Shrinkwell Image Optimizer

Shrinkwell Image Optimizer helps WordPress site builders optimize images locally, without an external API or account. It compresses JPEG/PNG images, creates WebP versions, keeps original backups, checks image SEO, and gives clear proof of delivery and savings. Use the safe 5-image test first, review the result, then optimize the full media library with more confidence. Local-first optimization

• Automatically optimize JPEG, PNG, and WebP uploads on upload.
• Choose from Balanced, High compression, Near lossless, or Custom compression profiles.
• Use controlled compression settings designed to preserve quality while reducing file size.
• Resize oversized images to a maximum width and height.
• Optimize thumbnails and strip image metadata/EXIF where possible.

Safe media library workflow

• Run a safe 5-image optimization test before committing to a full media library run.
• Optimize existing images directly from Media > Shrinkwell.
• Review saved space, skipped files, and recent results before continuing.

WebP delivery checks

• Generate WebP versions when supported by your server.
• Use the local cwebp binary when available, with WordPress image editor fallback.
• Generate missing WebP files without recompressing originals.
• Serve WebP on the frontend with safe JPEG/PNG fallback markup.

Page Proof reports

• Run a Page Proof scan on a live frontend page to verify WebP delivery, estimate image payload savings, and identify cached JPG/PNG URLs.
• Copy or download a plain-text proof report for your own checks or client handoff.

Image SEO Check

• Find images with missing alt text, weak alt text, and weak filenames.
• Use safe one-click alt text suggestions when Shrinkwell has a reliable source.
• Avoid blindly reusing random filenames, GUIDs, or camera-style names as SEO text.
• Save alt text inline without leaving the Shrinkwell screen.

Backups & Restore

• Keep original backups before replacing any files.
• Restore all optimized images at once from a single screen.

Quick Start

1. Install Shrinkwell and open Media > Shrinkwell.
2. Run the 5-image safe test.
3. Review savings, skipped files, and backups.
4. Run Media Optimization for the full media library.
5. Use Page Proof to verify WebP delivery on a real frontend page.

Insights & Logging

• View optimization status directly in the Media Library list view.
• Review an optimization log showing saved bytes, WebP counts, and skipped files with clear reasons such as file size, dimensions, and processing limits.
• Review current settings from the Overview page at a glance.

Settings & Recommendations

• Configure everything from the Shrinkwell admin page under Media > Shrinkwell.
• Scan your media library and receive tailored setting recommendations for your site.
• Apply recommended settings in one click after scanning.
• Scan for image SEO issues without automatically modifying content.

Review prompts appear only after Shrinkwell has produced measurable results. What Shrinkwell Does Not Do

• Does not send images to an external optimization service for core local features.
• Does not require an account for free local optimization.
• Does not automatically rewrite SEO content.

1.14.28

• Fix: Resolved Plugin Check filesystem and nonce warnings around writable-folder checks, restore guidance, and WebP crash markers.

1.14.27

• Tweak: Refined WordPress.org positioning around free local optimization, no account, no external API, WebP, backups, SEO checks, and proof reports.
• Tweak: Added a Quick Start section and refreshed screenshot captions for the public plugin page.
• Tweak: Added a client-side Page Proof .txt download button.

1.14.26

• Tweak: Improved WordPress.org tags and description to highlight image SEO and the local workflow.
• Tweak: Added a small in-plugin note that Shrinkwell is actively improved and WordPress.org updates will continue.

1.14.25

• Tweak: Reduced Page Proof visual noise by collapsing technical checks, long URL lists, cache headers, and scan notes by default.
• Tweak: Made WebP/AVIF encoder status less prominent in Settings.

1.14.24

• Tweak: Improved SEO suggestions so weak filenames, random IDs, and weak alt text are not reused as one-click suggestions.
• Tweak: Simplified the SEO table by removing the title field from the suggestion column and keeping the focus on alt text.

1.14.23

• Tweak: Reworked Advanced server safety status into clear status cards with plain-language explanations.

1.14.22

• Tweak: Cleaned up the SEO table spacing and removed the decorative-image control from the compact SEO action column.
• Tweak: Made Media Issue Center cards more compact and readable for long safe-skip messages.

1.14.21

• Tweak: Made Page Proof copy more beginner-friendly with a simple result, action checklist, and technical details last.
• Tweak: Made media log sections collapsible to reduce visual noise.
• Tweak: Made SEO suggestions auto-save when clicked and simplified the SEO table status display.
• Tweak: Removed duplicate "Suggestion:" wording from SEO suggestion text.

1.14.20

• Tweak: Added a guided after-restore flow that points users straight to WebP rebuild.
• Tweak: Replaced scattered skipped-image summaries with a Media Issue Center for Needs action, Safe skips, and Done.
• Tweak: Made SEO edits easier with use-suggestion, decorative image, empty-alt warning, and bulk save controls.
• Tweak: Added a Page Proof cache checklist for WordPress cache, Divi/static CSS, hosting/CDN/Varnish, and browser cache.

1.14.19

• Fix: Existing WebP files that are larger than the original are no longer counted as usable delivery files or served in frontend markup.
• Tweak: Page Proof now reports larger-than-original WebP copies separately from usable WebP files.
• Tweak: Page Proof now diagnoses the most likely delivery cause, including disabled delivery settings, cache-hidden rewrites, background images, and missing WebP files.
• Tweak: Page Proof copy now says "usable WebP files" to avoid implying every existing WebP copy should be served.

1.14.18

• Tweak: Simplified Advanced server status and moved technical engine details behind a disclosure.
• Tweak: Formatted PHP memory and safe image size values for normal users.
• Tweak: Clarified Page Proof cache/delivery guidance before release upload.

1.14.17

• Tweak: WebP-only runs now distinguish safe skips from real errors in the live progress UI.
• Tweak: Restore can recreate a missing current media file when a matching Shrinkwell backup exists.
• Tweak: Improved restore and WebP skip messages so missing files, already-WebP sources, and not-worth-keeping WebP copies are clearer.

1.14.16

• Tweak: Page Proof now ignores favicons and meta/social icons when measuring visible page image delivery.
• Tweak: Added a rewrite preview to show whether Shrinkwell can add WebP picture markup before cache/CDN output.
• Tweak: Added cache header details to Page Proof reports for easier cache troubleshooting.

1.14.15

• Tweak: Improved backup restore notices so partial restore failures show how many images need attention.
• Tweak: Added inline Image SEO alt text and title editing from the SEO scan table.
• Tweak: Split the media optimization log into attention items first and completed items below, with clearer skipped-image labels.

1.14.12

• Tweak: Added a compact skipped-image summary that groups recent optimization issues by cause.
• Tweak: Improved media optimization queue clarity while keeping the detailed log available.

1.14.11

• Fix: Page Proof now reports partial WebP evidence correctly instead of showing "not detected" when WebP markup exists but coverage is incomplete.
• Tweak: Added clearer cache guidance when WebP files are ready but cached page HTML still exposes JPG/PNG URLs.
• Tweak: Added Page Proof data for distinguishing missing WebP files from delivery/cache coverage issues.

1.14.10

• Added a lightweight frontend HTML pass so theme logos, page builder images, and other images outside post content can receive WebP delivery.
• Added WebP replacement for local upload background images when a matching WebP file exists.
• Improved WebP handling for image preload links on normal frontend pages.
• Added developer filters to disable frontend HTML, background image, or image preload rewriting on edge-case sites.

1.14.9

• Made the page proof scan stricter by detecting local JPG/PNG URLs that still appear uncovered even when WebP files are ready.
• Added WebP delivery coverage and uncovered image examples to the copyable page proof report.
• Improved page proof messaging for partially covered pages, including theme logos, page builder images, preloads, and cached markup.

1.14.8

• Split the media optimization queue into safe to optimize, already optimized, and too-large counts.
• Fixed the active optimization filename after skipped images so the running status no longer appears stuck.
• Clarified the public translation path through WordPress.org translation packs.

1.14.7

• Improved media optimization queue clarity when remaining images are too large for safe local processing.
• Count only processable images as ready to optimize and point oversized images to Advanced limits.
• Added a modest in-plugin WordPress.org review prompt after real optimization results.

1.14.6

• Made contextual help tips more subtle and kept them inline with their labels.

1.14.5

• Added visible log entries for single-image restores so restore testing is easier to verify.

1.14.4

• Improved page proof scan wording when WebP files exist but page HTML does not clearly serve them, and avoided negative savings wording.

1.14.3

• Added lightweight contextual help tips for settings, format delivery, advanced limits, and media optimization.

1.14.2

• Renamed homepage proof wording to page proof and added a copyable page proof report.

1.14.1

• Restored KPI icons using CSS masks so they remain visible while keeping Plugin Check output clean.

1.14.0

• Fixed Plugin Check findings for hidden files, escaped SVG output, sanitized AJAX input, and modern WordPress.org translation loading.

1.13.9

• Expanded the frontend proof scan so any same-site page URL can be scanned.
• Added page-level payload evidence that compares found original JPG/PNG file sizes with available WebP files.

1.13.8

• Increased dashboard KPI icon size for clearer visual balance.

1.13.7

• Added a frontend proof scan that checks live page HTML for WebP sources and flags JPG/PNG background images for manual review.

1.13.6

• Centered the dashboard metric icons and kept them magenta by preventing label styles from overriding the SVG color.

1.13.5

• Clarified the pending media metric by showing "Ready to re-optimize" when existing optimized images need processing again for current settings.

1.13.4

• Fixed metric card icons by replacing small admin-font icons with lightweight inline SVG icons.
• Clarified that the 10 MB local processing limit is a starting point and that pixel dimensions also affect memory use.

1.13.3

• Replaced prototype-style metric icons with lightweight Dashicons-based admin icons.
• Added a maximum file-size setting for local optimization limits.
• Improved skipped-image details with file size, dimensions, and configured limits where available.
• Improved the Image SEO scan with thumbnails, status labels, and practical suggestions.
• Prepared the plugin for WordPress locale-based translations through a languages directory.

1.13.2

• Kept AVIF disabled in the free local-first flow to avoid memory-heavy failures on normal hosting.
• Made skipped-image messages shorter and easier to read during media optimization.
• Modernized the media optimization log styling.

1.13.1

• Updated the admin UI look and feel with stronger header actions, modern tabs, larger metric cards, and softer dashboard cards.
• Renamed the user-facing library workflow to Media Optimization.

1.13.0

• Renamed the Bulk tab to Library for a clearer user-facing workflow.
• Merged Optimize and Formats into one Settings page.
• Made recommended settings more conservative by leaving AVIF optional instead of enabling it automatically.
• Added safer local AVIF limits and raised the WordPress image memory limit before local processing where WordPress allows it.

1.12.5

• Refined the Bulk page into a more compact control center with a circular progress meter.
• Added live run stats for saved space and skipped images.
• Kept the safe workflow visible without adding extra advanced filter choices.

1.12.4

• Added a clear warning to keep the Bulk page open while optimization is running.
• Added a browser leave warning during active bulk optimization.
• Added visible skipped-image errors during the current run.
• Added client-side error logging so failed browser requests also appear in the recent bulk log.

1.12.3

• Made bulk optimization more reliable on shared hosting by processing one image per request.
• If one image request fails, Shrinkwell now skips that item, logs the problem, and continues instead of stopping the whole run.
• Added local safety checks for very large files and dimensions to reduce memory-related failures.
• Removed the visible advanced filter block from the Bulk page to keep the scan and bulk workflows clearer.
• Updated the admin header and bulk copy around local-first, safety-focused positioning.

1.12.2

• Simplified the Overview page by removing internal launch/proof panels and moving site status into a compact sidebar.
• Removed automatic bulk-start remnants from the recommendation flow.

1.12.1

• Changed the recommended settings flow so applying recommendations no longer starts bulk optimization automatically.
• Cleaned up the remaining Plugin Check sanitization warning for admin result notices.

1.12.0

• Simplified admin navigation to Overview, Optimize, Formats, Bulk, SEO, Backups, and Advanced.
• Merged the settings summary into the Overview page.
• Added safe extension hooks for AVIF availability, bulk batch sizing, review URL, and after-optimization events.
• Added an in-plugin review request that only appears after real usage and no recent errors.

1.11.1

• Cleaned up Plugin Check findings for translator comments, read-only admin URL handling, AJAX input sanitization, file replacement, and the readme short description.

1.11.0

• Renamed internal public prefixes from the older short prefix to the safer shrinkwell_, SHRINKWELL_, and shrinkwell- patterns for WordPress.org review.
• Simplified the public plugin name to Shrinkwell Image Optimizer.
• Updated the WordPress.org contributor account to levmedia123.

1.10.0

• Added a launch readiness checklist and optimization proof overview.
• Stored delivery test and SEO scan results so site readiness is easier to review.
• Added a 5-image bulk test run for safer first use on client sites.
• Prevented WebP source files from being processed as duplicate WebP copies.
• Removed the dashboard widget from the first WordPress.org submission build to keep the admin footprint focused.

1.9.0

• Added smart bulk filters and an image SEO report for missing alt text and weak filenames.

1.8.0

• Rebranded the plugin to Shrinkwell, improved the bulk flow, and simplified Custom compression controls.

1.7.0

• Added a settings summary page and replaced the technical custom quality input with a 1-10 compression strength slider.

1.6.0

• Added an apply button for site scan recommendations and quick follow-up links.

1.5.0

• Improved compression explanations, clarified WebP/AVIF settings, added recommendation markers, and added a site recommendation scan.

1.4.0

• Added a backup manager tab with backup storage stats, per-image restore links, and restore-all support.

1.3.0

• Added bulk logs, WebP/AVIF delivery test, and a WordPress dashboard widget.

1.2.0

• Added tabbed settings pages, compression profiles, AVIF creation/serving, EXIF removal option, thumbnail optimization control, status checks, and improved bulk progress.

1.1.0

• Added frontend WebP serving with picture/source fallback.

1.0.0

• Initial version.