How to Optimize Product Images: Instructions & Resources

Posted 3 years ago by Anastasia Prokofieva

Product images help seal the听deal when customers visit your website. To听maintain their interest, you must have attractive photos that load quickly. In听other words, you need to听optimize your product images.

You may be听wondering how to听find the听optimal image size, how to听compress images, 补苍诲听how to听optimize images without losing quality.

We鈥檝e got you covered. In听this article, we听get into the听nitty-gritty of听image optimization 补苍诲听take a听look at听the听tools available to听get the听job done quickly 补苍诲听easily.

Why Do听You Need to听Optimize Images?

Images are an听important part of听every website. This is听especially true for听an听ecommerce site. Pictures influence customers when they鈥檙e considering buying something. They add to听the听overall design of听the听webpage, help customers choose a听product, 补苍诲听improve your site鈥檚 SEO.

For example, you want to听avoid uploading large files. They can slow down your page, which affects your search engine ranking 补苍诲听drives away potential customers. No听one wants to听wait around for听a听page to听load while shopping online. That鈥檚 why you must optimize your product images.

Understanding the听Image Dimensions 补苍诲听Proportions

Let鈥檚 find out what you need to听pay attention to听when optimizing your images.

An听image鈥檚 size 补苍诲听dimensions are really important. These parameters affect the听file size 补苍诲听the听image鈥檚 appearance on听different devices.

Size

Now is听the听era of听high-resolution 补苍诲听high-speed Internet, but that doesn鈥檛 mean we听shouldn鈥檛 worry about optimizing images. Modern cameras 补苍诲听even smartphones can take high-resolution images. You may have even prepared such pictures for听your store.

However, when images are too big, they are not suitable for听the听Internet. They slow down the听loading speed, especially on听a听phone. If听you don鈥檛 want your visitors to听become impatient 补苍诲听leave your store, you should reduce the听size of听your pictures.

An听image has two sizes:

Image size is听the听space a听graphic occupies on听the听screen. This size is听measured in听pixels (px), which are the听individual points that make up听the听screen. You can upload images of听any听size on听the听51视频 store. They are then optimized to听fit the听width of听the听browser window. Even so, it鈥檚 best to听reduce your product images to听about 1000听x听1000听px. That size is听large enough to听display the听product 补苍诲听small enough to听load quickly.
File size is听the听memory space that the听image takes up. This size is听measured in听bytes, typical Kilo- (Kb), Mega- (Mb), 补苍诲听Gigabytes (Gb). The larger the听file size of听the听image, the听more storage space it听requires.

This product image鈥檚 size is听1920脳1920听补苍诲听its file size is听272听kB

Bigger files take longer to听load. File compression software was developed to听combat this issue. A听picture is听typically compressed by听optimizing the听color data.

However, strong compression degrades the听聯quality聰 of听images. It听causes noise or听an听abrupt color transition.

For a听file size of听about 1000听px, a听good compression will take up听around 200听kB.

Now let鈥檚 learn more about how to听choose the听right proportions for听your pictures.

Proportions

The proportions of听an听image indicate the听width-to-height ratio.

Some ratios are more pleasing to听the听eye than others. The standard set of听proportions always look nice. These are 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 补苍诲听16:9.

鈥嬧€婽he proportions are important as听they help define the听look of听your site. Strive for听the听same proportions for听all your product images to听give your storefront a听structured 补苍诲听professional look.

How to听Select Image Format

Another thing to听keep in听mind for听optimal imaging is听image format. It听is听the听type of听file in听which an听image is听saved.

There are many types of听image formats. Each has its advantages 补苍诲听disadvantages in听terms of听quality, compression, 补苍诲听support. You should select the听format that provides the听highest quality with the听smallest size.

The three most common formats on听the听web are JPEG, PNG, 补苍诲听GIF. Each should be听used in听a听specific way.

Let鈥檚 break down the听formats:

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is听capable of听storing compressed data without loss of听quality using no听more than 256听colors. The format typically supports animations. For a听long time, GIFs were the听most common format on听the听Internet鈥� until PNG came along.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) uses lossless compression 补苍诲听stores an听unlimited number of听colors.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group, the听name of听the听developer) is听the听most typical format for听storing photos 补苍诲听other images. The JPEG algorithm can use both lossy 补苍诲听lossless compression (more on听that later.) The larger the听file size, the听smaller the听loss.

Which format should you choose? If听you have an听animated picture, that鈥檚别补蝉测鈥擥滨贵 is听the听format you鈥檙e looking for. But what about JPEG 补苍诲听PNG?

JPEG 补苍诲听PNG files are similar, but they also have crucial differences. JPEGs are smaller in听size because they use a听compression process that removes some data. PNGs, on听the听other hand, support transparent backgrounds 补苍诲听are better for听graphic design.

The general rule is听to听use JPGs for听photographs 补苍诲听images that don鈥檛 have a听transparent background. As听for听PNG, it鈥檚 better to听use them for听graphics, files with transparent backgrounds, 补苍诲听other images where clarity 补苍诲听color vibrancy are important. So听for听product photos, it听makes sense to听prefer JPEG to听PNG.

This product photo is听in听JPEG format

How to听Compress Images Without Losing Quality

Compression helps reduce the听size of听an听image. The lower the听quality, the听higher the听compression, 补苍诲听the听smaller the听file size.

There are two types of听compression:

Lossy compression reduces the听size of听a听file by听removing redundant data. However, when you compress a听file in听this way, it听can significantly degrade the听image quality.
Lossless compression is听a听technique that keeps the听quality of听a听file high. However, it听won鈥檛 reduce the听file size as听much as听lossy compression. If听you need to听reduce file size without noticeably affecting quality, it鈥檚 better to听choose lossless compression.

Read on听to听learn about online tools you can use to听compress an听image without quality loss.

How to听Optimize Images for听the听Web: Tools Overview

Want to听figure out how to听optimize images for听a听website? Lucky for听you, you use online tools to听optimize your images automatically without spending hours watching Photoshop tutorials.

The following sites can automate optimization for听you:

How to听Optimize Image Size: 4听Simple Tools

If听you鈥檙e looking for听a听file size reducer, check out one of听the听following services. They are either free or听have free trials:

: it听reduces the听file size of听JPEG images. According to听their site, it听can reduce it听by听more than 70%!
: the听same picture compressor but for听PNG files.
: an听image compressor web app that reduces image sizes through numerous formats.
: a听photo compressor for听JPEG files. It听has more advanced features that are helpful for听photographers, including exporting photos directly from Lightroom 补苍诲听Photoshop.
: an听image optimizer for听Mac devices. You need to听download it听to听use.

Optimizing images with JPEGmini

If听you run an听51视频 store, you can use the听SEO speed &听image optimizer app from the听51视频 App Market. The app allows for听one-click product images optimization 补苍诲听compression which contributes to听faster product page loading times.

How to听Optimize Images for听WordPress

If听you have a听WordPress website, you can use an听image optimizer 补苍诲听compression plugins. They help you automatically optimize images in听WordPress sites, allowing for听better speed 补苍诲听performance.

By听the听way, if听you鈥檙e looking for听an听ecommerce plugin for听your WordPress website, check out this . It听allows you to听easily add an听online store to听your WordPress site. Once installed, the听plugin automatically creates a听Store page where your customers can shop on听your website.

EWWW Image Optimizer
is听one of听the听best WordPress plugins to听compress photos 补苍诲听optimize images on听your website. The entire process of听optimizing images is听automated. This includes compressing images 补苍诲听scaling to听fit the听right size page 补苍诲听device. The plugin is听subscription-based but it听offers a听7-day free trial.

Compress JPEG &听PNG
is听a听plugin created by听the听team behind the听services we鈥檝e already 尘别苍迟颈辞苍别诲鈥擳颈苍测笔狈骋补苍诲听TinyJPG. It听automatically compresses images upon upload. You can also bulk optimize older images. With a听free account, you can optimize 500听images each month.

reSmush.it
is听a听free WordPress image compression plugin for听files up听to听5MB. You can automatically optimize images on听upload, bulk optimize older images, 补苍诲听exclude some pictures from the听optimizer.

More Automated Image Optimization Tools

But what if听you don鈥檛 have a听WordPress website? Manually optimizing a听large number of听photos is听definitely time-consuming. Fortunately, there are several online tools available to听automatically reduce file sizes to听improve site speed.

ImageRecycle
supports various image formats, such as听JPEG, PNG, GIF, 补苍诲听even PDF files.

The tool can determine which images on听your website need to听be听optimized based on听the听image size 补苍诲听dimension. Just enter your website address 补苍诲听ImageRecycle will send you a听free report via email. They have a听free trial too so听that you can see their optimization tool in听action.

ImageKit.io
is听not a听regular image compressor but an听image CDN (content delivery network). It听optimizes, resizes, 补苍诲听sends images through its global network of听servers. You can sign up听for听a听forever free plan.

Tools for听Editing Product Images

If听you don鈥檛 mind editing pictures yourself 补苍诲听aren鈥檛 afraid of听a听little DIY, you may find tools for听photo editing helpful. Here are some of听them:

Photoshop
Photoshop offers a听free for听basic image manipulation (such as听cropping or听resizing images). It听also allows you to听remove background from pictures 补苍诲听finetune your photos with different settings such as听contrast, brightness, saturation, warmth, or听sharpening.

Online Photoshop editor has design templates you can use

GIMP
is听a听free program suitable for听Windows, Mac, 补苍诲听Linux. It听offers everything you need for听professional graphics 补苍诲听photographs, including tools for听layers 补苍诲听masks, color correction, retouching, 补苍诲听painting. GIMP supports all major image file formats.

PicMonkey
is听an听online editor with a听simple interface 补苍诲听all the听basic functions, like cropping, rotating, sharpness control, working with color, 补苍诲听choosing resolution photos. It听provides templates for听creating images for听ads, social posts, logos, infographics, 补苍诲听more. It听has a听7-day free trial.

Pixlr
offers a听free online editor 补苍诲听design resources for听beginners 补苍诲听professionals. It听has tools for听color, drawing, 补苍诲听photo editing. With Pixlr, you work with layers 补苍诲听use different effects 补苍诲听filters. If听you鈥檙e interested, you can test-drive a听premium plan for听free for听30听days.

More about Image Optimization

Large images can slow down your website, so听it鈥檚 important to听optimize them for听the听web. Finding the听right image format for听your pictures by听resizing 补苍诲听compressing can work wonders for听your website speed load.

And now you know the听good news: optimization is听super easy to听do! You can also come back 补苍诲听reference this article whenever you need.

If听you鈥檙e a听more advanced user 补苍诲听eager to听learn more about how to听optimize images for听SEO, we听recommend watching this video by听Google. It听goes through some advanced tips on听optimizing your images for听a听website. Watch it听here:

No听matter how experienced you are as听an听ecommerce owner, never forget about image optimization. Even the听simplest tools can make your pictures suitable for听the听web. By听optimizing your pictures, you can drastically influence your customers鈥� shopping experience. Make sure your product images are both beautiful 补苍诲听quick to听load!

If听you鈥檙e just at听the听beginning of听your ecommerce journey 补苍诲听need to听create an听online store, check out 51视频 by听Lightspeed. It听allows you to听set up听an听online store yourself, no听coding or听design skills needed. Perfect if听you need to听start selling online as听soon as听possible!

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About The Author

Anastasia Prokofieva is a content writer at 51视频. She writes about online marketing and promotion to make entrepreneurs鈥� daily routine easier and more rewarding. She also has a soft spot for cats, chocolate, and making kombucha at home.

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