung 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!

    Like

  64. sara 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. 🙂

    Like

  65. TheBrotha Oct 28th at 2:51 am

    Keep them coming. 2010 has definitely seen more themes arrive than ever before. Long may it continue.

    Like

  66. kckbusan Oct 28th at 3:05 am

    I love this!

    Like

  67. Adrian Lopez 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!

    Like

  68. MJae Oct 28th at 5:24 am

    One word: awesome!

    Like

  69. deepbellylaugh Oct 28th at 8:09 am

    Interesting name but it looks quite similar to many other themes. Looking forward to some themes with personality!

    Like

  70. Dillon Chaffey (Chafflube) 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!

    Like

  71. alternativelyme 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.

    Like

  72. Aiman Amani Oct 28th at 12:57 pm

    Cool! I really love this one. I especially like the ‘box-y’ look 😀

    Like

  73. pltprincess Oct 28th at 1:41 pm

    WOW! Another new theme. You guys really make it hard to choose. I love this one as well.

    Like

  74. kkscs1 Oct 28th at 3:19 pm

    This theme is amazing.

    Like

  75. guztaman Oct 28th at 3:53 pm

    Another theme already! Keep it up, WordPress Team!

    Like

  76. Jess C Scott Oct 28th at 11:29 pm

    ^^ what Colleen Young said 😛 thankful everyday for WordPress.

    Like

  77. jrsancheze 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!!

    Like

  78. Thomas James Oct 28th at 11:53 pm

    I would like to add my vote to magazine-type themes like Arras. Cheers.

    Like

  79. 秋月 キサキ Oct 29th at 3:57 am

    Wow this is epic. ♥
    Nice and clean but still interesting.

    Like

  80. 0nthiel76 Oct 29th at 4:51 am

    Wow. It’s another awesome theme. Cool.

    Like

  81. Intelligent Challenge Oct 29th at 5:27 am

    Level of customisation is great – another one for the “let’s try” list. Thanks a lot

    Like

  82. apparelondemand Oct 29th at 6:52 am

    Nice theme. It will be next on my blog.

    Like

  83. Steve 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.

    Like

  84. Pingback: New Theme: zBench (via WordPress.com News) « GridIrony
  85. Fidel 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.

    Like

  86. rangeradith Oct 29th at 1:19 pm

    It’s a nice simple theme.

    Like

  87. subecumene 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 .

    Like

  88. Neeraj Bhushan 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!!!

    Like

  89. mdayalvish Oct 29th at 3:31 pm

    Yes it is great
    I got awe struck and instantly picked up

    Like

  90. stickinsect Oct 29th at 10:25 pm

    This looks quite nice, but very similar to many of the recent themes.

    Like

  91. adventurewriter Oct 29th at 11:04 pm

    Looks great! So many themes to choose from…

    Like

  92. dazedlittlemiss Oct 29th at 11:28 pm

    Is it me or themes seem to all look the same lately?

    Like

  93. Pingback: Top Posts — WordPress.com
  94. Ms.virgough Oct 30th at 12:37 am

    Awesome theme! I like it!

    Like

  95. realfoodwarrior 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.

    Like

  96. taylorsoutback 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…

    Like

  97. Boomer Beauty 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!

    Like

  98. Miku Oct 31st at 7:25 am

    Hi, I want to put the tagline under the blog title, how do I?

    Like

  99. Leo (Leonnyes) 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.

    Like

  100. alilovesloki 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

    Like

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