Ethereal is a free, fully responsive single-page site template built with HTML5 and CSS3 by AJ for HTML5 UP, purpose-built for personal portfolio sites that need a bold hero, an image gallery, and a contact section. It is released under the Creative Commons license, so anyone can download the static HTML/CSS files and host them on any web server without a build step or framework. The demo page shows exactly how the panels, gallery, and form are structured.
What is Ethereal?
Ethereal is a single-page template from HTML5 UP, a well-known collection of free responsive templates. It takes static HTML and CSS as its source and produces a complete portfolio-style page with a large hero introduction, several text-and-image panels, a thumbnail gallery, social icons, and a contact form. The template is authored by AJ and distributed under the Creative Commons license, meaning there is no cost to use it. Because it is plain HTML5/CSS3, there are no runtime dependencies, so it runs anywhere static files are served.
Key Features
- Responsive layout — The page is fully responsive, so it adapts to phone, tablet, and desktop viewports without extra plugins.
- Pure HTML5/CSS3 — No JavaScript framework, CSS preprocessor, or build tool is needed; the files are plain static HTML and CSS.
- Hero introduction panel — The opening section, with the line "Hello, my name is Ethereal," provides a large branded entry point for a name and short pitch.
- Three content panels with imagery — The demo includes "Sed etiam aenean," "Amet lorem," and "Magna amet tempus" sections, each pairing a short text block with a large image.
- Image gallery — A nine-image gallery presents thumbnails that link to full-size versions, making it straightforward to swap in your own photographs or project shots.
- Contact form and social links — A contact form with Name, Email, and Message fields sits alongside icons for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, GitHub, and Medium.
- Complete element styles — The template includes styled headings, blockquotes, code blocks, lists, tables, buttons, and form controls, giving you a full set of UI primitives to model new content on.
Who is it for?
Ethereal is for anyone who needs a handsome, content-first one-page site with minimal setup.
- Photographers and artists can use the gallery to display a portfolio and the contact form to receive booking or commission requests.
- Freelance designers, developers, and creatives can replace the placeholder text in the hero and content panels to introduce themselves and list selected projects.
- Small businesses and event organizers can stand up a quick informational page with contact details and social links without hiring a developer.
What can you do with Ethereal?
- Showcase a visual portfolio: Upload your best work to the gallery and content panels, letting the responsive grid present it on any screen.
- Collect client inquiries: Use the built-in contact form as a starting point for a message form, wiring the fields to the form-handling service of your choice.
- Launch a personal landing page: Put your name in the hero, add a short bio, link your social profiles, and publish a clean one-page presence.
Pricing
Ethereal is free to download under the Creative Commons license. There is no payment required, and the template files are available directly from HTML5 UP.
FAQ
Is Ethereal free to use?
Yes, Ethereal is released entirely for free under a Creative Commons license. You can download and use the template without paying, and you are expected to follow the license terms, which usually means keeping a credit to HTML5 UP.
Does Ethereal require JavaScript or a framework?
No. Ethereal is built with plain HTML5 and CSS3, so it opens directly in a browser without any build step, package manager, or JavaScript framework.
What sections come with the template?
The demo includes a hero introduction, three image-and-text panels, a nine-image gallery, a contact form, social icons, and a full elements showcase with typography, lists, tables, and buttons.
Can I customize the gallery images?
Yes, the gallery uses thumbnail images that link to full-size versions. You can replace the nine placeholder images with your own files while keeping the same link structure.
Can I use Ethereal for commercial projects?
Because the template is under a Creative Commons license, commercial use is generally permitted as long as you comply with the license conditions, which typically means providing attribution to HTML5 UP. Check the license details on the HTML5 UP site to confirm.
