What is the best way to create this effect using a normal img element in Webflow instead of setting the image as a background and adding an overlay?

If you want to create an effect using a normal img element in Webflow instead of setting the image as a background and adding an overlay, you can leverage the power of CSS to achieve the desired effect. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to accomplish this:

1. Add an image element to your Webflow project by dragging and dropping the "Image" component onto your page.

2. Select the image element and give it a class name. This will allow you to target it specifically with CSS.

3. With the image element still selected, navigate to the "Settings" panel on the right-hand side of the designer interface. Under the "Style" tab, click on the "+" icon next to "Effects" to add a new effect.

4. In the effects panel, click on the "Transitions" dropdown and choose "Opacity". Adjust the opacity slider to your desired level for the initial state of the image.

5. Next, click on the "+" icon next to "Transitions" to add a hover state transition. Again, choose "Opacity" from the dropdown and adjust the opacity slider to the desired level for when the image is being hovered.

6. To add an overlay effect, you can create a div element as a sibling of the image element.

7. Style the overlay div by giving it a class name and applying a background color or image. Adjust the opacity of the overlay to achieve the desired effect. You can also add additional styles like position, width, and height to make it cover the image.

8. By default, the overlay div will be stacked below the image. To bring it to the front and make it appear as an overlay, you can set its positioning to "Absolute" and adjust the z-index to a higher value than the image.

9. To make the overlay only appear on hover, you can use Webflow's built-in hover state under the "Interactions" tab in the right-hand panel. Select the overlay div, choose the hover state, and adjust the opacity to make it visible.

10. Preview and test your effect in the Webflow Designer or publish your site to see the effect in action.

By following these steps, you can create the desired effect using a normal img element in Webflow without relying on setting the image as a background and adding an overlay.