Is it possible to achieve the YouTube thumbnail effect in Webflow by showing a GIF when hovering over an image?

Published on

September 22, 2023

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Yes, it is possible to achieve the YouTube thumbnail effect in Webflow by showing a GIF when hovering over an image. Here's how you can do it:

Prepare your GIF: First, you'll need to prepare the GIF that you want to show when hovering over the image. Make sure the GIF is optimized for web use and ready to be uploaded to your Webflow project.
Upload your GIF: In the Webflow Designer, open the project and navigate to the Assets panel. Click on the Upload button and select the GIF file from your computer to upload it to your Webflow project. Note the URL of the uploaded GIF.
Add an image element: Drag and drop an Image element onto your Webflow canvas. Set the image source by either uploading an image or linking to an external URL.
Create a Div block: Drag and drop a Div block onto the canvas, and position it on top of the image element. This div block will be used to display the GIF on hover.
Set the style of the Div block: With the newly created Div block selected, go to the Style panel and set the width and height to match the image element. You can use percentage or pixel values to achieve this. Make sure the Div block covers the entire image element.
Add a background image: Still in the Style panel, scroll down to the Background section. Click on the image icon and enter the URL of the uploaded GIF in the Image field. Adjust the background properties as desired, such as position and sizing.
Set the initial state of the Div block: In the Interactions panel, create a new hover interaction for the image element. Set the initial state of the Div block to be hidden or have an opacity of 0%.
Create the hover state: Within the same hover interaction, create a hover state for the image element. Set the opacity of the Div block to 100% or make it visible. You can also add any additional transition effects or animations to enhance the hover effect.
Preview and optimize: Preview the website in the Webflow Designer or publish it to a staging site to see the YouTube thumbnail effect in action. Make any necessary adjustments to the GIF size, positioning, or animation speed to achieve the desired effect.

By following these steps, you can achieve the YouTube thumbnail effect in Webflow by showing a GIF when hovering over an image.

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