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Image Gallery For Free ACF Plugin

Introduction

With Divi Machine, you can create ACF galleries without needing the Pro version of ACF. This workaround uses an ACF Group field to mimic a gallery structure and display it using Divi Machine’s Gallery/Slider module.

  1. Go to ACF Settings and either create a new field group or edit an existing one.
  2. Add a new field and set the Field Type to Group.
  3. Give the group field a name, such as Portfolio Gallery.

Step 2: Add Image Fields to the Group

Add as many Sub Fields as you desire with Type Image.

  1. Inside the group, add individual image fields.
  2. Give each image a Label, but make sure the Name of each image field uses the same prefix and a suffix like _1, _2, _3, etc.

Example:

  • Label: Portfolio Image 1 -> Name: portfolio_image_1
  • Label: Portfolio Image 2 -> Name: portfolio_image_2
  • Label: Portfolio Image 3 -> Name: portfolio_image_3

tip

All sub-field names must share a common prefix. This is how Divi Machine recognizes them as part of a gallery.

Step 3: Add Images in the Post Editor

When editing a post or custom post, upload images to each image field inside the group.

Step 4: Adding the Gallery/Slider Module

  1. Edit your Theme Builder template or page with Divi where you want the gallery to appear.
  2. Add the Gallery/Slider module.
  3. In the module settings:
    • Set Layout Type to Grid or Slider (based on your design preference).
    • Set Gallery Type to Group field with image fields inside.
    • In ACF Group Field Name, enter the name of the group field you created (e.g. portfolio_gallery).
    • In ACF Group Image Name, enter the shared prefix of the image fields (e.g. portfolio_image).

It is very important that you enter for example portfolio_image and NOT portfolio_image_1 with the suffix or Portfolio Image as plain text like this for the ACF Group Image Name. :::
info

You can build a custom grid layout for your Gallery/Slider module if you want something other than a standard or masonry grid. See how to easily do this in our article on Building a Unique Gallery Grid (Grid Custom Code).