Learn how to make your images just right and the reasons they might look funky. Discusses image distortions, controlling image sizes with CSS, foreground and background images, SVG image issues and solutions, and tips for responsive images.
Foreground images can be distorted when set to 100% width and height of their parent, and to address this issue, you can use the object fit property or set a max inline size of 100% on your images.
Background images, added using the CSS background-image property, can be subject to object placement issues, and to control the containment and stretching of the background image, you can use the background-size property and background-position property.
Deep dives
Foreground Images: Distortion and Solutions
Foreground images, which are added with an image tag, can be distorted when set to 100% width and height of their parent. This distortion occurs because the browser squishes or stretches the image to fit. To address this issue, you can use the object fit property to spread and center the image or set object position to customize its alignment. Another solution is to set a max inline size of 100% on your images, which ensures they won't exceed the viewport or container width, maintaining the aspect ratio. These techniques help in normalizing and maintaining control over the display of foreground images.
Background Images and Object Placement
Background images, added using the CSS background-image property, should generally be used for decorative content. Similar to foreground images, background images can also be subject to object placement issues. By default, background images repeat and adjust to their parent container size. You can use the background-size property to control the containment and stretching of the background image. Additionally, background-position allows for specific positioning within the parent element. Setting these properties correctly helps in achieving the desired display of background images.
SVG Images: Distortion and Solutions
SVG images can experience distortion or cutoff due to the view box and positioning. If an SVG's vector data is positioned outside the view box, it may not be visible. To address this, you can use overflow visible on the SVG element or adjust the view box properties to ensure all content is within view. Similar to other image types, testing on different viewport sizes and cross-browser compatibility is crucial for SVG images. It's also worth exploring the use of the CSS aspect-ratio property and optimizing SVG backgrounds for responsive layouts.
Too small? Too big? Learn how to make your images just right and all the reasons they might be looking a little funky when you’re adding media to your interface.