Optimizing Images and Speed

What You’ll Learn

• Which image formats to use (JPG/PNG/WebP/AVIF) and when.
• How to size, compress, and lazy-load images for speed.
• How to serve responsive images (srcset/sizes) and avoid layout shift.
• How to configure WordPress/Elementor, caching, and a CDN for faster delivery.
• How to check Core Web Vitals and iterate safely.

Core Principles for a Fast Site

1. Pick the Right Format

   • Photographs: WebP (best balance) or AVIF (smaller but newer). Fallback JPG if needed.
   • Logos/Icons with transparency: SVG if available (infinitely scalable), otherwise PNG.
   • Illustrations/flat color: SVG or WebP.
   • Animated: MP4/WebM for clips; avoid heavy GIFs.

2. Resize Before Upload

   Do not upload 4000px images for a 1200px layout. Export close to the largest display size (e.g., 1600–1920px wide for full-width hero; 800–1200px for content images).

3. Compress Smartly

   Target ~60–80% quality for JPG/WebP; visually compare to keep details. Use lossless for logos/UI.

4. Use Responsive Images

   Provide multiple sizes so browsers download only what they need (srcset and sizes).

5. Lazy-Load Below the Fold

   Defer offscreen images with loading="lazy" and reserve space to avoid layout shift.

6. Deliver via CDN + Caching

   A CDN brings images closer to users; caching avoids regenerating pages and thumbnails on every visit.

WordPress + Elementor: Recommended Setup

1. Set Image Sizes

   • In Settings → Media, set reasonable max sizes (e.g., Large: 1600×1600; Medium-Large: 1200 width).
   • After changes, Regenerate Thumbnails with a utility plugin to rebuild sizes.

2. Enable Next-Gen Formats

   • Use an optimization plugin that converts uploads to WebP (and optionally AVIF) with automatic fallbacks.
   • Serve from CDN (plugin integration or host-provided CDN).

3. Lazy-Load & Placeholder Blur

   • Ensure lazy-load is on site-wide; exclude above-the-fold hero image to avoid late paint.
   • Use low-quality placeholders (LQIP) or dominant-color backgrounds to reduce perceived load time.

4. Elementor Best Practices

   • Prefer the Image widget (not Background images) for content; background images don’t auto-generate srcset and can be oversized.
   • Use Global Image Sizes and keep a consistent aspect ratio for cards/grids.
   • Disable unused widgets/features to reduce CSS/JS payload when possible.

5. Caching & Minification

   • Enable Page Cache, Browser Cache, and Object Cache (via host or plugin).
   • Minify and combine CSS/JS cautiously; test Elementor editor and front-end after enabling.
   • Use Critical CSS generation and defer non-critical JS to improve Largest Contentful Paint (LCP).

Practical Markup Examples

<img 
  src="/uploads/hero-1200.webp" 
  srcset="/uploads/hero-600.webp 600w, /uploads/hero-900.webp 900w, /uploads/hero-1200.webp 1200w, /uploads/hero-1600.webp 1600w" 
  sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, (max-width: 1200px) 90vw, 1200px"
  width="1200" height="800"
  alt="Happy customer using our service"
  loading="eager" decoding="async" />

<img 
  src="/uploads/gallery-800.webp"
  srcset="/uploads/gallery-400.webp 400w, /uploads/gallery-600.webp 600w, /uploads/gallery-800.webp 800w"
  sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 800px"
  width="800" height="534"
  alt="Before and after project gallery"
  loading="lazy" decoding="async" />

Measure & Improve Core Web Vitals

• LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): Optimize the hero image size/format, serve via CDN, inline critical CSS.
• CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): Always set width/height or aspect-ratio boxes; avoid late-loading fonts causing jumps.
• INP (Interaction to Next Paint): Defer non-critical JS, limit heavy third-party scripts, and reduce DOM complexity.

Quick Wins You Can Do Today

• Convert top 10 largest images to WebP and resize to actual display width.
• Enable lazy-loading and exclude the first viewport hero.
• Turn on page caching and browser caching.
• Serve images via a CDN; set a long Cache-Control max-age for static assets.
• Replace background images-in-sections with Image widgets where possible for automatic srcset.

Troubleshooting & Safety Checks

1. Blurry Images?

   Upload at least 1.5× the displayed size for high-DPI screens and ensure compression isn’t too aggressive.

2. Images Still Heavy?

   Re-export to WebP/AVIF, crop tighter, or simplify backgrounds. Avoid 100% quality settings.

3. Layout Jumps?

   Add explicit dimensions or use CSS aspect-ratio. Avoid inserting images above content after load.

4. Plugin Conflicts?

   Disable one optimization at a time (lazy-load, combine JS, defer) to identify the culprit; clear caches after each change.

Optimization Checklist

• WebP/AVIF enabled with JPG/PNG fallback where needed.
• Images resized to realistic max width before upload.
• srcset/sizes generated (prefer Image widgets over backgrounds).
• loading="lazy" on below-the-fold images.
• Page, browser, and object caching configured; CDN active.
• Critical CSS generated; non-critical JS deferred.
• Core Web Vitals checked after each change.