Help with featured image file size issue

  • Is it possible to tell WordPress to serve the “Large” size image vs the full size image when using the “Featured Image” feature? If so, how would I do that? Thanks so much!

    Here’s the tl;dr version:

    My site, https://justinmoorescott.com, is my photo blog. I have been doing what I can to optimize my sites to be faster loading and generally more user-friendly. However I’m a little stuck.

    I have chosen to upload retina quality images (optimized JPEGs) to my blog. The theory is that down the road if everyone ended up with 4K screens, my site would still look great and I’d use a tool that served high res screens the high res images and everyone else gets the standard image. This plugin exists already, WP Retina 2x, but it stopped working for me so I have put its use on hold.

    Thing is, my theme uses the “Featured Image” as the image for the post. And even though the posted images are never wider than 940px, it uses the 2880px wide version of the image.

    How can I tell my WordPress or my theme to select the “large” version of the image instead of pulling the full file? This would bring a massive decrease in bandwidth usage and speed things up quite a bit.

    Thanks a billion.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

  • The site is using the full size image and resizing it inline.

    Example:

    https://justinmoorescott.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Congruent.jpg

    Is the size noted.

    Since the full size was uploaded at those dimensions you have these options:

    1. Resize/optimize each image locally and replace as the featured image for each post.
    2. Consult the theme provider on how to edit the page template(s) in use to pull one of the other size thumbs created (medium, small, thumb). This work should be done in a Child Theme.
    3. Resize/optimize the images, then overwrite them in the uploads folder via FTP or host provided file management tool.

    I would do 3. Just make sure to backup all your images first, then also make sure you are using the exact same file name and upload to the correct uploads folder.

    You could also use a CDN to serve the images and take the load off your web host.

    Thread Starter justex07

    (@justex07)

    Thanks for the reply.

    I was hoping #2 would be the easy route, perhaps a simple switch in the code to tell it to use the “large” image instead of original file. Sounds like it will be more difficult than that. I’ll reach out to the theme creator to see.

    I’m not sure I understand the difference between options 1 & 3. It seems like you’re suggesting I download all the images (300 or so posts so 1200 image?) and manually re-size and resave the original files (but only the full size version) then re-upload, overwriting what was originally there.

    Is that correct? Problem is, if I ever wanted to optimize for retina or design a larger viewing experience, I’d have to undo all the work. Correct?

    Thanks again for taking the time to help. I wish there was a plugin that defined what version of a file “featured image” would use.

    Is that correct?

    Yes.

    Since the theme is using the full size images as the featured image, and you have so many images, working with the theme dev. will likely be the best course of action.

    Problem is, if I ever wanted to optimize for retina or design a larger viewing experience, I’d have to undo all the work. Correct?

    No. You would then just re-upload (using FTP or host provided file management tool) the files which should take only a few minutes (As you backed them up prior).

    My last note above may be a good option for you also:

    You could also use a CDN to serve the images and take the load off your web host.

    I see you are using JetPack Photon. It’s OK, but there are much faster alternatives.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
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