Using Modern Image Formats in Avada

WebP and AVIF are modern image formats designed to deliver high-quality visuals while keeping image file sizes much smaller than those of traditional formats like JPG or PNG. Both are widely used on modern websites because they help pages load faster, improve performance scores, and reduce bandwidth. Here’s a simple breakdown of how they work:

WebP​ is an image format created by Google that dramatically reduces file size while keeping images looking sharp. It supports both still images and animations, making it a flexible replacement for JPG, PNG, and even GIF. Most browsers and WordPress websites—including Avada—support WebP out of the box, making the switch easy and beneficial.

AVIF is an even newer open source format based on the same technology used in high-efficiency video encoding. It often produces smaller files than WebP at the same—or sometimes better—visual quality. It also handles things like transparency and HDR (high dynamic range) exceptionally well. More browsers now support AVIF, and it’s quickly becoming the next step forward for ultra-efficient images.

In everyday terms, WebP = great quality with much smaller files, and AVIF = even better compression and quality, especially for detailed or high-contrast images. Using either format helps your site load faster, look better, and score higher on performance metrics like Google’s Core Web Vitals.

It all starts in the Avada Global Options (WP Dashboard > Avada > Options > Global Options).

Under Performance page, you will find a few relevant options. The first of these is the Upload Image Format option

With this, you can change the image format for new images from Default to WebP or AVIF. As mentioned in the description, if you choose AVIF but your server cannot convert to this format, it will automatically fall back to WebP.

If you leave it on the Default options, the file remains in the same format as you have uploaded, typically JPG. Note that this option only applies to new uploads. As it also explains in the option description, you can also convert all your existing images on the Avada System Status page (WP Dashboard > Avada > Maintenance > System Status).

The second global option is Keep Original Upload Images. If enabled, a copy of the original image will be kept as it is converted. The original image is available from the image meta data panel in the Media Library, as seen below. This is relevant to single image uploads, as well as the entire media library if you convert all images from the System Status page.

If you have converted your media library images, and have enabled the Keep Original Upload Images options, a final option appears called Display Image Format. With this option, it’s on Modern by default, but if you set it to Original, Avada will try to load the images in their original format. So what this option offers, basically, is a way to revert to using the original set of images, after they have been converted.

With this option enabled, if you view the site on the front end, and open an image in a new tab, you will see in the URL that it’s the original format being loaded.