A filterable gallery widget is a powerful tool in modern web design, designed to showcase images, products, or portfolios in a visually stunning, organized layout. Unlike simple grids, it features clickable category filters that let users sort content, such as “Photography,” “Products,” or “Projects”, instantly without page reloads. Ideal for photographers, ecommerce stores, artists, and agencies, it enhances user experience with seamless navigation and dynamic functionality like lightbox viewing. Add-ons for Elementor’s Filterable Gallery Widget offer customizable layouts, hover effects, and filter controls, making it easy to create engaging, user-friendly galleries that elevate any content-rich website.
What Is a Filterable Gallery Widget?
A filterable gallery widget is a dynamic website feature that displays multiple images or media items in an interactive, organized layout. It includes clickable filter tabs or buttons, enabling users to sort content into categories (e.g., “Photography,” “Events,” or “Web Design”) in real time without page reloads. This enhances user experience by providing quick, seamless access to specific content types.
Ideal for content-rich websites like photography portfolios, ecommerce platforms, or creative agencies, filterable galleries showcase visuals in a navigable, visually appealing format. For instance, photographers can categorize images by genre, while ecommerce sites can filter products by “Men’s” or “Women’s” categories.
Unlike static image grids, filterable galleries offer advanced functionality, such as:
- Category filtering: Users can instantly view relevant content.
- Lightbox viewing: Clickable images open in a pop-up for enlarged viewing.
- Dynamic sorting: Content updates without refreshing the page.
These features boost engagement, improve navigation, and prioritize aesthetics and usability, making filterable gallery widgets essential for modern, user-focused websites.
Getting Started with Enter Addons
To use the versatile Filterable Gallery Widget, first install and activate the Enter Addons plugin for Elementor, a lightweight tool that extends Elementor with customizable widgets. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Enter Addons,” click Install Now, then Activate. Ensure Elementor Page Builder is installed and updated, as Enter Addons enhances its functionality.
For best results, use a compatible, lightweight theme from ThemeLooks. Once activated, open a page in the Elementor editor, locate the Filterable Gallery widget under Enter Addons in the widget panel, and drag it into your layout to create a dynamic, interactive gallery.
Using Filterable Gallery Widget:
You can see the below video to get an insight into how you can use the Filterable Gallery Widget, Or you can follow the documentation whichever you find convenient.
Video Here
How to Add and Configure the Filterable Gallery Widget – A Complete Guide
Step 1:
1. Drag & Drop the Gallery Widget
Firstly, select the Filterable Gallery Widget from the menu bar on the left-hand side of your screen and drag and drop it in the selected area.
2. Access the Content Tab
Secondly, from ‘Content’ Tab you will get Gallery Item and Gallery Settings Section.
3. Add or Remove Gallery Items
After that, from ‘Gallery Item’ section you can add gallery item with clicking ‘ADD ITEM’ button and remove any item with clicking ‘X’ button, and that is given below.
4. Edit Title, Description & Links
After that, from ‘Gallery Item ’ section, you can edit title, description, categories name ,image and link respectively.
5. Set Columns & Layout Options
Then from ‘Gallery Settings’ section you can set columns, text for all item, hover style, image position , content position, image size, icon show, lightbox icon and link icon respectively . Also you can enable gallery tab ,title and description.
6. Enable or Disable Gallery Tabs
If you disable the gallery tab you can use a simple gallery.
7. Choose Content Position: Below or Overlay
You can Change the Content Position between bellow image and over image . Over image:
8. Select Icon Display Preferences
Also You choose Icon Option among both or single one or none.
Step 2
1. Open the Style Tab for Design Tweaks
From ‘Style’ Tab you can stylize the widget. You will get the options Gallery Item Style, Tab Style, Icon Style and Content Style.
2. Adjust Gallery Item Styling
After that from ‘Gallery Item Style’ section, you can change margin, padding, overlay color and box-shadow respectively.
3. Customize Tab Wrapper Design
Then from ‘Tab Style >> Tab Wrapper’ section you can change alignment, margin, padding, border-type, box-shadow, border-radius and background-type respectively.
4. Style Individual Tab Items
Then from ‘Tab Style >> Tab Item’ section you can change typography, text stroke, margin, padding, border-type, box-shadow, border-radius and background-type respectively. Also, you can find HOVER and Active view effect from this section.
5. Modify Icon Size & Hover Effects
Then from ‘Icon Style’ section you can change icon wrapper size ,icon size, color and background respectively. Also, you can find HOVER view effect from this section.
6. Set Content Wrapper Layout
Then from ‘Content Style >> Content Wrapper’ section you change content alignment, margin, padding, border-type, box-shadow, border-radius and background-type respectively.
7. Style Title and Description Text
Then from ‘Content Style >> Title and Description’ section you change color, Typography and margin.
8. Preview & Publish Your Gallery
Finally, after finishing all the editing, click update and then click on ‘Preview > Preview in new tab’ to see your work live.
Creative Use Cases and Design Tips
The Filterable Gallery Widget opens up endless possibilities for showcasing content in an interactive and visually appealing way. Below are some creative use cases and design tips to maximize the potential of this versatile tool:
1. Product Galleries with Filters
For ecommerce websites, filterable galleries are a game-changer. You can use categories or tags to create easy-to-navigate product galleries. For example, you can filter products by color, size, or brand, allowing visitors to quickly find what they are looking for. This setup enhances the user experience and helps customers make faster purchasing decisions.
2. Event Portfolios
A filterable gallery is perfect for displaying a collection of events, conferences, or art portfolios. You can create categories such as “Upcoming Events”, “Past Events”, or “Featured Speakers” to organize content. This makes it easier for visitors to explore the gallery and stay engaged with your site’s offerings.
3. Food Menus for Restaurants
Restaurants can utilize the filterable gallery to showcase their menu items. Categories like “Appetizers”, “Entrees”, and “Desserts” allow customers to quickly find dishes based on their preferences, while high-quality images entice potential customers to try new items.
4. Dynamic Filters for Promotions
To keep content fresh, use dynamic filters such as “New Arrivals”, “Top Rated”, or “Seasonal Specials” to highlight current promotions or trending items. This not only draws attention to the most relevant content but also encourages user interaction with your gallery.
5. Animation and Hover Effects
Add animations and hover effects to create a more engaging, interactive experience. Effects like image zoom, fade transitions, or sliding captions can make your gallery visually dynamic and keep users intrigued as they explore.
6. Mobile Responsiveness and Accessibility
Ensure your filterable gallery is mobile-friendly by testing its layout across various screen sizes. Implement responsive design practices like stacking columns or adjusting image sizes for smaller devices. Additionally, make the gallery accessible by ensuring that keyboard navigation, color contrast, and alt text for images are optimized for all users.
By incorporating these creative strategies, you can elevate the user experience and make your filterable gallery an integral part of your website’s design.
Common Troubleshooting Tips
While the Gallery Widget from Enter Addons is designed to be user-friendly, occasional hiccups can occur. Here are quick fixes for common issues:
1. Filters Not Working
Make sure each gallery item is assigned to a category, and filters are enabled. Hidden or disabled tabs will prevent filtering. Also, clear your browser cache to avoid outdated views.
2. Lightbox Won’t Open
Verify that the lightbox option is enabled in settings. Conflicts with other lightbox plugins can also block functionality—try disabling any third-party plugins to test.
3. Styling Issues
Check for custom CSS or theme styles that might override your widget’s settings. Updating Elementor and Enter Addons can also resolve compatibility-related style issues.
4. Layout Problems in Preview
Always use Elementor’s Preview and Responsive Mode to ensure the gallery appears correctly on all devices and screen sizes before publishing.
FAQs About the Gallery Widget
1. How do I add a Filterable Gallery in Elementor?
To add a Filterable Gallery, open the Elementor editor, drag the Filterable Gallery widget from the panel, and drop it into your desired section. You can then add images and assign them to categories for filtering.
2. How can I assign categories to gallery images?
Within the widget’s settings, each gallery item allows you to specify a category name. Assigning categories enables the filter buttons to sort images accordingly.
3. Can I customize the number of columns in the gallery layout?
Yes, the widget provides an option to set the number of columns, allowing you to control how many images appear per row.
4. Is it possible to enable a lightbox for gallery images?
Absolutely. You can enable the lightbox feature in the widget settings, allowing users to view larger versions of images in a pop-up overlay.
5. How do I style the filter buttons and gallery items?
Under the ‘Style’ tab, you can customize the appearance of filter buttons and gallery items, including typography, colors, spacing, and hover effects.
6. Can I use the Filterable Gallery for videos as well?
While primarily designed for images, some widgets may support video content. Check the specific widget documentation to see if video integration is available.
7. How can I make the gallery responsive on different devices?
The widget is responsive by default, but you can further adjust settings under the ‘Style’ tab to optimize the gallery’s appearance on tablets and mobile devices.
8. Is it possible to add custom links to gallery images?
Yes, you can assign custom URLs to each gallery item, directing users to specific pages or external websites when they click on an image.
9. How do I enable or disable the ‘All’ filter tab?
In the widget settings, there’s an option to show or hide the ‘All’ filter tab, which displays all gallery items regardless of category.
10. Can I use dynamic content sources for the gallery?
Some advanced widgets support dynamic content, allowing you to pull images from custom post types or external sources. Refer to your widget’s documentation for dynamic content capabilities.
Conclusion
The Enter Addons Filterable Gallery Widget is a dynamic, user-friendly tool that transforms web design by delivering interactive, filterable galleries. Its category filters enable seamless content browsing, boosting engagement and helping users quickly find relevant images, products, or portfolios. With customizable layouts, hover effects, and styling options, this versatile widget suits any website, from ecommerce to creative portfolios. Its intuitive interface simplifies gallery creation, ensuring a polished look with minimal effort. Experiment with filters, styles, and layouts to craft visually stunning galleries that elevate your site’s functionality and aesthetic appeal.