Image Ninja – Convert Images to WebP & AVIF on Upload

Easily convert your JPEG and PNG images to modern, optimized formats (WebP & AVIF) upon upload. Speed up your website, save bandwidth, and enhance user experience with high-quality, compressed images—without the need for manual conversions.

Plugin Overview

The Image Ninja – Convert Images to WebP & AVIF on Upload Plugin provides an automatic solution for converting images to WebP and AVIF formats as they’re uploaded to the media library. These formats are known for their superior compression, allowing images to retain quality while significantly reducing file sizes.

Inspired by my post on automatic WebP conversion in WordPress, this plugin takes the concept further with an easy-to-use interface, quality control settings, and an enable/disable option for complete control over your image optimization process.

Why Use WebP and AVIF?

WebP is an image format developed by Google that offers both lossy and lossless compression. Compared to JPEG and PNG, WebP can achieve up to 30% smaller file sizes while maintaining similar or even higher visual quality. WebP also supports features like transparency and animation, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of web content.

WebP

WebP is an image format developed by Google that offers both lossy and lossless compression. Compared to JPEG and PNG, WebP can achieve up to 30% smaller file sizes while maintaining similar or even higher visual quality. WebP also supports features like transparency and animation, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of web content.

AVIF

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is an even more recent innovation, derived from the AV1 video codec. This format can achieve up to 50% better compression than JPEG, while supporting advanced features like High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color gamut. AVIF is poised to become the next-generation image format for the web, offering unparalleled quality and efficiency.

Features at a Glance:

• Automatic Conversion: JPEG and PNG images are converted to WebP and AVIF upon upload.
• Customizable Settings: Choose between WebP and AVIF formats, set image quality, or disable conversion as needed.
• User-Friendly Interface: Easy configuration under Settings > Media in your WordPress dashboard.

Key Benefits of Using WebP & AVIF

1. Enhanced Page Speed: Smaller file sizes mean faster loading times, which improves user experience and SEO.
2. Bandwidth Savings: Less data transfer means you’re saving server resources and bandwidth.
3. Quality Retention: Both WebP and AVIF offer excellent quality at lower file sizes, keeping your images crisp and clear.

How to Use the WebP & AVIF Image Converter Plugin

Here’s a quick guide on how to configure and start using the plugin after installation.

Step 1: Install & Activate the Plugin

While the plugin is currently pending review on WordPress.org, you’ll soon be able to install it directly from the WordPress Plugin Repository.

Step 2: Configure Settings

After activation, go to Settings > Media in your WordPress dashboard, where you’ll find the “WebP & AVIF Image Conversion Settings” panel. Here, you can customize the following options:

1. Conversion Format: Select your preferred format—WebP, AVIF, or disable the conversion entirely.
2. Image Quality: Adjust the quality level (1-100) for the converted images. The default is set to 80, balancing quality and compression.

Step 3: Save Changes

After configuring, click Save Changes to apply your settings. Now, all JPEG and PNG images uploaded to the media library will be automatically converted based on your preferences.

FAQs

1. How do I know if my server supports WebP and AVIF formats?
   Most modern hosting providers support WebP. For AVIF, you may need to check with your hosting provider. The plugin will attempt to detect support, and if unsupported, conversions may not work as expected.
2. What happens to my existing images?
   This plugin only converts images that are uploaded after activation. Existing images in your library won’t be converted retroactively.
3. Will this plugin affect my website’s SEO?
   Absolutely! Optimizing images improves page load speeds, which is a known ranking factor in search engines. Faster pages often lead to better user engagement and potentially improved SEO.

Download the Image Ninja (WebP & AVIF Image Converter) Plugin

The plugin is currently pending review on the WordPress Plugin Repository. Once approved, you’ll be able to download and install it directly from WordPress plugin repository. Check back soon for the link!