Gallery Slideshow Transitions in Squarespace 7.1 (What’s Possible & How to Improve Them)
How to create a gallery slideshow by Grandmat in Squarespace 7.1 Gallery slideshows are great for displaying images, portfolios and products on your website And best of all the speed can be adjusted oh-yes. Yet, a lot of users notice that slideshow transitions seem somewhat limited or too basic from the point of view of today’s design trends.
This guide will help you understand how slideshow transitions are supposed to be in Squarespace 7.1, what’s doable and not doable out of the box, and how to improve your transition experience with clean, safe custom CSS.
How Slideshow Transitions Work in Squarespace 7.1
In Squarespace 7.1, gallery slideshows are controlled by the platform and include:
Fade transitions (default)
Automatic or manual slide timing
Basic animation easing
You can configure these options from the Gallery Block settings, but transition styles are limited.
Native Slideshow Settings (First Check This)
Before using code:
Edit your page
Click the Gallery block
Open Design
Adjust:
Transition type (Fade)
Slide duration
Autoplay on/off
Arrow or dot navigation
For many sites, this is enough. If not, continue below.
Common Problems With Default Transitions
Users often report:
Transitions feel too abrupt
Slides change too fast or too slow
Animation feels outdated
No control over easing or smoothness
Limited creative flexibility
These are platform limitations, not errors.
Solution: Improve Slideshow Transitions With Custom CSS
While you can’t replace the transition type entirely, you can smooth and enhance the animation using CSS.
Step 1: Open Custom CSS
Go to Website → Pages → Custom Code → Custom CSS and add the following:
Step 2: Add Smooth Fade Transition
.sqs-gallery-design-slideshow {
transition: opacity 0.8s ease-in-out !important;
}
This:
Softens the fade
Makes transitions feel more premium
Works across desktop and mobile
Optional: Slow Down the Transition Further
.sqs-gallery-design-slideshow {
transition: opacity 1.2s ease-in-out !important;
}
Ideal for:
Hero sliders
Portfolio showcases
Minimal or luxury designs
Optional: Subtle Zoom Effect (Advanced Look)
.sqs-gallery-design-slideshow img {
transform: scale(1.03);
transition: transform 1.2s ease;
}
.sqs-gallery-slideshow-item.sqs-active-slide img {
transform: scale(1);
}
This creates a gentle cinematic feel without breaking layout.
Target a Specific Slideshow Only (Recommended)
If you only want to affect one gallery:
Inspect the gallery section
Copy the data-section-id
Use it in your CSS
section[data-section-id="YOUR-SECTION-ID"]
.sqs-gallery-design-slideshow {
transition: opacity 1s ease-in-out !important;
}
This avoids global changes.
What You Cannot Change in Squarespace 7.1
It’s important to be clear:
❌ You cannot add:
Slide, swipe, or 3D transitions
Custom JS-based animation engines
Per-slide animation styles
Timeline-based transitions
These require custom-built sliders or third-party libraries.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Trying to inject heavy JavaScript sliders
Over-animating slides
Applying CSS globally without testing
Ignoring mobile performance
Forcing transitions Squarespace doesn’t support
Best Practices for Gallery Slideshows
Keep transitions subtle
Match animation speed with content tone
Use longer durations for hero sliders
Test on mobile devices
Prefer smooth fades over aggressive motion
Final Thoughts
Squarespace 7.1 provides bare-bones slideshow transitions on purpose. We can’t cover all the animation styles that are possible – and Slides.com doesn't give us complete control – but a number of well-applied CSS tweaks can substantially improve how a slideshow feels, making it feel slicker, more modern, and suitably professional.
The trick is to work with, not against, the system.
FAQ: Gallery Slideshow Transitions in Squarespace 7.1
-
No. Only fade transitions are supported natively.
-
Yes, when limited to opacity and transform properties.
-
No, these are lightweight CSS animations.
-
Yes, by targeting the section ID.
-
No. CSS is sufficient for smoother transitions.
