Description
Pictomancer Image Optimizer automatically compresses the images you upload to WordPress using the Pictomancer.ai optimization API. Smaller images mean faster load times, reduced bandwidth, and better Core Web Vitals.
Optimization is off by default: the plugin makes no remote requests and no image data leaves your site until you explicitly enable it in the settings.
The plugin hooks into the standard WordPress upload flow, so it works with anything that creates media library attachments — the Media Library itself, WooCommerce product images, page builders, and so on.
Features
- Opt-in by design: optimization is disabled until you turn it on; nothing is sent anywhere by default.
- Automatic optimization on upload: once enabled, the original file and every generated thumbnail size are compressed through the API.
- Thumbnail control: limit optimization to the original upload from the settings if you prefer.
- Safe by design: an optimized file is only kept when it is actually smaller than the input, and the pristine
original_imageWordPress keeps for regeneration is never touched. - Regeneration friendly: if you regenerate thumbnails, the new sizes are re-optimized while the main file is never compressed twice (no generation loss).
- Dashboard: real accumulated savings (bytes and percentage) and live API health, right in wp-admin.
- Debug mode: optional logging to a protected, non-guessable file for troubleshooting.
- Configuration via constants: define
PICTOMANCER_API_KEY(and optionallyPICTOMANCER_API_URL) in wp-config.php to keep secrets out of the database. - Developer hooks:
pictomancer_logaction andpictomancer_debug_logging_enabledfilter for custom workflows.
External services
This plugin relies on one external service to function: the Pictomancer.ai image optimization API. This is the core service that performs the actual compression; without it the plugin cannot optimize your media.
No data is sent until you explicitly enable optimization in the plugin settings; it is off by default. While disabled, the plugin makes no remote requests at all.
What is sent and when: once optimization is enabled, each time an image is optimized (on upload or when WordPress generates thumbnail sizes), the image bytes are sent to the API endpoint (https://api.pictomancer.ai by default, or the URL you configure in the settings) together with your API key, if you have set one, and the selected compression quality. The API returns the optimized image, which is saved in place. No data about your site’s visitors is collected or sent.
This service is provided by Pictomancer.ai. By using the plugin you agree to its terms and privacy policy:
- Terms of Service: https://pictomancer.ai/terms
- Privacy Policy: https://pictomancer.ai/privacy
Source code
The admin interface bundle (build/pictomancer-admin.js) is compiled from React and TypeScript sources with Vite. The complete, human-readable source and the build tooling are publicly available at:
https://github.com/pictomancer/plugin-wordpress
To rebuild the bundle from source:
- Install dependencies:
yarn install - Build:
yarn build
This regenerates build/pictomancer-admin.js.
Installation
- Download the plugin from the WordPress plugin directory.
- In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
- Select the ZIP file and click Install Now.
- Activate the plugin.
- Go to the Pictomancer menu, turn on “Enable optimization” and configure your API key, compression quality, and preferences. Without an API key the plugin uses the Pictomancer.ai free tier.
FAQ
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Why is nothing optimized after activation?
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Optimization is off by default so the plugin never sends data anywhere without your consent. Turn on “Enable optimization” in the Pictomancer settings and new uploads will be optimized.
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Does it work with WooCommerce?
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Yes. Product and gallery images are regular media library attachments, so they are optimized on upload like any other image.
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What image formats are supported?
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JPEG, PNG, WebP, TIFF, and GIF. Images are compressed in their original format; format conversion is not part of this version.
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Can I set the API key outside the database (wp-config.php / environment)?
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Yes. Define the
PICTOMANCER_API_KEYconstant (and optionallyPICTOMANCER_API_URL) in wp-config.php, for exampledefine( 'PICTOMANCER_API_KEY', getenv( 'PICTOMANCER_API_KEY' ) );. When set, the constant takes precedence over the settings form, the field is shown read-only, and the secret is never stored in the database — ideal for staging/production and version-controlled config. Leave it unset to manage the key from the admin form. -
Does it work with S3 / offloading plugins like WP Offload Media or WP Stateless?
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Yes, by design. Optimization runs right after WordPress generates the attachment sizes and before offloading plugins push files to your bucket, so the bytes that reach your S3/R2/GCS storage — and therefore your CDN — are already optimized. No extra configuration or cloud credentials are needed in Pictomancer.
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Does it improve SEO?
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Smaller images improve loading speed and PageSpeed scores, which benefits your Core Web Vitals and therefore SEO.
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What happens if the API is unreachable?
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The original image is kept untouched and the upload completes normally. Optimization failures never break your media library.
Reviews
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Contributors & Developers
“Pictomancer Image Optimizer” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
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Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
0.1.1
- Optimization is now opt-in and off by default: no remote requests (uploads or health checks) are made until it is enabled in the settings.
- New “Enable optimization” toggle in the settings and an admin notice pointing to it.
0.1.0
- Initial release: automatic compression of uploads and thumbnails, savings dashboard with live API health, debug logging, wp-config constants for API credentials.