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Tag: image optimization

  • How to Take a Screenshot for Your Blog Posts (Beginner’s Guide)

    Do you want to add a screenshot to your blog post but are not sure of the best way to do it?

    Screenshots allow you to share an image snapshot of your desktop or mobile screen in your blog posts. This makes it easier for your audience to follow the steps in a tutorial and better understand your content.

    In this article, we will show you how to take a screenshot for your WordPress blog posts.

    How to take a screenshot for your blog posts

    The Benefits of Taking Screenshots for Your Blog Posts

    Adding screenshots to your WordPress blog can make your content more engaging. These are screen captures or snapshots of whatever is on your mobile or desktop screen.

    You can use screenshots for a tutorial and guide users step by step. This way, people will know exactly where to click and what to enter when setting up software or plugins.

    Similarly, you can use screenshots for a roundup or list post. For example, let’s say you are writing about the top 10 best email marketing tools. You can take screenshots of each tool’s homepage and show them in your content.

    Since there are so many different ways to take a screenshot, we have created a step-by-step guide on how to take a screenshot on different devices and apps.

    To make it easy for you, we have also created a table of contents below, so you can quickly find the method that’s applicable to you.

    How to Take a Screenshot Using Droplr

    Droplr is a popular screen capture app. It allows you to easily take a screenshot on your computer and share it.

    Droplr automatically saves the screenshot and screen recordings to the cloud and provides a link to share with others. Plus, you can manage all your screenshots from a dashboard and share them on any platform, including WordPress.

    It works great with Mac, Windows, and Chromebook devices to quickly capture a selected area or entire screen. There is also a Chrome extension, so you can quickly take screenshots from your browser.

    Droplr also integrates with popular apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Gmail, Adobe Photoshop, and more.

    Taking Screenshots Using Droplr Desktop App

    To take a screenshot using Droplr, you will first need to install the app for your preferred device. After that, you can click the Droplr icon in the Mac menu bar or the Windows Taskbar.

    Click the droplr icon

    From here, simply click the ‘Screenshot’ option.

    If you are a Mac user, then you can also press ‘Option + Shift + 4’ to capture the screenshots. You can press ‘Alt + Shift + 4’ on Windows to take a screenshot with Droplr.

    Click the screenshot button

    Next, you need to select the area you’d like to take a screenshot of.

    Droplr will open the screenshot in a browser window as soon as you are done. Here, you can download the image or share the link with others.

    See Droplr screenshot

    If you click the ‘Markup’ button at the top, then you will find options to edit the screenshot.

    For instance, you can add arrows to point at a button or an important feature. You can also draw shapes, add emojis, blur different parts of the image, add text, and more.

    Add markup to the image

    Once you are done, simply save the image or download it.

    Taking Screenshots Using Droplr Chrome Extension

    You can also use the Droplr Chrome extension to take screenshots and screen recordings. The extension works just like the desktop app, and you can easily access it from the Chrome extension toolbar.

    First, you will need to install the Droplr extension by visiting the Chrome web store.

    Add Droplr extension

    Then, click on ‘Add to Chrome’.

    Once the extension is added, you can click on the Droplr icon from the toolbar at the top of your browser.

    Next, you can screenshot a selected area, application window, full screen, or entire page.

    Click droplr extension icon

    After taking a screenshot, Droplr will open the image in a new tab with a link that you can share.

    Droplr also allows you to create a video screencast to create quick tutorials with audio. Simply click the Droplr icon in your browser’s menu bar and select the TV icon to record your screen.

    Screencast option in droplr

    If you choose the ‘Full desktop’ option, then you will need to select which window to record. On the other hand, you can use the ‘Current tab’ option and screencast your browser tab.

    How to Take a Screenshot on Mac

    If you are using a Mac device and want to take a screenshot, then there are several options.

    On Mac devices, you can capture the entire screen, a selected portion of your screen, a specific window, and more.

    To take a screenshot of the entire screen on a Mac device, simply press ‘Shift + Command + 3’, and it will capture your screen.

    If you want to capture a selected portion, then press ‘Shift + Command + 4’. Next, click and drag the crosshair (pointer) to take a screenshot of the selected area.

    Capture selected portion in mac

    If you want to take a screenshot of a specific window, then press ‘Shift + Command + 4’ and also press the ‘Space bar’ on your keyboard.

    You will see that the pointer will change into a camera icon. Simply drag the camera icon on a window to highlight and capture it.

    Note: Not all apps will allow you to take a screenshot of their window. In that case, you can take a screenshot of the selected portion and crop it.

    By default, all the screenshots will be saved on your desktop with the capturing time/date as the filename and .png as the file extension.

    How to Take a Screenshot on Windows

    To take a screenshot on Windows devices, you will need to press the ‘PrtSc’ keys. This will capture the entire screen.

    Next, you can open this screenshot in an image editing software like Adobe Photoshop or Affinity Photo to crop the required area and save it on your computer.

    Another way of taking screenshots is by using the Snipping tool. The tool lets you capture a specific part of your screen and automatically save it to a clipboard.

    Use snipping tool

    Another way to take screenshots in Windows is by pressing the ‘Windows + Shift + S’ keys to start taking screenshots with the Snipping tool.

    Next, click and drag the pointer to select an area on your screen. It will capture the screenshot automatically when you release the right click.

    Since the screenshot is saved to a clipboard, you can paste it into any image editing software like Adobe Photoshop for further changes and then save it on your computer.

    How to Take a Screenshot on Chromebook

    In Chromebook, you can simply click the Screenshot key with a camera icon. This will take a screenshot of your entire screen or a selected area.

    Besides that, you can click the Quick Settings option in the right corner and then select the ‘Screen Capture’ option.

    Screenshot in Chromebook

    After that, you need to choose whether you’d like to capture the entire screen or a selected area.

    Once you have taken a screenshot, it will be automatically copied to the Clipboard.

    If you are using Chrome OS 64.0.3282.134 or later, then you can simply press the ‘Power + Volume Down’ buttons to capture your entire screen.

    To take a screenshot of a selected area, you need to press the ‘Ctrl + Shift + Switch Window’ keys. Then, click and drag the crosshair (pointer) to select the area that you want to capture.

    Take screenshots in Chromebook

    Upon releasing the click, you will see a notification in the bottom right corner of your screen that shows your screenshot is saved in the ‘Downloads’ folder.

    If you are using a Chromebox with an external (general) keyboard attached to it, then press ‘Ctrl + F5’ to take a screenshot. The F5 key will function the same as the ‘Switch Window’ key on a Chromebook.

    How to Take a Screenshot on iPhone

    Taking a screenshot on iPhones and other smartphones is actually quite simple.

    If you are using an iPhone X or higher, then you need to open your blog post or the app on the screen. After that, simply press the ‘Side’ button on the right side and the ‘Volume Up’ button on the left side of your phone.

    Screenshots on iPhone

    Make sure that you press both buttons at the same time. This will take a screenshot of the screen and save it to the ‘Screenshots’ folder on your phone.

    If you are using an iPhone 8 or earlier model, then open the screen that you want to capture. Then, simply press the ‘Power + Home’ buttons at the same time to take a screenshot.

    How to Take a Screenshot on Android Phone

    There are many different phone manufacturers that sell smartphones with Android OS (such as Samsung Galaxy, Motorola, Google Pixel, etc). However, most new devices follow the same universal process to take a screenshot.

    On your Android phone, you need to open the screen that you want to capture. Next, press the ‘Power + Volume Down’ buttons together.

    This will take the screenshot and save it in your photo gallery.

    We hope this article helped you learn how to take a screenshot for your blog posts. You may also want to see our expert picks for tools to create better images for your blog posts and our beginner’s guide to image SEO.

    If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

    The post How to Take a Screenshot for Your Blog Posts (Beginner’s Guide) first appeared on WPBeginner.

  • How to Optimize Kinsta WordPress Hosting with WP Rocket

    Your site can run faster than ever, specifically when you use Kinsta with WP Rocket. We’ll show you how to set it up!

    The post “How to Optimize Kinsta WordPress Hosting with WP Rocket” first appeared on WP Mayor.

  • 8 Best WordPress Image Optimization Plugins in 2023

    Most websites don’t skimp when it comes to images. A single blog post can have dozens of photographs and screenshots since media makes content more engaging and scannable. However, the more images you add to each page, the longer it may take to load. That’s where a quality WordPress image optimization plugin can come to the rescue.

    This kind of tool takes your images and “optimizes” them so they take up less space. In this article, we’ll highlight the best WordPress image optimization plugins available. We’ve chosen them based on their feature sets, ratings and reviews, update histories, and pricing.

    Let’s get to it!

    1. EWWW Image Optimizer

    EWWW Image Optimizer plugin

    EWWW Image Optimizer is one of the most powerful WordPress image optimization plugins you can use. Once you enable this tool, it automatically compresses any new images you upload to your website.

    You can also use its Bulk Optimizer to compress existing images in your Media Library:

    Using the Bulk Optimizer feature in EWWW

    Using EWWW Image Optimizer, you can automatically resize images as you upload them, and remove metadata from your media files to save space. The plugin also includes lazy-loading functionality and enables you to convert image files to the WebP format for increased compression ratios.

    The free version of EWWW Image Optimizer compresses images on your server and doesn’t have a file size limit. You can also opt for the plugin’s premium version, which uses a cloud service for image optimization and boasts higher compression ratios.

    Key Features for EWWW Image Optimizer:

    • Compress image files as you upload them to your website
    • Optimize existing files in your Media Library
    • Automatically resize new images
    • Enable lazy loading
    • Convert images to WebP

    EWWW Image Optimize is for you if…

    …your server can handle the additional load from image compression tasks. That shouldn’t be a problem unless you’re using a very basic shared hosting plan or you routinely upload hundreds of images to your website.

    Price: Free, with a premium version available starting at $7 per month | Learn More About EWWW Image Optimize

    2. ShortPixel Image Optimizer

    The ShortPixel Image Optimizer plugin

    ShortPixel Image Optimizer enables you to automatically optimize images and PDF files, as well as resize images. While this is a standard offering, one new feature this plugin offers is the choice between lossy, lossless, and glossy compression.

    Few WordPress image optimization plugins offer glossy compression. From a technical standpoint, it provides a middle ground between lossless and lossy compression types:

    Enable glossy compression in ShortPixel

    ShortPixel Image Optimizer also lets you back up your original image files after they’re optimized. It can help you remove metadata from images, and automatically resize them after the upload process. In addition, this plugin can automatically convert PNG files to JPEGs, as well as optimize Retina images and thumbnails.

    Despite all of its advanced functionality, there are a few downsides to using ShortPixel. First, the plugin requires you to share your email address to get an API key for activation. Second, the plugin’s free version limits you to 100 image optimizations per month, which may not be enough for some users.

    Key Features for ShortPixel Image Optimizer:

    • Automatically compress new images on your website (up to 100 per month)
    • Use bulk optimization to compress existing images
    • Choose between lossless, lossy, and glossy compression
    • Create backups of your images before compression
    • Remove metadata from image files
    • Automatically resize images
    • Convert PNG files to JPEGs
    • Optimize Retina images and thumbnails

    ShortPixel Image Optimizer is for you if…

    …you can work with the 100 image optimization limit per month, or pay for the plugin’s premium version. In terms of features, ShortPixel Image Optimizer offers more functionality than most WordPress image optimization plugins.

    Price: Free, with a premium version available starting at $9.99 per month | Learn More About ShortPixel Image Optimizer

    3. WP-Optimize

    WP-Optimize plugin

    WP-Optimize is more than just a WordPress image optimization plugin. This plugin also includes tools that enable you to clean your database, modify your caching settings, and minify scripts. In short, it’s an all-in-one solution for WordPress optimization.

    When it comes to image optimization specifically, the plugin relies on the reSmush.it engine to compress your images. You can automatically optimize new images after uploading them, or compress files from your Media Library:

    Compressing an image using WP-Optimize

    WP-Optimize gives you full control over your image optimization settings. However, it doesn’t include an option to compress existing files in bulk, so it’s best suited to new websites.

    Key Features for WP-Optimize:

    • Automatically optimize images after uploading them to WordPress
    • Compress images from your Media Library
    • Optimize your WordPress database
    • Configure your website’s caching settings
    • Minify your website’s scripts

    WP-Optimize is for you if…

    …you want a one-in-all performance optimization solution for your website. WP-Optimize helps you tackle multiple key tasks using a single plugin. However, if your website’s speed is already strong, you may be better off using a dedicated image compression plugin.

    Price: Free, with a premium version available starting at $49 per year | Learn More About WP-Optimize

    4. Optimole

    Optimole WordPress plugin

    Optimole is a free image optimization plugin that serves as an all-in-one solution for image optimization. Images are processed in real time using a cloud-based server so that your server remains fast during the process. Optimole goes further than other optimization plugins by picking the right image size from a visitor’s viewport and using lazy loading to display your images.

    Key Features for Optimole:

    • Cloud-based image optimization
    • Images served by CDN
    • Automatic image sizing for visitor viewport
    • 5000 images per month for a free plan

    For those seeking advanced optimization, upgrading to a premium plan will provide unlimited image conversions. In addition to this, you’ll benefit from features such as high-quality image compression which maintains the original image quality while reducing its size, and automatic creation of Retina and WebP versions of your images, resulting in faster loading times and enhanced image quality on modern devices and browsers.

    Optimole is for you if…
    …you need WebP and Retina image support and the ability to optimize unlimited images for your websites. Optimole can be installed on multiple websites, making it suitable for freelancers and agencies who have more than one website.

    Pricing: Free to $22.99/month for Premium | Learn More About Optimole.

    5. WP Smush

    The WP Smush plugin

    WP Smush is part of WPMU DEV’s family of plugins. This particular tool enables you to automatically optimize images after uploading them to your website. Just like our previous pick, WP Smush includes a bulk optimization option (up to 50 images at a time) for compressing existing images.

    What stands out about WP Smush is its User Interface (UI). As with most of WPMU DEV’s plugins, the display is sleek and easy to understand:

    The WP Smush dashboard

    WP Smush also includes resizing and lazy-loading functionality. Plus, you can configure the plugin to strip image metadata after you upload new files.

    This particular plugin supports images up to 5 MB. If you want to go over that limit, you’ll need to use the premium version, which also lets you integrate a Content Delivery Network (CDN) for even faster loading times.

    Key Features for WP Smush:

    • Automatically optimize image files (up to 5 MB) after uploading them
    • Compress existing images in your Media Library (up to 50 files at once)
    • Strip metadata from your image files
    • Automatically resize images as you upload them
    • Enable lazy-loading

    WP Smush is for you if…

    …you don’t regularly use image files over 5 MB. This plugin offers the most user-friendly interface you’ll find among WordPress image optimization plugins. We’ve also tested WP Smush with Divi, and the two make for a great combination.

    Price: Free, with a premium version available starting at $7.50 per month | Learn More About WP Smush

    6. Compress JPEG & PNG Images

    The Compress JPEG and PNG Images plugin

    Compress JPEG & PNG Images is a straightforward tool for image optimization in WordPress. By default, this plugin compresses images aggressively using a lossy approach. It lets you resize images automatically, and compress every size that WordPress generates when you upload new files:

    Selecting which type of image optimization to use

    One downside of using Compress JPEG & PNG is that you need to register for a free Tinify account to get an API key. Plus, the service limits you to 500 free image optimizations per month. Every additional image size that you want to compress takes up another slot.

    Key Features for Compress JPEG & PNG Images:

    • Optimize images as you upload them to WordPress, or in the background after they’re on your server
    • Resize images automatically

    Compress JPEG & PNG Images is for you if…

    …you want a hassle-free plugin that optimizes images aggressively. In our experience, the files that Compress JPEG & PNG Images generates still look great for most purposes.

    Price: Free, with premium plans available for $39 per year | Learn More About Compress JPEG & PNG Images

    7. Robin Image Optimizer

    The Robin Image Optimizer plugin

    Robin Image Optimizer enables you to optimize WordPress images using multiple third-party server options. The plugin can help you compress images in bulk, or optimize new files as you upload them to WordPress. In either case, you get to choose whether to use a free server that limits image size to 5 MB, or a second option that works on a credit system (with 300 free optimizations per month):

    Robin image optimizer dashboard

    This plugin also lets you choose between multiple compression modes, including lossless, lossy, “high”, and custom options.  Robin Image Optimizer includes a feature that lets you create image backups before optimizing them, and you can also use the plugin to remove metadata from your media files. Finally, it provides a handy feature that lets you schedule image optimizations in the background.

    Key Features:

    • Choose from multiple image compression types
    • Automatically optimize images after uploading them
    • Choose from multiple servers to manage image optimization
    • Create backups of your image files before optimizing them
    • Schedule image optimizations to run in the background

    Robin Image Optimizer is for you if…

    …you want full control over how comprehensive your WordPress image optimization plugin is. Robin Image Optimizer also offers an interesting mix of free features, such as enabling you to choose between servers.

    Price: Free, with a premium version available starting at $39 per year | More Information

    8. reSmush.it

    The reSmush.it plugin

    If you’re looking for a plug-and-play WordPress image optimization plugin, reSmush.it should be one of your top picks. This plugin enables automatic image optimization right after you activate it, and it only includes a handful of settings. Among those, you’ll have the option to modify image quality, enable logs, preserve metadata, and not save image backups:

    Configuring the reSmush.it plugin

    reSmush.it also lets you schedule image optimization to run in the background. However, it’s important to note that the plugin can only optimize files up to 5 MB. Aside from that, you can use it without restrictions.

    Key Features:

    • Automatically optimize images after uploading them to WordPress
    • Schedule image optimization in advance
    • Preserve or delete image metadata
    • Create backups of your images before optimization

    reSmush.it is for you if…

    …you want to use a hassle-free image optimization plugin. The only downside to reSmush.it is its 5 MB image file size limit.

    Price: Free | More Information

    Conclusion

    There are a lot of choices when it comes to WordPress image optimization plugins. Most tools offer automatic image optimization and compression, but in a lot of cases, that comes with a few caveats. With free plugins, there’s often a limit to how many images you can optimize or what maximum file size you can compress.

    With that in mind, our top suggestions for WordPress image compression plugins are EWWW Image Optimizer and ShortPixel. Both tools offer a broad range of optimization options and provide good value for the price. Either plugin can get you up and running with a sustainable long-term optimization solution quickly.

    Featured Image Illustration via Andrew Krasovitckii / shutterstock.com

    The post 8 Best WordPress Image Optimization Plugins in 2023 appeared first on Elegant Themes Blog.

  • 10 Actionable Image Optimization Hacks to Try Now

    Learn 10 image optimization hacks that are simple, easy to implement and make a real difference. Find out how to make your images search engine friendly and accessible.

    The post “10 Actionable Image Optimization Hacks to Try Now” first appeared on WP Mayor.

  • A Step Beyond WebP with Converter for Media

    If you want to get your images as small as possible and make your site load blazingly fast, you need to adopt AVIF. You can start right now with a WordPress plugin called Converter for Media.

    The post “<strong>A Step Beyond WebP with Converter for Media</strong>” first appeared on WP Mayor.