Photo Features in Google Sites

This tutorial will show you how to use images in three different ways on new google sites effectively.

Picture next to text

Photo templates on google sites

New google sites has several built in layout for picture and text that encourage the balance between picture and text on a page. Chose the format that you like and simply drag and drop to use it. The limitation here is that there is a preset size for the photo, however, you can change the size of the photo as well.

Video or photo next to text

Widgets on google sites

Google sites doesn't have a template for video and text. This is possible though with the following steps. 

1. Click the "Embed" widget and paste in a URL from a video from youtube. 
2. Select the video. This will make the video display on your page.
3. Insert a text box by clicking the text box widget.
4. Manipulate the text box by making it smaller. 
5. Drag the text box to a position next to the video by clicking and holding the little 8 gray dots in a 2x4 array.

The same method can be applied to make your own format for picture/text. But instead of embedding a URL, you would want to import an image from your computer or your drive.

Joining multiple photos together in a block

Joining two images together.
The blue line is seen between the two images. 

The default templates offered by google sites also doesn't include a format where two or more pictures can be joined together next to a block of text. However, you can do this by first importing all the photos that you want to join. Then, drag one of the photos underneath or beside the image you wish to join it with. When a blue line appears where you want to join it, let go of the picture and they will now act as one "block." 

Picture as a link

Picture as a link

This a relatively new feature on new google sites that will make your site look sleek. Import an image from your computer or drive. Click on the image. Click on the link icon and paste in the URL of the link. Go on preview mode and click on the image to test the link and see if it brings you to where you want.

Photo gallery

Photo galleries are an excellent way to display many photos at once. There is a image carousel on new google sites, but that only displays one image at a time. Currently, however, there is no direct way to make a photo gallery on new google sites. But the following directions should give you something close to a traditional photo gallery.

Changing from list view to grid view to create a photo gallery.
Unfortunately, the image names will remain. 

1. Click the widget "From Drive" 
2. Import a folder with all the photos you wish to include in the photo gallery
3. Click on the box with all the files that should show up in your workspace. 
4. Click the settings icon. 
5. Change the view type from "list view" to "grid view."

This should give you something that looks like a photo gallery. You can also dump photos into that folder in your drive and the photos will automatically show up on the webpage. 

Happy website making!