WebP is an image format that was introduced by Google Developers approximately five years ago. If you are a web designer or developer who wants to minimize and optimize the size of your image files, WebP is a format you should appreciate.
In summary, here are some key points you need to know about this image format:
- WebP uses the .webp file extension.
- WebP utilizes both lossy and lossless compression.
- Lossy WebP images can be up to 25-34% smaller than JPEG images.
- Lossless WebP images can be up to 25% smaller than PNG images.
- WebP enables lossless transparency, similar to PNG with an alpha channel.
- WebP supports animation, similar to animated GIFs.
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| free tools to convert your images to .WebP format |
In brief, WebP is a format that can significantly reduce the size of image files like JPEG, GIF, and PNG. Prior to discussing the conversion process for creating WebP files, it's crucial to recognize the benefits of using WebP. There are numerous methods for converting JPG, PNG, and GIF files to the WebP format, but the choice of method ultimately depends on the user's preferences, as they vary in terms of control, simplicity, and user-friendliness.
Conversion to command lines
If you're someone who enjoys using command lines, then you might be interested in converting your JPEG, PNG, or TIFF images to WebP format using the "cwebp" command. Additionally, you can convert your images back to PNG format using the "dwebp" command. In this article, we will focus on how the "cwebp" command works.
To get started with using these commands, you can download the required archives from Google's download repository. The following archives are available:
- The package named libwebp-1.0.3-windows-x86.zip includes a set of 32-bit executables and libraries designed for use on the Windows-x86 platform.
- The package named libwebp-1.0.3-windows-x64.zip includes a set of 64-bit executables and libraries designed for use on the Windows-x64 platform.
- The package named libwebp-1.0.3-linux-x86-64.tar.gz includes a set of 64-bit executables and libraries designed for use on the GNU/Linux-x86_64 platform.
- The package named libwebp-1.0.3-mac-10.14.tar.gz includes a set of 64-bit executables and libraries designed for use on the Mac OS X 10.14 (Mojave) platform.
- With the use of the "cwebp" command, it is possible to easily convert your images to the WebP format, which is known for its smaller file size without compromising the image quality.
The archives provided on this platform include precompiled versions of cwebp and dwebp executables, as well as the libwebp.a library and C headers. These components allow you to incorporate WebP encoding or decoding into your own programs. Once you have downloaded and installed the archives, you can use command lines in your console to convert image files in PNG or JPEG format to WebP format.
For instance, by entering the command "cwebp -q 80 image.png -o image.webp" in your console, you can convert a PNG image file to a WebP image with a quality setting of 80.
WebPonize for Mac
On a Mac, converting images to the WebP format is made easy and quick with WebPonize. Simply drag and drop your images into the program and it will handle the conversion process. After conversion, you will be provided with the original size, final size, and reduction percentage of the original file.
Webpconv for Windows
In case you are a Windows user, you may want to consider installing the Webpconv application, which is designed for this purpose. Furthermore, if you prefer a more flexible option, you can opt for the portable version of the application, which enables you to run it on a USB drive without relying on a specific computer.
XnConvert for Windows and Mac
XnConvert is a versatile tool designed to process images in batches by combining more than 80 different actions. It is capable of working with over 500 image formats, and its batch processing module is based on XnViewMP. This software is available for free, without any adware or spyware, and is user-friendly, with a convenient drag-and-drop feature. XnConvert is compatible with both Windows 10 and MacOS. It also allows users to easily convert all their JPEG files to the webp format in bulk.
Adobe Photoshop WebP Plugin
This plugin is designed to support the opening and saving of 24-bit WebP images, which is the recommended compression format for web images by Google. It is compatible with both Windows and MacOS operating systems, in both 32 and 64-bit versions. If Adobe Photoshop is your primary tool for image editing, then this plugin would be the ideal choice for you.
Plugin GIMP WebP Import Export
This plugin enables the loading and saving of files in the latest WebP image format. If you opt to save your images in this format, you will have the option to specify a quality factor that ranges from 0 to 100. Higher numbers will result in larger files, but will also provide better image quality.
You are prepared to implement this new layout on your websites. As for me, I only apply it on websites that have a lot of content, but I am contemplating using it on other websites as well. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section, including whether or not you use it and, if you do, which tools you use since the list is not comprehensive.
FAQs tools to convert your images to .WebP format
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| FAQs |
1- How to convert images to WebP?
A guide on how to convert images to the WebP format is provided, with specific instructions on how to convert JPG files to WebP. The process involves uploading the JPG files and selecting the WebP format as the output format, with the option to choose from over 200 different output formats. Once the files are uploaded, the conversion process is automated, and users can download their converted WebP files immediately.
2- How to make a WebP format?
The article notes that Safari does not support WebP images in 2021, and it is not possible to load WebP images on platforms such as WordPress without installing a WebP extension. The article recommends installing an extension to integrate the WebP format into WordPress sites to utilize the benefits of the format.
3- What is the WebP format?
stating that it is a compression format that is optimized for use on the web, offering lossless and lossy compression capabilities that create lighter, richer images for faster loading times. Google is credited with developing the format.
4- Why do images save in WebP?
The article explains that Google has recently implemented the use of the WebP format for image downloads in some versions of Chrome, even if the original file is a .jpg or .png. This is due to the superior compression capabilities of WebP and its ability to reduce loading times.
5- How to install WebP codec?
The article provides instructions on how to install the WebP codec on Windows. Users are given the option to install the codec only, install the codec with the ability to omit example images, or install the codec and example images together.