How do I stop the Magento cache increasing image filesize?

Question

This problem is specific to already well compressed jpegs. When Magento is re-saving them to the cache, it increases the file size. In some cases almost doubling the size compared to the original. Obviously, the bigger the image, the greater the problem in absolute terms (of lost bandwidth/ performance).

This is somewhat infuriating! How can I stop Magento messing with my images; and why on earth is it adding pixel data?!

I’m only allowed to post links to one example. However, I could pick any image, it is increasing them all:

Original Image - https://www.logsdirect.co.uk/media/catalog/product/p/e/peat-pallet-french-bottom_1.jpg (75 KB)

Cached version - https://www.logsdirect.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/p/e/peat-pallet-french-bottom_1.jpg (137 KB)

Answer 1

Magento always re-render images for caching. In Class Mage_Catalog_Model_Product_Image there is an attribute called $_quality declared to 90.

Simply add in template where the helper is instantiated the Method setQuality($value). e.g.

$_img = '<img id="image" src="'.$this->helper('catalog/image')->setQuality('70')->init($_product, 'image').'" alt="'.$this->escapeHtml($this->getImageLabel()).'" title="'.$this->escapeHtml($this->getImageLabel()).'" />';

Value needs to be between 0 and 100 as declared in Varien_Image_Adapter_Abstract Line 216-228.

hope that helps.

appendum: The Value is representing the grade of compression.

Answer 2

The following plugin has been recommended to optimise and compress all your Magento product cached images to get you great results in Google Speed Test. It allows you to integrate with several APIs like Resmush.it, ImageOptim, Kraken.IO to give you plenty of options to choose from

https://www.scommerce-mage.com/optimize-magento-product-cms-images.html

Answer 3

Two ideas:

1. just use the original image instead of the catalog/image helper
2. Try Perfect_Watermarks to use imagick instead of GD