=== Image Hover Effects Ultimate ( Image Gallery, Effects, Lightbox, Comparison & Magnifier ) ===
Contributors: oxilab, richardmallick
Tags: image hover effects, css3 effects, image hover animation, image gallery, photo gallery
Requires at least: 6.2
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 9.11.6
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Add stunning image hover effects to WordPress. 500+ CSS3 animations, 10 effect modules. Native Elementor widget, Gutenberg block & WPBakery widget.

== Description ==

**Image Hover Effects Ultimate** is the most powerful image hover effects plugin for WordPress. Whether you want a clean caption reveal, a dramatic flip card, a side-by-side image comparison, or a magnifier zoom, you'll find exactly what you need from 500+ CSS3 animations and 1500+ ready-to-use layouts.

✨ No coding. No jQuery. Just beautiful hover effects that work everywhere.

Trusted by **20,000+ WordPress users**, the plugin is lightweight, fully responsive, and compatible with Elementor, Gutenberg, WPBakery, Divi, Beaver Builder, and SiteOrigin.

🎬 **[Live Demos](https://demos.oxilab.dev/imagehover/demos/)** | ⭐ **[Upgrade to Pro](https://oxilab.dev/image-hover-effects/pricing/)** | 📖 **[Documentation](https://oxilab.dev/docs/image-hover-effects/)** | 🆘 **[Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/image-hover-effects-ultimate#new-post)**

---

Hover effects are one of the easiest ways to make your WordPress site feel polished and professional. With Image Hover Effects Ultimate, you choose a style from the template library, upload your images, paste a shortcode, and you're done.

Every image hover animation is built in pure CSS3, so effects are silky smooth without adding any JavaScript weight to your pages.

---

== 🚀 Key Features ==

* 🎨 **500+ CSS3 hover animations**: fades, slides, flips, zooms, overlays, caption reveals, and more
* 🖼️ **1500+ pre-designed layouts**: professionally crafted templates ready to customize
* 📦 **10 powerful effect modules**: General, Caption, Flipbox, Button, Square, Lightbox, Comparison, Magnifier, Carousel, and Filter
* 👁️ **Live preview**: see every change in real time without leaving the editor
* 📱 **Fully responsive**: independent layout controls for desktop, tablet, and mobile
* 👆 **Touch-friendly**: smooth interactions on iOS and Android devices
* 🔤 **650+ Google Fonts**: full typography control for headings, descriptions, and buttons
* ⚡ **Pure CSS3, no jQuery**: fast-loading animations that don't slow your site down
* 🔁 **Clone any style**: duplicate an effect and customize it without starting from scratch
* 🛠️ **Custom CSS editor**: add your own CSS for total creative control
* ♻️ **Built-in cache system**: optimized loading even on pages with many images
* 🔌 **Native Elementor widget**: select and embed effects directly from the Elementor editor panel, no shortcode needed
* 🟦 **Native Gutenberg block**: insert and live-preview effects directly from the WordPress block editor, no shortcode needed
* 🧩 **Works with every major page builder**: WPBakery, Divi, Beaver Builder, and SiteOrigin support via shortcode

---

== ✨ Free Version Features ==

The free version is genuinely capable. Here is everything included at no cost:

* ✅ All 10 effect modules available
* ✅ 500+ CSS3 image hover animations
* ✅ 1500+ pre-designed layout templates
* ✅ Live preview admin panel
* ✅ Fully responsive with per-device controls (🖥️ Desktop, 📱 Tablet, 📲 Mobile)
* ✅ Touch and mobile device support
* ✅ One-click style cloning
* ✅ Image alignment, padding, and margin controls
* ✅ Per-item links with optional new-tab support
* ✅ Built-in cache system
* ✅ Custom CSS editor
* ✅ Shortcode-based, works in any post, page, or widget
* ✅ Native Gutenberg block: insert and preview effects directly from the block editor, no shortcode needed
* ✅ Native Elementor widget: select and embed effects directly from the Elementor editor panel, no shortcode needed
* ✅ WPBakery, Divi, Beaver Builder, and SiteOrigin support via shortcode
* ✅ SEO-friendly HTML output with proper alt tag support

---

== 🔥 Pro Version Features ==

Pro unlocks the full creative toolkit and priority support:

* 🔓 **Full customization of all 500+ hover effects**: control colors, overlays, borders, shadows, and timing on every style
* 🎨 **Advanced color pickers**: unlimited color control for text, backgrounds, overlays, borders, buttons, and hover states
* 🔤 **650+ Google Fonts**: independent font selection for headings, descriptions, and button text
* ✏️ **Custom font sizes**: separate size controls for every text element
* 🖼️ **Border and shadow settings**: fine-tune border width, radius, and box shadows per element
* ♾️ **Unlimited hover items** per shortcode
* 🔗 **Advanced link options**: open links in a new tab on a per-item basis
* 💻 **Custom CSS generation**: override styles at the individual effect level
* 📹 **Video tutorials** for every feature
* 🎧 **24/7 priority support** with responses within 12 hours

👉 **[See All Free vs Pro Features](https://oxilab.dev/image-hover-effects/pricing/)**

---

== 🎯 Perfect For ==

* 🎨 **Portfolios and agencies**, showcase work with stylish image reveals and hover captions
* 🛍️ **eCommerce and WooCommerce**, highlight product details, overlays, and buy buttons on hover
* 📸 **Photographers**, display galleries with elegant hover overlays and lightbox popups
* 👥 **Team pages**, show staff names, roles, and social links with caption hover effects
* 📰 **Blogs and magazines**, make featured images more engaging with CSS hover animations
* 🏠 **Landing pages**, draw attention to key visuals and CTAs with smooth motion
* 🔬 **Product detail pages**, use the magnifier module to zoom into product images on hover

---

== 📈 Why Use This Plugin ==

There are a few image hover plugins out there, but Image Hover Effects Ultimate is the one that covers every use case in one place.

Here is why 20,000+ users choose it:

* 📦 **All modules in one plugin**: General Effects, Caption Effects, Flipbox, Lightbox, Comparison, Magnifier, Carousel, and Filter are all built in. No separate add-ons needed.
* 🖱️ **No coding required**: everything is configured through the visual admin panel with live preview
* ⚡ **Lightweight**: pure CSS3 output with zero jQuery dependency keeps your pages fast
* 🧩 **Builder ready**: native Elementor widget and Gutenberg block included; shortcodes also work in Divi, WPBakery, Beaver Builder, and any other builder
* 🔒 **Actively maintained**: regular updates, PHP 8.4 compatibility, and security hardening with every release
* 👨‍💻 **Developer-friendly**: custom CSS support, PSR-4 namespacing, and a clean codebase make it easy to extend

---

== Installation ==

**⬇️ Option 1: Install from WordPress.org (Recommended)**

1. 🔑 Log into your WordPress admin panel
2. 🔍 Go to **Plugins > Add New** and search for **Image Hover Effects Ultimate**
3. 🖱️ Click **Install Now**, then **Activate**

**📦 Option 2: Manual Upload**

1. ⬇️ Download the plugin zip from WordPress.org
2. 📂 Go to **Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin**
3. 📤 Upload the zip file and click **Install Now**
4. ✅ Click **Activate Plugin**

**🚀 Getting Started**

1. 🗂️ Go to **Image Hover** in your admin sidebar
2. 🎛️ Choose an effect module (for example, **Caption Effects**)
3. 🖼️ Pick a layout from the template library
4. ✏️ Give it a name and click **Save**
5. ➕ Click **Add New Item**, upload an image, add your title and description
6. 📋 Copy the shortcode, for example `[iheu_ultimate_oxi id="1"]`
7. 📄 Paste it into any post, page, or widget

---

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= 🔌 Does this plugin work with Elementor? =

Yes. The plugin includes a native Elementor widget. Search for "Image Hover" in the Elementor editor panel, drag it onto your page, and select your effect directly from the widget's Inspector Controls — no shortcode needed. You can also use the shortcode approach if you prefer.

= 🟦 Does it work with the Gutenberg block editor? =

Yes. The plugin includes a native Gutenberg block. Search for "Image Hover" in the block inserter, add the block, and select your effect from the Inspector Controls sidebar. A live preview renders directly in the editor — no shortcode needed.

= 💻 Do I need to write any code? =

No. All effects are created through the visual admin panel. Developers who want more control can also add custom CSS, but it is completely optional.

= 📱 Are the effects mobile-friendly? =

Yes. Every layout is fully responsive with separate controls for desktop, tablet, and mobile. Touch interactions also work smoothly on iOS and Android.

= 🆓 What is the difference between free and Pro? =

The free version gives you access to all 10 modules and hundreds of layouts. Pro unlocks full customization of every effect: advanced color controls, 650+ Google Fonts, border and shadow settings, unlimited items, and priority support. See the 🔥 Pro section above for the full list.

---

== Screenshots ==

1. 🗂️ Image Hover dashboard showing all effect modules.
2. 🖼️ Template library: browse and select from 150+ pre-designed layouts.
3. ✏️ Naming a new shortcode before customization begins.
4. 🎛️ Fully customizable admin panel with live preview.
5. ➕ Image upload and content form for individual hover items.
6. 🎨 Background settings with gradient and image upload options.
7. 🔤 Typography controls with Google Fonts for headings and descriptions.
8. 📱 Responsive device preview controls: Desktop, Tablet, and Mobile.
9. 🎠 Carousel and Slider extension with hover effects.
10. 🔽 Shortcode List.

---

== Changelog ==

= 9.11.6 =
* 🆕 New: Added native Gutenberg block, insert and preview Image Hover Effect styles directly from the WordPress block editor without writing shortcodes
* 🆕 New: Style selector and Edit Style button placed in the block's Inspector Controls sidebar, keeping the editor canvas clean with only the live preview
* 🆕 New: Plugin's branded SVG icon displayed in the Gutenberg block inserter
* ✨ Improvement: All CSS (base styles, module-specific styles, and per-shortcode stylesheet) is fully inlined during block editor REST rendering so the hover effect preview displays correctly without relying on wp_footer

= 9.11.5 =
* 🔒 Security: Fixed path traversal vulnerability in template import, file reads are now restricted within the plugin directory using realpath() validation
* 🔒 Security: Fixed missing authorization check in AJAX action handler, requests now require proper user permissions
* 🔒 Security: Sanitized CSS output in frontend style block to prevent potential `</style>` injection
* 🔒 Security: Strip `</style>` tags from custom CSS before storing to database
* 🐛 Fix: Renamed "Save" button to "Rename" in the editor header to avoid confusion with the main Save button
* ✨ Improvement: Added "How to use?" documentation link in the editor header for quick access to getting started guide

= 9.11.4 =
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed Flipbox back side image not displaying across all styles, corrected invalid CSS syntax where `!important` was placed inside `url()` (Style 1) and replaced `background` shorthand with `background-image` to prevent unintended property resets
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed Flipbox back side overlay color not working, background image is now applied to the correct layer (`backend:after`) so the admin-configured background color properly acts as a semi-transparent overlay on top of the image
* ✨ Improvement: Replaced `background-size: 100% 100%` with `background-size: cover` and added `background-position: center center` and `background-repeat: no-repeat` for better image rendering across all Flipbox styles

= 9.11.3 =
* ✨ Improvement: Added dynamic "Edit Shortcode" button to Elementor Widget for quick access to the styling dashboard
* 🐛 Fix: Resolved issue where the shortcode edit button URL wouldn't update on dropdown change
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed CSS and JS failing to load on the plugin's internal backend template listing and editor pages
* 🐛 Fix: Corrected asset isolation logic in the iframe preview which accidentally blocked some internal scripts
* 🐛 Fix: Whitelisted missing external dependencies (e.g., image zoom, isotope) in the iframe preview to prevent layout breaks
* 🐛 Fix: Resolved CSS handle collisions between the Lightbox and Magnifier modules which caused Lightbox styles to fail loading
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed raw CSS text leaking onto the screen in nested modules (e.g., Filter) by properly sanitizing content before shortcode evaluation

= 9.11.2 =
* 🆕 New: Added Elementor Widget for Image Hover Effects, select and embed shortcodes directly from the Elementor editor
* 🐛 Fix: Resolved CSS and JS not loading in the Elementor editor for module-specific styles (Flipbox, General, Carousel, etc.)
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed inline CSS and JS not rendering during Elementor AJAX widget re-renders
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed styles missing after saving and reloading the Elementor editor
* ✨ Improvement: Registered base CSS/JS assets for proper Elementor dependency resolution

= 9.11.1 =
* 🐛 Fix: Resolved PHP 8.4 compatibility issue with mb_ereg_replace function
* ✨ Improvement: Replaced dashicon with a custom SVG icon in the admin sidebar for a cleaner branded appearance
* ✨ Improvement: Updated admin panel logo from PNG to SVG format in the header and Getting Started page
* ✨ Improvement: Hardcoded total template count to 150+ in the dashboard for accurate display
* 🔄 Update: Replaced all demo image URLs with new CDN format using WebP for faster loading

= 9.11.0 =
* 🆕 New: Added item count display for each module in the Image Hover dashboard
* 🆕 New: Added Create New and Import buttons to the Shortcode page header
* 🆕 New: Implemented iframe-based preview for strict style isolation and better performance
* 🆕 New: Added responsive device controls (Desktop, Tablet, Mobile) with live preview scaling
* ✨ Improvement: Moved inline CSS to external admin stylesheet for better maintainability
* ✨ Improvement: Simplified template selection, all templates now visible directly on the effect page
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed CSS specificity issues where saved styles could override live preview changes
* 🐛 Fix: Resolved backward compatibility issues with legacy shortcode data
* 🐛 Fix: Resolved Pro feature access issues with legacy license status

= 9.10.6 =
* 🆕 New: Conditional asset loading, Waypoints and Touch scripts only load when enabled in settings
* 🆕 New: Added cache-busting for admin assets via file modification time
* ✨ Improvement: Hardened AJAX and REST flows with stricter nonce verification
* 🐛 Fix: Minor stability fixes across shortcode rendering and widget output escaping
* 🔒 Fix: Fixed security issue in the Lightbox module

= 9.10.5 =
* 🐛 Fix: Resolved WordPress 6.7 "_load_textdomain_just_in_time" notice
* 🐛 Fix: Allowed safe HTML in Short Description fields using wp_kses_post
* ✨ Improvement: Deferred heavy operations to later hooks for better performance

= 9.10.4 =
* 🆕 New: Added Getting Started page for new users
* 🎨 Update: Refreshed UI and UX across the admin panel
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed HTML tags not rendering in Lightbox title and description fields
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed HTML tags not rendering in button text across all modules
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed Visual Composer integration, dropdown now correctly passes Style ID
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed PHP 8.2 deprecation warning for dynamic properties
* ✨ Improvement: Enhanced error handling and input validation throughout the shortcode system

= 9.10.3 =
* 🔒 Fix: Resolved all reported security vulnerabilities
* ✨ Improvement: Improved input sanitization and output escaping throughout the plugin
* ✨ Improvement: Updated all database queries to use $wpdb->prepare()

= 9.10.0 =
* 🆕 New: Integrated Freemius SDK for license management and Pro upgrades
* 🆕 New: Added PSR-4 namespacing and Composer autoloading
* 🐛 Fix: Resolved responsive layout issues across multiple modules

= 9.9.7 =
* ✅ Compatible with WordPress 6.8
* 🐛 Fix: Resolved shortcode listing display issue
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed icon display issue in admin panel

= 9.9.6 =
* ✅ Compatible with WordPress 6.7.2
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed color changes not saving correctly in some configurations

= 9.9.5 =
* ✅ Compatible with WordPress 6.7
* 🐛 Fix: Fixed data table search functionality

= 9.9.4 =
* ✅ Compatible with WordPress 6.6.2
* 🐛 Fix: Resolved AJAX-related bugs

= 9.9.3 =
* ✅ Compatible with WordPress 6.4.3
* ✨ Updated Admin AJAX handling

= 9.9.0 =
* ✅ Compatible with WordPress 6.2.2
* 🐛 Fix: Resolved custom CSS issues

= 9.8.5 =
* ✅ Compatible with WordPress 6.1.1
* 🔒 Fix: Resolved XSS security issues

= 9.8.2 =
* ✅ Compatible with WordPress 6.0
* 🆕 New: Added alt tag support for all images
* 🐛 Fix: Resolved template display issues

= 9.3 =
* 🆕 New: Redesigned admin panel
* 🆕 New: 8 types of hover effect modules introduced

= 8.9 =
* 🐛 Fix: Resolved Gutenberg block editor compatibility issues

= 1.0 =
* 🎉 Initial release with responsive layout support

---

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 9.11.1 =
✅ Recommended for all users. Fixes a PHP 8.4 compatibility issue and updates demo images to faster WebP CDN format.

= 9.11.0 =
🆕 Major admin panel update. Adds live responsive device preview, iframe-based style isolation, and improved template selection. Upgrade recommended.

= 9.10.6 =
🔒 Performance and security update. Improves frontend asset loading and hardens AJAX security. Upgrade recommended.

= 9.10.4 =
✨ Adds Getting Started page, refreshed admin UI, and fixes multiple compatibility bugs including PHP 8.2, Visual Composer, and Lightbox. Upgrade recommended.

= 9.10.3 =
🚨 Security release. Resolves all reported security issues. All users should upgrade immediately.

= 9.10.0 =
🆕 Major update. Introduces Freemius license management and PSR-4 autoloading. Upgrade recommended for all users.
