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

Your hero images appear compressed and blurry on the live site likely due to Webflow’s automatic image optimization, which can degrade quality if image settings or formats aren't configured properly.

1. Check Image Dimensions

• Webflow automatically generates responsive image variants by resizing and compressing.
• If the original image uploaded is smaller than the displayed size, it will upscale and appear blurry.
• Use images at least as large as their largest display breakpoint (e.g., 1920px wide for full-screen hero sections on desktops).

2. Use High-Quality Formats

• Use JPG for photos, especially with gradients or details.
• Use PNG or WebP for images with transparency or sharp edges.
• Avoid uploading overly compressed images—Webflow will reprocess them, which may compound compression artifacts.

3. Disable Webflow Image Compression (If Needed)

• You can avoid Webflow’s automatic optimization by using background images set via CSS instead of inline <img> elements.
• To do this:
• Select the container or section, then set the Background Image in the Style panel instead of using an Image element.
• Webflow won’t apply resizing/compression to many background images.

4. Enable HiDPI (Retina) Images

• For image elements, Webflow tries to serve 2x versions for retina screens—only if your uploaded image is large enough.
• Make sure to upload images that are at least 2x the resolution needed. For example, a 1440px wide hero section should use a 2880px wide image.

5. Use WebP or SVG Where Appropriate

• Webflow supports WebP uploads, which offer higher quality at smaller sizes.
• Use SVG for logos or icons to avoid any raster-based compression.

6. Test On Live Published Site

• Always test the image quality on the published domain, not in the Designer preview.
• Right-click and inspect the image to check the actual file size and resolution being served.

Summary

Webflow compresses and resizes images automatically to optimize for performance, which can result in blurriness if the original image isn't large or high-quality enough. To fix this, upload higher-resolution images, use background images for critical visuals, and ensure HiDPI support by using 2x dimensions for retina displays.