diff --git a/wled00/FX.cpp b/wled00/FX.cpp
index f0f4276f27..a6ce48a8f9 100644
--- a/wled00/FX.cpp
+++ b/wled00/FX.cpp
@@ -4509,7 +4509,7 @@ uint16_t mode_image(void) {
   //   Serial.println(status);
   // }
 }
-static const char _data_FX_MODE_IMAGE[] PROGMEM = "Image@!,;;;12;sx=128";
+static const char _data_FX_MODE_IMAGE[] PROGMEM = "Image@!,Blur,;;;12;sx=128,ix=0";
 
 /*
   Blends random colors across palette
diff --git a/wled00/image_loader.cpp b/wled00/image_loader.cpp
index 691ede1ac5..d03e4fa4b8 100644
--- a/wled00/image_loader.cpp
+++ b/wled00/image_loader.cpp
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@
  * Functions to render images from filesystem to segments, used by the "Image" effect
  */
 
-File file;
-char lastFilename[34] = "/";
-GifDecoder<320,320,12,true> decoder;
-bool gifDecodeFailed = false;
-unsigned long lastFrameDisplayTime = 0, currentFrameDelay = 0;
+static File file;
+static char lastFilename[WLED_MAX_SEGNAME_LEN+2] = "/"; // enough space for "/" + seg.name + '\0'
+static GifDecoder<320,320,12,true> decoder;  // this creates the basic object; parameter lzwMaxBits is not used; decoder.alloc() always allocated "everything else" = 24Kb 
+static bool gifDecodeFailed = false;
+static unsigned long lastFrameDisplayTime = 0, currentFrameDelay = 0;
 
 bool fileSeekCallback(unsigned long position) {
   return file.seek(position);
@@ -35,29 +35,62 @@ int fileSizeCallback(void) {
   return file.size();
 }
 
-bool openGif(const char *filename) {
+bool openGif(const char *filename) {  // side-effect: updates "file"
   file = WLED_FS.open(filename, "r");
+  DEBUG_PRINTF_P(PSTR("opening GIF file %s\n"), filename);
 
   if (!file) return false;
   return true;
 }
 
-Segment* activeSeg;
-uint16_t gifWidth, gifHeight;
+static Segment* activeSeg;
+static uint16_t gifWidth, gifHeight;
+static int lastCoordinate; // last coordinate (x+y) that was set, used to reduce redundant pixel writes
+static uint16_t perPixelX, perPixelY; // scaling factors when upscaling
 
 void screenClearCallback(void) {
   activeSeg->fill(0);
 }
 
-void updateScreenCallback(void) {}
+// this callback runs when the decoder has finished painting all pixels
+void updateScreenCallback(void) {
+  // perfect time for adding blur
+  if (activeSeg->intensity > 1) {
+    uint8_t blurAmount = activeSeg->intensity;
+    if ((blurAmount < 24) && (activeSeg->is2D())) activeSeg->blurRows(activeSeg->intensity);  // some blur - fast
+    else activeSeg->blur(blurAmount);                                                         // more blur - slower
+  }
+  lastCoordinate = -1; // invalidate last position
+}
+
+// note: GifDecoder drawing is done top right to bottom left, line by line
+
+// callbacks to draw a pixel at (x,y) without scaling: used if GIF size matches (virtual)segment size (faster) works for 1D and 2D segments
+void drawPixelCallbackNoScale(int16_t x, int16_t y, uint8_t red, uint8_t green, uint8_t blue) {
+  activeSeg->setPixelColor(y * gifWidth + x, red, green, blue);
+}
 
-void drawPixelCallback(int16_t x, int16_t y, uint8_t red, uint8_t green, uint8_t blue) {
-  // simple nearest-neighbor scaling 
-  int16_t outY = y * activeSeg->height() / gifHeight;
-  int16_t outX = x * activeSeg->width()  / gifWidth;
+void drawPixelCallback1D(int16_t x, int16_t y, uint8_t red, uint8_t green, uint8_t blue) {
+  // 1D strip: load pixel-by-pixel left to right, top to bottom (0/0 = top-left in gifs)
+  int totalImgPix = (int)gifWidth * gifHeight;
+  int start =  ((int)y * gifWidth + (int)x) * activeSeg->vLength() / totalImgPix; // simple nearest-neighbor scaling
+  if (start == lastCoordinate) return; // skip setting same coordinate again
+  lastCoordinate = start;
+  for (int i = 0; i < perPixelX; i++) {
+    activeSeg->setPixelColor(start + i, red, green, blue);
+  }
+}
+
+void drawPixelCallback2D(int16_t x, int16_t y, uint8_t red, uint8_t green, uint8_t blue) {
+  // simple nearest-neighbor scaling
+  int outY = (int)y * activeSeg->vHeight() / gifHeight;
+  int outX = (int)x * activeSeg->vWidth()  / gifWidth;
+  // Pack coordinates uniquely: outY into upper 16 bits, outX into lower 16 bits
+  if (((outY << 16) | outX) == lastCoordinate) return; // skip setting same coordinate again
+  lastCoordinate = (outY << 16) | outX; // since input is a "scanline" this is sufficient to identify a "unique" coordinate
   // set multiple pixels if upscaling
-  for (int16_t i = 0; i < (activeSeg->width()+(gifWidth-1)) / gifWidth; i++) {
-    for (int16_t j = 0; j < (activeSeg->height()+(gifHeight-1)) / gifHeight; j++) {
+  for (int i = 0; i < perPixelX; i++) {
+    for (int j = 0; j < perPixelY; j++) {
       activeSeg->setPixelColorXY(outX + i, outY + j, red, green, blue);
     }
   }
@@ -82,28 +115,78 @@ byte renderImageToSegment(Segment &seg) {
   if (activeSeg && activeSeg != &seg) return IMAGE_ERROR_SEG_LIMIT; // only one segment at a time
   activeSeg = &seg;
 
-  if (strncmp(lastFilename +1, seg.name, 32) != 0) { // segment name changed, load new image
-    strncpy(lastFilename +1, seg.name, 32);
+  if (strncmp(lastFilename +1, seg.name, WLED_MAX_SEGNAME_LEN) != 0) { // segment name changed, load new image
+    strcpy(lastFilename, "/");  // filename always starts with '/'
+    strncpy(lastFilename +1, seg.name, WLED_MAX_SEGNAME_LEN);
+    lastFilename[WLED_MAX_SEGNAME_LEN+1] ='\0';     // ensure proper string termination when segment name was truncated
     gifDecodeFailed = false;
-    if (strcmp(lastFilename + strlen(lastFilename) - 4, ".gif") != 0) {
+    size_t fnameLen = strlen(lastFilename);
+    if ((fnameLen < 4) || strcmp(lastFilename + fnameLen - 4, ".gif") != 0) { // empty segment name, name too short, or name not ending in .gif
       gifDecodeFailed = true;
+      DEBUG_PRINTF_P(PSTR("GIF decoder unsupported file: %s\n"), lastFilename);
       return IMAGE_ERROR_UNSUPPORTED_FORMAT;
     }
     if (file) file.close();
-    openGif(lastFilename);
-    if (!file) { gifDecodeFailed = true; return IMAGE_ERROR_FILE_MISSING; }
+    if (!openGif(lastFilename)) {
+      gifDecodeFailed = true;
+      DEBUG_PRINTF_P(PSTR("GIF file not found: %s\n"), lastFilename);
+      return IMAGE_ERROR_FILE_MISSING;
+    }
+    lastCoordinate = -1;
     decoder.setScreenClearCallback(screenClearCallback);
     decoder.setUpdateScreenCallback(updateScreenCallback);
-    decoder.setDrawPixelCallback(drawPixelCallback);
+    decoder.setDrawPixelCallback(drawPixelCallbackNoScale); //  default: use "fast path" callback without scaling
     decoder.setFileSeekCallback(fileSeekCallback);
     decoder.setFilePositionCallback(filePositionCallback);
     decoder.setFileReadCallback(fileReadCallback);
     decoder.setFileReadBlockCallback(fileReadBlockCallback);
     decoder.setFileSizeCallback(fileSizeCallback);
-    decoder.alloc();
+#if __cpp_exceptions // use exception handler if we can (some targets don't support exceptions)
+    try {
+#endif
+    decoder.alloc(); // this function may throw out-of memory and cause a crash
+#if __cpp_exceptions
+    } catch (...) {  // if we arrive here, the decoder has thrown an OOM exception
+      gifDecodeFailed = true;
+      errorFlag = ERR_NORAM_PX;
+      DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("\nGIF decoder out of memory. Please try a smaller image file.\n"));
+      return IMAGE_ERROR_DECODER_ALLOC;
+      // decoder cleanup (hi @coderabbitai): No additonal cleanup necessary - decoder.alloc() ultimately uses "new AnimatedGIF". 
+      // If new throws, no pointer is assigned, previous decoder state (if any) has already been deleted inside alloc(), so calling decoder.dealloc() here is unnecessary.
+    }
+#endif
     DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("Starting decoding"));
-    if(decoder.startDecoding() < 0) { gifDecodeFailed = true; return IMAGE_ERROR_GIF_DECODE; }
+    int decoderError = decoder.startDecoding();
+    if(decoderError < 0) {
+      DEBUG_PRINTF_P(PSTR("GIF Decoding error %d in startDecoding().\n"), decoderError);
+      errorFlag = ERR_NORAM_PX;
+      gifDecodeFailed = true;
+      return IMAGE_ERROR_GIF_DECODE;
+    }
     DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("Decoding started"));
+    // after startDecoding, we can get GIF size, update static variables and callbacks
+    decoder.getSize(&gifWidth, &gifHeight);
+    if (gifWidth == 0 || gifHeight == 0) {  // bad gif size: prevent division by zero
+      gifDecodeFailed = true;
+      DEBUG_PRINTF_P(PSTR("Invalid GIF dimensions: %dx%d\n"), gifWidth, gifHeight);
+      return IMAGE_ERROR_GIF_DECODE;
+    }
+    if (activeSeg->is2D()) {
+      perPixelX   = (activeSeg->vWidth()  + gifWidth -1) / gifWidth;
+      perPixelY   = (activeSeg->vHeight() + gifHeight-1) / gifHeight;
+      if (activeSeg->vWidth() != gifWidth || activeSeg->vHeight() != gifHeight) {
+        decoder.setDrawPixelCallback(drawPixelCallback2D);        // use 2D callback with scaling
+        //DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("scaling image"));
+      }
+    } else {
+      int totalImgPix = (int)gifWidth * gifHeight;
+      if (totalImgPix - activeSeg->vLength() == 1) totalImgPix--; // handle off-by-one: skip last pixel instead of first (gifs constructed from 1D input pad last pixel if length is odd)
+      perPixelX   = (activeSeg->vLength() + totalImgPix-1) / totalImgPix;
+      if (totalImgPix != activeSeg->vLength()) {
+        decoder.setDrawPixelCallback(drawPixelCallback1D);        // use 1D callback with scaling
+        //DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("scaling image"));
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   if (gifDecodeFailed) return IMAGE_ERROR_PREV;
@@ -117,10 +200,12 @@ byte renderImageToSegment(Segment &seg) {
   // TODO consider handling this on FX level with a different frametime, but that would cause slow gifs to speed up during transitions
   if (millis() - lastFrameDisplayTime < wait) return IMAGE_ERROR_WAITING;
 
-  decoder.getSize(&gifWidth, &gifHeight);
-
   int result = decoder.decodeFrame(false);
-  if (result < 0) { gifDecodeFailed = true; return IMAGE_ERROR_FRAME_DECODE; }
+  if (result < 0) {
+    DEBUG_PRINTF_P(PSTR("GIF Decoding error %d in decodeFrame().\n"), result);
+    gifDecodeFailed = true;
+    return IMAGE_ERROR_FRAME_DECODE;
+  }
 
   currentFrameDelay = decoder.getFrameDelay_ms();
   unsigned long tooSlowBy = (millis() - lastFrameDisplayTime) - wait; // if last frame was longer than intended, compensate
@@ -137,7 +222,7 @@ void endImagePlayback(Segment *seg) {
   decoder.dealloc();
   gifDecodeFailed = false;
   activeSeg = nullptr;
-  lastFilename[1] = '\0';
+  strcpy(lastFilename, "/");  // reset filename
   DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("Image playback ended"));
 }