How to Add a Product Image Slider in Shopify Dawn Theme

In the world of e-commerce, product presentation is crucial. A well-designed product page can significantly impact customer engagement and conversion rates. One popular feature that enhances product presentation is an image slider. For Shopify store owners using the Dawn theme, implementing a product image slider can seem challenging. This blog post will guide you through the process of adding a product image slider to your Dawn theme, exploring various methods and solutions.

Understanding the Dawn Theme’s Built-in Slider

The Elusive Slider Component

When Shopify introduced the Dawn theme, many users were excited about the prospect of a built-in slider component. However, some found it difficult to locate or implement this feature. The slider component in Dawn is primarily designed for mobile use and is not immediately visible on desktop versions.

Locating the Slider Files

To work with the Dawn theme’s slider, you’ll need to access two key files:

/assets/component-slider.css
/assets/slider.js

These files contain the CSS and JavaScript necessary for the slider functionality. However, the default implementation focuses on mobile devices, which means additional customization is required for desktop use.

Mobile-First Design

The Dawn theme’s slider is an example of mobile-first design principles. It uses CSS Flex to create a smooth scrolling experience on smaller screens. To make it work on desktop, you’ll need to modify the existing CSS.

Implementing a Custom Product Slider

Method 1: Modifying Dawn’s Built-in Slider

The most straightforward approach to adding a product slider is to modify the existing Dawn theme code. This method involves editing the main-product.liquid file and adjusting the CSS.

Step 1: Edit main-product.liquid

Replace the original slider code in main-product.liquid with the following:

<div class="slider-container">
  <ul class="large-image" id="large-image">
    {%- for media in product.media -%}
      <li class="large-image-item product__media-item grid__item slider__slide
        {% if media.media_type != 'image' %}product__media-item--full{% endif %}"
        data-media-id="{{ section.id }}-{{ media.id }}">
        {% render 'product-thumbnail', media: media, position: forloop.index, loop: section.settings.enable_video_looping, modal_id: section.id, xr_button: true %}
      </li>
    {%- endfor -%}
  </ul>

  <slider-component>
    <ul class="product-slider-box slider" role="list">
      {%- for media in product.media -%}
        <li class="product-slider slider__slide">
          <img class="slide-image"
            onclick="newLargeImage(this)"
            data-thumb-id="{{ section.id }}-{{ media.id }}"
            src="{{ media.preview_image | img_url: 'large', scale: 4 }}"
            alt="{{ thumbnailAlt }}">
        </li>
      {% endfor %}
    </ul>
    <div class="slider-buttons {% if product.media.size < 5 %}hidden{% endif %}">
      <button type="button" class="slider-button slider-button--prev bigger-slider" name="previous" aria-label="{{ 'accessibility.previous_slide' | t }}">{% render 'icon-caret' %}</button>
      <div class="slider-counter caption">
        <span class="slider-counter--current">1</span>
        <span aria-hidden="true"> / </span>
        <span class="visually-hidden">{{ 'accessibility.of' | t }}</span>
        <span class="slider-counter--total">{{ product.media.size }}</span>
      </div>
      <button type="button" class="slider-button slider-button--next bigger-slider" name="next" aria-label="{{ 'accessibility.next_slide' | t }}">{% render 'icon-caret' %}</button>
    </div>
  </slider-component>
</div>

Step 2: Update CSS

Add the following CSS to your assets/component-slider.css file:

.slider-container {
  margin: 0 1rem;
  width: 100%;
  overflow: auto;
  display: flex;
  flex-flow: column wrap;
  align-items: center;
  position: relative;
}

.large-image {
  width: 100%;
  padding-bottom: 100%;
  position: relative;
}

.large-image-item {
  position: absolute;
  max-width: 100%;
  min-width: 50%;
  max-height: 100%;
  padding: 0;
}

.large-image-item:not(:first-child) {
  display: none;
}

.product-slider-box {
  flex-wrap: inherit;
  overflow-x: auto;
  scroll-snap-type: x mandatory;
  scroll-behavior: smooth;
  -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
  margin-bottom: 1rem;
  width: 100%;
  display: flex;
}

.product-slider {
  height: 100%;
  width: 23%;
  display: inline-block;
}

.product-slider:not(:first-child) {
  margin-left: 1rem;
}

.slide-image {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  object-fit: cover;
}

Step 3: Add JavaScript Functionality

Include the following JavaScript in your assets/global.js file:

function newLargeImage(x) {
  let clickedImage = x.dataset.thumbId;
  const newImage = document.querySelector(`[data-media-id="${clickedImage}"]`);
  const parentData = newImage.parentElement;
  parentData.prepend(newImage);
  const resizeObserver = new ResizeObserver(entries => x.clientHeight)
  resizeObserver.observe(document.body)
  const imgHt = x.clientHeight * 4.5;
  document.getElementById('large-image').style.paddingBottom = imgHt + 'px';
}

This method provides a functional product slider that works on both mobile and desktop devices.

Method 2: Using a Third-Party Slider Library

For those seeking a more feature-rich slider with additional functionality, using a third-party library like Flickity can be an excellent option.

Step 1: Include Flickity

Add the Flickity CSS and JavaScript to your theme. You can do this by adding the following lines to your theme.liquid file:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://unpkg.com/flickity@2/dist/flickity.min.css">
<script src="https://unpkg.com/flickity@2/dist/flickity.pkgd.min.js"></script>

Step 2: Modify main-product.liquid

Replace the existing product image code in main-product.liquid with:

<div class="product-images flickity-enabled" data-flickity='{ "cellAlign": "left", "contain": true, "pageDots": true, "prevNextButtons": true }'>
  {% for image in product.images %}
    <div class="product-image-cell">
      <img src="{{ image.src | img_url: 'large' }}" alt="{{ image.alt | escape }}">
    </div>
  {% endfor %}
</div>

Step 3: Add Custom CSS

Add the following CSS to your theme’s stylesheet:

.product-images {
  width: 100%;
  margin-bottom: 20px;
}

.product-image-cell {
  width: 100%;
  height: 400px;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

.product-image-cell img {
  max-width: 100%;
  max-height: 100%;
  object-fit: contain;
}

This method provides a smooth, responsive slider with built-in navigation and pagination.

Enhancing the Slider Experience

Adding Zoom Functionality

To further improve the user experience, you can add zoom functionality to your product images. This can be achieved using libraries like jQuery Zoom or by implementing a custom zoom feature using CSS and JavaScript.

Connecting Variant Selection to Image Display

For products with multiple variants, it’s crucial to ensure that selecting a variant updates the displayed image. This can be accomplished by modifying the variant selection JavaScript to trigger image changes based on the selected variant.

Optimizing for Performance

When implementing a product slider, it’s important to consider performance. Ensure that your images are optimized for web use, and consider implementing lazy loading for images that are not immediately visible.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Slider Not Appearing on Desktop

If your slider is not appearing on desktop, check your CSS media queries. Ensure that the slider styles are not being overridden by desktop-specific styles.

Images Not Changing on Variant Selection

If images are not updating when variants are selected, review your JavaScript code that handles variant changes. Ensure that it’s properly linked to your slider implementation.

Performance Issues

If you’re experiencing slow load times or laggy scrolling, consider optimizing your images and reviewing your JavaScript for any performance bottlenecks.

By following these methods and tips, you can successfully add a product image slider to your Shopify store using the Dawn theme. Whether you choose to modify the built-in slider or implement a third-party solution, a well-executed product slider can significantly enhance your customers’ shopping experience and potentially boost your conversion rates.

Remember to test your implementation thoroughly across different devices and browsers to ensure a consistent experience for all your customers. Happy selling!