Many online shop owners often make the mistake of not paying attention to the size of the images published on their pages. Whether we are talking about a product presentation, an article with illustrations or a blog post, every kilobyte matters. The WebP format comes to the rescue.
Why? More than half of web traffic is generated by mobile devices such as smartphones. In order for a website viewed on a phone to display a graphic, it is temporarily downloaded to that device. For those using subscriptions with limited data transfer, the larger the images and elements on the page, the sooner their available limit will be exhausted.
Even if the data limit is not an issue, the size of the images on the page affects the loading speed of the page. This applies to both smartphones and computers. No internet user likes to wait a long time for a page to load. If it takes too long to load, there is a high risk that the user will become discouraged and opt for a competing shop.
WebP files help avoid the aforementioned problems by optimising the process for both parties. For the user, the website loads faster, while the shop owner uses less space on the often expensive server. As a result, the WebP format contributes to better performance, saves server space and improves the user experience, which can lead to higher conversion rates for online shops.
What Is the WebP Format
In 2010, when the internet was not yet as advanced as it is today, Google started working on a new format. The aim was to cope with the rapidly growing number of images published on the web.
The first implementations appeared in 2013, and the first browser to support it was none other than … Chrome. Today, we can say that Google has succeeded – an increasing number of portals, websites, shops and blogs are using images in the WebP format.
Helpful links
- Information about the format at Google
- AVIF – the fastest image format
- Online background removal using AI
WebP Files – Benefits
- Improved conversion and customer satisfaction. For online shops, page load speed and high quality images are key to customer satisfaction and sales effectiveness. It is a format that helps reduce page load times through smaller file sizes, resulting in a better user experience and potentially higher conversion rates. Customers are able to browse products faster and the high quality of the images allows them to more accurately assess what they are buying. As a result, the use of the new format can increase sales and customer satisfaction in e-commerce shops.
- Universality. Support for the WebP format in web browsers has increased significantly in recent years. As of 2023, most popular browsers, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Opera and Vivaldi, support the WebP format. However, it is worth noting that support in the Safari browser has only been introduced since version 14.
- Adaptive compression. The WebP file uses adaptive compression, which allows the degree of compression to be adapted to different areas of the image. As a result, the format is able to achieve better image quality with a smaller file size, as less important parts of the image can be compressed more, while areas of greater detail are compressed less.
- Increasing engagement on mobile devices. Today, more and more people are using mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to browse and shop online. WebP offers excellent image quality with a much smaller file size, which is particularly beneficial for mobile users who may have bandwidth limitations or slower internet connections. As a result, e-commerce sites can more effectively engage and retain mobile users, helping to increase sales and customer satisfaction on these devices as well.
Webp to Jpg and Webp to Png Converter
For those who want to convert WebP images to JPG or PNG format, there are many online tools available. Here are six tools that allow you to convert WebP files to JPG format:
iLoveIMG – Allows you to convert multiple images to JPG online simultaneously.
Convertio – A simple and quick image conversion tool that allows you to select files from your device, Google Drive, Dropbox, from a URL or by dragging and dropping to.
EZGIF – Allows you to upload images from your computer or by pasting a URL. Supports files up to 100MB.
FreeConvert.com – Allows you to batch convert, resize, compress and correct the orientation of your output images.
Online-Convert.com – Offers options for quality, size, colour filter, DPI and output image cropping capabilities.
CloudConvert – Adjusts the resolution, quality and size of the output file, offering various image resizing modes.
Meanwhile, for WebP Convert to PNG , the Following Tools Can Be Used:
Convertio – In addition to converting to JPG format, Convertio also allows you to upload multiple images and set the conversion WebP to PNG.
EZGIF – this online tool allows you to convert WebP to PNG and APNG. Supports files up to 100MB.
Online-Convert.com – allows you to change the quality or size of the file during conversion.
FreeConvert.com – free tool that runs in any web browser.
CloudConvert – a fast online file conversion service that is free and supports many other formats.
Zamzar – a simple tool on the Zamzar website that works in real time and is free for most users.
Each of these tools is easy to use and requires no specialist knowledge to perform the conversion. You can choose from options to adjust the quality, size and other output settings of the images, making them useful for a variety of image editing needs.
Photoshop WebP – How to Change a Webp File to Jpg
WebP support was not initially available in Photoshop, as the format is a relatively new development by Google. Webp files offer better compression compared to formats such as JPEG and PNG. To be able to open WebP files in Photoshop and convert them to other formats such as JPG, users need to install a special plug-in. For example, the official Google plug-in for Adobe Photoshop is available for download from the Google developers’ website and, once installed, enables support for WebP files in Photoshop.
You can download the official Google plug-in for Adobe Photoshop directly from the GitHub website.
Once the appropriate plug-in is installed, Photoshop will be able to open WebP files. To change a WebP file to JPG, the user can simply open the file in Photoshop, then use ‘File > Save As’ and select the JPG format from the format drop-down list. This is a standard Photoshop image conversion procedure that allows users to save open images in a variety of formats.
There are also other methods for working with WebP files in Photoshop, such as using online converters such as Zamzar or FileZigZag, or using free image viewing and editing software such as GIMP or IrfanView, which can open and save WebP files.
If users wish to export files to WebP format in Photoshop, they can do so by selecting ‘File > Export > Export As’ and choosing WebP from the drop-down list of formats. However, to convert a WebP file to JPG, it is first necessary to install the aforementioned plug-in, which will allow the WebP file to be opened in Photoshop and converted .
WebP vs JPG
Comparison of image formats:
- File size: 25% a 35% smaller file size than JPG, while maintaining the same SSIM quality index. This means that images from Google are smaller in size with the same image quality.
- Image quality: Google claims that their format is 25% to 34% smaller than JPEG with comparable quality.
- Transparency support: The format from Google enables transparency, which means that it can replace PNG formats that have been used for this purpose before, as well as GIFs that are used for animation.
- Versatility: WebP is considered more versatile than JPG because it combines features that were previously split between different formats, such as PNG for transparency and GIF for animation.
- Optimisation for the web: Choosing the right image format is crucial for optimising web content. Two popular formats each have their own strengths and use cases. WebP is promoted as a more effective format by Google, especially for web developers .
When choosing between the formats, it is important to consider the specifics of the project, optimisation needs and compatibility with browsers and user devices. WebP can offer significant advantages in terms of size and quality, but this is also dependent on technical support and the availability of appropriate tools to work with this format.
WebP Format for Ecommerce
Image formats optimised for loading speed can have a significant impact on ecommerce performance. Online shop owners who use bandwidth-constrained servers can benefit from modern image compression technologies that increase page loading speeds without compromising visual quality. Better image quality with a simultaneously smaller file size not only improves the user experience, but can also improve engagement and conversion rates, contributing to increased revenue.
When choosing an image format for an online shop, several key factors should be considered, such as compression ratio, browser support, and the ability to store high-quality visual data with the smallest possible file size.
A suitable image format may also offer advanced options such as support for animation or transparency, which is useful when presenting products from multiple perspectives or in different configurations. The use of modern image compression technologies can help to significantly improve page load times, which is extremely important in terms of maintaining customer interest in the fast-paced world of e-commerce.
Summary
In summary, the right choice of image format in a digital environment is important for website performance, quality of visual presentation and overall user experience. Online image conversion tools and editing and conversion capabilities in programmes such as Photoshop allow for flexible management of image formats. N
he modern image formats, which offer better compression while maintaining high quality, are a key element in optimising websites and online shops, contributing to improved loading speeds, customer satisfaction and ultimately increased conversion rates. Choosing the most appropriate format depends on individual needs, business objectives and technical constraints that web developers and designers may face.
In the realm of digital image optimization, the WebP format has emerged as a compelling option for e-commerce platforms. With its advanced compression algorithms, WebP helps to reduce the file size without compromising on image quality, making it an ideal choice for maintaining visual fidelity and improving page load speeds, thereby enhancing user experience.
Converting images from WebP file to PNG or WebP convert to JPG is straightforward with the myriad of web tools available, such as a WebP to PNG converter or WebP JPG convert tools, which cater to the needs of online stores that rely on high-quality images to showcase their products.
Moreover, the WebP image converter utility simplifies the process of converting robust WebP files to more widely compatible formats like JPEG or PNG, ensuring cross-browser and device compatibility.
As we leverage the capabilities of WebP in Photoshop and other editing platforms, we open up new possibilities for web designers and marketers to create compelling visual content that drives engagement and conversion in today’s competitive e-commerce landscape.
