How to Effectively Optimize Images for Web Performance without Compromising on Quality
It is good to optimize images for web performance before uploading them to WordPress. The challenge, however, is on how to optimize the images without losing quality. In this post we will be taking a look at the best options you can use to optimize images without compromising on image quality.
Image optimization is the process of saving and delivering images in the smallest file size possible without reducing the image quality. While it sounds complex it is a very simple process. There are many image optimization tools and plugins available to compress images by up to 80% without compromising on quality. To effectively optimize images for web performance you need a tool like Lossy which uses compression technology to reduce the size of an image without leaving noticeable loss in the image quality. Here are some of the best methods you can use to optimize images.
Change image file format
Choosing the right file type is important in image optimization. The most common formats are JEPG, PNG and GIF. JPEG is ideal for photos or images that have lots of colors. PNG is for simple images and for when you need an image to be transparent. GIF is for animated images. PNG is uncompressed and normally a higher quality image. The issue with this format is that the file size will be large. JPEG is compressed file format and will reduce the quality in order to achieve a small file size. WordPress accepts all three file types. You, however, need to select the one that offers the best results.
Image compression
Image compression is crucial in image optimization. There are many types of image compression options available. Most image editing tools like Affinity Photo and Adobe Photoshop come with their own built-in image compression feature. Web tools like JPEG Mini and TinyPNG are also great for image compression. Most web developers rely on image compression before uploading to WordPress. There are also WordPress plugins you can use to automatically compress your images before uploading. The best plugins are EWWW Image Optimizer and Optimole.
Change Image Dimensions
Another method you can use to effectively optimize images for web performance is to change the image dimensions. With this option you just play around with the height and width dimensions. Reducing dimensions to something more favorable will reduce the file size significantly.
You can use any of these methods to reduce your image file size. It is also not a bad idea to use all three methods in combination to achieve desired results.