Configuring EWWW Image Optimizer

The EWWW Image Optimizer is a WordPress plugin that lets you optimize images using tools on your own server (such as jpegtran, optipng, pngout, pngquant, gifsicle, and cwebp).

The EWWW Image Optimizer can be installed using DreamHost's WordPress installer or via the official WordPress plugins repository. You can also use the following instructions to install and configure the EWWW Image Optimizer in the DreamHost panel.

Installing from the DreamHost panel

To download, install, and activate the EWWW Image Optimization plugin for an eligible WordPress site in the panel:

1. Log in to the DreamHost panel.
2. Navigate to the Manage Websites page.
3. Click the Manage button to open the Domain Settings page, which allows you to adjust various settings for your site.
   • If in Grid view, click the Manage button at the bottom of the website box.
   • If in List view, click the Manage button at the far right of your domain name.
4. Click the WordPress tab.
5. Toggle the Image Optimization option to the on position.

   A message confirms Image Optimization is being configured and may take up to 20 minutes to complete. If the installation fails, another message appears, letting you know that it was not able to complete and to contact support for assistance.

To configure the EWWW Image Optimizer within your WordPress dashboard:

1. Navigate to the Settings > EWWW Image Optimizer section of your WordPress admin dashboard.

   The default settings are sufficient, but you can use the following changes to make your site more performant.

2. On the Basic tab, keep Stick with free mode for now and Remove Metadata selected.
3. Select the Lazy Load option and then click the Save Changes button.

   The settings page reloads, allowing you to make further adjustments.

4. Select the Add Missing Dimensions option and then click the Save Changes button again.
5. If the site has existing images, navigate to Media > Bulk Optimization in the WordPress dashboard.
6. Change the value of Pause between images to 2 (seconds) to keep server load low during optimization, and then click the Scan for unoptimized images button.
7. Wait for the scanner to check through existing images (this may take a while, depending on the amount of images that currently exist). The following message appears after it completes the scanning process:

   There are N images ready to optimize.

8. Click the Optimize N images button that appears and then wait for the images to be optimized.