The Pressidium Performance Plugin can reduce image file sizes by compressing Media Library images and converting them to modern formats such as WebP or AVIF.

Use this guide to configure image optimization, optimize existing images, and control how optimized files are generated.

What you can do

With the Pressidium Performance Plugin, you can:

  • Convert images to WebP or AVIF
  • Automatically optimize new uploads
  • Bulk optimize existing Media Library images
  • Control image quality
  • Keep or remove original image files
  • Exclude specific images from optimization
  • Run optimization tasks in the background

Optimizing large or inefficient images can reduce page weight and improve loading performance.

How to enable image optimization

  1. Log in to your WordPress admin area.
  2. Go to Performance.
  3. Open the image optimization settings.
  4. Enable image optimization.
  5. Choose your preferred output format, such as WebP or AVIF.
  6. Set your preferred image quality level.
  7. Decide whether to keep the original files.
  8. Save your changes.

Once enabled, the plugin can optimize new uploads automatically.

Optimizing existing images

To optimize images that are already in your Media Library, use the bulk optimization option.

The plugin processes images in the background, so the work does not need to happen during a frontend page request. You can monitor optimization tasks from the Background Processes area.

Choosing image quality

The image quality setting lets you balance file size and visual fidelity.

A lower quality setting usually creates smaller files, which can improve load time. A higher quality setting keeps more visual detail, but the file size may be larger.

For most production sites, the best approach is to test a few representative images before optimizing the full Media Library.

Keeping original images

You can choose whether the plugin keeps the original files.

Keeping originals gives you more flexibility if you want to restore images later. This is useful when testing image optimization for the first time or when working on client sites where reversibility matters.

You can revert optimized images at any time from wp-admin → Performance → Image optimization → Revert optimized images.

Although the plugin follows a “clean exit” approach and removes its generated files and records when uninstalled, optimized image are not removed automatically. To remove them, revert your optimized image before uninstalling the plugin.

Excluding images from optimization

Some images may need to remain untouched. For example:

  • Brand assets
  • Logos
  • Images already optimized manually
  • Images where exact visual quality is critical
  • Files served from special paths or workflows

You can exclude images using direct URLs or regular expressions. This gives you control over what the plugin should and should not optimize.

Background processing

Image optimization runs as a background task. This keeps the frontend responsive while the plugin works through your Media Library.

You can review background task status from the plugin interface, including queued, running, paused, or completed processes.

Troubleshooting

If image optimization does not behave as expected, check the following:

  • Confirm that image optimization is enabled.
  • Check whether the image matches an exclusion rule.
  • Review the background process status.
  • Make sure the server supports the selected image format.
  • Try a different image editor, such as Imagick or GD, if available.
  • Review logs if debugging is needed.

Best practices

Start with a staging site when possible, especially for large Media Libraries.

Optimize a small sample first, then review the visual result before running bulk optimization across the full site. Keep original files during your first tests, and use exclusions for images that require special handling.

What this feature does not do

Image optimization helps reduce image weight, but it is not a complete performance solution.

The plugin is not a CDN, not a page caching engine, and not a replacement for Pressidium EDGE or your origin hosting. It improves image handling inside WordPress.

EDGE delivery, caching, and origin hosting still affect how quickly your site responds and how fast visitors receive content.

Where to go next

After you configure automatic image optimization, review the related plugin settings or continue with other front-end optimization options.