Automatic Best Image Format Selection

The Automatic Best Image Format Selection feature in Optimole represents an important improvement. It's not just another image optimization tool; it's a smart solution that intelligently selects the optimal image format for your website by analyzing image complexity and experimenting with different formats like AVIF or WebP to achieve the smallest file size without compromising quality.

🔌 Enable the Feature

To enable this feature, navigate to WP  Dashboard > Optimole.

1

Open the Settings tab.

2

Expand the Advanced accordion and open the Compression panel.

3

Use the toggle to  enable the Automatic Best Image Format feature.

🚀 User Site and Image Impact

Optimole can automatically choose the best image format to make pictures load faster. It looks at the complexity of the image and decides whether to keep the quality very high or almost as high. Then, it tries different formats and picks the one that makes the image file as small as possible. Just keep in mind that it will only choose from certain formats, like AVIF or WebP, if your system supports them. Also, using the best format might change your image quality settings.

📝 Note: To test if the images on your website are being processed for the best format, check the URL of the image and make sure it contains the f: best parameter.

🔄 Benefits and Trade-offs

Benefits

• Automatic Optimization - the tool picks the best image format without manual effort, saving time for website managers.
• Preserved Quality - images stay sharp even when reducing file size, ensuring clear visuals on the site.
• Future-Oriented - supports new formats like AVIF and WebP, ensuring compatibility with upcoming technology standards.

Trade-offs

• Format not aligned with expectations - sometimes, the best format picked by Optimole might not be the one that you want.
• Compatibility issues - some older browsers or specific apps may not fully support new formats like AVIF and WebP, potentially causing display issues.

⚙️ Related Settings

One important thing to keep in mind is that if  Automatic Best Image Format Selection is on and the AVIF conversion is toggled off, then this format will be excluded from the available Best Format list. If AVIF is on, then the Automatic Best Image Format Selection search will also include this one.

• AVIF Image Support - doc

🗂Useful Resources

You may find useful these guides:

• How to Use AVIF WordPress Images (Easy Method)
• How to Serve Images in Next-Gen Formats (on WordPress)

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