When working with the modern web, efficiency and speed are non-negotiable. This is especially true for designers and developers striving to optimize user experiences. Among the many advancements in recent years, the WebP image format developed by Google has emerged as a game-changer. It offers smaller file sizes without compromising quality—perfect for fast-loading websites and mobile app interfaces. However, viewing and working with WebP files isn’t as straightforward as traditional formats like JPEG and PNG. That’s where specialized viewers and plugins become essential tools in a designer’s workflow.
In this article, we’ll take you through a curated shortlist of WebP viewers and plugins that every designer should consider. Whether you’re browsing files locally or integrating into a design tool, there’s something here for everyone.
Why Designers Are Turning to WebP
Before jumping into tools, let’s quickly recap why WebP is gaining popularity among designers:
- Smaller File Size: WebP images can be up to 30% smaller than JPEGs and PNGs while maintaining the same quality.
- Transparency and Animation Support: It combines features of both PNG (transparency) and GIF (animation) in one modern format.
- Browser Compatibility: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari (14 and above) now support WebP, ensuring wide accessibility.
This makes WebP an ideal format for optimizing websites and mobile apps. But when native OS tools and design software don’t support viewing or editing the format out of the box, plugins and third-party viewers become crucial.
Top WebP Viewers for Designers
Sometimes you just need a quick tool to open and inspect a WebP file. Here’s a roundup of lightweight, reliable WebP viewers you can use:
1. XnView MP
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
Why It’s Great: XnView MP is a powerful image viewer and organizer that supports WebP natively, among over 500 other image formats. It’s perfect for bulk viewing, converting, and organizing WebP files along with other graphics assets in your project.
2. IrfanView
Platform: Windows
Why It’s Great: Known for its speed and lightweight nature, IrfanView supports WebP with the proper plugin installed. It’s ideal for users who want a fast and simple viewer with basic editing features.
3. ImageGlass
Platform: Windows
Why It’s Great: ImageGlass is a sleek and modern image viewer designed for fast switching and viewing. It supports over 70 formats, including WebP, and has an open-source architecture making it highly customizable.
Essential WebP Plugins for Design Software
Many professional design tools still lack out-of-the-box support for WebP. That’s where plugins come into play. Here are some must-have WebP plugins for popular design environments:
1. WebPShop (For Photoshop)
Developer: Google
Why It’s Great: WebPShop is an official plugin by Google that enables both opening and saving WebP files directly within Photoshop. Designers who rely heavily on Adobe’s suite can integrate WebP without altering their workflow.
How to Use It: Simply download the plugin, place it into Photoshop’s plugin folder, and restart. WebP will now appear in your file format list when exporting.
2. WebP Plugin for GIMP
Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS
Why It’s Great: GIMP has become a potent free alternative to Photoshop, and this plugin ensures full compatibility with WebP images. It supports both raster and alpha channel features, making it ideal for detailed web graphics.
3. Sketch WebP Plugin
Why It’s Great: Sketch users can take advantage of this plugin to easily export assets as WebP images. The plugin also allows tweaking quality settings before export, crucial for optimizing UI assets for the web.
Online WebP Conversion & Preview Tools
Sometimes you don’t want to download a full-blown viewer or plugin. If you just need a quick look or conversion from WebP, online tools can be lifesavers:
1. Squoosh.app
Platform: Web-based
Why Designers Love It: Created by Google, Squoosh is a powerful browser-based image compressor and converter. You can drag and drop images and choose a wide range of export options, including WebP. It also offers real-time quality comparison sliders.
2. Convertio
Platform: Web-based
Use Case: Need to convert multiple image formats to WebP (or vice versa) in a pinch? Convertio supports batch file conversion and has cloud integration options for seamless workflow.
3. EZGIF.com
Why It Stands Out: Originally for GIF editing, EZGIF now includes WebP tools like conversion, cropping, and animation capabilities. It’s ideal for designers working on lightweight, animated interfaces.
Browser Extensions for Quick WebP Handling
Designers constantly browse the web for inspiration. Encounter a WebP image and want to save it in another format? These browser extensions bridge the gap:
- Save Image As PNG (Chrome Extension): Right-click a WebP image and save it as PNG instantly. Handy for bookmarking or reference collection.
- WebP / Avif Image Converter (Firefox Add-on): Converts WebP images on the fly while browsing, allowing right-click download in JPEG or PNG format.
Additional Tips for Working with WebP
WebP isn’t just about viewing or exporting. To fully harness its power in design, here are some additional points to keep in mind:
- Always Check Compatibility: While modern browsers support WebP, some platforms may not (especially older mobile applications). Use fallback formats when necessary.
- Consider Automation: Use build tools like Webpack or Gulp with WebP conversion plugins to automate asset generation in WebP format from traditional image files.
- Lossy vs. Lossless: WebP supports both compression types. Choose lossy for photographic images and lossless for vector-style assets to maintain crispness.
Conclusion
WebP is here to stay, and its performance benefits make it an indispensable tool in modern design and development. But as with any newer technology, the tools that make it usable determine how well it’s adopted. From powerful viewers like XnView MP and IrfanView to essential plugins for Photoshop, GIMP, and Sketch—your toolkit matters.
Whether you’re a web designer optimizing a landing page or a UI developer streamlining graphics for an app, embracing WebP with the right viewers and plugins can greatly enhance your workflow.
Hopefully, this shortlist helps you take full advantage of the WebP format while keeping your designs fast, beautiful, and future-ready.
