WP, X Theme or Pluging is generating 20 images for each 1 that i upload

[jamievilasini]

Hi There,

I have ready many threads regarding the generation of multiple image sizes by either WP/X Theme or Plugins. I understand why it is happening. But what i do not understand is why i am getting 20 versions of each image. That seems like way too much! I’m wondering if i’m doing something wrong when uploading the images- maybe they are too big? im optimizing all of the images, but often i am uploading them at a large size - like 1600px wide… what is the optimum pixel size for the image upload so that it can work in multiple sizes?

[ruenel]

Hello @jamievilasini,

Thanks for writing in!

Please be advised that the WP, theme and some of your plugins maybe generating the image sizes. For example, the WP core alone will generate 3 sizes from the original. The following are:

• thumbs
• medium
• large

The X/Pro theme will also generate at least two sizes of these sizes:

• entry
• entry-cropped
• entry-fullwidth
• entry-cropped-fullwidth

The WooCommerce plugin will also create 3 sizes and that is:

• shop_catalog
• shop_single
• shop_thumbnail

If you have other plugins, it may have it’s own image sizes as well. If you do not like to have all of these image sizes, your original image size must not exceed the large size. How does that work? Simply go to Settings > Media. This is where you can set the images sizes for the WordPress core image sizes for the thumbs, medium and large. If you upload an image that has smaller dimensions from the large image setting, only thumbs and medium sizes will be generated. This is only possible by the way for images to be added in your post contents. For images that are used as background images for a sections, you will have to upload bigger images so those other image sizes cannot be prevented.

Hope this explains the image sizes briefly.

[jamievilasini]

Thanks @RueNel ! Many of the images i use i’ve been uploading at 1600px width - So from what I understand in your explanation is that if i change in the Media Settings that the large size is 1600px, it will only generate smaller versions of the image. Let me know if i got that right thanks!

[rad]

Hi @jamievilasini,

Yes, it’s correct. It shouldn’t degrade the site’s performance since images are only loaded when needed by theme or plugin. The image generation is just a way for Wordpress to reserve images with different sizes so it can be loaded anytime as needed. It may increase the disk size, but it will improve loading speed since it doesn’t need to generate them over and over every time the page loads.

Thanks!