Optimizing Images

[Rebeca1]

I have realized that our images are way to big. I would like to resize them and upload back again but I am afraid to do it as every image in wordpress is uploaded and has own link and then all this links will be not found. Is there some other way how to do it without a plugin. Or it is not a problem that I will delete that old large images and then upload the new smaller?

Thank you very much for any advice

Iris

[dotfly]

Replace them step by step: delete the bigger one and then immediately upload the new, resized, smaller picture... so the first thing which you should do is create the new pictures before replacing them. Kemp in mind that they have a 4:3 ratio and that at least one edge should have a minimum of 300 pixel.

If you use the same name for the picture (example.jpg is the name for the big one and is also for the new picture) this procedure won`t have any negative effects on your site.

[AsOneDesign]

Upload all new (smaller) images to your media library.

For each large image in the page/post text editor, replace the img src with the smaller image URL, if you leave the larger image as the a href URL, on click, the larger one will show, which shouldn't be a problem.

Page load time should decrease.

If you delete all of the larger images, you must delete/change the a href URL or a 404 error page will appear.

[PixelKicks]

There's a great plugin that can help you initially, as well as another one that can optimize your images for the long-term.

Try "Enable Media Replace" (http://wordpress.org/plugins/enable-media-replace/) to simply replace your existing images without uploading them as new files.

Also try "WP Smush.it" (http://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-smushit/) as a general image optimizing plugin.

[WhiteboardCreations]

All great answers here for you, Iris.

I agree with PixelKicks (I gave them a thumbs up) as we use WP Smush.it and love the plugin! WP Smush.it will help you moving forward to keep all your new images uploaded to the pages/posts to be of optimal size for increased page load times.

We haven't worked with Enable Media Replace plugin yet, but from the looks of it, this plugin should accomplish your goals and we'll be implementing for our sites now too.

Just be sure not to completely delete the original (larger) files until you have replaced them and created your links and even tags if they were tagged for SEO purposes.

Patrick

[Rebeca1]

Thank you very much for all the advices!

I would love to just instal a plugin and then click a bottom to fix it but I guess I will try it without the plugin as I read everywhere that I should always avoid to plugins if possible. I am very new to all this and I am not sure what would such plugin affect on the site.

Or do you realy think it is better to use the plugin?

All the best,

Iris

[AsOneDesign]

It just depends on how many images we're talking about. If it's not many, then just do it manually.

If there are loads, use a plugin like the lads have mentioned above.

Doing it manually will give you some good practice on WordPress too.

[Rebeca1]

well, so I guess the best will be the plugin as all the images on our site are way to big:-( But which one is better of the once PixelKicks recommended?