Hi MasterReny. Actually, the reason for outputting the image using the CSS background property is not stupid, when you think about it (this is something we explain in the FAQ section of our plugin):
As you may already know, when one uploads a featured image, WordPress creates several thumbnails. These thumbnails are scaled down and/or cropped, depending on the specific needs the theme has.
Imagine, for instance, we upload a portrait image (768x1024px). The theme might need a squared, smaller version of that image (say, 60x60px). Well, WordPress will create that thumbnail for it, scaling the image down and cropping it appropriately.
If that image is an external featured image, then WordPress cannot create any thumbnails. When we output this external image, the theme might force its size to be 60x60px. But since the image is a portrait image (it’s not squared), we’ll output something with an ugly aspect ratio.
The solution to this problem was to define the featured image as the background of an element whose dimensions can be freely modified. Since the featured image is a background, modifying the dimensions of the container element simulate an “image crop”. If you know an alternative solution to this problem, please let us know! We’d love to hear it and, if it works, implement it ??
