How to Use WP Smush Image Compression Plugin for WordPress
Image compression is one of the measures to help you speed up WordPress. Today we will learn how to use WP Smush image compression plugin – a popular tool for optimizing images specifically for WordPress users. WP Smush has a rather long full name:Smush Image Compression and Optimization –with over 1 million installations, it is the image compression plugin with the most users on WordPress, and is also very well reviewed (nearly 5 stars). In addition, we have an article comparing 5 image compression plugins for WordPress to give you a better overview. Now let's explore WP Smush.
After installation, you will see in the top left area a notification showing how many image files on your website need optimization:
It says I have 113 images to optimize and if I upgrade to the Pro version (paid) the optimization process willonly take 1 click, but if I use the free version then each click will onlyoptimize up to 50 images. No problem, I'll continue with the free version, because with the number of images that need optimization, I only need 3 clicks. I click onBULK SMUSH. Right next to it are the statistics of the optimization process:
Then I clicked 2 more times to optimize all old images on the website. Note that in the free version, image files over 1MB will not be compressed (this may not be a major issue since most of our image files are below this threshold):
Here WP Smush automatically compresses uploaded images and the smaller image versions that WordPress creates. You should keep it as default so that all images at every size are optimized.
EXIF is technical data such as camera focal length, date and location of the photo stored in the image. This information makes the image larger and is almost useless for most website administrators and readers. However, if you are a professional photographer, you may want to keep this data. The default is to remove EXIF as shown above. To enable it, toggle to the right.
One of the most common mistakes beginners make with WordPress is uploading images withvery large dimensions, which can be up to 4000 to 5000px wide. Most images displayed on the web don't need a width greater than 2000px. And most of those only need 1000px width to fill the screen. In this section, you select the maximum width and height of the image. If an uploaded image exceeds that threshold, it will automatically be resized to the size you choose. For safety, you may want to set Max width to 2000px and Max height to 2000px. Finally, clickUPDATE SETTINGSto update settings.
In addition to compressing images in the media library you upload (this is the default), you may want to compress images stored in other folders in WordPress. Smush now allows you to compress any images in any folder so you can optimize all images on your website – including images in gallery plugins like NextGEN, or images stored on Amazon S3 using the WP Offload S3 plugin and images in ANY WordPress plugin and theme packages. After clicking CHOOSE DIRECTORY, select the folder containing the images you want to compress, then click ADD DIRECTORY:
Including:
FULL image reduced by 23.3%, below are other sizes. For example, Medium reduced by 55.8%. WP Smush does not have the feature to restore the original image in the free version, but this is not too important because WP Smush is lossless compression, so your images will not be degraded at all.
Original image file: 222 KB Resolution: 800px * 533px Image compressed in WP Smush default mode: 180 KB Size reduction: ~ 19% Image quality: not degraded
B. PNG image
Original image file: 8.35KB Resolution: 139px * 244px Image compressed in WP Smush default mode: 4.95KB Size reduction: ~ 41% Image quality: not degraded
C. GIF image
I couldn't test this image because the file size is larger than 1MB.
1. Features
Compressed image formats are the same as most other plugins including JPG, PNG and GIF. WP Smush's default islossless compression, meaning image file size is reduced but image quality is preserved. The free version only provides this compression type. The maximum file size of each compressed image is 1MB on Free version, which is lower compared to plugins like ShortPixel, Imagify or reSmush.it. In the paid upgrade version, this number is increased to 32MB.2. Compress Old Images on Your Website
After installation, you will see in the top left area a notification showing how many image files on your website need optimization:
It says I have 113 images to optimize and if I upgrade to the Pro version (paid) the optimization process willonly take 1 click, but if I use the free version then each click will onlyoptimize up to 50 images. No problem, I'll continue with the free version, because with the number of images that need optimization, I only need 3 clicks. I click onBULK SMUSH. Right next to it are the statistics of the optimization process:
Then I clicked 2 more times to optimize all old images on the website. Note that in the free version, image files over 1MB will not be compressed (this may not be a major issue since most of our image files are below this threshold):
3. Some Settings
A. Auto-compress uploaded images
Here WP Smush automatically compresses uploaded images and the smaller image versions that WordPress creates. You should keep it as default so that all images at every size are optimized.
B. Remove EXIF data
EXIF is technical data such as camera focal length, date and location of the photo stored in the image. This information makes the image larger and is almost useless for most website administrators and readers. However, if you are a professional photographer, you may want to keep this data. The default is to remove EXIF as shown above. To enable it, toggle to the right.
C. Select maximum image size
One of the most common mistakes beginners make with WordPress is uploading images withvery large dimensions, which can be up to 4000 to 5000px wide. Most images displayed on the web don't need a width greater than 2000px. And most of those only need 1000px width to fill the screen. In this section, you select the maximum width and height of the image. If an uploaded image exceeds that threshold, it will automatically be resized to the size you choose. For safety, you may want to set Max width to 2000px and Max height to 2000px. Finally, clickUPDATE SETTINGSto update settings.
D. Compress images in other folders, outside the Media library
In addition to compressing images in the media library you upload (this is the default), you may want to compress images stored in other folders in WordPress. Smush now allows you to compress any images in any folder so you can optimize all images on your website – including images in gallery plugins like NextGEN, or images stored on Amazon S3 using the WP Offload S3 plugin and images in ANY WordPress plugin and theme packages. After clicking CHOOSE DIRECTORY, select the folder containing the images you want to compress, then click ADD DIRECTORY:
E. Advanced features only available in the paid version
Including:
- Compress images with greater file size reduction; in addition to lossless compression techniques, WP SMUSH will use lossy compression techniques to reduce file size significantly
- Compress original images in full format and create copies for the original image folder
- Tool to convert image format from PNG to JPEG
4. Compatible with many popular photo library plugins
Most of the popular plugins you use to help manage your media library more easily, WP Smush also works with, this list includes:- WP All Import
- WP Offload S3
- WP Media Folder
- WP Retina 2x
- NextGen Gallery
- WPML
- WPML Media Translation Add-on
- Styles
- And many other plugins
5. Check the image size reduction
To check how much the image size is reduced in percentage when compressed with WP Smush, go to the library and click on the Smush stats [+] link:
FULL image reduced by 23.3%, below are other sizes. For example, Medium reduced by 55.8%. WP Smush does not have the feature to restore the original image in the free version, but this is not too important because WP Smush is lossless compression, so your images will not be degraded at all.
6. Some actual compressed images
A. JPG image:
Original image file: 222 KB Resolution: 800px * 533px Image compressed in WP Smush default mode: 180 KB Size reduction: ~ 19% Image quality: not degraded
B. PNG image
Original image file: 8.35KB Resolution: 139px * 244px Image compressed in WP Smush default mode: 4.95KB Size reduction: ~ 41% Image quality: not degraded
C. GIF image
I couldn't test this image because the file size is larger than 1MB.
