Title: Inconsistent Image block alignment/width
Last modified: June 9, 2024

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# Inconsistent Image block alignment/width

 *  Resolved [simongarrett](https://wordpress.org/support/users/simongarrett/)
 * (@simongarrett)
 * [2 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/inconsistent-image-block-alignment-width/)
 * Like some others posting on these forums, I’ve found inconsistencies in the way
   Image blocks align with the text of Paragraph blocks. This occurs in Twenty Twenty-
   Four theme, and in other block themes I’ve tried (including Abisko). It also 
   applies to other image blocks such as the Cover block, but I’ve not explored 
   them all.
 * I’d be interested if anyone can explain why this apparently inconsistent behaviour
   occurs.
 * In brief: if you put an Image block between two Paragraph blocks, with default
   Image block alignment (“None”), then the left side of the image aligns with the
   left side of the text. This is what I would expect. Both text and image are using
   the content width implied by containing block (or ultimately from the default
   in themes.json, which is 620 pixels for Twenty Twenty-Four).
 * However, if you want the text to wrap around the image, you need to set the Image
   block alignment to “Align left” (or “Align right”). I would expect the image 
   to align as before with the left (or right) of the image aligned with the left(
   or right) of the text. Often this is not what happens! In most cases, the image
   will instead align with the left (or right) of the container.
 * I’ve shown examples of this behaviour at [https://simongarrett.uk/tt4/image-alignment-test/](https://simongarrett.uk/tt4/image-alignment-test/).
 * I think I know what is happening, but I don’t know why! And none of the documentation
   mentions this behaviour. Can anyone explain?
 * I think this is what happens:
 * Text and media blocks generally take their width from the Layout setting in the
   innermost containing block. This is specified in the “Inner blocks use content
   width” toggle. Unless you have container blocks in the page (Groups, Rows, Columns,
   Stacks etc) then the block containing the content is likely to be the “Content
   block” in the page template. For the Pages template in Twenty Twenty-Four, this
   has the “Inner blocks use…” toggle set ON but with no values set, so normal content
   width defaults to 620 pixels.
 * Image blocks use this width if the alignment is “None” (the default) but do something
   different if the alignment is “Align left” or “Align right”. In these cases, 
   the Image block ignores the content width specified in the innermost containing
   block, and looks for the content width from an outer block, starting with the
   next outer block. With Twenty Twenty-Four, there is an outer Group block around
   the Content block, and this has the “Inner blocks use…” toggle set OFF. This 
   causes the width to be the entire container width.
 * There is an easy fix that works in many cases, but might involve work to retro-
   fit in some cases. To apply globally: edit the Pages template and put the Content
   block inside a new Group block, the latter having “Inner blocks use content width”
   set ON with blanks for the parameter values. To do it locally, simply embed any
   affected Image blocks in a Group block. The result is that when the Image block
   decides to ignore the content width specified by the innermost containing block,
   it will find another one outside with “Inner blocks use content width” set ON.
 * However, I’d be grateful if anyone can explain why the Image block behaves this
   way (and why it isn’t documented anywhere).
    -  This topic was modified 2 years ago by [simongarrett](https://wordpress.org/support/users/simongarrett/).
    -  This topic was modified 2 years ago by [simongarrett](https://wordpress.org/support/users/simongarrett/).
    -  This topic was modified 2 years ago by [simongarrett](https://wordpress.org/support/users/simongarrett/).
      Reason: typos
    -  This topic was modified 2 years ago by [simongarrett](https://wordpress.org/support/users/simongarrett/).
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Finconsistent-image-block-alignment-width%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  Moderator [jordesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jordesign/)
 * (@jordesign)
 * [1 year, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/inconsistent-image-block-alignment-width/#post-17815629)
 * Hi [@simongarrett](https://wordpress.org/support/users/simongarrett/) – thanks
   so much for that thorough test – it’s a great example of what you’re describing.
 * To my understanding, what you’ve described is exactly what is happening. Without
   a Group block with content set – the left/right aligned image will float to the
   container width.
 * This kind of thing would definitely be worth raising in the Github repository
   for the designers and developers to discuss addressing (or not).
 * [https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/new/choose](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/new/choose)
 *  Thread Starter [simongarrett](https://wordpress.org/support/users/simongarrett/)
 * (@simongarrett)
 * [1 year, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/inconsistent-image-block-alignment-width/#post-17821218)
 * Thanks, I posted a query on github as you suggested, but got a reply that amounted
   to “It is what it is” without really saying why. See [https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/62484](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/62484).
 * It’s not a big deal: it all works, but block alignment is slightly mysterious
   if you don’t know what’s happening. The behaviour is not documented, e.g. no 
   mention here: [https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/image-block/#aligning-images](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/image-block/#aligning-images).
   You just have to know that sometimes you need an extra containing Group block
   to get the alignment you want.
 * No complaints though, I think FSE is a great step forward, and gives a lot more
   power without ever touching php or messing with css. All the sites I maintain(
   around half a dozen mainly community sites) have been converted to use block 
   themes.

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

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 * 3 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [simongarrett](https://wordpress.org/support/users/simongarrett/)
 * Last activity: [1 year, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/inconsistent-image-block-alignment-width/#post-17821218)
 * Status: resolved