diff --git a/modules/blox/layouts/_partials/functions/parse_block_v2.html b/modules/blox/layouts/_partials/functions/parse_block_v2.html
deleted file mode 100644
index 7373e7f3..00000000
--- a/modules/blox/layouts/_partials/functions/parse_block_v2.html
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,377 +0,0 @@
-{{/* Hugo Blox Parser v2 */}}
-{{/* Documentation: https://hugoblox.com/blocks/ */}}
-{{/* License: https://github.com/HugoBlox/kit/blob/main/LICENSE.md */}}
-
-{{ $page := .page }}
-{{ $block := .block }}
-
-{{- $block_type := partial "hbx/resolve-block-param" (dict "config" $block "context" "content section") | default "markdown" -}}
-{{ $block_type = lower $block_type }}
-{{ range $r := site.Data.blox_aliases.renames }}
-  {{ $block_type = cond (eq $block_type $r.old) $r.new $block_type }}
-{{ end }}
-{{ $block_path := printf "hbx/blocks/%s/block.html" $block_type }}
-{{ if not (templates.Exists (printf "_partials/%s" $block_path)) }}
-  {{ errorf "%s uses a `%s` block but the `%s` block was not found at `%s`. Check the name of the block and ensure it exists in the blox/%s/ directory." $page.File.Path $block_type $block_type $block_path $block_type }}
-{{ end }}
-
-{{/* Mermaid block: Workaround to make Hugo's .Page.Store.Set cascade up to the parent of headless pages */}}
-{{ if $block.Page.Store.Get "has_mermaid" }}
-  {{ $page.Page.Store.Set "has_mermaid" true }}
-{{ end }}
-
-{{/* Gallery block: Workaround to make Hugo's .Page.Store.Set cascade up from page blocks to the page context */}}
-{{/* Unfortunately, `.HasShortcode "gallery"` won't accept string input, only page context - so irrelevant here */}}
-{{/* Therefore, must do our own search for shortcodes within the `text` string */}}
-{{ if (gt (len (findRE `\{\{< gallery` $block.content.text 1)) 0) }}
-  {{ $page.Page.Store.Set "has_gallery" true }}
-{{ end }}
-
-{{/* Begin widget styling */}}
-{{ $bg := $block.design.background }}
-{{ $style := "" }}
-{{ $style_bg := "" }}
-
-{{ if $bg.color }}
-  {{/* Check if color is a map/dict (light/dark structure) or a simple string */}}
-  {{ $color_type := printf "%T" $bg.color }}
-  {{ if eq $color_type "map[string]interface {}" }}
-    {{/* New nested light/dark structure */}}
-    {{ if and $bg.color.light $bg.color.dark }}
-      {{ $light_color := $bg.color.light }}
-      {{ $dark_color := $bg.color.dark }}
-      
-      {{/* Convert light color */}}
-      {{ if not (or (hasPrefix $light_color "var(") (hasPrefix $light_color "rgb(") (hasPrefix $light_color "#") (eq $light_color "transparent")) }}
-        {{ if hasPrefix $light_color "primary-" }}
-          {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "primary-" $light_color }}
-          {{ $light_color = printf "var(--color-primary-%s)" $shade }}
-        {{ else if hasPrefix $light_color "secondary-" }}
-          {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "secondary-" $light_color }}
-          {{ $light_color = printf "var(--color-secondary-%s)" $shade }}
-        {{ else if strings.Contains $light_color "-" }}
-          {{ $parts := split $light_color "-" }}
-          {{ if eq (len $parts) 2 }}
-            {{ $color := index $parts 0 }}
-            {{ $shade := index $parts 1 }}
-            {{ $light_color = printf "var(--color-%s-%s)" $color $shade }}
-          {{ end }}
-        {{ end }}
-      {{ end }}
-      
-      {{/* Convert dark color */}}
-      {{ if not (or (hasPrefix $dark_color "var(") (hasPrefix $dark_color "rgb(") (hasPrefix $dark_color "#") (eq $dark_color "transparent")) }}
-        {{ if hasPrefix $dark_color "primary-" }}
-          {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "primary-" $dark_color }}
-          {{ $dark_color = printf "var(--color-primary-%s)" $shade }}
-        {{ else if hasPrefix $dark_color "secondary-" }}
-          {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "secondary-" $dark_color }}
-          {{ $dark_color = printf "var(--color-secondary-%s)" $shade }}
-        {{ else if strings.Contains $dark_color "-" }}
-          {{ $parts := split $dark_color "-" }}
-          {{ if eq (len $parts) 2 }}
-            {{ $color := index $parts 0 }}
-            {{ $shade := index $parts 1 }}
-            {{ $dark_color = printf "var(--color-%s-%s)" $color $shade }}
-          {{ end }}
-        {{ end }}
-      {{ end }}
-      
-      {{ $style_bg = printf "background-color: %s;" $light_color }}
-      {{ $style_bg = printf "%s--dark-bg-color: %s;" $style_bg $dark_color }}
-    {{ else if $bg.color.light }}
-      {{ $light_color := $bg.color.light }}
-      
-      {{/* Convert light color */}}
-      {{ if not (or (hasPrefix $light_color "var(") (hasPrefix $light_color "rgb(") (hasPrefix $light_color "#") (eq $light_color "transparent")) }}
-        {{ if hasPrefix $light_color "primary-" }}
-          {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "primary-" $light_color }}
-          {{ $light_color = printf "var(--color-primary-%s)" $shade }}
-        {{ else if hasPrefix $light_color "secondary-" }}
-          {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "secondary-" $light_color }}
-          {{ $light_color = printf "var(--color-secondary-%s)" $shade }}
-        {{ else if strings.Contains $light_color "-" }}
-          {{ $parts := split $light_color "-" }}
-          {{ if eq (len $parts) 2 }}
-            {{ $color := index $parts 0 }}
-            {{ $shade := index $parts 1 }}
-            {{ $light_color = printf "var(--color-%s-%s)" $color $shade }}
-          {{ end }}
-        {{ end }}
-      {{ end }}
-      
-      {{ $style_bg = printf "background-color: %s;" $light_color }}
-    {{ else if $bg.color.dark }}
-      {{ $dark_color := $bg.color.dark }}
-      
-      {{/* Convert dark color */}}
-      {{ if not (or (hasPrefix $dark_color "var(") (hasPrefix $dark_color "rgb(") (hasPrefix $dark_color "#") (eq $dark_color "transparent")) }}
-        {{ if hasPrefix $dark_color "primary-" }}
-          {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "primary-" $dark_color }}
-          {{ $dark_color = printf "var(--color-primary-%s)" $shade }}
-        {{ else if hasPrefix $dark_color "secondary-" }}
-          {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "secondary-" $dark_color }}
-          {{ $dark_color = printf "var(--color-secondary-%s)" $shade }}
-        {{ else if strings.Contains $dark_color "-" }}
-          {{ $parts := split $dark_color "-" }}
-          {{ if eq (len $parts) 2 }}
-            {{ $color := index $parts 0 }}
-            {{ $shade := index $parts 1 }}
-            {{ $dark_color = printf "var(--color-%s-%s)" $color $shade }}
-          {{ end }}
-        {{ end }}
-      {{ end }}
-      
-      {{ $style_bg = printf "--dark-bg-color: %s; background-color: var(--dark-bg-color);" $dark_color }}
-    {{ end }}
-  {{ else }}
-    {{/* Legacy single color support - backwards compatible */}}
-    {{ $bg_color := $bg.color }}
-    
-    {{/* Convert single color */}}
-    {{ if not (or (hasPrefix $bg_color "var(") (hasPrefix $bg_color "rgb(") (hasPrefix $bg_color "#") (eq $bg_color "transparent")) }}
-      {{ if hasPrefix $bg_color "primary-" }}
-        {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "primary-" $bg_color }}
-        {{ $bg_color = printf "var(--color-primary-%s)" $shade }}
-      {{ else if hasPrefix $bg_color "secondary-" }}
-        {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "secondary-" $bg_color }}
-        {{ $bg_color = printf "var(--color-secondary-%s)" $shade }}
-      {{ else if strings.Contains $bg_color "-" }}
-        {{ $parts := split $bg_color "-" }}
-        {{ if eq (len $parts) 2 }}
-          {{ $color := index $parts 0 }}
-          {{ $shade := index $parts 1 }}
-          {{ $bg_color = printf "var(--color-%s-%s)" $color $shade }}
-        {{ end }}
-      {{ end }}
-    {{ end }}
-    
-    {{ $style_bg = printf "background-color: %s;" $bg_color }}
-  {{ end }}
-{{ end }}
-
-{{/* Modern layered background support for 2025 glassmorphism */}}
-{{ $background_layers := slice }}
-{{ $gradient_layer := "" }}
-
-{{/* Process gradients first but don't add to layers yet */}}
-{{/* Support legacy gradient syntax */}}
-{{ if and $bg.gradient_start $bg.gradient_end }}
-  {{ $angle := string $bg.gradient_angle | default "90" }}
-  {{ $gradient_layer = printf "linear-gradient(%sdeg, %s, %s)" $angle $bg.gradient_start $bg.gradient_end }}
-{{ end }}
-
-{{/* Support modern gradient syntax for 2025 */}}
-{{ if and $bg.gradient.start $bg.gradient.end }}
-  {{ $angle := string $bg.gradient.direction | default "135" }}
-  {{ $start_color := $bg.gradient.start }}
-  {{ $end_color := $bg.gradient.end }}
-  
-  {{/* Convert Tailwind color names to CSS custom properties */}}
-  {{ if not (or (hasPrefix $start_color "var(") (hasPrefix $start_color "rgb(") (hasPrefix $start_color "#")) }}
-    {{ if hasPrefix $start_color "primary-" }}
-      {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "primary-" $start_color }}
-      {{ $start_color = printf "var(--color-primary-%s)" $shade }}
-    {{ else if hasPrefix $start_color "secondary-" }}
-      {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "secondary-" $start_color }}
-      {{ $start_color = printf "var(--color-secondary-%s)" $shade }}
-    {{ else if strings.Contains $start_color "-" }}
-      {{ $parts := split $start_color "-" }}
-      {{ if eq (len $parts) 2 }}
-        {{ $color := index $parts 0 }}
-        {{ $shade := index $parts 1 }}
-        {{ $start_color = printf "var(--color-%s-%s)" $color $shade }}
-      {{ end }}
-    {{ end }}
-  {{ end }}
-  
-  {{ if not (or (hasPrefix $end_color "var(") (hasPrefix $end_color "rgb(") (hasPrefix $end_color "#")) }}
-    {{ if hasPrefix $end_color "primary-" }}
-      {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "primary-" $end_color }}
-      {{ $end_color = printf "var(--color-primary-%s)" $shade }}
-    {{ else if hasPrefix $end_color "secondary-" }}
-      {{ $shade := strings.TrimPrefix "secondary-" $end_color }}
-      {{ $end_color = printf "var(--color-secondary-%s)" $shade }}
-    {{ else if strings.Contains $end_color "-" }}
-      {{ $parts := split $end_color "-" }}
-      {{ if eq (len $parts) 2 }}
-        {{ $color := index $parts 0 }}
-        {{ $shade := index $parts 1 }}
-        {{ $end_color = printf "var(--color-%s-%s)" $color $shade }}
-      {{ end }}
-    {{ end }}
-  {{ end }}
-  
-  {{ $gradient_layer = printf "linear-gradient(%sdeg, %s, %s)" $angle $start_color $end_color }}
-{{ end }}
-
-{{ $bg_video := "" }}
-{{ $bg_video_class := "" }}
-{{ if $bg.video.filename }}
-  {{ $bg_video = resources.Get (printf "media/%s" $bg.video.filename) }}
-  {{ if $bg.video.flip }}
-    {{ $bg_video_class = "flip" }}
-  {{ end }}
-{{ end }}
-
-{{ if $bg.image.filename }}
-  {{/* See Hugo note on linking assets in styles: https://github.com/gohugoio/hugoThemes#common-permalink-issues */}}
-  {{ $bg_img := resources.Get (printf "media/%s" $bg.image.filename) }}
-  {{ if $bg_img }}
-    {{/* Exception for SVG as Hugo doesn't yet support image processing on SVG. */}}
-    {{ if ne $bg_img.MediaType.SubType "svg" }}
-      {{ $bg_img = $bg_img.Fit "1920x1920 webp" }}
-    {{ end }}
-    
-    {{/* Add image layer to background layers for glassmorphism support */}}
-    {{ $image_layer := printf "url('%s')" $bg_img.Permalink }}
-    {{ $background_layers = $background_layers | append $image_layer }}
-    
-    {{/* Background properties will be set in the multi-layer section below */}}
-  {{ else }}
-    {{ errorf "Couldn't find `%s` in the `assets/media/` folder - please add it." $bg.image.filename }}
-  {{ end }}
-{{ end }}
-
-{{/* Combine all background layers for 2025 glassmorphism effects */}}
-{{/* Layer order: image (top) comes first, then gradient (bottom) */}}
-{{ if or $background_layers $gradient_layer }}
-  {{ $all_layers := $background_layers }}
-  {{ if $gradient_layer }}
-    {{ $all_layers = $all_layers | append $gradient_layer }}
-  {{ end }}
-  {{ if $all_layers }}
-    {{ $combined_backgrounds := delimit $all_layers ", " }}
-    {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-image: %s;" $style_bg $combined_backgrounds }}
-    
-    {{/* Build multi-layer background properties */}}
-    {{ $layer_count := len $all_layers }}
-    
-    {{/* Generate properties for each layer */}}
-    {{ if gt $layer_count 1 }}
-      {{/* Multiple layers: image + gradient */}}
-      {{ $img_size := $bg.image.size | default "100px" }}
-      {{ $img_position := $bg.image.position | default "center" }}
-      {{ $img_repeat := $bg.image.repeat | default "repeat" }}
-      
-      {{/* Handle 'repeat' in position */}}
-      {{ if eq $img_position "repeat" }}
-        {{ $img_repeat = "repeat" }}
-        {{ $img_position = "center" }}
-      {{ end }}
-      
-      {{/* Combine properties for both layers */}}
-      {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-size: %s, cover !important;" $style_bg $img_size }}
-      {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-position: %s, center !important;" $style_bg $img_position }}
-      {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-repeat: %s, no-repeat !important;" $style_bg $img_repeat }}
-    {{ else }}
-      {{/* Single layer: apply properties normally */}}
-      {{ if $background_layers }}
-        {{ with $bg.image.size }}
-          {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-size: %s !important;" $style_bg . }}
-        {{ end }}
-        {{ with $bg.image.position }}
-          {{ if eq . "repeat" }}
-            {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-position: center !important;" $style_bg }}
-            {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-repeat: repeat !important;" $style_bg }}
-          {{ else }}
-            {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-position: %s !important;" $style_bg . }}
-          {{ end }}
-        {{ end }}
-      {{ end }}
-    {{ end }}
-  {{ end }}
-{{ end }}
-
-{{ with $bg.image.filters.brightness }}
-  {{ $style_bg = printf "%sfilter: brightness(%s);" $style_bg (string .) }}
-{{ end }}
-
-{{ with $block.design.spacing.padding }}
-  {{ $style_pad := printf "padding: %s;" (delimit . " ") }}
-  {{ $style = print $style $style_pad }}
-{{ else }}
-  {{ with $page.Params.design.spacing }}
-    {{/* Fallback to default section spacing setting */}}
-    {{ $style_pad := printf "padding: %s 0 %s 0;" . . }}
-    {{ $style = print $style $style_pad }}
-  {{ end }}
-{{ end }}
-
-{{/* Support for clip path (design.clip_path) */}}
-{{ with $block.design.clip_path }}
-  {{ $style_clip_path := printf "clip-path: %s;" . }}
-  {{ $style = print $style $style_clip_path }}
-{{ end }}
-
-{{ with $block.design.css_style }}
-  {{ $style = print $style . }}
-{{ end }}
-
-
-
-{{/* Fix Hugo's ContentBaseName returning wrong file base name when page section is within a bundle. */}}
-{{ $hash_id := $block.id | default (printf "section-%s" (replace $block_type "." "-")) }}
-
-{{ $widget_args := dict "wcPage" $page "wcBlock" $block "wcIdentifier" $hash_id }}
-{{ $css_classes := $block.design.css_class | default "" }}
-{{ $extra_attributes := "" }}
-{{ $use_container := false }}
-{{ $columns := $block.design.columns | default "1" }}
-{{/* $use_cols := in (slice "collection" "experience" "accomplishments" "contact" "markdown" "tag_cloud" "portfolio" "skills") $block_type */}}
-{{ $use_cols := false }}
-
-{{/* Special case: Slider widget. */}}
-{{ if in (slice "slider") $block_type }}
-  {{ $css_classes = print $css_classes " carousel slide" }}
-  {{ $extra_attributes = printf "data-ride=\"carousel\" data-interval=\"%s\"" (cond ($block.design.loop | default true) (string $block.design.interval | default "3000") "false") }}
-  {{ $use_container = false }}
-{{ end }}
-
-{{ $widget_class := printf "blox-%s" (replace (replace $block_type "." "-") "_" "-") }}
-
-{{/* Now loaded in `init.html` */}}
-{{/*
-  {{ $widget_config_file := printf "blox/%s/config.html" $block_type }}
-  {{ if templates.Exists (printf "_partials/%s" $widget_config_file) }}
-    {{ $cfg := partial $widget_config_file $widget_args }}
-    {{ with $cfg.use_container }}{{ $use_container = . }}{{ end }}
-    {{ with $cfg.inject_section_heading }}{{ $use_cols = . }}{{ end }}
-  {{end}}
-*/}}
-
-{{/* Extract background-specific CSS classes */}}
-{{ $bg_css_classes := $bg.css_class | default "" }}
-
-{{/* Dedicated child div for bg prevents parallax 100% height issue within new CSS grid page wrapper. */}}
-<section id="{{$hash_id}}" class="relative hbb-section {{$widget_class}} {{if $bg.text_color_light}}dark{{else if (eq $bg.text_color_light false)}}light{{end}} {{with $css_classes}}{{.}}{{end}}" {{with $style}}style="{{. | safeCSS}}"{{end}} {{print $extra_attributes | safeHTMLAttr}}>
- <div class="home-section-bg {{if $bg.image}} bg-image{{if ($bg.image.parallax | default true) }} parallax{{end}}{{end}}{{with $bg_css_classes}} {{.}}{{end}}" {{with $style_bg}}style="{{. | safeCSS}}"{{end}}>
-   {{with $bg_video}}<video class="bg-video {{$bg_video_class}}" playsinline="" preload="auto" loop="" muted autoplay="" tabindex="-1" width="100%" height="100%" src="{{.RelPermalink}}" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center center; opacity: 1;"></video>{{end}}
- </div>
-  {{if $use_container}}<div class="container mx-auto">{{end}}
-
-  {{if $use_cols}}
-    <div class="row  {{if not $block.content.title | or (eq $columns "1") }}justify-content-center{{end}}">
-    {{ if $block.content.title }}
-      {{ if eq $columns "1" }}
-        <div class="section-heading col-12 mb-3 text-center">
-          {{ with $block.content.title }}<h1 class="mb-0">{{ . | markdownify | emojify }}</h1>{{ end }}
-          {{ with $block.content.subtitle }}<p class="mt-1">{{ . | markdownify | emojify }}</p>{{ end }}
-        </div>
-      {{else}}
-        <div class="section-heading col-12 col-lg-4 mb-3 mb-lg-0 d-flex flex-column align-items-center align-items-lg-start">
-          {{ with $block.content.title }}<h1 class="mb-0">{{ . | markdownify | emojify }}</h1>{{ end }}
-          {{ with $block.content.subtitle }}<p class="mt-1">{{ . | markdownify | emojify }}</p>{{ end }}
-        </div>
-      {{end}}
-    {{end}}
-  {{end}}
-
-    {{ partial $block_path $widget_args }}
-
-  {{if $use_cols}}
-    </div>
-  {{end}}
-
-  {{if $use_container}}</div>{{end}}
-</section>
diff --git a/modules/blox/layouts/_partials/functions/parse_block_v3.html b/modules/blox/layouts/_partials/functions/parse_block_v3.html
index 97a82f7b..fce5c81a 100644
--- a/modules/blox/layouts/_partials/functions/parse_block_v3.html
+++ b/modules/blox/layouts/_partials/functions/parse_block_v3.html
@@ -179,6 +179,8 @@
     {{ end }}
     {{ $image_layer := printf "url('%s')" $bg_img.RelPermalink }}
     {{ $background_layers = $background_layers | append $image_layer }}
+  {{ else }}
+    {{ errorf "Couldn't find `%s` in the `assets/media/` folder - please add it." $bg.image.filename }}
   {{ end }}
 {{ end }}
 
@@ -190,6 +192,60 @@
   {{ if $all_layers }}
     {{ $combined_backgrounds := delimit $all_layers ", " }}
     {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-image: %s;" $style_bg $combined_backgrounds }}
+
+    {{/* Background image size/position/repeat properties */}}
+    {{ $layer_count := len $all_layers }}
+    {{ if gt $layer_count 1 }}
+      {{/* Multiple layers: image + gradient */}}
+      {{ $img_size := $bg.image.size | default "cover" }}
+      {{ $img_position := $bg.image.position | default "center" }}
+      {{ $img_repeat := $bg.image.repeat | default "no-repeat" }}
+      {{ if eq $img_position "repeat" }}
+        {{ $img_repeat = "repeat" }}
+        {{ $img_position = "center" }}
+      {{ end }}
+      {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-size: %s, cover;" $style_bg $img_size }}
+      {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-position: %s, center;" $style_bg $img_position }}
+      {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-repeat: %s, no-repeat;" $style_bg $img_repeat }}
+    {{ else }}
+      {{/* Single layer */}}
+      {{ if $background_layers }}
+        {{ with $bg.image.size }}
+          {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-size: %s;" $style_bg . }}
+        {{ end }}
+        {{ with $bg.image.position }}
+          {{ if eq . "repeat" }}
+            {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-position: center;" $style_bg }}
+            {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-repeat: repeat;" $style_bg }}
+          {{ else }}
+            {{ $style_bg = printf "%sbackground-position: %s;" $style_bg . }}
+          {{ end }}
+        {{ end }}
+      {{ end }}
+    {{ end }}
+  {{ end }}
+{{ end }}
+
+{{/* Background image filters: brightness, blur, contrast, saturate, grayscale */}}
+{{ with $bg.image.filters }}
+  {{ $filter_parts := slice }}
+  {{ with .brightness }}
+    {{ $filter_parts = $filter_parts | append (printf "brightness(%s)" (string .)) }}
+  {{ end }}
+  {{ with .blur }}
+    {{ $filter_parts = $filter_parts | append (printf "blur(%s)" (string .)) }}
+  {{ end }}
+  {{ with .contrast }}
+    {{ $filter_parts = $filter_parts | append (printf "contrast(%s)" (string .)) }}
+  {{ end }}
+  {{ with .saturate }}
+    {{ $filter_parts = $filter_parts | append (printf "saturate(%s)" (string .)) }}
+  {{ end }}
+  {{ with .grayscale }}
+    {{ $filter_parts = $filter_parts | append (printf "grayscale(%s)" (string .)) }}
+  {{ end }}
+  {{ if $filter_parts }}
+    {{ $style_bg = printf "%sfilter: %s;" $style_bg (delimit $filter_parts " ") }}
   {{ end }}
 {{ end }}
 
@@ -202,17 +258,25 @@
   {{ $style = print $style . }}
 {{ end }}
 
+{{/* Support for clip path (design.clip_path) */}}
+{{ with $block.design.clip_path }}
+  {{ $style = printf "%sclip-path: %s;" $style . }}
+{{ end }}
+
 {{ $hash_id := $block.id | default (printf "section-%s" (replace $block_type "." "-")) }}
 {{ $css_classes := $block.design.css_class | default "" }}
 {{ $widget_class := printf "blox-%s" (replace (replace $block_type "." "-") "_" "-") }}
 
+{{/* Extract background-specific CSS classes */}}
+{{ $bg_css_classes := $bg.css_class | default "" }}
+
 {{/* Route to appropriate handler */}}
 {{ if $is_preact }}
   {{/* Render Preact block with styling wrapper */}}
   <section id="{{$hash_id}}" class="relative {{if $has_gradient_mesh}}overflow-hidden{{end}} hbb-section {{$widget_class}} {{if $bg.text_color_light}}dark{{else if (eq $bg.text_color_light false)}}light{{end}} {{with $css_classes}}{{.}}{{end}}" {{with $style}}style="{{. | safeCSS}}"{{end}}>
     {{/* Gradient Mesh Background */}}
     {{ if $has_gradient_mesh }}{{ $gradient_mesh_html }}{{ end }}
-    <div class="home-section-bg {{if $bg.image}} bg-image{{if ($bg.image.parallax | default true) }} parallax{{end}}{{end}}" {{with $style_bg}}style="{{. | safeCSS}}"{{end}}>
+    <div class="home-section-bg {{if $bg.image}} bg-image{{if ($bg.image.parallax | default true) }} parallax{{end}}{{end}}{{with $bg_css_classes}} {{.}}{{end}}" {{with $style_bg}}style="{{. | safeCSS}}"{{end}}>
       {{with $bg_video}}<video class="bg-video {{$bg_video_class}}" playsinline="" preload="auto" loop="" muted autoplay="" tabindex="-1" width="100%" height="100%" src="{{.RelPermalink}}" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center center; opacity: 1;"></video>{{end}}
     </div>
     {{/* Use generic Preact wrapper for content */}}
@@ -240,7 +304,7 @@
   <section id="{{$hash_id}}" class="relative {{if $has_gradient_mesh}}overflow-hidden{{end}} hbb-section {{$widget_class}} {{if $bg.text_color_light}}dark{{else if (eq $bg.text_color_light false)}}light{{end}} {{with $css_classes}}{{.}}{{end}}" {{with $style}}style="{{. | safeCSS}}"{{end}}>
     {{/* Gradient Mesh Background */}}
     {{ if $has_gradient_mesh }}{{ $gradient_mesh_html }}{{ end }}
-    <div class="home-section-bg {{if $bg.image}} bg-image{{if ($bg.image.parallax | default true) }} parallax{{end}}{{end}}" {{with $style_bg}}style="{{. | safeCSS}}"{{end}}>
+    <div class="home-section-bg {{if $bg.image}} bg-image{{if ($bg.image.parallax | default true) }} parallax{{end}}{{end}}{{with $bg_css_classes}} {{.}}{{end}}" {{with $style_bg}}style="{{. | safeCSS}}"{{end}}>
       {{with $bg_video}}<video class="bg-video {{$bg_video_class}}" playsinline="" preload="auto" loop="" muted autoplay="" tabindex="-1" width="100%" height="100%" src="{{.RelPermalink}}" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center center; opacity: 1;"></video>{{end}}
     </div>
     {{ partial $block_path $widget_args }}