diff --git a/cps/helper.py b/cps/helper.py
index 004e1b0e..37ee7bb2 100644
--- a/cps/helper.py
+++ b/cps/helper.py
@@ -30,10 +30,12 @@ import requests
 import unidecode
 from uuid import uuid4
 
-from flask import send_from_directory, make_response, abort, url_for, Response
+from flask import send_from_directory, make_response, abort, url_for, Response, redirect
 from flask_babel import gettext as _
 from flask_babel import lazy_gettext as N_
 from flask_babel import get_locale
+from flask_image_resizer import resized_img_src
+
 from .cw_login import current_user
 from sqlalchemy.sql.expression import true, false, and_, or_, text, func
 from sqlalchemy.exc import InvalidRequestError, OperationalError
@@ -749,6 +751,8 @@ def get_book_cover_with_uuid(book_uuid, resolution=None):
 
 
 def get_book_cover_internal(book, resolution=None):
+    """returns an optimized version of the cover, unless using google drive"""
+
     if book and book.has_cover:
 
         # Send the book cover thumbnail if it exists in cache
@@ -757,8 +761,13 @@ def get_book_cover_internal(book, resolution=None):
             if thumbnail:
                 cache = fs.FileSystem()
                 if cache.get_cache_file_exists(thumbnail.filename, CACHE_TYPE_THUMBNAILS):
-                    return send_from_directory(cache.get_cache_file_dir(thumbnail.filename, CACHE_TYPE_THUMBNAILS),
-                                               thumbnail.filename)
+                    return redirect(resized_img_src(
+                        os.path.join(
+                            cache.get_cache_file_dir(thumbnail.filename, CACHE_TYPE_THUMBNAILS),
+                            thumbnail.filename
+                        ),
+                        format="webp"
+                    ))
 
         # Send the book cover from Google Drive if configured
         if config.config_use_google_drive:
@@ -777,9 +786,9 @@ def get_book_cover_internal(book, resolution=None):
 
         # Send the book cover from the Calibre directory
         else:
-            cover_file_path = os.path.join(config.get_book_path(), book.path)
-            if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(cover_file_path, "cover.jpg")):
-                return send_from_directory(cover_file_path, "cover.jpg")
+            cover_file_path = os.path.join(config.get_book_path(), book.path, "cover.jpg")
+            if os.path.isfile(cover_file_path):
+                return redirect(resized_img_src(cover_file_path, format="webp"))
             else:
                 return get_cover_on_failure()
     else:
@@ -820,8 +829,13 @@ def get_series_cover_internal(series_id, resolution=None):
         if thumbnail:
             cache = fs.FileSystem()
             if cache.get_cache_file_exists(thumbnail.filename, CACHE_TYPE_THUMBNAILS):
-                return send_from_directory(cache.get_cache_file_dir(thumbnail.filename, CACHE_TYPE_THUMBNAILS),
-                                           thumbnail.filename)
+                return redirect(resized_img_src(
+                    os.path.join(
+                        cache.get_cache_file_dir(thumbnail.filename, CACHE_TYPE_THUMBNAILS),
+                        thumbnail.filename
+                    ),
+                    format="webp"
+                ))
 
     return get_series_thumbnail_on_failure(series_id, resolution)
 
diff --git a/cps/templates/image.html b/cps/templates/image.html
index 088e6b99..f84fa12b 100644
--- a/cps/templates/image.html
+++ b/cps/templates/image.html
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     {% set srcset = book|get_cover_srcset %}
     <img
         srcset="{{ srcset }}"
-        src="{{ resized_img_src(url_for('web.get_cover', book_id=book.id, resolution='og', c=book|last_modified), format='webp') }}"
+        src="{{ url_for('web.get_cover', book_id=book.id, resolution='og', c=book|last_modified) }}"
         alt="{{ image_alt }}"
         loading="lazy"
     />
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
     {% set srcset = series|get_series_srcset %}
     <img
         srcset="{{ srcset }}"
-        src="{{ resized_img_src(url_for('web.get_series_cover', series_id=series.id, resolution='og', c='day'|cache_timestamp), format='webp') }}"
+        src="{{ url_for('web.get_series_cover', series_id=series.id, resolution='og', c='day'|cache_timestamp) }}"
         alt="{{ book_title }}"
         loading="lazy"
     />
diff --git a/cps/web.py b/cps/web.py
index 2519ebd5..fa15b3fc 100644
--- a/cps/web.py
+++ b/cps/web.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ from flask import request, redirect, send_from_directory, make_response, flash,
 from flask import session as flask_session
 from flask_babel import gettext as _
 from flask_babel import get_locale
+from flask_image_resizer import resized_img_src
+
 from .cw_login import login_user, logout_user, current_user
 from flask_limiter import RateLimitExceeded
 from flask_limiter.util import get_remote_address
@@ -1147,6 +1149,17 @@ def category_list():
 @web.route("/cover/<int:book_id>/<string:resolution>")
 @login_required_if_no_ano
 def get_cover(book_id, resolution=None):
+    return redirect(
+        resized_img_src(
+            url_for("web.get_raw_cover", book_id=book_id, resolution=resolution)
+        )
+    )
+
+
+@web.route("/raw_cover/<int:book_id>")
+@web.route("/raw_cover/<int:book_id>/<string:resolution>")
+@login_required_if_no_ano
+def get_raw_cover(book_id, resolution=None):
     resolutions = {
         'og': constants.COVER_THUMBNAIL_ORIGINAL,
         'sm': constants.COVER_THUMBNAIL_SMALL,
@@ -1161,6 +1174,17 @@ def get_cover(book_id, resolution=None):
 @web.route("/series_cover/<int:series_id>/<string:resolution>")
 @login_required_if_no_ano
 def get_series_cover(series_id, resolution=None):
+    return redirect(
+        resized_img_src(
+            url_for("web.get_raw_series_cover", series_id=series_id, resolution=resolution)
+        )
+    )
+
+
+@web.route("/raw_series_cover/<int:series_id>")
+@web.route("/raw_series_cover/<int:series_id>/<string:resolution>")
+@login_required_if_no_ano
+def get_raw_series_cover(series_id, resolution=None):
     resolutions = {
         'og': constants.COVER_THUMBNAIL_ORIGINAL,
         'sm': constants.COVER_THUMBNAIL_SMALL,