Auto-link images possible?

The plugin is not set up this way now, but it is possible to add this. And we’ve been strongly considering doing so.

It’s a bit tricky because we need to determine which images to open with the lightbox, and which not to – ie, we probably want exclude things like the site logo or image icons for social media sharing, etc,

An easy way to do this is just to apply auto-lightbox to all images that are in image blocks or gallery blocks. That would probably work for 80% of use cases.

Can you tell me how most of your images are added (classic vs block editor, single images vs galleries, shortcodes or no, etc)?

Thanks for the quick reply!

The images will be added in Elementor actually, as single images with no shortcodes.

Ok, we’d need to add Elementor image detection separate, but that should also be doable. We’ll need to look at the markup Elementor uses and whether Elementor adds its own lightbox. We’ll explore what would be needed in the next day or two. If it’s easy, we’ll try to add it this week. If not easy, we’ll let you know that too.

Thanks a lot for considering making the change – much appreciated.

Hi! Follow up on this, with notes and questions.

First, for context, we’ve been re-working Easy Fancybox Pro. The updated version will include a new lightbox based on Fancybox 5. You can test the look at feel of the new pro lightbox at https://firelightwp.com/pro (just click an image). Not this is not yet launched or publicly available.

As it happens, we has already tweaked the behavior of the new lightbox so it will open image blocks added via WordPress block editor WITHOUT explicitly setting them to links.

We tested and confirmed we can update this in a way so it will work on single images inserted via Elementor.

We are thinking to keep this functionality as part of the Pro Lightbox.

And we think would be a potentially valuable addition if we add full Elementor support (images, galleries, etc). If we did this, we’d add one or more option to enable the pro lightbox automatically for Elementor Images, Elementor Galleries, and possibly other Elementor widgets.

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Question: Do you like this style of the lightbox above, or are you really looking for one of the older, class fancybox styles that the free plugin has?

If you like it, we can probably work with you to prep a beta version with Elementor support. We’d comp you a year free in exchange for testing / feedback on the new lightbox.

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My next question is to confirm how you add images via Elementor? Sounds like they are all added with Elementor Image widgets? Any with Elementor gallery widgets or anything else? Also, do you expect each image to open individually, or do you expect them to open as a gallery of images?

If you can link me to a page, that might even be best so I can see the markup and behavior myself.

From what I can see, Elementor galleries (which it sounds like you are not using) open in a default Elementor lightbox. Part of enabling Easy Fancybox Pro for Elementor would be disabling the Elementor lightbox (assuming that’s possible – we will still need to confirm). If that doesn’t work for you, let me know that too.

Thanks!

I really appreciate the offer for a free year in exchange for testing, thanks! And yes, I like the new style.

Let me clarify more about my site, which I can’t share yet because I’m helping another designer create a blog site for a client.

The client is actually going to be bringing in hundreds of images via API, and I’ve just realized that this likely means all the content will probably come into the block editor by default. I’m not sure; we have to talk to the developer about that.

Maybe they’ll switch pages to Elementor for ease of use later, and in that case, it’d just be Elementor image widgets to start with.

They might want Elementor galleries later on, and in that case what I see with the new Pro example looks fine, where you open a single image and then can click an arrow to the next one. If you need to disable the Elementor gallery lightbox that doesn’t work automatically, that would be fine.

Will there be settings that allow the user to turn on the auto-lightbox for the block editor and Elementor respectively? For Elementor widgets and galleries respectively?

I’ll let you know if needs change on our end because things are still be sorted out because of the API.

Hi!

“this likely means all the content will probably come into the block editor by default” -> To confirm, in this case you would not need Elementor support? That’s fine. We’ve decided to add Elementor support one way or the other.

If they are importing via API, do you know if they plan to set each image block to link to media file by default? Or no link?

As noted, we decided we want to add Elementor support, so we’ve been working on it and just about have a Pro beta that we can send to you with Elementor support if you need it.

• There will be separate toggles to enable the lightbox for Elementor images, basic galleries, and carousel.
• You would still need to disable the Elementor lightbox by going to the Site Settings panel.
• For Carousels, you *do* need to set each one to link to the media file. If you don’t do this, Elementor doesn’t include the original file in the markup – just a thumbnail. The thumbnail would still open, but that’s not what we want.

If you are still interested or need this, please contact us at firelightwp.com/contact and reference this thread so we can send that to you.

Thanks!

No, I won’t be needing Elementor support.

And since they’ve started sending images over via API from Amazon Web Services, I see that actually the images are not stored in the media library, which makes sense.

So if the images technically aren’t even in WordPress, just populated from a remote, external location, is it even possible to use your lightbox plugin?

When I go into the block editor page for a post, I see it still possible to choose Expand on Click for images. Can that setting somehow be used to auto-lightbox all the images?

Thank you for your patience.

Hi!

1. Ok, no elementor support needed. We’ll still be adding it as a general feature. But good to know.

2. “if the images technically aren’t even in WordPress, just populated from a remote, external location, is it even possible to use your lightbox plugin?”

Yep, it should be. Could be easy, or could require some tweaking, depending on the situation.

It would be helpful if you could clarify how they images being added to post content. Regardless of where the images live, they still need to be adding to your WordPress page/post content. I’m curious how that’s being done. Is it still using an image or gallery block, or something else?

3. “When I go into the block editor page for a post, I see it still possible to choose Expand on Click for images. Can that setting somehow be used to auto-lightbox all the images?”
– This is something that opens an image in a default WordPress ligthtbox. It is unrelated to fancybox.
– In most cases you will still need to enable this on a per image basis.
– For fancybox, the new pro lightbox will open images even if that setting is off, so the setting is not needed to enable fancybox for all your images.

You situation is obviously a bit unique. If you want a bit close coordination, I’m happy to take a look at what you’re doing and see if special changes are needed. Might need to see the site and test some FB settings / changes against it. If interested, you can reach out directly at firelightwp.com/contact

The images are just being added via image blocks.

I just realized on your site that it says you’re currently not selling the Pro version. But based on our conversation, you’re offering me a Pro license if we move forward? How much would that be?

I’m still waiting to see if you can get access to the site.

Hi! Updates:

First, we am actually going to update the free plugin / free lightboxes to open images in image blocks even if they are not linked. So you’ll also be able to uses the free plugin for this. Should be pushing this release soon.

Second, yes, we’re offering to send you a copy of the Pro plugin with a free license for one year. After that you’d need to pay. Price will likely be around $69. I see you’ve reached out via email, so we’ll continue the convo about the pro plugin there.

Thanks!