When WordPress 1.5 was released, it brought with it a novel concept: WordPress Themes. One of the first of these innovative Themes that revolutionized how blogs are designed was Kubrick, designed by Michael Heilemann and Chris J. Davis. It is also known as the Default Theme. It’s innovative design and use of WordPress template tags and conditional tags served as an example to everyone on the infinite possibilities of customizing a blog.
Kubrick eventually grew into the next generation, K2, pushing WordPress even farther, and most WordPress Themes now include one or more code elements based upon these two Themes.
A few web designers have tackled Kubrick and K2, writing great guides, tutorials, and tips for tweaking and customizing these Themes, which in turn, offers a wealth of information on how to customize any WordPress Theme. So I went looking for these guides and tips and found a wealth of WordPress Theme design and development for you.
Paul Stamatiou offered a three-part series, uncovering so much information it became a five-part series, on customizing the K2 WordPress Theme, which proves you shouldn’t number your series until you finish writing it. 😀
- Part One: CSS basics, adding the header image, design layout elements, moving blog title and description, using asides
- Part Two: Adding links to sites, reorder pages, adding contact form, creating a clickable header image, footer image, adding an alert section, changing the style of author comments, and more
- Part Three: PHP conditional statements in the sidebar, removing the sidebar, CSS features, social bookmarking mod, super footer, tags, flickr, and more
- Part Four: Customizing the sidebar main menu, the three column layout sidebar features, and image maps.
- Part Five: Covering all the final details and tips for customizing K2.
Dissection of a WordPress theme: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 by Urban Giraffe is one of the most extensive documentations on designing and developing a WordPress Theme, including features of the Kubrick/Default WordPress Theme. However, it is horrendous to read through as it divides up each post with many pages. Be patient and work through the inconvenience. There are some gems inside of all of those paginations.
Max Limpag offers “How To Convert Any Web Template Into a WordPress Theme”, a step-by step guide for using an free web template and converting it into a WordPress Theme, along with some tweaks and customization, using the K2 Theme.
Michael Pollock of Solostream has created a series of articles and videos on customizing the WordPress Default Theme, and any WordPress Theme:
- Blog Design 101: WordPress Theme/Template Design Part 1 and Part 2
- How to Change the Kubrick Header Color and Background
- More Play With Kubrick’s Page Structure and Colors
- How to Change the Internal Page Structure of Your WordPress Site
- How to Move and Change the WordPress Sidebar
- More Work on the Kubrick Sidebar and Main Content Area
JohnTP also put together How to create a custom K2 Scheme: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 for the K2 WordPress Theme.
Other tutorials, tips, and techniques for the Kubrick, K2, and Default WordPress Theme include:
- Jonathan’s Tutorials – WordPress Tutorial: How to Create a WordPress Theme
- How to Design a WordPress Theme eBook
- WordPress Hack / Tutorial: Dynamic Sticky Or Adhesive With Kubrick
- New Kubrick Header Switcher for WordPress 1.6
- Customizing WordPress.com Default Theme Headers
- How To Display Sidebar in Single Post in WordPress 1.5/2.0 Default Kubrick Theme
- Kubrick’s (WordPress Default Theme) Footer Alignment Error
- Creating Custom Categories for WordPress using K2
- How to create a static front page in WordPress (with K2 theme)
- How To: Sidebar Tabs for K2 in WordPress
- K2 and jQuery
- WordPress K2 Archives Page Template
- K2, Three Columns, Both Sidebars on the Right and Part II
For fans of K2, there is even a K2 Community Forum which includes tons of tips and techniques for using the K2 WordPress Theme.
I’m sure I’ve overlooked some great tutorials, but I also had to dig through a lot of fluff to find these Kubrick and K2 gems.
Note: Having spent time with Stanley Kubrick, I can say that he would have been honored by the attention, and laughed at the nonsense created with his namesake. I know his family is honored by the attention. I was honored to know him and he had an amazing impact on my life.
Site Search Tags: wordpress tips, wordpress themes, theme design, default theme, default wordpress theme, kubrick, k2, customizing kubrick, customizing themes, how to customize kubrick, how to customize k2 
Subscribe 
Via Feedburner 
Subscribe by Email
Copyright Lorelle VanFossen, member of the 9Rules Network, and author of Blogging Tips, What Bloggers Won't Tell You About Blogging.
Lorelle on WordPress 
18 Comments
As always, you seem to be posting what I need, when I need it. Thank you.
Love the infos at your blog, thanks a lot. But what is this: “Paul Stamatiou offered a three part series…” and then i can see five steps. 😉
There are also two very helpful articles in german language, written by Vladimir Simovic aka Perun: “WordPress-Themes verstehen” (understanding WordPress themes). Very helpful for interested german users. And you can find part 1 here: WordPress Themes Verstehen 1.
Don’t forget about K2 Reloaded, the one-column version of K2!
Ah, thanks, Nina S.
As for Paul’s “three part series”, I found the last two just before this went to press, so to speak, and tossed them in. Up to that point, he kept describing these as a three-part series. My mistake that I didn’t correct his mistake – and we should thrash him for not updating all his posts. 😀 Thanks for the catch and for the link.
Um, that’s one. Where’s the other one? 😉
A nice collection of links but can’t I just Google the same information for myself? Just wondering. Your template has gone wonky btw… the sidebar is at the bottom.
I hit Google looking for this information. I spent HOURS digging through various combinations of search terms looking for this information. Imagine how much time I just saved you by putting the best of the best together so you don’t have to dig through the amazing amount of crap I had to dig through. 😀
I’ve tested my site thoroughly and haven’t found any problem with the sidebar. Yet. But thanks for the warning. Maybe it didn’t load all the way in your browser. Don’t know.
Hi Lorelle,
I think horrendous is a little strong, but then I happen to like multi-page posts. Thanks for the mention though!
John, I debated a long time over which word to use, and yes, I think I choose an appropriate word. Your tips and techniques are so incredible, and the pagination feature is often overlooked, so people rarely dig deeper than one page, maybe two. If the “series” of pages was listed as a table of contents links, it would be easier to get and find the key points.
I often refer to your series and I have a heck of time finding which “page” which tip was on. I dig through searches and search engines and have trouble narrowing them down because each post is divided up into 8 pages. It’s a “horrendous” amount of effort to find the information, so often I give up, even though I know what I want is in there. I’ve heard from many people that they hate pagination and rarely go beyond page two, waiting for the long page loads and feeling like all they are doing is waiting for exposure to more ads, which is a technique you may not use, but one that many have abused.
You write such valuable material, it’s a shame that it’s so buried. That’s why I emphasized to the readers to dig into the pages in spite of them. And why I hope you will change your system so more can benefit from the wonders on pages, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
The web riptides took me to your site from emilyrobbins’. For someone who muck around the wp themes and tried to learn how to do it, this post is heaven sent. Could’nt help Digg’ing this one. Sure you can Google all this but it sure helps if you have it all in one place.
BTW, your translation links gave me an idea on how to work on translation on some of my sites. Tnx.
Thank you. Emily is wonderful. But do be wary of my sad translation links. They only translate the FRONT page of my blog, not the page you are viewing. If you have a full version WordPress blog, you can customize this. See Instantly Translate Your Blog. There are some translation WordPress Plugins you can also try. See Translation and Multilingual WordPress Plugins.
I love this themes its so neat and easy to manipulate.. User friendly I almost use it in all my sites
Julius
Hi Lorelle!
Just want to ask how did you put a signature in your every post?
Does it have a plugin that could easily put on my sites. Please I like it it’s so costumized…
tet
I explain how I manually do this, and offer suggestions for Plugins, in Adding a Signature To Personalize Your Blog Post. This is a WordPress.com blog and Plugins are not allowed.
Hi Lorelle!
I recieve you email… I thank you for keeping me updated about everything on web tech and blogging… tips are always the best thing in enhancing knowledge and espicially in fast changing technology esp. in the internet….
Good luck
Julius
P2 is great thanks for the update keep it coming..charles
Don’t forget about K2 Reloaded, the one-column version of K2!, is very real correct.
wow these tweaks are very useful for me and these really helps me to learn something new from here.
Thanks for sharing this buddy.
thanks you for your info… kubrick is very cool…
32 Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[…] Kubrick and K2 WordPress Themes: Collection of Theme Tips […]
[…] Kubrick and K2 WordPress Themes: Collection of Theme Tips […]
[…] Kubrick and K2 WordPress Themes: Collection of Theme Tips « Lorelle on WordPressA wonderul lists of links to guide one through hacking K2. […]
[…] Kubrick and K2 WordPress Themes: Collection of Theme Tips « Lorelle on WordPress “A few web designers have tackled Kubrick and K2, writing great guides, tutorials, and tips for tweaking and customizing these Themes, which in turn, offers a wealth of information on how to customize any WordPress Theme. So I went looking for these guide (tags: wordpress themes k2 howto blogging design kubrick blog history php article) […]
[…] Kubrick and K2 WordPress Themes: Collection of Theme Tips « Lorelle on WordPress (tags: wordpress themes k2 howto kubrick theme) […]
[…] call it P2 (in the style of K2, the update on the classic Kubrick theme), and it’s an extensive revamp of Prologue, the brainchild of last year’s winter […]
[…] call it P2 (in the style of K2, the update on the classic Kubrick theme), and it’s an extensive revamp of Prologue, the brainchild of last year’s winter […]
[…] be using WordPress to provide their own Content Management System. I’m going customise the Default Kubrick theme which I believe will provide all the functionality they will need for regular review and updating. […]
[…] call it P2 (in the style of K2, the update on the classic Kubrick theme), and it’s an extensive revamp of Prologue, the brainchild of last year’s winter […]
[…] call it P2 (in the style of K2, the update on the classic Kubrick theme), and it’s an extensive revamp of Prologue, the brainchild of last year’s winter […]
[…] call it P2 (in the style of K2, the update on the classic Kubrick theme), and it’s an extensive revamp of Prologue, the brainchild of last year’s winter […]
[…] call it P2 (in the style of K2, the update on the classic Kubrick theme), and it’s an extensive revamp of Prologue, the brainchild of last year’s winter […]
[…] Collection of Theme Tips for Kubrick and K2 WordPress Themes […]
[…] default Kubrick theme has been retired in WordPress 3.0 and removed from the installation […]
[…] default Kubrick theme has been retired in WordPress 3.0 and removed from the installation […]
[…] default Kubrick theme has been retired in WordPress 3.0 and removed from the installation […]
[…] default Kubrick theme has been retired in WordPress 3.0 and removed from the installation […]
[…] 3.0’s New Default Theme: “2010? The default Kubrick theme has been retired in WordPress 3.0 and removed from the installation package. WordPress 3.0 will […]
[…] default Kubrick theme has been retired in WordPress 3.0 and removed from the installation […]
[…] default Kubrick theme has been retired in WordPress 3.0 and removed from the installation […]
[…] default Kubrick theme has been retired in WordPress 3.0 and removed from the installation […]
[…] 默认 库布里克的主题 已不再在WordPress 3.0和删除软件包的安装。 […]
[…] default Kubrick theme has been retired in WordPress 3.0 and removed from the installation […]
[…] default Kubrick theme has been retired in WordPress 3.0 and removed from the installation […]
[…] valor predeterminado tema Kubrick ha sido retirado en WordPress 3.0 y se sacan del paquete de […]
[…] default Kubrick theme has been retired in WordPress 3.0 and removed from the installation […]
[…] default Kubrick theme has been retired in WordPress 3.0 and removed from the installation […]
[…] default Kubrick theme has been retired in WordPress 3.0 and removed from the installation […]
[…] Kubrick and K2 WordPress Themes: Collection of Theme Tips: There are a lot of tips around the web for working with Kubrick (aka, Default Theme, K2, etc) WordPress Theme, but I dug up some of the best of the best to help you tweak and customize a Theme based upon the Default WordPress Theme. […]
[…] Kubrick and K2 WordPress Themes: Collection of Theme Tips: There are a lot of tips around the web for working with Kubrick (aka, Default Theme, K2, etc) WordPress Theme, but I dug up some of the best of the best to help you tweak and customize a Theme based upon the Default WordPress Theme. […]
[…] Kubrick and K2 WordPress Themes: Collection of Theme Tips: There are a lot of tips around the web for working with Kubrick (aka, Default Theme, K2, etc) WordPress Theme, but I dug up some of the best of the best to help you tweak and customize a Theme based upon the Default WordPress Theme. […]
[…] Kubrick and K2 WordPress Themes: Collection of Theme Tips […]