How to Enable Lightbox Images on Your Squarespace Gallery: A Complete Guide
A lightbox effect displays images in a centered overlay with a dimmed background when clicked. When users click the 'x' in the upper corner, they return to the main page. This feature helps highlight and enlarge images for detailed viewing.
Key Points:
- Lightbox zoom is not available on mobile devices
- Most templates support either dark or light overlay options
- Captions typically display on hover in lightbox view
Gallery Sections (Version 7.1):
- Click Edit on the page
- Hover over gallery section
- Click pencil icon
- Set Gallery Type to Grid: Simple, Grid: Strip, or Grid: Mosaic
- Enable Lightbox option
- Save changes
Styling Lightbox:
- Access Site Styles > Colors
- Select matching theme
- Adjust Lightbox Background color
- Modify lightbox icon colors as needed
Important Notes:
- Captions don't display in gallery section lightbox
- Clickthrough URLs override lightbox functionality
- Slideshow layouts don't support lightbox features
Image Blocks Support:
- Works with Inline layout
- Compatible with Dynamic Editor sections
- Captions show on hover (mobile: tap dot icon)
- URLs can be added through text links or buttons
Gallery Block Features:
- Available in grid gallery blocks
- Choose between Dark or Light overlay
- Captions display on hover
- Videos require "Use Thumbnail" setting
- Not supported in slideshow, carousel, or stacked layouts
Summary Blocks:
- Automatic lightbox for wall/grid layouts
- Dark overlay only
- Captions visible on hover
- Clickthrough URLs take priority over lightbox
Template-Specific Support:
- Most templates support grid layout with hover captions
- Clickthrough URLs typically disable lightbox
- Some templates have unique lightbox triggers
- Mobile support varies by template
- Video support depends on template family
This comprehensive feature enhances image viewing experience while maintaining site navigation functionality. Implementation varies by template and block type, offering flexibility in presentation while maintaining consistent user experience.
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