Reader: Tiny images get stretched and produce some strange results

[dzver]

Context and steps to reproduce

https://wordpress.com/reader/feeds/110080406/posts/5621946730

The image in question is a regular landscape image embedded in the post with a width of 147px (on the blog itself it's restyled with CSS to be larger).

It can be seen once or twice on a good 15 minute Reader session.

Site owner impact

Fewer than 20% of the total website/platform users

Severity

Minor

What other impact(s) does this issue have?

No response

If a workaround is available, please outline it here.

No response

Platform

No response

[github-actions]

This issue could use some more labels, to help prioritize and categorize our work. Could you please add at least a [Type], a [Feature], and a [Pri] label?

[supernovia]

📌 REPRODUCTION RESULTS

• Tested – Unable to replicate so far using simple and AT

📌 FINDINGS/SCREENSHOTS/VIDEO
Hi @dzver , could you confirm whether you still the same issue on that post? Right now the image shows up as tiny and embedded later in the post, so I'm wondering if the user perhaps had it set as a featured image at some point.

I've not been able to replicate this on my test sites even with a tiny image, but my new post with a tiny featured image hasn't popped up yet:
https://wordpress.com/reader/feeds/168236860

Also, could you share more about the device you're using when you see the stretch? TIA!

📌 ACTIONS

• Scrubbed
• Requested author feedback

[supernovia]

@dzver as an update, I am able to replicate this, sortof, if the tiny image is set as featured. I've not been able to replicate it or even see it on the user site, though, if it's just embedded in the post.

I also tried switching to the same theme, in case it was automatically setting featured images for the user, but no luck. Here's what I see.

No Featured Image	Tiny Featured Image

Since this comes up a few times when you're browsing the reader, can you get more links to affected posts so we can see if we can spot the issue? Also, can you confirm what view you're seeing this in? I've tested a few

[dzver]

I confirm, every single image on that site is like this. The images are not featured though.

You can subscribe and then filter the site to reproduce
https://wordpress.com/reader/recent/110080406

[supernovia]

Strange; what device/browser are you using @dzver ?

I've subscribed to the site and tested in the WordPress.com app, my Chrome browser, and my phone's Jetpack app, and I'm not seeing it so far:

tiny.two.mov

[dzver]

We are not testing the same place. Here's a full video. All images are like that

Screen.Recording.2025-04-11.at.8.51.22.mov

[jartes]

Thanks for the video, @dzver! I was able to replicate it:

Moving to Reader team.