PAGE 1 – What happens when you upload an image to your WordPress website
PAGE 2 – What the default WordPress Media Library Settings mean to low performance
PAGE 3 – How to change the WordPress Media Library Settings for faster performance
PAGE 4 – Results of change and how the EWWW Image Optimizer recognizes it
When you upload a picture into the WordPress Media Library on your website, by default WordPress will save up to 4 different sizes of the same image. This means that though you uploaded only 1 image, WordPress is saving 4 images all at different sizes.
WHY IMAGE OPTIMIZATION IS IMPORTANT
When doing the Google PageSpeed Insights the one common culprit to slower website speed are the images saved and used on your website. If you are using a plugin like the EWWW Image Optimizer you will notice that after you optimize an image it will say how many sizes were compressed, see image below.
These sizes indicate how many images WordPress has saved in your Media Library. So when you optimize an image you are actually optimizing all 4 images. What are these 4 images and why are they created by default in WordPress?
In the top image above it said that 4 sizes compressed, reduced by 6.2%, for a total size of 9.4 KB saved. But what does that really mean? In the above image you can see the 4 image sizes that were compressed, and when you add their final savings, 5.6 KB + 2.6 KB + 731 B + 402 B, you get 9.4 KB.
Now fortunately before I upload images to my Media Library, I always reduce the size in Microsoft Paint. For this particular image it was already down to a memory size of 74.4 KB before EWWW optimized it by 7%. But there are 3 other image sizes WordPress has saved that were also optimized.
Nowhere on my website do I use these other sized images, so these 3 duplicate images of different sizes are taking up space in my Media Library and contributing to a less efficient overall website performance. How can this be easily resolved, especially if I have no intentions of using the other sizes of the image I uploaded? Read on.
NEXT UP = Why the default WordPress Media Library Settings contribute to slower website performance
Join the Discussion
jetrbby80316
Premium
Great training and I will follow this. Even though I have updated to the latest EWWW Image Optimizer 4.06, someone thankfully informed me that my mobile loading speed was still very slow.
Let me make these adjustments and see if it speeds my load times up.
Let me make these adjustments and see if it speeds my load times up.
Reply
jetrbby80316
Premium
Where do I go to view the results of your first image -
"Date, 3 sizes compressed (+), Date 4 sizes compressed (+)" and so on.
I couldn't find my results either in EWWW Optimizer settings or in Google PageSpeed Insights.
"Date, 3 sizes compressed (+), Date 4 sizes compressed (+)" and so on.
I couldn't find my results either in EWWW Optimizer settings or in Google PageSpeed Insights.
boomergp08
Premium
Which results are you looking for? The actual amount that the image was reduced by?
jetrbby80316
Premium
2016/8/14
3 Sizes compressed (+)
Reduced by 11.4% (16.5 kb)
How do I view the information of this form?
3 Sizes compressed (+)
Reduced by 11.4% (16.5 kb)
How do I view the information of this form?
jetrbby80316
Premium
I might add Robert that in some cases depending on your niche one might have to compromise on your image size. 74.4 kb in some cases would be too small and thus too poor in viewing quality.
For instance, if you are in the design business (like me) or art field and the quality of your images are critical toward "selling" your work, you wouldn't want to compress those images too much at the expense of loss of visual quality and giving the viewer a misinterpretation of the quality of the work.
Therefore in this case, it would make sense to get the most mileage by disabling the other 3 superfluous image sizes, but keeping a larger only "max" file up for best quality.
For instance, if you are in the design business (like me) or art field and the quality of your images are critical toward "selling" your work, you wouldn't want to compress those images too much at the expense of loss of visual quality and giving the viewer a misinterpretation of the quality of the work.
Therefore in this case, it would make sense to get the most mileage by disabling the other 3 superfluous image sizes, but keeping a larger only "max" file up for best quality.
boomergp08
Premium
Remember that the image size of 74.4 kb has nothing to do with the actual pixel size but more about memory size. Most time it will not have an impact of picture clarity either.
As an example the images attached below are both 857 x 834 pixels in image size. The image without the green text has a memory size of 83.6 kb and the image with the green text at 65.8 kb.
As you can see there is no difference in image clarity and visual quality. One of the great features in the EWWW plugin is the use of lossless compression, meaning compressed images do not lose any visual quality.
As an example the images attached below are both 857 x 834 pixels in image size. The image without the green text has a memory size of 83.6 kb and the image with the green text at 65.8 kb.
As you can see there is no difference in image clarity and visual quality. One of the great features in the EWWW plugin is the use of lossless compression, meaning compressed images do not lose any visual quality.
jetrbby80316
Premium
If you don't mind Robert, I would like to send you a PM. I've followed your training and encountered a surprising result that I cannot understand.
jetrbby80316
Premium
There is only 1 image of its kind in my Media Library that can be seen. It is full size 2048 x 1536.
The Attachment Display settings also show image options in 3 duplicate sizes: Thumbnail 150 x 150, Medium 300 x 225, Large 1024 x 768
When I delete the only image of its kind in my Media Library (Full Size 2048 x 1536), am I also automatically deleting the other 3 duplicate sizes (which cannot be seen in Media Library)?
If not, then how do I delete the other 3 duplicate sizes, and confirm their deletion?
The Attachment Display settings also show image options in 3 duplicate sizes: Thumbnail 150 x 150, Medium 300 x 225, Large 1024 x 768
When I delete the only image of its kind in my Media Library (Full Size 2048 x 1536), am I also automatically deleting the other 3 duplicate sizes (which cannot be seen in Media Library)?
If not, then how do I delete the other 3 duplicate sizes, and confirm their deletion?
boomergp08
Premium
Sorry for the late reply, I have been in Las Vegas since Tuesday.
When you permanently delete the image from the media library, and obviously you will need to delete it from your post first, all sizes are deleted.
But before you upload that image again you will need to change the media library settings to upload only one size. There is one caveat to image sizes that I have discovered.
Even if you change the settings of the media library to only upload one image, sometimes when viewing the results of the compression it will still show more than one.
This does not always happen but when it does it is an indicator that there is another plugin that you are using that also uses images for some reason or another.
I learned this from the EWWW Image Optimizer question forum. If I can find the link again, I will post it here for a better explanation.
When you permanently delete the image from the media library, and obviously you will need to delete it from your post first, all sizes are deleted.
But before you upload that image again you will need to change the media library settings to upload only one size. There is one caveat to image sizes that I have discovered.
Even if you change the settings of the media library to only upload one image, sometimes when viewing the results of the compression it will still show more than one.
This does not always happen but when it does it is an indicator that there is another plugin that you are using that also uses images for some reason or another.
I learned this from the EWWW Image Optimizer question forum. If I can find the link again, I will post it here for a better explanation.
jetrbby80316
Premium
Robert, no prob hope you are having a great trip in Vegas.
That is EXACTLY what has been happening to me. I have been deleting the Full Size Image (and therefore, as you say, all 3 duplicates automatically)
And then I changed all my Media Settings to Zero. I've been doing it exactly as you indicate. However, I've been experienced that "caveat" and expect to see "1 Size Compressed: and am still seeing "5 Sizes Compressed".
So it must be the EWWW Image Optimizer. Someone suggested I should be using WP Smush for optimization, and this problem would be no more.
That is EXACTLY what has been happening to me. I have been deleting the Full Size Image (and therefore, as you say, all 3 duplicates automatically)
And then I changed all my Media Settings to Zero. I've been doing it exactly as you indicate. However, I've been experienced that "caveat" and expect to see "1 Size Compressed: and am still seeing "5 Sizes Compressed".
So it must be the EWWW Image Optimizer. Someone suggested I should be using WP Smush for optimization, and this problem would be no more.
jetrbby80316
Premium
YES Robert, if you find that link to the EWWW Image Optimizer question forum, please post it here. That would be extremely helpful.
I am very curious to know how EWWW Image Optimizer is set up to internally to use these images, and reason it is doing so.
Is this an option you can easily "turn off" in EWWW?
I am very curious to know how EWWW Image Optimizer is set up to internally to use these images, and reason it is doing so.
Is this an option you can easily "turn off" in EWWW?
jetrbby80316
Premium
Also, I've noticed by deleting the Full Size image from your Media Library, it also automatically deletes ALL instances of that exact image in your posts and pages (I assume posts also, since I only have pages right now).
After deleting, I went back to different pages that image was on, and the image was missing. Which makes total sense.
After deleting, I went back to different pages that image was on, and the image was missing. Which makes total sense.
boomergp08
Premium
WP Smush is also a good plugin, which I may use on another website. I am only using EWWW because it comes already installed on all websites created here at WA, and Kyle recommends it.
jetrbby80316
Premium
Yes I agree,I would prefer to stay with EWWW as it is already installed. Unfortunately, this recurring caveat of "5 sizes compressed" after deleting all duplicates and reloading only one image is forcing me to try other options. And I would say that EWWW Image Optimizer is definitely causing this issue.
So I am now forced to try WP Smush and hopefully this will eliminate such false results. Regardless, I am beginning to see faster load times since I've deleted those duplicates.
So I am now forced to try WP Smush and hopefully this will eliminate such false results. Regardless, I am beginning to see faster load times since I've deleted those duplicates.
boomergp08
Premium
I would be very interested to know if the problem is resolved by using Smush. Please let me know if it does solve the problem and I will still look for that link regarding extra images.
RD40
Premium
Great training Robert. I have already made the changes to my media settings. Perhaps this will solve an issue I've been having with double urls showing up in the Serps. When people click on this double url link, it brings them to my site with a post of a picture, but no content. So i've been doing 301 redirects to bring them to the original content when they click on it. Are you familiar with this issue Robert?
boomergp08
Premium
Thank you. I am happy you liked my training tutorial.
That is an interesting problem you are having. Once you get that image fixed, let me know if having only one sized image instead of duplicates, makes a difference. I would like to know.
You will however probably have to do another fetch as Google of that particular post and wait a couple of days to see if the change in the image has fixed the problem or not.
That is an interesting problem you are having. Once you get that image fixed, let me know if having only one sized image instead of duplicates, makes a difference. I would like to know.
You will however probably have to do another fetch as Google of that particular post and wait a couple of days to see if the change in the image has fixed the problem or not.
RD40
Premium
Thanks Robert. I will make the change and monitor it over the next few days. I will definitely let you know when I can. Thanks again!
Ralph
Ralph
Judy-B
Premium
I changed the settings in the Media Settings. I have the EWWW plugin installed a while back. So I still have to delete and reload images I already have?
Also do the images added in the new Content feature take care of size automatically or do they need to be fixed too.
Thank you for this training, Robert. Wish I would have known this before I had so many images. :)
Also do the images added in the new Content feature take care of size automatically or do they need to be fixed too.
Thank you for this training, Robert. Wish I would have known this before I had so many images. :)
boomergp08
Premium
You are welcome Judy.
As for images already uploaded there are no up to date plugins I know of that will cleanup the unwanted image sizes in your media library.
So going back and deleting then uploading the image again will fix the issue, but could take some time depending on how many images you have.
For me this is a process I will take my time with because it is not something that needs to get done right away. This is more of a cleanup that can happen over the course of time.
As for all future images you upload, just upload images that are pre-optimized to a size close to how you will use it in your website.
Then if you have the EWWW Image Optimizer installed, or another similar plugin, the image you upload will be further optimized automatically before being saved in the media library.
Did I answer your questions enough?
As for images already uploaded there are no up to date plugins I know of that will cleanup the unwanted image sizes in your media library.
So going back and deleting then uploading the image again will fix the issue, but could take some time depending on how many images you have.
For me this is a process I will take my time with because it is not something that needs to get done right away. This is more of a cleanup that can happen over the course of time.
As for all future images you upload, just upload images that are pre-optimized to a size close to how you will use it in your website.
Then if you have the EWWW Image Optimizer installed, or another similar plugin, the image you upload will be further optimized automatically before being saved in the media library.
Did I answer your questions enough?
Judy-B
Premium
Yes, you did. Sounds good to me. Thank you for taking the time. Guess I will do the same and delete and upload as time allows. :)
teddae
Premium
What plugin do you recommend for Option#1? I have a new site that is almost developed... on a non-template, custom-made WP platform which I have learned is the correct way to avoid guaranteed problems with site performance as your site grows in content and images... and get your site on a VPN Server of course. You don't want your site contaminated by anyone else on your SHARED server like happened to me.
Anyway, I'd like to add a well-known and recommended plugin to my current site as a test to see how it works in removing 2/3 (not actually of course) of my Library. I really don't care what happens to this site version as it will be replaced in a week or so.
Anyway, I'd like to add a well-known and recommended plugin to my current site as a test to see how it works in removing 2/3 (not actually of course) of my Library. I really don't care what happens to this site version as it will be replaced in a week or so.
boomergp08
Premium
teddae
Premium
Thanks Boomer! This is what I call an EXTREMELY HIGH IMPACT post. Are you the 1st one in WA history to solve this problem for us? WA should have a HIGH IMPACT medalion for posts like this. Awesome, I've been dealing with Image Library (needs WP re-design) problems ever since I can remember. WHAT A NICE GUY!
boomergp08
Premium
KelseyLim
Premium
Hi Rob, Thanks for the informative training on keeping the image size down to a minimum in the WP media library. I didn't realize that the default setting can be set to zero which not only space but also speed. I certainly agree with you that it is better to go through the hassle to resize each image than to install another plugin which may affect the page speed. [Kelsey]
boomergp08
Premium
You are welcome Kelsey. After using the EWWW Image Optimizer I noticed that it would show that it optimized 3 or 4 sizes of the same image. Then I realized that these were duplicates created by WordPress when we upload images. Changing the settings to 0 worked in stopping WP from duplicating the images.
