Image styles vs source files
Image styles transform a source. If the source is a 5000 px PNG, the first request after a cache clear burns CPU. A 2000 px WebP source makes styles fast and the page light even when a style is missing.
Why it matters
- Anonymous page caches still store HTML that points at image derivatives.
- Media Library bloat slows backups and stage syncs.
- Some modules generate WebP on demand and fail on shared hosts.
How to do it
- Audit
public://for oversized originals. - Bulk convert replacements at the largest style width you actually use.
- Replace media entities or re-upload. Flush image style cache once.
Settings that work
Match large or wide style width (often 1440–1920 px). Quality 80.