Strata Reloaded is a free personal blogging template for Jekyll, adapted from Strata by HTML5 UP, that adds a parallax background, a lightbox gallery, and full CloudCannon editing support to a static-site workflow.
What is Strata Reloaded?
Strata Reloaded is a Jekyll theme for bloggers and portfolios. It takes your Markdown posts, site settings, and data files and produces a static HTML website with a clean, card-based layout. The theme runs on Jekyll 3.3.1 and supports newer versions, is maintained by Comfusion LLC, and is optimized specifically for editing in CloudCannon. It includes a blog with pagination, an RSS/Atom feed, SEO tags, Google Analytics integration, and webmaster verification.
Key Features
- Parallax background effect — the home page uses a scrolling parallax effect for a compact, modern look.
- Lightbox gallery — display image sets in an overlay lightbox, useful for photo work or project shots.
- Pre-styled components — buttons, forms, icons, and other UI elements are styled out of the box.
- Blog with pagination — posts are automatically split across pages when you have more than the site’s post limit.
- Configurable footer — the footer is defined as a data file, so editing it in CloudCannon does not require touching layout code.
- CloudCannon optimization — add, update, or remove posts in the Posts collection; default post metadata is set in
_posts/_defaults.md. - RSS/Atom feed — a feed is generated automatically so readers can subscribe.
- SEO tags — metadata for search engines and social sharing is included in the head.
- Google Analytics — add your tracking key in
_config.ymland the theme injects the tracking snippet. - Webmaster verification — enter verification codes for Google, Bing, and others in the configuration.
Who is it for?
- Personal bloggers — who want a no-nonsense layout with pagination and an RSS feed to write and publish regular posts.
- Photographers and creatives — who need a lightbox gallery and a parallax home section to showcase visual work.
- Web agencies — who hand off sites to non-technical clients that need to edit content in CloudCannon without touching code.
What can you do with Strata Reloaded?
- Publish a blog: write posts in Markdown, adjust pagination in
_config.yml, and ship a static site. - Show a gallery: use the lightbox component to present photos from a portfolio without adding a separate plugin.
- Track visitors: drop a Google Analytics key and a webmaster verification code into the config to activate analytics.
- Customize the footer: edit the footer data file in CloudCannon to update links, social icons, and contact text.
How does Strata Reloaded work?
Install dependencies with Bundler using bundle install, then run bundle exec jekyll serve to preview the site locally. Edit site and author details in _config.yml, and add posts in the _posts directory or the CloudCannon Posts collection. The theme outputs a static HTML folder that can be deployed to any hosting provider, including GitHub Pages or Netlify.
Pricing
Strata Reloaded is free for personal and commercial use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CCA 3.0) license. You can use it in client projects and for your own site without paying licensing fees.
FAQ
Is Strata Reloaded free?
Yes, the theme is free for personal and commercial use under the CCA 3.0 license. Credit to Strata by HTML5 UP and Comfusion LLC is required by the license terms.
Do I need CloudCannon to use Strata Reloaded?
No, the theme is a standard Jekyll theme and works without CloudCannon. The CloudCannon optimization means you can also run it through CloudCannon for a visual editing interface, but it is not required.
What version of Jekyll does it require?
The theme was built with Jekyll version 3.3.1, but it supports newer versions of Jekyll. Use Bundler to install the dependencies and run bundle exec jekyll serve to ensure the correct versions.
Can I add my own Google Analytics tracking ID?
Yes, add your Google Analytics key to _config.yml and the theme will include the necessary tracking code. The configuration also supports webmaster verification codes for search engines.
