How can I prevent the highlighted areas in my Webflow image map from being darkened along with the rest of the image?
TL;DR
- Place the dark overlay beneath the highlight areas by setting its z-index lower than the highlights and ensuring both elements are positioned (relative/absolute/fixed).
- Avoid applying opacity to parent containers; instead, apply semi-transparency directly to the overlay using rgba or background color with transparency.
The issue you're experiencing is likely due to a semi-transparent overlay applied to the entire image, including the highlighted areas within your image map. To fix this, you'll need to isolate those highlight areas from the darkening effect.
1. Understand What's Causing the Darkening
- If you're using an image map with highlight areas and applying a dark overlay (e.g., using a div with opacity or background color) over the full image, it will affect all child elements unless they are separated or overridden.
- Areas in an image map created purely with HTML
<area>tags cannot have styling applied, so you’re likely using absolutely positioned divs or elements on top of the image.
2. Adjust Overlay Layer Order
- Ensure highlighted areas are placed above the dark overlay layer.
- Go to Navigator in Webflow.
- Make sure the highlight divs appear after (higher in the hierarchy) than the overlay in the stacking order (using
z-index).
3. Use Z-Index to Separate Layers
- Select your dark overlay element.
- Set its z-index to a lower value (e.g., 1).
- Then, select each highlight area and give it a higher z-index (e.g., 10 or more).
- Ensure
positionis set to relative, absolute, or fixed on both elements soz-indextakes effect.
4. Apply Filters or Opacity to Only the Overlay
- If you're using opacity on a shared parent like the image container, it will cascade down.
- Instead, apply “background: rgba(0,0,0,0.5)” or use Webflow’s Background Color with Transparency on a separate overlay div.
5. Check for Blend Modes or Effects
- Webflow allows mix-blend-mode or filter options. Make sure you’re not applying a blend mode that could darken the highlight areas unintentionally.
- Select the overlay and check the Effects section in the Style panel.
Summary
To keep the highlighted areas in your image map from being darkened, layer them above the overlay using higher z-index values, avoid using opacity on parent containers, and ensure the overlay is an independent, absolutely positioned element that doesn’t cover your highlight divs.