Pond - Creative Portfolio / Agency WordPress Theme 2.6.1

**Pond**, developed by **Shtheme**, is a versatile and high-impact **Creative Portfolio and Agency WordPress Theme**. It is designed for those who want to strike a balance between a professional agency site and a minimalist personal portfolio, making it a favorite for photographers, digital studios, and freelancers. 

In 2026, it is specifically noted for its **"Fluid Storytelling"** capabilities, allowing users to create immersive, full-screen project showcases that feel like digital presentations. 

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### Core Features & Creative Tools 

* **WPBakery Page Builder:** Comes bundled with a customized version of the WPBakery builder, featuring a proprietary set of "Pond" elements designed for creative layouts. 
* **Full-Screen Sections:** Includes a robust "One Page" scrolling mode with smooth transitions, perfect for high-concept landing pages. 
* **Cinematic Video Backgrounds:** Supports self-hosted, YouTube, and Vimeo video backgrounds for rows and hero sections, adding a layer of motion to static portfolios. 
* **Advanced Project Grids:** Offers diverse portfolio styles, including **Masonry**, **FitRows**, and **Slider** views, all with AJAX-powered "Quick View" options. 
* **Unlimited Parallax Layers:** Allows you to create deep, multi-layered scroll effects where images and text move at different speeds. 
* **WooCommerce Integration:** Fully styled for agencies that want to sell digital assets, prints, or design services directly through their site. 

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### Technical Snapshot 

| Feature | Details | 
| --- | --- | 
| **Builder Support** | **WPBakery** (bundled) and compatible with **Gutenberg**. | 
| **Animation Engine** | Powered by **GSAP** for high-performance, lag-free motion. | 
| **Retina Ready** | Optimized for high-DPI displays; icons and UI elements remain sharp. | 
| **SEO** | Built with clean, valid HTML5 and CSS3 to favor search engine indexing. | 
| **Translation** | **WPML** and **Polylang** compatible; includes .mo/.po files. | 
| **Responsiveness** | Mobile-first framework ensuring a seamless experience on tablets and phones. | 

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### Why Choose Pond? 

> **Minimalist Sophiteness:** Pond avoids "gimmicky" design. It uses clean lines and focused typography, making it an excellent choice for architects or premium brand designers whose work needs a quiet, high-end environment. 
> **Interactive Hero Areas:** The theme features "Split-Screen" and "Interactive Carousel" hero sections that allow you to grab the visitor's attention the moment the page loads. 
> **Performance Optimization:** Despite its heavy focus on visual effects and video, Pond is optimized to load assets conditionally, ensuring that speed isn't sacrificed for style. 

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### Installation & Creative Setup 

1. **Installation:** Upload the `pond.zip` file via `Appearance > Themes`. 
2. **Plugin Activation:** Activate **Pond Core** and **WPBakery**. Note: The theme works best when you use the specialized Pond elements within the builder. 
3. **One-Click Demo:** Import one of the 8+ distinct demos (e.g., "Agency," "Minimal Portfolio," or "Split Screen") to use as a structural foundation. 
4. **Portfolio Post Type:** Use the custom "Portfolio" post type to add your projects. You can assign "Categories" to enable a filterable grid on your homepage. 
5. **Typography Customization:** Access the **Theme Options** panel to choose from over 600+ Google Fonts and fine-tune your line heights for that "editorial" look. 

**Would you like me to find the specific CSS code to customize your "Portfolio Filter" colors, or are you looking for a guide on how to set up the "Split Screen Slider" on your homepage?**