Drupal: Aalto.fi website

Image aspect ratio at aalto.fi

Images are an essential element of the aalto.fi platform, used to provide a pleasing and an interesting experience for the users. To support the work of the editors, we created a set of tools to understand and control the way images are used across the platform: depending on the component and on the device size, images can be cropped to fit the different aspect ratios.

What is aspect ratio?

The aspect ratio of an image describes the proportional relationship between its width and its height, no matter how big the image actually is. It is commonly expressed with two numbers, separated by a colon, as in 16:9.

 
Current aspect ratios used on aalto.fi
Original ratio 1:1 1.6:1 1.8:1 2.3:1
Original aspect ratio
Original ratio

Original ratio

The aalto.fi site allows you to display images that are rendered with their original ratio (without any cropping). This is recommended if you need to display an image in its entirety, such as an infographic or a logo. These are the components that feature images with Original Ratio:
 

  • Single image: when adding a single image to your page, set the Medium display mode. Read more under Single image

  • Image with text: when adding a single image to your page, set the Default image display mode. Read more under Image with text

  • NB for Content pages, only on Main Image: when defining an image as the Main Image, set the Medium No-Crop setting.

1:1 Aspect ratio
Square ratio

1:1 – Square ratio

The square aspect ratio will crop the image to fit within a square (or a circle).This aspect ratio is used in a variety of spaces across the platform, including:

  • Manual Liftups
  • News and Events listings (on desktop view)

For hub editors only:

  • If you use the Hero magazine component, the image will be automatically set to 1:1 ratio.

  • You can set your own hub page main image to fit into a 1:1 circle with the Hub Description component, by setting the Medium display mode. Read more under Hub description

Aspect ratio 1:6
Landscape ratio

1.6:1 and 1.8:1 – Landscape ratio

These aspect ratios feature a slight landscape format. They are used in a variety of spaces across the platform, including:
 

  • Single Image Large & Extra large, on mobile devices

  • Events Liftups

Aspect ratio 2.3:1
Very Landscape ratio

2.3:1 – Very Landscape ratio

This ratio features a very landscape format. It is used to display big and full-bleed images, that allow you to create visually impactful pages. The components that feature images with 2.3:1 Ratio:
 

  • Single image: when adding a single image to your page, set the Large or Extra Large display mode. Read more under Single image

  • Hub Description: you can set your own Hub page main image to be full bleed by setting the Large display mode for the Hub Description component. Read more under HUB description

FAQs

More instructions about images and components

Adding images, ALT text, changing cropping and focal points

Learn how to upload images and add alternative text (alt text) for accessibility. Changing the focal point of an image will affect how the image is cropped on different screens.

Väre building in the campus. Inside shot of natural light filled dark wood staircase criss-crossing in white surroundings. Light through skylights. Photo by Aalto University / Tuomas Uusheimo

Image and media components for aalto.fi

There are several ways to display images and media at aalto.fi. Learn more about the media slider, gallery and video component.

Advanced tips on using images

Using images is a big part of content creating at aalto.fi. In this blog post, we’ll go more into depth regarding what kind of images to use for your content, how to modify the images so that they look good on any device and what to avoid when choosing an image for your page.

People sitting in round holes in walls. Photo by Unto Rautio / Aalto University.
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