Decision Always provide editors control over image style cropping

Decision

When using image styles that apply cropping, configure a method for editors to designate the most important area of each image. Do not rely on automated cropping without editorial crop control.

Use Focal Point as the default solution. If a project has requirements that Focal Point cannot satisfy, like independent crop regions per image style at different aspect ratios, use Image Widget Crop with the crop and ratio_crop modules instead, and document that choice in a project-level ADR.

Consequences

• Editors will need guidance on why setting a focal point matters and how to use the widget when uploading or editing images.
• Images that predate this configuration may lack crop data. When a cropping image style is added to an existing field, those images should be reviewed and updated.
• Cropped image styles will produce more predictable results across the range of display contexts where an image is used.