Bato is a free HTML5 responsive photography template from ThemeWagon that builds black-and-white photography portfolio websites with a featured image slider and drawer navigation.
What is Bato?
Bato is a multi-page photography website template distributed free by ThemeWagon and created by Colorlib. It takes static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files and produces a responsive portfolio site with bold typography and a black-and-white color scheme. The template runs entirely in the browser with no backend, using Bootstrap v3.3.5 for layout, jQuery v2.1.4 for interactivity, and Owl Carousel for the featured image slider. A live preview is available at https://themewagon.github.io/bato/.
The package includes 7 HTML files, 8 CSS files, and 11 JavaScript files, plus SASS source files and demo images. It is compatible with Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and mobile browsers.
Key Features
- Burger Menu — A hamburger button at the top-right opens a drawer navigation that slides in from the side, keeping the image-heavy layout clean.
- Featured Image Slider — The homepage uses an Owl Carousel-based slider to rotate featured images and attract attention at the top of the page.
- Black and White Style — The monochrome palette makes photographs stand out without color distraction, paired with bold typography for an editorial feel.
- On-hover Effects — Images and links animate on hover with Animate.css, adding interactivity without slowing page loads.
- Multi-page Layout — Seven HTML files let you build separate pages for galleries, portfolios, and informational content rather than a single-scroll page.
- Email Subscription — A built-in signup form lets visitors subscribe to a newsletter or mailing list directly from the template.
- Social Media Icons — Footer and navigation include icon links you can point to your social profiles.
- Search Bar — A search input is included so users can find content within the multi-page site.
- SASS Files — The source uses a SASS preprocessor, so you can edit variables and recompile the CSS.
Who is it for?
Photographers can showcase their portfolios with a black-and-white gallery and slider that emphasizes images over text. Creative studios and agencies can use the multi-page layout to build a minimalist studio site with a portfolio section. Designers and developers can use the SASS files and well-structured code as a starting point for custom photography projects.
What can you do with Bato?
- Wedding or portrait photographers: create a responsive gallery with a featured slider to present their best shots on the homepage.
- Travel photographers: use the multi-page setup to organize work by destination or series, with on-hover effects for thumbnail browsing.
- Creative agencies: present an art-directed black-and-white brand site with email capture and social media links.
Pricing
Bato is free to download and use, including in commercial projects, with lifetime free updates and an open-source license. The download is available from ThemeWagon after providing an email address.
FAQ
Is Bato free?
Yes, Bato is a free template distributed by ThemeWagon. The license allows open-source use, commercial projects, and lifetime free updates.
What browsers is Bato compatible with?
The template works in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and on mobile devices. It uses Bootstrap 3's responsive grid, so it adapts to different screen sizes.
Can I use Bato in a commercial project?
Yes, the template license permits commercial use. There are no fees or attribution requirements mentioned on the download page.
Does Bato include a blog or ecommerce?
No, the template includes seven HTML files focused on photography presentation, not blogging or ecommerce. It does include an email subscription form for building an audience.
How do I customize the template?
The package comes with SASS files alongside compiled CSS, so you can edit variables and rebuild styles. Demo images are included, and the HTML files are static, so you can edit them in any text editor.
