Stopping automatic cropping in Squarespace involves a few steps and considerations, as the platform tends to auto-crop images to fit within certain design constraints, like galleries or summary blocks. Here’s a detailed guide to help you prevent unwanted cropping in Squarespace:

1. Understand Where Cropping Occurs

Identifying where Squarespace is auto-cropping your images is the first step. Common areas where cropping might occur include: - Thumbnail images - Gallery blocks - Summary blocks - Banner or background images

2. Use Proper Image Dimensions

Ensure your images have the appropriate dimensions for the area where they will be displayed. For example, banner images should have a wide aspect ratio, while thumbnail images should fit the dimensions specified by the template you’re using.

3. Adjust Thumbnail and Gallery Settings

Many cropping issues stem from the settings in thumbnails and galleries. - Thumbnail Images: - Go to the gallery or summary block settings by clicking the pencil icon on the block. - Navigate to the ‘Design’ tab. - Locate the ‘Aspect Ratio’ dropdown and select ‘Original’ to maintain the image's original aspect ratio.

• Gallery Blocks:
• Open the gallery block settings.
• Under the ‘Design’ tab, choose the option for ‘Fit’ or ‘Inline’ instead of ‘Crop’.

4. Edit Page Section Background Images

If your background images are being cropped: - Click on the section where the image is hosted, and go to ‘Edit Section’. - Under the ‘Background’ tab, ensure the image is set to ‘In-line’ or 'Fit' instead of ‘Fill’.

5. Customize CSS (Advanced Users)

For users comfortable with CSS, adding custom code can provide greater control: - Go to Design > Custom CSS in the main navigation menu. - Add CSS rules to target specific elements where cropping is an issue. For example: css .summary-thumbnail-image img { object-fit: contain; } This rule tells the browser to fit the entire image within its container without cropping.

6. Template-Specific Adjustments

Some templates may have unique settings or limitations: - Review the documentation for your specific template on Squarespace’s help center. - Certain templates might not fully support preventing cropping, and switching to a more flexible template might be considered.

7. Test and Review

After making changes, review your site on different devices and browsers to ensure consistency and that images appear as intended.

Key Considerations:

• Image Quality: Always use high-quality images, as resizing can sometimes lead to lower-quality displays.
• Aspect Ratios: Consistent aspect ratios across images can often minimize cropping issues.
• Template Limitations: Some templates may inherently manage image display in a way that makes cropping unavoidable.

By carefully adjusting these settings and possibly employing custom CSS, you can significantly reduce or eliminate unwanted image cropping in Squarespace. Remember to periodically review your site design to ensure that all visual elements are displayed as intended.