As a website owner, it’s important to use the right image file types on your website in order to make it look professional and ensure that your pages load quickly. There are several different image file types that you can use on your website, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we will explain the most common image file types and provide a list of recommended image sizes for WordPress.
The three most common image file types are JPEG, PNG, and GIF. JPEG (or Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a lossy image file format that is widely used for photographs and other complex images. This file type uses compression to reduce the file size, which can make it a good choice for large images that need to be loaded quickly on your website. However, JPEG images can lose some quality when they are compressed, so they may not be the best choice for images that require high-resolution or precise color reproduction.
PNG (or Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless image file format that is commonly used for images with transparent backgrounds, such as logos or icons. This file type does not use compression, so it can preserve the quality of the original image, but it can also result in larger file sizes. As a result, PNG images may not be the best choice for large images that need to be loaded quickly on your website.
GIF (or Graphics Interchange Format) is an image file format that is commonly used for simple images and animations. This file type supports transparency and allows for the creation of simple animations, but it does not support high-resolution images and can only display a limited number of colors.
In terms of recommended image sizes for WordPress, it’s important to note that the size of your images will depend on the theme that you are using and the layout of your website. However, as a general rule, the following image sizes are recommended for WordPress:
- For blog post images, a width of 800-1200 pixels is recommended.
- For header images, a width of 2000-2500 pixels is recommended.
- For thumbnail images, a width of 150-300 pixels is recommended.
- For featured images, a width of 1000-1500 pixels is recommended.
It’s important to note that these are just general recommendations, and you may need to adjust the sizes of your images depending on the specific requirements of your website. In addition, it’s always a good idea to optimize your images for the web in order to reduce their file size and improve their loading speed. This can be done using a tool like Photoshop or a free online service like TinyPNG.
In conclusion, the right image file type and size can make a big difference in the appearance and performance of your website. By using the right file types and following the recommended image sizes for WordPress, you can ensure that your website looks professional and loads quickly for your visitors.
When working with our clients on website design projects we get the question:
“What size images should we be providing to you for the new website?”
This is an interesting question to answer as it heavily depends upon the skill level of the person preparing these images for delivery.
The below sections are our attempt to best answer this question:
What is the SIZE of an image?
The word “size” in images can be referencing two very different meanings.
Size (Data) = The amount of data the image takes up on your computer’s hard drive. In web design, we want to optimize images into the correct format (PNG, JPEG, SVG, WEBP) to ensure they are downloaded efficiently even on slow internet connections. Here are the image types we recommend for each style of photo.
- PNG = Use this image type if the image is a graphic or image with only a few colors.
- JPEG = Use this image type if the image is a photo or has many colors
- SVG = Is this your logo?
Size (Resolution) = This is the real estate or area that this image occupies on website pages. Image resolution is typically measured in pixels.
Looking for help with social media image sizes? Check out this Cheat Sheet: https://makeawebsitehub.com/social-media-image-sizes-cheat-sheet/