Enlarging an image when hovered over in Squarespace can be achieved by using some custom CSS code. While Squarespace allows for a significant degree of customization, it doesn't provide a built-in hover-enlarge option directly within its interface. Below, I will guide you through the process, step-by-step, to add a hover effect that enlarges an image.

Steps to Enlarge an Image on Hover in Squarespace

1. Log in to Your Squarespace Account: Begin by logging in to your Squarespace account and navigating to the website where you want to apply the effect.

2. Go to Custom CSS Section:

3. Click on the Home menu in your Squarespace dashboard.
4. Navigate to Design.

5. Select Custom CSS.

6. Identify the Image Block: You need to target the specific image block or class that you want to enlarge. This can vary based on the version of Squarespace you're using (e.g., 7.0 or 7.1). To find the correct class or ID:

7. Go to the page on your site where the image is located.
8. Right-click on the image and select Inspect (or use a similar option, depending on your browser) to open the Developer Tools.

9. Identify the class or ID of the image element. Typically, it may look something like .sqs-block-image .image-block img.

10. Add Custom CSS: Once you have identified the class or ID of the image, you can add the custom CSS code in the Custom CSS editor. This example will provide you with basic CSS that enlarges the image on hover. You may need to adjust the class selector based on the actual structure and class names in your site.

```css / Select the image within your designated block / .sqs-block-image .image-block img { transition: transform 0.3s ease; / Smooth transition / }

.sqs-block-image .image-block img:hover { transform: scale(1.1); / Enlarge on hover, adjust scale as needed / } ```

In this CSS snippet, transition: transform 0.3s ease; ensures a smooth transition effect when the image enlarges. The transform: scale(1.1); property increases the image size by 10% on hover. You can adjust the scale value (1.1) to make the image larger or smaller depending on your preference.

1. Apply Changes:
2. Click on Save to apply the changes.
3. Test the image on your actual website to ensure the hover effect works as expected.

Considerations and Limitations

• Browser Compatibility: Modern browsers support CSS transitions and transforms, but you should verify that the effect works across all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).

• Mobile Responsiveness: Consider how this hover effect behaves on mobile devices. Generally, hover effects are not utilized on mobile because there is no hover state; instead, the interaction is a tap. You may need to use media queries to disable the hover effect on smaller screens:

```css @media (hover: hover) { .sqs-block-image .image-block img { transition: transform 0.3s ease; }

  .sqs-block-image .image-block img:hover {
transform: scale(1.1);
}

} ```

This media query ensures that the hover effect only applies to devices that support the hover state (typically desktops and laptops).

• Image Quality: Enlarging an image might reveal pixelation or loss of quality if the original image resolution is low. Ensure your images are of high enough resolution to handle the scaling without noticeable quality loss.

By following these steps and considerations, you can effectively add an image enlargement hover effect to your Squarespace site, enhancing the visual interaction for your users.