22 CSS Image Galleries04 / 22

Pure CSSMIT licensed

CSS :has() Hover Spotlight Gallery

Hover any card and every other card in the grid instantly dims and desaturates, spotlighting the one you're on — the modern focus effect built with the :has() relational selector (and :focus-within for keyboards). Zero JS.

Published

Live Demo
Try it

The code

<section class="gl-13" aria-label="Spotlight hover gallery">
  <div class="gl-13__grid">
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/tokyo?lock=1301" alt="Tokyo street" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>Tokyo</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/paris?lock=1302" alt="Paris rooftops" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>Paris</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/newyork?lock=1303" alt="New York skyline" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>New York</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/london?lock=1304" alt="London bridge" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>London</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/sydney?lock=1305" alt="Sydney harbour" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>Sydney</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/rome?lock=1306" alt="Rome architecture" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>Rome</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/dubai?lock=1307" alt="Dubai towers" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>Dubai</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/cairo?lock=1308" alt="Cairo skyline" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>Cairo</span></a>
  </div>
</section>
.gl-13,
.gl-13 *,
.gl-13 *::before,
.gl-13 *::after {
  box-sizing: border-box;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

.gl-13 ::selection {
  background: oklch(0.7 0.17 60);
  color: #111;
}

.gl-13 {
  --accent: oklch(0.72 0.17 60);
  font-family: 'Segoe UI',system-ui,sans-serif;
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 100vh;
  padding: 40px 20px;
  background: #0f1013;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

.gl-13__grid {
  width: min(760px,100%);
  display: grid;
  gap: 12px;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(4,1fr);
}

.gl-13__card {
  position: relative;
  display: block;
  text-decoration: none;
  border-radius: 12px;
  overflow: hidden;
  background: #1a1c20;
  transition: transform .4s,opacity .4s,filter .4s;
}

.gl-13__card img {
  display: block;
  width: 100%;
  aspect-ratio: 1/1;
  object-fit: cover;
}

.gl-13__card span {
  position: absolute;
  left: 0;
  right: 0;
  bottom: 0;
  padding: 20px 10px 8px;
  color: #fff;
  font-size: 12px;
  font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .03em;
  background: linear-gradient(0deg,rgba(0,0,0,.75),transparent);
}

.gl-13__grid:has(.gl-13__card:hover) .gl-13__card:not(:hover),
.gl-13__grid:has(.gl-13__card:focus-visible) .gl-13__card:not(:focus-visible) {
  opacity: .4;
  filter: saturate(.35) brightness(.7);
}

.gl-13__card:hover,
.gl-13__card:focus-visible {
  transform: scale(1.06);
  z-index: 2;
  box-shadow: 0 20px 40px -18px rgba(0,0,0,.7);
}

.gl-13__card:focus-visible {
  outline: 3px solid var(--accent);
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

@media (max-width: 560px) {
  .gl-13__grid {
    grid-template-columns: repeat(2,1fr);
  }
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .gl-13__card {
    transition: none;
  }
}
/* No JavaScript — .grid:has(.card:hover) .card:not(:hover) dims every non-active card. */
Paste this into ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, or any coding assistant. The block below is pre-framed with everything the AI needs to integrate this demo into your project — markup, styles, scoping notes, and the source URL. Hit Copy and paste straight into your chat.
Here's a working CSS Image Gallerie from CodeFronts. Use it as-is or adapt to your framework. All classes are scoped under a unique prefix so the code won't collide with your existing styles. MIT licensed.
Demo: CSS :has() Hover Spotlight Gallery
Source: https://codefronts.com/snippets/css-image-gallery/css-has-hover-spotlight-gallery/

Hover any card and every other card in the grid instantly dims and desaturates, spotlighting the one you're on — the modern focus effect built with the :has() relational selector (and :focus-within for keyboards). Zero JS.
## HTML
```html
<section class="gl-13" aria-label="Spotlight hover gallery">
  <div class="gl-13__grid">
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/tokyo?lock=1301" alt="Tokyo street" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>Tokyo</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/paris?lock=1302" alt="Paris rooftops" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>Paris</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/newyork?lock=1303" alt="New York skyline" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>New York</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/london?lock=1304" alt="London bridge" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>London</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/sydney?lock=1305" alt="Sydney harbour" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>Sydney</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/rome?lock=1306" alt="Rome architecture" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>Rome</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/dubai?lock=1307" alt="Dubai towers" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>Dubai</span></a>
    <a class="gl-13__card" href="#"><img src="https://loremflickr.com/400/400/cairo?lock=1308" alt="Cairo skyline" loading="lazy" decoding="async"><span>Cairo</span></a>
  </div>
</section>
```
## CSS
```css
.gl-13,
.gl-13 *,
.gl-13 *::before,
.gl-13 *::after {
  box-sizing: border-box;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

.gl-13 ::selection {
  background: oklch(0.7 0.17 60);
  color: #111;
}

.gl-13 {
  --accent: oklch(0.72 0.17 60);
  font-family: 'Segoe UI',system-ui,sans-serif;
  width: 100%;
  min-height: 100vh;
  padding: 40px 20px;
  background: #0f1013;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

.gl-13__grid {
  width: min(760px,100%);
  display: grid;
  gap: 12px;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(4,1fr);
}

.gl-13__card {
  position: relative;
  display: block;
  text-decoration: none;
  border-radius: 12px;
  overflow: hidden;
  background: #1a1c20;
  transition: transform .4s,opacity .4s,filter .4s;
}

.gl-13__card img {
  display: block;
  width: 100%;
  aspect-ratio: 1/1;
  object-fit: cover;
}

.gl-13__card span {
  position: absolute;
  left: 0;
  right: 0;
  bottom: 0;
  padding: 20px 10px 8px;
  color: #fff;
  font-size: 12px;
  font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .03em;
  background: linear-gradient(0deg,rgba(0,0,0,.75),transparent);
}

.gl-13__grid:has(.gl-13__card:hover) .gl-13__card:not(:hover),
.gl-13__grid:has(.gl-13__card:focus-visible) .gl-13__card:not(:focus-visible) {
  opacity: .4;
  filter: saturate(.35) brightness(.7);
}

.gl-13__card:hover,
.gl-13__card:focus-visible {
  transform: scale(1.06);
  z-index: 2;
  box-shadow: 0 20px 40px -18px rgba(0,0,0,.7);
}

.gl-13__card:focus-visible {
  outline: 3px solid var(--accent);
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

@media (max-width: 560px) {
  .gl-13__grid {
    grid-template-columns: repeat(2,1fr);
  }
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .gl-13__card {
    transition: none;
  }
}
```

## JavaScript
```js
/* No JavaScript — .grid:has(.card:hover) .card:not(:hover) dims every non-active card. */
```

How this works

The grid uses the relational selector: .grid:has(.card:hover) .card:not(:hover) drops the siblings' opacity and saturation while leaving the hovered card at full strength and a slight scale-up. A parallel rule with :has(.card:focus-visible) mirrors the effect for keyboard focus, so tabbing through the grid spotlights each card in turn.

Because :has() lets a parent react to a child's state, the whole 'dim the rest' behaviour that used to need JavaScript is now a couple of CSS rules.

Make it yours

  • Tune the dim with the siblings' opacity/filter — subtle fade vs strong blackout.
  • Add a blur to the dimmed cards for a depth-of-field spotlight.
  • Scale the active card more (or add a lift) for extra emphasis.
  • Apply the same :has() pattern to a nav or product row, not just images.

Gotchas — read before shipping

  • :has() is well-supported now but ancient browsers ignore it — the grid simply shows all cards normally, a safe fallback.
  • Always pair :hover with :focus-visible in the :has() so keyboard users get the spotlight too.
  • Don't dim so hard that dimmed content fails contrast if it still needs to be read.

Browser support

ChromeSafariFirefoxEdge
111+15.4+121+111+

Floor set by :has(), oklch() as this demo is written. The core technique itself goes back further — Chrome 105+.

:has() — Chrome 105+, Safari 15.4+, Firefox 121+. Unsupported engines show the grid with no dimming (graceful).

Techniques used in this demo

decoding="async"MDN ↗loading="lazy"MDN ↗aspect-ratioMDN ↗:has()MDN ↗filterMDN ↗grid-templateMDN ↗

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