What is a WebP image?
Short answer
WebP is an image format from Google with lossy and lossless modes and alpha transparency. A file is a RIFF container: RIFF, WEBP, then a VP8, VP8L or VP8X chunk with the image.
WebP files with alpha use the extended VP8X layout, which some older decoders do not handle. Generate both kinds to check.
Anatomy of a WebP image
RIFF … WEBPThe RIFF container headerVP8 / VP8LLossy or lossless image dataVP8XExtended header for alpha and metadataALPHThe alpha channel, for lossy images with transparency
What you can generate
- 1×1 to 8000×8000 pixels
- Quality 1 to 100
- Transparency (alpha)
- Gradient, checkerboard, colour bars, noise or solid
How to make one
- Open the WebP image generator, or start from a preset above.
- Set the size and switch on the edge cases you need; the preview and size estimate follow every change.
- Generate, then download. The file is made in your browser, and the same preset and seed always give you the same file.
Questions
Chrome, Edge and Firefox can encode WebP. Safari cannot, and the generator says so instead of giving you a PNG with a .webp name.
No, it uses the lossy encoder at the quality you pick. Lossless WebP is not offered.