✨ Convert PNG → WebP on Linux

✨ Convert PNG → WebP on Linux

WebP is a modern image format that gives much smaller file sizes while keeping crisp quality. Converting PNGs to WebP on Linux is super easy — just a couple of commands and you’re done!

Let’s jump in. 🏃‍♂️💨

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🧰 1. Install the webp Tools

The magic tool you need is cwebp, part of the official WebP utilities.

Install it using your distro’s package manager:

Debian / Ubuntu / Linux Mint

sudo apt install webp

Fedora / RHEL / CentOS

sudo dnf install libwebp-tools

Arch / Manjaro

sudo pacman -S libwebp

You’re all set! 🚀

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🖼️ 2. Convert a Single PNG → WebP

Navigate to the folder where your PNG lives:

cd /path/to/images

Then convert it:

cwebp input.png -o output.webp

🎯 Control the quality using the -q flag (0–100):

cwebp -q 85 input.png -o output.webp

A quality value of 80–85 gives a great balance between crispness and small size.

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📦 3. Batch Convert ALL PNGs in a Folder

Got a whole bunch of PNGs? Convert them all in one go:

for f in *.png; do
    cwebp -q 80 "$f" -o "${f%.png}.webp"
done

Here’s what this cute little loop is doing:

• for f in *.png → picks every .png file
• cwebp -q 80 "$f" → converts it at quality 80
• "${f%.png}.webp" → outputs filename with .webp extension

Batch conversion… complete! 🎉

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✨ Alternative: Convert PNG → WebP Using ImageMagick

If you already use ImageMagick, good news — it works too!

Install ImageMagick

sudo apt install imagemagick      # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dnf install imagemagick      # Fedora
sudo pacman -S imagemagick        # Arch

Convert an Image

magick input.png output.webp

ImageMagick leaves your original file intact. ❤️

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💡 Final Tips

• cwebp usually produces smaller file sizes than ImageMagick.
• For photos: try quality 75–85
• For illustrations: add -lossless
• WebP is browser-friendly and great for websites.

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Happy converting! 🌈