Why do optimized menu-style images lose clarity after export in Photoshop?

Hi everyone,

I’m working on a content-heavy website where visual presentation (especially menu-style layouts) is really important, and I’ve been running into image quality issues after exporting from Adobe Photoshop.

Project context:

• Website: www.7thbrewmenus.com
• Layout type: Text-heavy menu-style pages with images and structured sections
• Goal: Keep images sharp while maintaining fast load times

What I’m doing:

• Designing and optimizing images in Photoshop
• Exporting using “Save for Web” (JPEG/PNG depending on use)
• Trying to balance file size vs clarity

Issue:

• Images look crisp inside Photoshop
• After export + upload, they appear slightly blurry or lose sharpness
• More noticeable on text-heavy visuals or UI-like elements

What I’ve tried:

• Adjusting export quality settings
• Switching between JPEG and PNG
• Resizing images before export
• Testing different compression levels

Questions:

1. What are the best export settings in Photoshop for maintaining sharpness on web UI/menu-style images?
2. Is there a recommended workflow to avoid quality loss during compression?
3. Should I be designing at a higher resolution and scaling down, or keeping 1:1 dimensions?
4. Are there better formats or techniques for handling text-heavy visuals on websites?

Any insights or recommended workflows would really help.