Where WebP files come from
Almost always from saving an image off a web page. Sites serve WebP because it is a quarter smaller than the equivalent JPG, and the browser saves what it was sent. Then the file lands somewhere that has never heard of it: an older version of Photoshop, a print shop’s upload form, a document template.
Choosing JPG or PNG
If the WebP has a transparent background — a logo, an icon, a cut-out product shot — convert to PNG. JPG has no transparency and those areas will come out as solid colour.
For a photograph, JPG is the right target: smaller, and accepted everywhere. Expect the JPG to be noticeably larger than the WebP it came from; that is the price of the older format, not a fault in the conversion.
Animated WebP
WebP can hold an animation, much as a GIF does. A still format cannot, so converting one gives you a single frame. If you want the whole animation, convert it to a GIF instead, or keep the WebP.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the JPG bigger than the WebP?
Because WebP compresses better — that is why sites use it. The same picture as JPG typically runs 25 to 35 per cent larger. You are trading size for compatibility.
My converted image has a black background. Why?
The WebP was transparent and JPG cannot store transparency, so those pixels had to become something. Convert to PNG instead and the transparency is kept.
Does converting lose quality?
Slightly, once, if you convert to JPG — both are lossy, so the image is re-encoded. Converting to PNG is lossless, but produces a much bigger file.
Can I go the other way?
Yes — the image converter turns JPG and PNG into WebP, which is worth doing before putting images on a site of your own.
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