diff --git a/cards/models.py b/cards/models.py
index 3bf90d2..c754da5 100644
--- a/cards/models.py
+++ b/cards/models.py
@@ -185,22 +185,41 @@ class Dinosaur(models.Model):
         avoid extremely small/large sizes.
         """
         try:
-            p = float(self.height_percent() or 0)
+            # Use a combined metric (height + weight) to smooth out extremes
+            h = float(self.height_percent() or 0)
+            w = float(self.weight_percent() or 0)
+            p = (h + w) / 2.0
         except Exception:
-            # fallback if something odd happens
             p = 50.0
-        # Map height percent p (0..100) to a background-size percentage
-        # so that the largest dinosaurs (p ~= 100) show the whole image
-        # (100%), and the smallest dinosaurs (p ~= 0) are shown with a
-        # zoomed-in background (e.g. 300%). This gives p=100 -> min_scale,
-        # p=0 -> max_scale.
+        # Use much smaller range for subtler effect: largest dinos -> 100%
+        # (full image), smallest -> 140% (mild zoom). Interpolate linearly.
         min_scale = 100
-        max_scale = 300
-        # Interpolate: scale = min_scale + (1 - p/100) * (max_scale - min_scale)
+        max_scale = 140
         scale = int(round(min_scale + (1.0 - (p / 100.0)) * (max_scale - min_scale)))
         scale = max(min_scale, min(max_scale, scale))
         return f"{scale}%"
 
+    @property
+    def image_scale(self):
+        """Return a scale factor (float) for the dinosaur's image size.
+
+        Smaller dinosaurs will be scaled down (e.g. 0.6) and larger
+        dinosaurs closer to full size (1.0). Uses `height_percent()`.
+        """
+        try:
+            # Combine height and weight for a smoother scale value
+            h = float(self.height_percent() or 0)
+            w = float(self.weight_percent() or 0)
+            p = (h + w) / 2.0
+        except Exception:
+            p = 50.0
+        # Subtle scaling: smallest -> 0.90, largest -> 1.00
+        min_scale = 0.90
+        max_scale = 1.00
+        scale = min_scale + (p / 100.0) * (max_scale - min_scale)
+        scale = max(min_scale, min(max_scale, scale))
+        return f"{scale:.2f}"
+
 
 class BackgroundImage(models.Model):
     """Background images used behind card renders.
diff --git a/cards/templates/cards/_card_item.html b/cards/templates/cards/_card_item.html
index 06d7983..a369592 100644
--- a/cards/templates/cards/_card_item.html
+++ b/cards/templates/cards/_card_item.html
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   <div class="toptrump-card">
     <div class="hero-image" style="background-image: url('{% if card.background and card.background.image %}{{ card.background.image.url }}{% elif background and background.image %}{{ background.image.url }}{% endif %}'); background-size: {{ card.background_image_scale }}; background-position: center;">
       {% if card.image %}
-        <img class="card-hero-img" src="{{ card.image.url }}" alt="{{ card.name }}">
+        <img class="card-hero-img" src="{{ card.image.url }}" alt="{{ card.name }}" style="transform: translate(-50%,-50%) scale({{ card.image_scale }}); transform-origin: center; transition: transform 200ms ease;" />
       {% endif %}
     </div>
     <div class="title-band">{{ card.name }}</div>