Inset border effect is a jQuery extension that creates borders within the target element.

You can do it with simple CSS, one might say.

Well, it isn’t that easy to create borders inside the target element! When the element is hovered, the sides gracefully fade out.

You also can configure the plugin: change the border color and the speed at which they fade out; you can adjust the border’s width; and also change the border type just like you would in CSS.

Despite having a pretty extravagant license, the plugin works wonders for unique image galleries and you can also use it for user avatars.

• Website: http://css-tricks.com/examples/InsetBorderEffect/

Colortip is a jQuery plugin that adds nice looking tooltips to elements with absolutely no images–only jQuery and CSS.

Colortip has 6 color themes that should suit most of your design needs.

No worries if you want to add new colors, though. You can simply rebuild the plugin yourself as the website also offers a tutorial that explains thoroughly how Colortip was made.

• Website: http://tutorialzine.com/2010/07/colortips-jquery-tooltip-plugin/
• Demo: http://demo.tutorialzine.com/2010/07/colortips-jquery-tooltip-plugin/colortips.html

Andrew Croxall has written Blockster, a lightweight (2.2 kb) jQuery plugin that gives images a neat block by block transition effect.

Blockster can be used for both image galleries and for a “featured articles” image transition effect.

The plugin can be customized to change the count of squares in a table like fashion; you can also change the animation speed, fading effects and square order.

• Website: http://www.mitya.co.uk/scripts/Blockster-transition-effect-122

Highslide JS is a quick and sexy JavaScript thumbnail viewer/gallery with an intuitive UI.

Basically, Highslide is a highly functional modal box, albeit even easier to implement. It can be reduced to 10kb size.

It comes with an installer that can add Highslide to your web within minutes–and with no code! However, the best thing about Highslide is the extensive configuration it can undergo.

The only downside to Highslide is that it’s released under the CC license–you have to buy for use in commercial projects.

• Website: http://highslide.com
• Demo: http://highslide.com/#examples

jQuery Round Images is a jQuery plugin for rounding images, akin to this tutorial.

The plugin can round images of unlimited size, and resize them according to your specifications.

Rounded images will work best for personal blogs for commentator avatars or, alternatively, you can use it for avatars in message boards.

• Website: http://plugins.jquery.com/node/16120
• Demo: http://www.webdesignerwall.com/demo/jquery-css3-rounded-img/

AviaSlider is an image gallery plugin for jQuery. It costs $14.
The keyword for this plugin is ‘beautiful‘, as its design is truly remarkable–contemporary, yet elegant; the designers really did their homework!

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Let’s not overlook the features though. AviaSlider comes packed with 8 transition effects; autoplay; image preloader; linked image support; etc.

The only downside to this plugin is the scarce browser support, as AviaSlider only works on newer browsers, starting with IE6, Chrome 3, FireFox 2 and Opera 10.

• Website: http://aviathemes.com/aviaslider/index.html