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In an October 8, 2026 post, writer Gavin Anderegg said he has started using WebP images after years of relying on JPEG, PNG and SVG. He credits improved editing tools and smaller files at comparable visual quality, while noting that WebP will not always outperform other formats.
Writer Gavin Anderegg says he has started using WebP for images on his website after years of avoiding the format, a change he attributes to better editing tools and smaller files in the examples he has tested. His account describes a practical shift in one publisher’s workflow, rather than a broad change in web standards or a claim that WebP is best for every image.
Anderegg wrote on October 8 that he had used a narrow set of formats for more than 20 years, mainly JPEG, PNG and SVG. He said WebP had long seemed difficult to use, in part because support in browsers and image-editing software arrived gradually. Google announced WebP in 2010; according to his timeline, Chrome added support in 2011, Edge in 2018, Firefox in 2019 and Safari in 2020.
The change in his own process came after he stopped using Photoshop and moved to Pixelmator Pro. Anderegg said the newer tool gave him a more convenient way to work with WebP. He has used the format in two recent posts about Apple’s Liquid Glass design, reporting that the WebP files were smaller than JPEG or PNG versions at the same visual quality in those cases.
He qualified that experience: WebP will not always produce a smaller file, and his results so far are based on the images he has tried. He also pointed to Google’s published findings on lossy and lossless WebP, while noting that his current preference reflects ease of use as much as image compression. His post does not provide file sizes, test methods or a representative comparison across image types.
Smaller Files, Easier Image Workflows
Web image formats affect both the size of files people publish and the tools required to create them. Anderegg’s experience illustrates how software support can influence format adoption: a format may offer technical advantages, but those benefits are less useful to an individual publisher if everyday editing and export tools make it cumbersome.
For readers who manage websites, his account offers a limited, practical example rather than a benchmark or recommendation for every workflow. Smaller image files can reduce the amount of data a site serves, but the post does not quantify any effect on loading speed, bandwidth or search performance. The reported savings are specific to his recent examples and depend on the image and export settings.
The distinction also matters amid ongoing interest in newer formats. Anderegg says he is curious about AVIF and JPEG XL, but has not yet described using them in Pixelmator Pro. His post is therefore as much about accessible tools as it is about the formats themselves: support in an editor can make experimentation practical for creators.
WebP’s Slow Path to Everyday Use
Google announced WebP in 2010, but browser support did not arrive across the major browsers at once. Anderegg says Chrome supported it from 2011, Edge from 2018, Firefox from 2019 and Safari from 2020. He recalls that before broader support, WebP was used selectively by content delivery networks, rather than being a straightforward choice for every website.
Editing software was another barrier in his account. Anderegg says Photoshop added native WebP support in 2022, but that its “Save for Web” and “Export As” features still do not support the format. He also describes frustration with Google’s Lighthouse tool, which he says often flagged images that were not WebP even when file-size gains were modest or support was immature. These are his experiences and characterizations, not an independent assessment of the tool.
Anderegg’s earlier workflow centered on JPEG and PNG, with SVG added later; he mentions GIF as a format he once used more regularly, particularly for memes and older table-based layouts. He says GIFs are now often converted into smaller videos. The article focuses on his own publishing choices and does not present a survey of current format usage across websites.
“I’m now on the WebP bandwagon.”
— Gavin Anderegg, in his October 8, 2026 post
How Broad Are the File Savings?
The post gives no file-size measurements, image samples, compression settings or testing protocol, so readers cannot determine how large the reported savings were or whether they would apply to other kinds of images. Anderegg’s statement concerns his own recent exports; it does not establish that WebP consistently beats JPEG or PNG.
It is also unclear when, or whether, Pixelmator Pro will add support for AVIF or JPEG XL. The source says Google had announced JPEG XL support was shipping a few days before the post, but it does not specify the product, rollout scope or resulting browser support status. No broader adoption figures or independent comparisons are provided.
More Formats May Follow
Anderegg says he will continue using WebP where it fits his image workflow and is watching for easier access to AVIF and JPEG XL in Pixelmator Pro. He does not announce a testing schedule or a commitment to switch formats. The next concrete development for his process would be tool support that lets him create and export those formats without additional workarounds.
For now, his post records a change in personal practice, not a formal product announcement or a measured evaluation of image formats. Any further judgment about comparative savings will depend on the images tested, export settings and tools used.
Key Questions
Why has Gavin Anderegg started using WebP?
He says Pixelmator Pro gives him more convenient tools for working with WebP, and that his recent WebP images were smaller than JPEG or PNG versions at the same visual quality.
Does WebP always make image files smaller?
No. Anderegg says that will not always be the case. His post describes results from images he has tried and does not provide a broad benchmark.
When did major browsers add WebP support?
Anderegg’s timeline lists Chrome in 2011, Edge in 2018, Firefox in 2019 and Safari in 2020, following Google’s announcement of WebP in 2010.
Is Anderegg switching to AVIF or JPEG XL?
Not according to the post. He says AVIF looks promising and wonders when Pixelmator Pro might support AVIF or JPEG XL, but does not report using either format.
Source: hn
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