Implement advanced image processing optimization for Hugo site

[tmr08c]

Overview

After the Gatsby to Hugo migration, we should implement advanced image processing optimizations to improve site performance and user experience.

Current State

✅ Basic imaging configuration added to hugo.toml:

• Quality: 85
• Resampling filter: Lanczos
• Background color: white
• WebP hint: photo

Proposed Enhancements

1. Responsive Image Processing

• Implement responsive images using Hugo's built-in processing
• Generate multiple image sizes (e.g., 400w, 800w, 1200w)
• Add proper srcset attributes for different viewport sizes
• Update theme templates to use responsive image shortcodes

2. Modern Image Formats

• Convert large images to WebP format for better compression
• Implement fallback for browsers that don't support WebP
• Consider AVIF format for even better compression (when browser support improves)

3. Performance Optimizations

• Implement lazy loading for images below the fold
• Add image preloading for critical above-the-fold images
• Optimize image dimensions to match actual display sizes

4. Build Process Integration

• Add image optimization to the build pipeline
• Set up automated image compression for new blog posts
• Create guidelines for optimal image sizes and formats

5. Template Enhancements

• Create Hugo shortcodes for common image patterns
• Add support for image captions and alt text
• Implement proper semantic markup for accessibility

Technical Implementation

Example Responsive Image Template

{{ $image := .Resources.GetMatch $imagePath }}
{{ $small := $image.Resize "400x" }}
{{ $medium := $image.Resize "800x" }}
{{ $large := $image.Resize "1200x" }}

<img src="{{ $small.RelPermalink }}" 
     srcset="{{ $small.RelPermalink }} 400w, 
             {{ $medium.RelPermalink }} 800w, 
             {{ $large.RelPermalink }} 1200w"
     sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 
            (max-width: 800px) 50vw, 
            33vw"
     alt="{{ .Alt }}"
     loading="lazy">

Hugo Image Processing Methods to Leverage

• .Resize() - Scale images to specific dimensions
• .Fit() - Scale and crop to fit exact dimensions
• .Fill() - Crop to exact dimensions with smart cropping
• .Filter() - Apply image filters (brightness, contrast, etc.)
• .Process() - Chain multiple operations

Benefits

• Performance: Faster page loads with optimized image sizes
• Bandwidth: Reduced data usage, especially on mobile
• SEO: Better Core Web Vitals scores
• UX: Improved perceived performance with proper lazy loading
• Accessibility: Better alt text and semantic markup

Implementation Priority

1. High: Responsive image processing for blog posts
2. Medium: WebP format conversion
3. Low: Advanced filters and effects

Acceptance Criteria

• All blog post images use responsive processing
• Page load times improve by at least 20%
• Images are properly optimized for different screen sizes
• No degradation in image quality
• Backward compatibility maintained
• Documentation updated with new image guidelines

Related Resources

• Hugo Image Processing Documentation
• Web.dev Image Optimization Guide
• Core Web Vitals

Dependencies

This work should be completed after the Hugo migration PR (#469) is merged and the site is successfully deployed.