What are the differences between the thumbnail processing methods (proportional scaling, padding, cropping) of AnQiCMS, and how to choose?

As an experienced website operator, I am well aware that high-quality content and user experience are the foundation of a successful website.In the management practice of AnQiCMS, images, especially thumbnails, play a crucial role.They are not only the first impression that attracts users to click, but also key factors affecting page loading speed and overall visual layout.AnQiCMS as a powerful and flexible content management system provides various thumbnail processing methods to meet the needs of different operation scenarios.Today, let's delve into the differences between the three thumbnail processing methods of geometric scaling, padding, and cropping in AnQiCMS, and how to make wise choices in practical operation.

The importance of thumbnail processing

In the digital content age, the appeal of visual presentation should not be underestimated.[en] The thumbnail as the cover of the content directly affects the user's click intention.A clear, beautiful, and quick-loading thumbnail that effectively enhances user experience, increases page views, and has a positive impact on search engine optimization (SEO).However, the vast differences in size and proportion of the original images make it necessary for us to have a smart and flexible thumbnail processing mechanism.AnQiCMS is well-versed in this field, providing meticulous settings to help us efficiently manage image resources on the website.

AnQiCMS provides three thumbnail processing methods

AnQiCMS provides us with three core thumbnail processing methods in the content settings, each designed for different visual effects and content display needs.Understanding their principles and effects is the first step in building an efficient visual strategy.

1. Resize by the longest side in proportion

The core of this processing method lies in 'proportional scaling', which ensures the integrity of the original image ratio.When we set the image to scale proportionally by the longest side, AnQiCMS will calculate the longest side ratio between the original image and the target size based on the thumbnail size (width and height) we have preset, and then scale the image according to this ratio.The thumbnail generated, where one side of the width or height will be fixed to the target size, and the other side will be proportionally scaled according to the original aspect ratio.

Features and application scenarios:

• Advantages:Maintain the integrity of the image content, there will be no cropping or distortion, and the thematic information of the image is retained in its entirety.
• Disadvantages:The dimensions of all thumbnails cannot be guaranteed to be exactly the same.If the aspect ratio difference between the original image and the target size is large, the resized image may leave a blank area on one side, or the actual size may be smaller than the preset target size.
• Choose the right timing:When the integrity of the image content is crucial and the exact dimensions of the thumbnail are not highly required, such as images in news article lists or multi-angle presentations on product detail pages, this method is usually chosen to ensure that users can see the full content of the image.

2. Pad to the longest side

The processing method of 'filling with the longest edge' aims to achieve uniformity in thumbnail size while retaining the integrity of the image content.Similar to geometric scaling, it first scales the image according to the original proportion, making the longest side reach the target size.The difference is that if the scaled image does not reach the target size on the short edge, AnQiCMS will fill the insufficient part with the specified color (usually white) to ensure that the final thumbnail strictly meets the preset dimensions.The image will be centered in the specified area.

Features and application scenarios:

• Advantages:Unified the sizes of all thumbnails, making the page layout more uniform. The image content has not been cropped, and important information is retained.
• Disadvantages:The filled white (or other color) border may distract the user's attention or look inconsistent under certain design styles.If the filled area is too large, it may waste some visual space.
• Choose the right timing:

3. Crop by the shortest edge

“Crop to shortest edge” is a processing method that sacrifices part of the edge information of the image to ensure a uniform thumbnail size and compact content.AnQiCMS will scale the image proportionally first based on the preset thumbnail size, so that the shortest side reaches the target size.Then, crop from the central area of the image, remove the parts of the longest side that exceed the target size, thus obtaining a thumbnail that precisely matches the preset width and height.

Features and application scenarios:

• Advantages:The thumbnail dimensions are completely uniform, with no blank borders, and the visual effect is very compact and professional.Can better highlight the main subject of the image, especially suitable for scenes where the original main subject is centered.
• Disadvantages:The image edges' content will be trimmed, which may result in the loss of some important information.If the subject of the image is not centered, or if edge information is crucial for understanding the content of the image, this method may not be applicable.
• Choose the right timing:When the page layout requires strict uniform image size, and the main information of the image is usually centered, it is the most effective when it is acceptable for the edge content to be cropped.For example, avatar, standardized product images, or background blurred with a clear subject.This helps create a clean, professional visual style and make the most of limited display space.

How to configure and optimize thumbnails in AnQiCMS?

In the AnQiCMS backend, we can flexibly configure the thumbnail processing method through the 'Content Settings' module.This includes not only choosing one of the above three methods, but also setting the 'size' (width and height) of the thumbnail, as well as uploading the 'default thumbnail'.Set thumbnail size reasonably can effectively reduce image size and speed up page loading.If your website has adjusted the thumbnail size or processing method during operation, AnQiCMS also provides a 'Batch Regenerate Thumbnails' feature, which allows you to easily update all existing content thumbnails with one click, ensuring consistency in the overall visual style of the site.

Concluding remarks

Common Questions and Answers (FAQ)

1. Why do my thumbnails look blurry or have jagged edges?This may have two main reasons in most cases.Firstly, the original image quality is not high. When small-sized low-quality images are enlarged or scaled, insufficient pixels can lead to blurring.Secondly, if you choose the cropping or padding method, but the thumbnail size set is too small compared to the original image or the proportion difference is too large, it may also lead to poor visual effects during the processing process.We recommend using high-quality original images and setting appropriate thumbnail sizes according to the website's front-end display requirements.

2. Do I need to manually update the old image after I have modified the thumbnail processing method or size?You do not need to update them one by one.AnQiCMS provides a convenient 'Batch Regenerate Thumbnails' feature.When you change the thumbnail processing method or size in the "Content Settings", you can use this feature. The system will automatically regenerate thumbnails for all uploaded images according to the new settings and size.This greatly simplifies the workload of website maintenance and ensures the unified update of the entire site's visual style.

3. How does AnQiCMS automatically generate thumbnails? What if I don't manually upload a thumbnail?AnQiCMS has an intelligent thumbnail extraction mechanism.When you post a document without manually uploading a thumbnail, the system will automatically detect if there are any images in the document content.If the content includes images, the system will intelligently extract the first image in the document as the thumbnail for that document.If you have not uploaded a thumbnail and there are no images in the document content, AnQiCMS will use the 'default thumbnail' preset in your 'content settings' to display, to avoid blank or missing images.