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.
• 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 the Style Editor.

Lightbox with Image Blocks

The Image Block supports multiple layouts. Only the Inline layout supports a lightbox:

1. Add an image, or double-click an existing image to open the image editor.
2. Click the Design tab.
3. Ensure your layout is set to Inline.
4. Check Enable Lightbox.
5. 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 Stacked Gallery Blocks.

Lightbox with Summary Block

When a 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

Here are the lightbox options for template-specific Gallery Pages. Templates are grouped by family.

Tip: In any Gallery Page set to Grid, the lightbox color can be set to Light or Dark in the Style Editor.