Build a Filmstrip Gallery in the WordPress Block Editor

Build a Filmstrip Gallery in the WordPress Block Editor

Note: This article focuses on the Professional (Pro) version of FolioBlocks. Some of the features described here may not be available in the free version.

The Filmstrip Gallery Block in FolioBlocks helps you create a focused image browsing experience directly inside the WordPress Block Editor. Instead of showing every image at the same size, it keeps one large image in focus while giving visitors a row of thumbnails for quick navigation.

This makes it a strong choice for portfolios, case studies, product showcases, client galleries, and visual stories where each image deserves more attention. With responsive layouts, Lightbox support, fullscreen viewing, autoplay, styling controls, and optional Pro features like downloads, WooCommerce linking, and lazy loading, the Filmstrip Gallery Block gives you an elegant way to guide visitors through a curated image sequence.

The Filmstrip Gallery Block is a FolioBlocks gallery layout that displays a large featured image with thumbnail navigation below. Visitors can move through the gallery by clicking thumbnails or using the navigation controls, creating a more focused browsing experience than a traditional grid.

It is ideal when you want each image to feel important instead of competing with the rest of the gallery. Use it for photography portfolios, featured projects, product details, before-and-after sets, travel stories, editorial galleries, or any collection where the viewing experience should feel guided, polished, and intentional.


1. Insert the Block

In the WordPress Block Editor, click the ➕ Add Block button and search for “Filmstrip Gallery.” You’ll find it under the FolioBlocks section.

Another option to add the block is to type / followed by the block name (Filmstrip Gallery) from inside the block editor.

2. Upload or Select Images

Once you have placed the Filmstrip Gallery block into the Editor a placeholder will invite you to choose images from the Media Library or upload new ones in order to create your gallery.

Filmstrip Gallery initial placeholder

Use the alignment controls in the Filmstrip Gallery block’s toolbar to select Content WidthWide Width, or Full Width.

Filmstrip Gallery Block

Because the gallery images are added as inner blocks re-arranging them is super simple. You can select images at once reorder them later by dragging and dropping directly in the editor or using the List View panel.


The Filmstrip Gallery Block is built using Inner Blocks, meaning each image in the gallery is its own individual Image Block. Both the main gallery block and each Image Block share the same three-panel layout in the WordPress Block Editor:

Content Panel

The Content panel contains controls related to the content of the selected block.

For the parent Gallery Block it list all of the images in the gallery, acting as an additional place to drag and drop to re-arrange images, or add images.

On individual Image Blocks, the Content panel contains image-specific information such as the image title, caption, description, and alt text.

Filmstrip Gallery Content Panel
The Content panel on an Image Block when nested inside a gallery

Settings Panel

The Settings panel contains the functional behavior of the block.

For the parent Gallery Block this is where you’ll find controls such as General Gallery SettingsGallery Click Settings, and Gallery Hover Settings.

When an individual Image Block is selected, the Settings panel contains image-specific options to override the gallery set Gallery Click Settings and Gallery Hover Settings.

Filmstrip Gallery Settings Panel
The Settings panel on an Image Block when nested inside a gallery

Styles Panel

The Styles panel contains all visual styling options.

For the Justified Gallery Block this includes settings for the gallery background, spacing, borders, drop shadows, filter bar styling, and other appearance-related controls.

Throughout the rest of this guide, we’ll reference these three panels as we explore each feature of the Justified Gallery Block.

Filmstrip Gallery Styles Panel
The Styles panel on an Image Block when nested inside a gallery

Main Image Resolution

Set the file size of the main image in the Filmstrip Gallery.

Enable Autoplay

With this enabled the Filmstrip Gallery will autoplay on the front end. Activating this enables additional controls to set the Autoplay speed and Pause the Autoplay when hovered over the gallery.

Thumbnail Postions

Choose between three layout options, thumbnails beneath the main image viewer, thumbnails to left of the main image viewer, or thumbnails to the right of the main image viewer.

Enable Full-Screen Mode

Enables the Filmstrip Gallery to go Full-Screen on the front end.

Randomize Image Order

With this enabled the Filmstrip Gallery will randomize the image order on the front-end every time the page is loaded.

Filmstrip Gallery Settings Panel

Gallery Click Settings

As of version 1.3 of FolioBlocks all features related to what happens when you click on a gallery images are grouped into a panel called Gallery Click Settings. Clicking on the Image Click Behavior drop down reveals the following options: None, Open in Lightbox, Enable Image Downloads, Link Image to Media File, Link Image to Custom URL, Link Image to Page/Post, or WooCommerce Product.

Note: WooCommerce Product only displays is WooCommerce is installed and active

Selecting Open in Lightbox in the Image Click Behavior dropdown will activate the Lightbox on the website’s front-end. The Lightbox supports keyboard navigation and swipe gestures and full-screen mode.

When Open in Lightbox is selected in Image Click Behavior a control for “Lightbox Appearance” allows you to switch between the Lightbox’s Light & Dark modes.

An additional dropdown titled “Lightbox Content” allows you to select what displays inside of the Lightbox alongside the image. You can select from:

  • None
  • Show Image Title
  • Show Image Caption
  • Show EXIF Data
  • Show Image Title & EXIF Data
  • Show Image Caption & EXIF Data
  • Show Image Title & Caption
  • Show Image Title, Caption, & EXIF Data
Gallery Click Settings - Open In Lightbox

Enable Image Downloads

Gallery Click Settings - Enable Image Downloads

Selecting Enable Image Downloads in the Image Click Behavior dropdown will make all of the gallery images link to the source file so they are available for download in the front-end of the website.

The Link Target drop down allows to decide if you want the link to be placed on an icon or on the thumbnail image.

The Display Image Download Icon drop down allows you select if the Download icon is always displayed, displayed on hover, or never displayed.

Note: With Enable Image Downloads selected an additional control is added into the gallery block’s Styles panel. This control allows you to set the color of the Download icon as well as its background color.

Finally the Enable Lightbox control allows you to toggle and activate the Lightbox, when activated will display additional Lightbox controls for Lightbox Appearance and Lightbox Content.

Note: This is only available when the Link Target dropdown set to Link Target Icon.

Link Image to Media File

Selecting Link Image to Media File in the Image Click Behavior dropdown will make all the gallery thumbnails link to their source file. However clicking the link will not trigger a download but open the source file in the browser.

This setting is useful is you want to use a 3rd party Lightbox rather than the Lightbox that is included with FolioBlocks.

Gallery Click Settings - Link to Media File
Gallery Click Settings - Link Image to Custom URL

Selecting Link Image to Custom URL in the Image Click Behavior dropdown will allow you to link the gallery images to custom urls. Linking is done on the individual Image blocks from a search field that is added to their Settings panel.

Note: Images that are not linked will not have an empty hyperlink added.

The Link Target drop down allows to decide if you want the link to be placed on an icon or on the thumbnail image.

The Display Link Target Icon drop down allows you select if the Link icon is always displayed, displayed on hover, or never displayed.

Note: With Link Image to Custom URL selected an additional control is added into the gallery block’s Styles panel. This control allows you to set the color of the Link icon as well as its background color.

Finally the Enable Lightbox control allows you to toggle and activate the Lightbox, when activated will display additional Lightbox controls for Lightbox Appearance and Lightbox Content.

Note: This is only available when the Link Target dropdown set to Link Target Icon.

When the Image Click Behavior setting on the gallery block is set to Link Image to Custom URL, you can then select any individual Image Block within the gallery and link it directly to a custom URL.

To do this, open the Image Block’s Settings panel and expand the Image Click Settings panel. There you’ll find a searchable field that lets you quickly enter a custom URL.

For faster access, a Link button is also available in the Image Block toolbar. Clicking this button opens the same URL selection interface.

Linking to a Custom URL on the gallery's inner Image Blocks

Selecting Link Image to Page/Post in the Image Click Behavior dropdown will allow you to link the gallery images to Pages or Posts on your WordPress site. Linking is done on the individual Image blocks from a search field that is added to their Settings panel.

Note: Images that are not linked will not have an empty hyperlink added.

The Link Target drop down allows to decide if you want the link to be placed on an icon or on the thumbnail image.

The Display Link Target Icon drop down allows you select if the Link icon is always displayed, displayed on hover, or never displayed.

Note: With Link Image to Page/Post selected an additional control is added into the gallery block’s Styles panel. This control allows you to set the color of the Link icon as well as its background color.

Finally the Enable Lightbox control allows you to toggle and activate the Lightbox, when activated will display additional Lightbox controls for Lightbox Appearance and Lightbox Content.

Note: This is only available when the Link Target dropdown set to Link Target Icon.

Gallery Click Settings - Link Image to Page/Post
Linking to Page/Post on the gallery's inner Image Blocks

When the Image Click Behavior setting on the gallery block is set to Link Image to Page/Post, you can then select any individual Image Block within the gallery and link it directly to a page or post on your WordPress site.

To do this, open the Image Block’s Settings panel and expand the Image Click Settings panel. There you’ll find a searchable field that lets you quickly find and select page or post from your WordPress website.

For faster access, a Link button is also available in the Image Block toolbar. Clicking this button opens the same Page/Post selection interface.

WooCommerce Product

Gallery Click Settings - WooCommerce Product

Selecting WooCommerce Product from the Image Click Behavior dropdown will allow you to link the gallery images to WooCommerce products in your WordPress website. Linking is done on the individual Image blocks from a search field that is added to their Settings panel.

Note: Option will only be available when the WooCommerce plugin is installed and active. Images that are not linked will not have an empty hyperlink added.

The Default Product Link Behavior dropdown allows to decide if you want the link to add a product to your shopping cart or if you want the link to go to the selected product’s page.

The Link Target drop down allows to decide if you want the link to be placed on an icon or on the thumbnail image.

The Display Add To Cart Icon drop down allows you select if the Link icon is always displayed, displayed on hover, or never displayed.

Note: With WooCommerce Product selected an additional control is added into the gallery block’s Styles panel. This control allows you to set the color of the Add To Cart icon as well as its background color.

Finally the Enable Lightbox control allows you to toggle and activate the Lightbox, when activated will display additional Lightbox controls for Lightbox Appearance and Lightbox Content.

Note: This is only available when the Link Target dropdown set to Link Target Icon.

When the Image Click Behavior setting on the gallery block is set to WooCommerce Product, you can then select any individual Image Block within the gallery and link it directly to a product in your WooCommerce store.

To do this, open the Image Block’s Settings panel and expand the Image Click Settings panel. There you’ll find a searchable field that lets you quickly find and select any product from your WooCommerce catalog.

For faster access, a Shopping Cart button is also available in the Image Block toolbar. Clicking this button opens the same product selection interface.

Image Click Settings on an inner block when WooCommerce Product is enabled in the Gallery Click Settings.

From the Gallery Hover Settings panel you can set if images will display an overlay when you hover over them.

Hover Style

The Hover Style dropdown allows you to select from:

  • None
  • Fade Overlay
  • Gradient Bottom
  • Chip
  • Color Overlay

Notes: With the Color Overlay or Chip selected you can additionally customize the color of the text and background of the Overlay by going to the Styles panel and the Gallery Hover Styles section.

Overlay Content

The Overlay Content drop down allows you to select what displays inside the overlay when you hover above an image. You can select from:

  • Show Image Title
  • Show Image Caption
  • Show EXIF Data
  • Show Product Info

Notes: Show Product Info option is only available when gallery or image is linked to WooCommerce.

Gallery Hover Settings

Dimensions and Gallery Styles panels in the Filmstrip Gallery Block

Dimensions: Padding & Margin

Dimensions settings allow you to see Padding and Margin around the Filmstrip Gallery block.

In the Gallery Styles panel you can switch between Light & Dark modes for the Filmstrip Gallery.


Per-Image Overrides for Gallery Click & Hover Settings

Starting with FolioBlocks 1.4, individual Image Blocks within the any gallery block can now override the gallery’s default Click Settings and Hover Settings.

Simply select an image inside the gallery and enable either Override Gallery Click Settings or Override Gallery Hover Settings in the Image Block settings panel. Once enabled, the same controls available at the gallery level become available for that specific image, allowing you to customize its behavior independently of the rest of the gallery.

This feature unlocks a new level of creative flexibility. For example, you can create a gallery where most images open in the Lightbox, while selected images link to pages, posts, external URLs, or WooCommerce products. You can also mix and match hover effects, giving individual images their own overlay colors, metadata displays, animations, and interactive behaviors.

The result is a gallery experience that can be tailored on an image-by-image basis, making it easier than ever to highlight important content, guide visitors through your site, or create more engaging visual layouts.

Per-Image Overrides for Gallery Click & Hover Settings

Page/Post Settings

Starting with FolioBlocks 1.4, several controls that were previously located in the block’s Advanced settings have been moved to a dedicated FolioBlocks Page Settings panel in the Page/Post sidebar.

These features operate at the page level rather than the individual block level, so moving them out of the block settings creates a more intuitive editing experience and prevents the same feature from being enabled multiple times when a page contains several FolioBlocks blocks.

The FolioBlocks Page Settings panel is automatically added to the Page or Post sidebar whenever a FolioBlocks block is inserted into the WordPress editor. From this central location, you can configure settings that apply across the entire page, including the following features:

Password Protect Page

Requires a password before visitors can view the page.

Disable Right-Click on Page

Attempts to disable right-click to discourage casual image downloads.

Note: This makes it harder for casual users to save images, but it’s not foolproof — advanced users can still access media via the browser’s developer tools or view source.

Enable Lazy-Load of Images

When active, images load as the user scrolls, improving initial page load speed.

FolioBlocks Page Settings

Below is an example of a Filmstrip Gallery created with FolioBlocks:


Common Questions

Use Filmstrip when you want one image to stay in focus while visitors browse with thumbnails.

Can I reorder images after adding them?

Yes, images can be reordered in the editor or List View.

Yes, images can open in the FolioBlocks Lightbox.

Yes, it is responsive across desktop, tablet, and mobile.

Can I use it with WooCommerce?

Yes, Pro users can connect images to WooCommerce products when WooCommerce is active.


Get Started

Ready to build your first justified gallery? Download FolioBlocks for free or upgrade to Pro for advanced features like filtering, downloads, and WooCommerce integration.

Get FolioBlocks and start creating stunning, responsive galleries in the WordPress Block Editor today.