Don’t we all just want to be skinnier? We’re always working hard to be thinner and healthier: Why not apply those principles to web design and development as well? Websites can very often be inefficient and slow because of large static image sizes. How does one balance the need for impactful graphic design and cutting-edge images when it can slow down your website?
Introducing the latest ‘fad diet’ when it comes to creating thinner, more efficient images; Google’s Ôimage compression tool, WebP (pronounced ‘Weppy’).
What is WebP exactly?
Let’s get techie now. WebP is actually an image compression tool, not an image format like jpeg, png or gif. It uses the lossy encoding method that ‘loses’ non-critical data in order to make image sizes smaller. The degree of compression is adjustable, depending on whether you need smaller image size or better image quality. WebP does change the image quality, but it is not noticeable to the human eye. This methodology can only be used for multimedia images, because banks, accountants and other data-critical industries obviously don’t take too kindly to data elimination/alteration.
WebP boasts that it can reduce image size up to 40%, which means that an image size of 46,768 bytes could potentially be reduced down to 28,061 bytes. That’s pretty impressive stuff.
WebP cannot exist as an image format yet because it cannot natively exist in browsers other than Chrome. Because others have tried to create a standardized image formatting without much success or change, Google is approaching this with an iterative step, as image compression that works with existing formats jpeg, png and gif. Google is banking on this in-between step in the hopes that it becomes popular enough to create a more permanent and accepted image format.
Benefits of WebP
If this is widely accepted, and if many of Google’s other tools are an indication it will, the benefits of WebP could work for everyone. Having leaner, meaner, faster loading sites WHILE saving money.
Better and more efficient user experience
Reduce bandwidth at your office or organization
Smaller data means smaller hosting costs
Value add for graphic designers working for clients
How will Amadeus Consulting use this?
There is a stigma in the industry that graphic design and rich Internet application development is just a money pit. We’re looking to change this. Because our custom software development methodology includes a careful balance between science and art, we will most certainly be using this tool to add value for our clients. We hear from clients often about how heady graphic design and large static images slow down their websites.
Here are just a few of the ways that our user experience and Creative Services team can help:
Converting all old images into new lighter-weight versions
Creating custom light-weight images
Optimize beyond image compression, conduct full-scale user experience optimization
We look forward to whipping our client’s websites into shape.
Tags: compression tool, critical industries, edge images, fad diet, google, image compression, image sizes, iterative step, latest fad, multimedia images