Blog WebWWeb

WebP format: How to speed up your website without losing quality?

The battle for user attention takes place in milliseconds. Did you know that image files account for an average of 65% of the data transferred when loading a website? Novice web developers may wonder: how can you reconcile high-quality images on 4K screens with lightning-fast website performance?

The answer to this dilemma is WebP – a format that has long been the standard in web design.

How does WebP work?

WebP is not just a regular image format, it is an advanced technology based on the VP8 video codec (acquired by Google along with On2 Technologies). Its effectiveness stems from the use of three key techniques:

Predictive coding:
The algorithm predicts the value of a pixel based on its neighbours. Instead of storing the data for each pixel individually, the system only stores the difference between the predicted and actual values. This drastically reduces the amount of data.

Spatial compression:
The image is divided into smaller blocks, each of which is compressed separately. The algorithm takes advantage of the fact that neighbouring pixels often have similar colour and texture.

Transform coding:
The image data is converted into a different form, allowing the algorithm to detect patterns and redundancy, and then remove unnecessary information without any visible loss of quality.

Importantly, this format gives creators full control – you can choose the compression level yourself, balancing between file size and perfect graphics appearance.

WebP vs Other Formats

The technology developed by the Mountain View giant beats its predecessors in almost every category.

WebP vs JPEG

The WebP format is the ideal successor to JPG. Files in the new format are on average 25-35% smaller than their JPEG counterparts, while offering almost identical image quality. This is a huge saving in server space and user transfer.

WebP vs. PNG

PNG is valued for its transparency support, which gives graphic designers a lot of freedom in designing layered websites. WebP not only supports transparency as well, but does it better – files are 26% smaller than in PNG format without losing any sharpness.

WebP vs GIF

Although WebP supports animations and is lighter than GIF, it has a strong competitor in this category in the form of the APNG format, which often wins in terms of quality-to-size ratio for moving images.

Why switch to WebP?

Using WebP images on your website has two fundamental benefits:

Better user experience (UX)

Users don’t like to wait. A website that takes too long to load will be abandoned in seconds. WebP allows you to maintain the visual appeal of your graphics (even on large monitors and televisions) without slowing down your website. It’s the perfect compromise between aesthetics and performance.

Higher Google rankings (SEO)

Google promotes fast websites. Loading speed is one of the key ranking factors. By using WebP, you signal to algorithms that your website is optimised and user-friendly, which translates into higher rankings in search results.

Weaknesses of WebP?

Despite its long list of advantages, WebP does have some limitations:

Lack of support in older browsers: Although all modern browsers (Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox) support WebP, older versions such as the now officially defunct Internet Explorer cannot read them. This can be a problem if your target audience still uses very old software.

Compatibility with editors: Popular programmes such as Photoshop and GIMP work well with WebP, but some lesser-known or older graphics editing programmes may still not support this extension.

How to convert files to WebP?

Switching to the new format is easier than you think. There are several quick ways to do it:

1. Professional editing programmes (paid)

Adobe Photoshop: Since version 23.2 (released in early 2022), Photoshop has natively supported the WebP format. Just select File -> Save a Copy or Export As. If you have an older version, you’ll need to install the free WebPShop plug-in from Google.

Affinity Photo: This programme (often chosen as an alternative to Photoshop) fully supports WebP. It allows for precise export with a choice between lossy and lossless compression.

Adobe Lightroom: Newer versions of Lightroom allow you to export finished photos directly to WebP format, which is very convenient when processing entire photo sessions.

2. Free graphics programmes (open source)

GIMP: This is one of the best free tools that has long supported WebP. When exporting (File -> Export As), GIMP offers very detailed settings, such as preserving EXIF metadata or setting the compression level.

Krita: A popular programme among illustrators and digital painters. It also allows you to save your work in WebP format without any problems.

Paint.NET: A very lightweight and intuitive programme for Windows. It supports WebP and is great for quickly editing graphics before uploading them to a website.

3. System tools and simple editors

MS Paint (Windows 10 and 11): This is the simplest method. Open any image and select Save As -> WebP Image.

Preview (macOS): The system viewer on Apple computers allows conversion via the File -> Export menu. Expand the list of formats and select WebP.

Summary

WebP is no longer a novelty, but a necessity. If you want a fast, modern and professional website, implementing this format should be your priority. Your users (and Google robots) will certainly appreciate it!

Would you like to see how much faster your website will be after optimising your graphics? Contact us at WebWWeb, we will audit your website and help you implement the latest web design standards!