While I’m still experimenting using the new Gutenberg editor on WordPress, I’ve come across the ‘slideshow’ block which many people asked me about in one of my previous posts.
Today, I’m giving it a go and wanted to share with you how to create a slideshow on a blog post. Please note that this is for WordPress.Com users. It may be different for self-hosted bloggers.
- On the ‘draft post’ screen, click on the ‘add block’ symbol in the top left of your screen.
- A new menu will open.
- Look for the ‘Jetpack’ box and click in it to open it.
- When the box opens, look for the ‘slideshow’ block.
- Click on the ‘slideshow’ block.
- A new block will open.
- Either drag and drop the photos and images you want to add to your slideshow to the block, upload new ones, or select them from your WordPress media library.
For the purpose of this post, I’m dragging and dropping the photos I want to add to the slideshow from my own photo library.
Click on the side arrows to view the photos in the slideshow.
- If you want to add captions, add the photos to your WordPress media library, click the edit button, and in the caption area of each photo add your caption.
- You can also change the size of each photo by clicking the edit button just under the photo.
As you will see, my photos now all have a caption.
If you watermark your photos and images for copyright purposes, like I do, ensure your captions do not overlap the watermark on any images and photos that are in portrait mode. You may have to place your watermark elsewhere on your photos and images. The watermarks I use are small, so they don’t interfere with my short captions.
Any questions?
Leave them in the comments section and I will get back to you.
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Thanks, Hugh. Looks interesting. I’ll check it out. 🙂
You’re welcome, Norah. I don’t use ‘slideshows’ on my blog, but I know a lot of bloggers do.
This looks great Hugh. Will have to try. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
You’re welcome, Marje.
Always so helpful and thorough. Thank you
You’re very welcome.
Meant to say the pictures are so nice- I rally like the Mute Swans.
Thank you. These were some photos I took on a recent short break to The Cotswolds; a beautiful part of the UK.
Great, I will tuck this away Hugh and Shelley will like it too. I am so glad you convinced me to try Gutenberg. I have done two more posts since the initial one and today’s post included justification – I remember you mentioned that in your post. I also tried gallery and liked that and centered my photos. So three things – baby steps for now but I’m feeling a bit more comfortable with it now.
That’s fantastic to hear, Linda. Well done for giving it a go. I’m sure you’ll find your confidence with using Gutenberg to get even better the more you use it. For me, now, it’s like being a kid in a sweet store.
I have much more to learn Hugh, but I am seeing why you are enjoying it so much – I am vowing to learn at least one new thing with each successive post.
Now that is a nice feature. I wonder whether all WordPress themes incorporate the slideshow with Gutenberg. I also like how your captions are in a separate bar underneath. That way, they probably wouldn’t interfere with watermarks. Thanks for this tutorial, Hugh. My plan is to finally update WordPress next week – haven’t done that in months,worried about the site collapsing while on the road – and then introduce Gutenberg. Wish me luck. 🙂
All themes where Gutenberg can be used will have these features, Liesbet. The captions are great, although I didn’t find out if they could be centred. It’s when an image or photo is in portrait mode that the caption may overlap any watermarks.
Good luck with the updates. You’re certainly doing the right thing by giving yourself plenty of time when doing them.
What an awesome presentation Hugh! Now, since I’m a dinosaur and won’t use Gutenberg, did we ever have the ability to add slideshow on old editor? Asking for a friend! LOLLLLLLLLLLLL ❤
Yes, tell your friend that the classic editor certainly has those features, Debby. 😀 I don’t use them on my blog, but I’ve seen many posts from bloggers who do.
xx
Lol, you know it’s me! LOL. Now I’ll have to try and figure out the ‘old’ way. 🙂 xx
This is so helpful, Hugh! Thanks for the detailed tutorial. I would never have known to look under jetpack. Your images look really great on my Samsung tablet.
I can’t resist having a look around all areas of Gutenberg, Terri. I’m finding new stuff almost every day. I think WordPress is adding new blocks every month.
Great to hear about the images showing up great on your Samsung tablet. It’s claimed that Gutenberg is mobile friendly (providing updates have been downloaded).
Thanks for this post, Hugh. Most helpful.
You’re welcome, Robbie.
I am not using the new editor yet…and won’t for a while… but I know where to come when I do 🙂
Support for the classic editor is remaining until the end of 2020, Sue, but don’t get left behind when it’s withdrawn. Guthenberg does need time, but I’ve found it’s actually paying me back in time for using it.
I’ll get round to it when I have time to breathe…which is not just before the big April workshop 😉
I do object, though, to being forced to use something I don’t need… especially when, for all I have seen of it, it is designed with commercial blogs in mind.
I have a fear that introducing a more complicated-looking system ( even if it isn’t harder in use) will force a lot of less flexible and tech-savvy bloggers out, when many older and isolated people depend on being able to write and be part of a community.
(Sorry, I’ll get off the soap box now…)
I was exactly the same when Gutenberg was launched, Sue. I couldn’t see the point of it when we already had an editor that was working mostly well. I’ve always disliked change of any kind. Then I made some time to read some guides and watched some tutorials on how it worked. I set up a ‘Test” post in my draft folder and spent about half an hour a day playing on it. The more I used the new editor, the more confidence I built up using it. Some of the problems I was having using the classic editor (such as my pingbacks not always working) went away once I started to publish posts using Guthenberg. There are still some bugs in it, but I’m now a Gutenberg convert after seeing many of the new features it has. I know it won’t be for everyone, but I’d never have believed that I’d actually be able to say that I do like it.
Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions about using it. I’m still poking around and discovering new stuff (which I’ll be writing about here on the blog).
I’ll get round to it eventually. meanwhile, no doubt, they’ll be playing some more…
Reblogged this on Author Steve Boseley – Half a Loaf of Fiction and commented:
A useful tool that I knew nothing about. I do like my toys, so Hugh has given me an idea of something to play with. Plus, I’m a big fan of images in ‘how to’ guides, and this one has a bunch. With red boxes and everything. Thank Hugh!
You’re welcome, Steve. Thanks so much for reblogging the post.
Another useful post Hugh. I am wondering whether you know how to create a gallery that is not a slideshow.
Thanks, Colline. Under ‘Common Blocks’ there is a ‘Gallery’ block. Also, under ‘Jetpack’ you’ll find the ‘Tiled Gallery’ block. I haven’t tried using them yet (as I tend to only use single photos or images in my posts), but I’m guessing you’d use the same method as the ‘slideshow’ block to set them up.
Thank you Hugh. I will try that as I’ve been switching to the classic editor when I want to insert a gallery. I really appreciate all the advice that you are giving.
WordPress is in the process of updating the gallery features on Gutenberg after feedback from many of its users, Colline. It’s great too that there is a ‘classic’ block which users can switch to if they want to combine some on the classic features on Gutenberg.
Hi, Hugh – Thank you for this tutorial. Clear, logical and very helpful!
You’re welcome, Donna. Always happy to help.
That is cool. The Instagram way. That way the post is not getting too long.
I think screenshots help so much. I was going to a video, but I kept getting interrupted.
Oh, yes! I actually thought how supportive it is that you are using screenshots. They explain it by temselves. It supports the orientation!
Wow! They did a great job of hiding the slide-show block. I never would have thought to open the jetpack! The word itself seemed like a warning “Don’t touch.”
I know. I guess they have to group them somehow. Apparently, ‘Jetpack’ is the name for one of the plugins for WordPress. It’s all very science fiction to me. Blocks you use the most can be found under ‘Most Used’, so it’ll end up in there if you use it a lot.
Handy tutorial! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome.
If I ever decide to do this, I’m glad to have you for a reference, Hugh. I’d never figure it out on my own. Thanks!
I don’t use slideshows on my blog posts, but I know a lot of bloggers who do, Teri. I am always happy to help.
Thank you, Hugh. Do all WordPress.com accounts have Gutenberg? If so how do I find it? (maybe the dumbest question on the planet)
Hi John, yes all WordPress.Com users can switch between the classic editor and the Gutenberg editor. On a draft post (while in the classic editor) in the menu on the righthand side of the page, click on ‘Learn More’ under ‘Try the new block editor…’ (I’m attaching a screenshot).
Then click on ‘Try The Block Editor.’ You’ll then be switched over to Gutenberg. To go back to the classic editor, click on the three small dots in the top righthand corner of the screen, scroll down to ‘Switch to Classic editor’ and click on it.
Hope that helps?
Thank you so much, Hugh.
You’re welcome, John. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions. I’m always happy to help.
I know you are and I’m grateful. 😊
Time i tried this
Yes, do. Don’t become one of those left behind when WordPress stops support for the current classic editor we’ve all been used to.
I’ma guttenberg convert, dear boy though I’ve not rummaged as widely as you
Good to hear. I’ll be publishing lots of posts about some of the stuff I’ve found while poking around Gutenberg.
Thanks, Hugh. I still haven’t pulled the trigger on Gutenberg but am slowly talking myself into it.
It took me a few attempts, Sean. Once I read the instructions and the guide I attached to my previous post about Gutenberg, I soon got stuck in. I set up a ‘Test’ post in my draft folder. It’s still there, and I’m still using it to explore Gutenberg.
Good to know! Now is there a way to add a video as a WordPress.com user?
I usually upload a video to YouTube and use the ‘YouTube’ block to add videos. It can be found under ‘Embeds’. However, there is also a video block which can be found under ‘Common Blocks’.
Good to know. I’ll have to try that! Thanks.
Thanks I did not know about this
You’re welcome, Alice.
Well! I learned something new today!
Thank you Hugh!
You’re welcome, Ritu. I don’t use slideshows, but I know lots of bloggers that do.
I may just try one out!