$ cat image-integration-showcase.md

This post demonstrates the comprehensive image integration system implemented for this Zola-based blog, showcasing advanced features like responsive image delivery and performance optimization.

Hero Image Example

Let’s start with a hero image that demonstrates the overlay and caption functionality:

Building Modern Web Applications

Photo by John Doe on Unsplash

The hero image above automatically generates multiple sizes:

• Desktop: 1920x1080
• Tablet: 1024x576
• Mobile: 768x432

Featured Image Integration

Featured images are automatically integrated into the page metadata for social media sharing. The featured image for this post is defined in the frontmatter and will appear when shared on social platforms.

Responsive Image Examples

Standard Responsive Image

Here’s a responsive image that adapts to different screen sizes:

Floating Images

Images can be positioned to float alongside text content:

This floating image demonstrates how content can wrap around images for better text flow. The image automatically adjusts its size based on the viewport while maintaining optimal quality.

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Project Screenshots

The project screenshot shortcode is perfect for showcasing development work:

ActivityPub MCP Server

A comprehensive Model Context Protocol server that enables LLMs to explore and interact with the Fediverse through standardized ActivityPub integration.

View Code Live Demo

Gopher MCP Server

A modern Model Context Protocol server for Gopher and Gemini protocols, enabling AI assistants to browse these classic internet protocols safely and efficiently.

View Code

Image Gallery with Lightbox

The enhanced gallery shortcode provides automatic optimization and lightbox functionality:

Click on any image above to open the lightbox viewer with keyboard navigation support (arrow keys to navigate, escape to close).

Thumbnail Examples

Thumbnails are perfect for creating compact image grids:

Performance Features

Automatic Optimization

All images are automatically optimized through Zola’s resize_image() function:

• Multiple Sizes: Responsive images include multiple resolutions
• Lazy Loading: Images load only when needed for better performance
• Caching: Processed images are cached for faster subsequent builds

SEO and Accessibility

• Structured Data: Proper schema markup for search engines
• Alt Text: Comprehensive alt text for screen readers
• Social Media: Open Graph images for social sharing
• Performance: Optimized loading for Core Web Vitals

Technical Implementation

Shortcode Usage

<!-- Basic responsive image -->
{{ "{{ responsive_image(src=\"/images/example.jpg\", alt=\"Description\") }}" }}

<!-- Gallery with lightbox -->
{{ "{{ gallery(images=\"img1.jpg,img2.jpg\", captions=\"Cap1,Cap2\", columns=\"3\") }}" }}

<!-- Project showcase -->
{{ "{{ project_screenshot(src=\"/images/project.jpg\", title=\"Project Name\", github_url=\"https://github.com/user/repo\") }}" }}

File Organization

static/images/
├── blog/2025/01/          # Blog post images
├── projects/              # Project screenshots
├── site/                  # Site assets
└── sources/               # High-resolution originals

Conclusion

This comprehensive image integration system provides:

1. Performance: Lazy loading and responsive delivery
2. User Experience: Lightbox galleries, smooth transitions, keyboard navigation
3. Developer Experience: Simple shortcodes, automatic optimization, consistent sizing
4. SEO: Proper metadata, structured data, social media integration
5. Accessibility: Alt text, keyboard navigation, screen reader support

The system leverages Zola’s powerful image processing capabilities while providing a clean, user-friendly interface for content creators. All images are automatically optimized for web delivery while maintaining high quality across different devices and screen sizes.

This showcase demonstrates the power of combining Zola’s built-in image processing with custom shortcodes and responsive design principles.