Why do my hero images on my live Webflow site appear heavily compressed and blurry even though they look great in the Webflow Designer?

Hero images on a live Webflow site might appear compressed or blurry due to Webflow's automatic image optimization, incorrect export settings, or browser scaling issues. Here’s how to troubleshoot and fix the issue:

1. Check Webflow’s Responsive Image Optimization

• Webflow automatically generates and serves responsive image versions to improve loading speed.
• Large images are resized and compressed, which can reduce quality.
• To disable this for specific images:
• Select the image in the Designer.
• Go to the Settings panel.
• Toggle OFF “Enable responsive images”.

2. Use High-Resolution Images

• Ensure your hero images are at least twice the displayed size in Webflow (e.g., if displayed at 1000px wide, upload a 2000px-wide version).
• Use WebP or PNG instead of JPEG for better quality.

3. Check Image Export Settings

• If you uploaded a compressed JPEG, Webflow’s optimization may further degrade it.
• Export images from Photoshop or Figma with:
• PNG (if needed) or WebP for high quality.
• JPEG with at least 80% quality for photos.

4. Disable Lazy Loading for Background Images

• Webflow applies lazy loading by default, which may cause blurriness until fully loaded.
• Select the image element, go to Settings, and set Lazy Load to “Eager”.

5. Set Background Images as Fixed Sizes

• Background images in Div Blocks may scale inconsistently.
• In the Style Panel, set:
• Background Size: Cover or Contain (to prevent stretching).
• Image Width: Auto (for aspect ratio preservation).

6. Prevent Browser Scaling Issues

• If images appear blurry on Retina or high-DPI screens, Webflow may be serving a lower-resolution version.
• Adjust the max-width settings in CSS to ensure high-resolution images are prioritized.

Summary

Webflow’s built-in optimization is likely compressing your images too aggressively. Try disabling responsive image resizing, using high-resolution images, and adjusting export settings. Also, check browser scaling and lazy loading settings for background images.