Google's new image format WebP
Reduce the file size of images by up to 35% using Googe's new image format called WebP.
In the last year although the number of images on the average website has not increased the size of those images has. One way to arrest this trend is to use a new image format called WebP, it's been developed by the clever folks at Google by utilising some of the hard work they've put into their webM video codec.
WebP is a new image format that provides lossless and lossy compression for images on the web. WebP lossless images are 26% smaller in size compared to PNGs. WebP lossy images are 25-34% smaller in size compared to JPEG images at equivalent SSIM index. WebP supports lossless transparency (also known as alpha channel) with just 22% additional bytes. Transparency is also supported with lossy compression and typically provides 3x smaller file sizes compared to PNG when lossy compression is acceptable for the red/green/blue color channels.
Unfortunately, browser support is currently lacking, WebP is only supported in:
- Opera (Pesto)
- Google Chrome
- Google Chrome Frame for Internet Explorer
- Android Browser (Ice Cream Sandwich)
