A lightbox is a design effect that opens an image in a centered overlay and dims the rest of the page when an image is clicked. Clicking the x in the top corner closes it and returns to the page. Lightboxes are a great way to highlight images by allowing visitors to enlarge them.
You can set images to open in lightboxes in Image Blocks and Grid Gallery Blocks. Some templates' Gallery Pages use lightboxes by default.
Before you begin
Some features aren't compatible or work differently when images are set to open in a lightbox.
For example, for Image Blocks and Gallery Blocks:
- Captions - Captions always display when you hover over lightbox images, regardless of which caption display option you choose. On mobile, they display when you tap the dot icon.
- Clickthrough URLs - Lightboxes disable clickthrough URLs.
- Mobile zoom - Pinch-to-zoom isn't supported for lightbox images on mobile devices.
Gallery Page options vary depending on your template.
Can I change the lightbox background color?
In an Image Block or Grid Gallery Block, you can choose from two different overlays for each lightbox:
- Choose Dark Overlay for a black background color.
- Choose Light Overlay for a white background color.
In Gallery Pages set to Grid, you can set lightboxes to Light (white) or Dark (black) in the Gallery Styles section of Site Styles.
Lightbox with Image Blocks
The Image Block supports multiple layouts. Only the Inline layout supports a lightbox:
- Add an Image Block, or double-click an existing Image Block to open the image editor.
- Click the Design tab.
- Ensure your layout is set to Inline.
- Check Enable Lightbox.
- Choose your lightbox style with the Lightbox Theme drop-down.
Lightbox with Grid Gallery Blocks
After adding your images to a Grid Gallery Block, click the Design tab and check Lightbox. Set your lightbox slideshow style by choosing Dark Overlay or Light Overlay from the drop-down.
Note: Lightboxes aren't available in Slideshow, Carousel, or Stack Gallery Blocks.
Lightbox with Summary Block
When a Wall or Grid Summary Block is connected to a Gallery Page, the images automatically open in a lightbox slideshow. The Summary Block lightbox color is always Dark. Captions display on hover.
The lightbox slideshow affects clickthrough URLs:
- While viewing the page, images with clickthrough URLs open the clickthrough link when clicked, rather than opening the lightbox slideshow.
- When the lightbox slideshow is open, clickthrough URLs are disabled.
Note: Check Use Thumbnail on videos added to a Gallery Page to ensure they open in a Summary Block lightbox. If Use Thumbnail is unchecked, videos will play in the Grid Summary Block without opening in a lightbox slideshow.
Lightbox with Gallery Pages
For Squarespace version 7.0, here's how lightbox options work in these template families.
- Video descriptions don't display in the lightbox.
- For standard Gallery Pages, you can set the lightbox color to Light or Dark in Site Styles.
| Template family | Lightbox options |
| Adirondack |
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| Avenue |
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Aviator |
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Bedford |
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Brine |
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|
Farro |
|
| Five |
|
| Flatiron |
|
| Forte |
|
| Galapagos |
|
| Ishimoto |
|
| Momentum |
|
|
Montauk |
|
| Native |
|
|
Pacific |
|
|
Skye |
|
| Supply |
|
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Tremont |
|
| Wells |
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| Wexley |
|
|
York |
|
Lightbox with gallery sections
For gallery sections in grid layouts in Squarespace version 7.1, you can add a lightbox option in section styles.
For version 7.1, keep in mind:
- Style the lightbox color in the Section Themes editor.
- Lightboxes aren't supported in slideshow layouts.
- Lightboxes don't have caption text.