Why does my image stretch when I change the viewport in Webflow, and how can I make it cover the space instead?

Published on
September 22, 2023

When the viewport is changed in Webflow, the image might stretch to fill the available space, leading to undesired distortions. This happens because by default, Webflow sets the background image size to "auto", which allows the image to resize proportionally to fit its container. To make the image cover the space and maintain its aspect ratio, you can use the following steps:

  1. Select the element containing the image: Click on the element or navigate to it using the Navigator panel.

  2. Access the settings in the Style panel: On the right-hand side of the Webflow interface, open the Style panel by clicking on the paintbrush icon.

  3. Set the background image to "Cover": In the Background section of the Style panel, click on the dropdown next to the "Size" property. Choose the "Cover" option from the list. This tells Webflow to automatically scale the background image to cover the entire element.

  4. Adjust positioning if necessary: If the image is not positioned as desired, you can further refine its placement by adjusting the "Position" property in the Background section of the Style panel.

  5. Preview and publish: To see the changes in action, use the Preview mode or publish your site to see how the image now covers the space when the viewport is resized.

By following these steps, you can ensure that the image in Webflow covers the available space without stretching or distorting.

Additional Tips:

  • If you want the image to fill the entire background of the page instead of just a specific element, you can apply the "Cover" sizing option to the "Body" element or the top-level container element.
  • Remember to optimize your images for web to ensure fast loading times and proper display. Use tools like Adobe Photoshop or online image compressors to reduce file sizes without significant loss of quality.

By using the "Cover" sizing option in Webflow, you can make sure that your images maintain their aspect ratio while covering the available space, providing a visually appealing experience for your website visitors.

Suggested questions:

  1. How do I prevent images from stretching in Webflow when the viewport changes?
  2. What is the "Cover" option in Webflow and how does it affect background images?
  3. Are there any best practices for optimizing images in Webflow to maintain quality and performance?