Google Sites Image Carousels and Properties

Learning Objectives

• Add and customise image carousels in Google Sites
• Modify image properties including size, cropping, and links
• Create professional image displays that engage your visitors

Introduction

Images grab attention and keep visitors engaged. Google Sites makes it easy to showcase multiple images using carousels – an interactive slider that lets people browse through your photos without cluttering your page.

This chapter shows you how to add image carousels and adjust image properties to create polished, professional-looking pages. You'll learn the practical steps plus the tweaks that make the difference between amateur and professional results.

Lessons

Adding Your First Image Carousel

Here's how to get your carousel up and running:

1. Open your Google Sites page and position your cursor where you want the carousel
2. Click "Insert" from the top menu
3. Select "Carousel" from the options
4. Upload your images by dragging them into the carousel area or clicking the upload button

Your images should be roughly the same size and shape for the best results. Mixed aspect ratios create an uneven, unprofessional look.

Customising Carousel Settings

Once your images are loaded, you can fine-tune how they behave:

1. Click on any image in the carousel to select it
2. Look for the settings icon (gear symbol) and click it
3. Adjust the autoplay speed – around 4-5 seconds works well for most content
4. Set whether images should loop continuously or stop at the end
5. Choose your transition style between images

The autoplay feature keeps things moving, but don't make it too fast. People need time to actually see each image.

Adjusting Individual Image Properties

Each image in your carousel can be tweaked individually:

1. Select the image you want to modify
2. Use the crop tool to focus on the important parts of the image
3. Drag the corner handles to resize while keeping proportions
4. Add links by selecting the image and choosing the link option
5. Test your links to make sure they work properly

When cropping, think about what story each image tells. Crop out distractions and focus on the main subject.

Getting the Best Results

This is the bit most people miss – consistency matters more than individual image quality. Five average images that match in size and style will look better than a mix of brilliant and mediocre shots.

Check your carousel on different screen sizes too. What looks perfect on your desktop might be cramped on a phone.

Practice

Create an image carousel with 4-5 images around a single theme. Try these tasks:

• Crop at least one image to improve its focus
• Add a link to one image that opens a relevant webpage
• Adjust the autoplay timing to 4 seconds
• Preview your page to see how the carousel looks to visitors

Make notes on what works and what doesn't. This helps you spot patterns in your design choices.

FAQs

How many images should I put in a carousel?
Between 3-7 images works best. Too few and it's not worth having a carousel. Too many and people lose interest.

Can I add videos to image carousels?
No, Google Sites carousels only support images. You'll need to embed videos separately or use a different content type.

Why do my images look blurry after resizing?
Start with high-resolution images. When you resize in Google Sites, use the corner handles to maintain the aspect ratio and preserve quality.

Can I control the order of images in the carousel?
Yes, you can drag images to reorder them within the carousel editor.

Jargon Buster

Image Carousel – A rotating display that cycles through multiple images in the same space

Crop – Cutting away parts of an image to focus on specific areas or fit particular dimensions

Aspect Ratio – The proportional relationship between an image's width and height

Autoplay – Setting that automatically advances carousel images without user interaction

Wrap-up

You now know how to add image carousels and adjust image properties in Google Sites. These tools help you create engaging, professional-looking pages that showcase your content effectively.

The key is consistency – matching image sizes, similar quality, and thoughtful cropping make a bigger difference than perfect individual shots. Keep practising with different image combinations to develop your eye for what works.

Next, you'll learn about embedding other content types to make your pages even more interactive and engaging.

Ready to take your Google Sites skills further? Join our membership for step-by-step tutorials and expert feedback: https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership