P: Camera Raw/Lightroom Classic/Lightroom Ecosystem: Support for WebP

Adobe has added Open and Save as .webp to Photoshop without needing third party plugins.  Now it's time to add the same to Lightroom Classic without third party plugins.

@GermanKiwi: "The only issue with using a third-party solution like XnConvert is that it involves compressing the image twice: firstly as a jpg and again as a webp. Unless you're able to export it as a tiff instead of a jpg."

Indeed, Xnconvert, Imagemagick, and Google's "cwebp" all will convert from PNG and TIFF to Webp, and all three could be used in LR Export's post-process actions.

The only issue with using a third-party solution like XnConvert is that it involves compressing the image twice: firstly as a jpg and again as a webp. Unless you're able to export it as a tiff instead of a jpg.

That's why we need a native solution directly in Lightroom, as already exists in Photoshop.

If  you see my post of 5/1/2025 above I suggested XnConvert (free app). Use it like a plugin as a Post Processing set in Export.

I can create WEBP images from Lr-Classic with FOUR mouse clicks!

I first set up XnConvert to 'Output' WEBP files. (It can delete, or not, any JPGs that the Export has created, and auto-close XnConvert after the conversion.)

Set up an Export preset to send the files to XnConvert in the Post Processing panel.

So the method then becomes-

1) Select photos in LrC library

2) Export button (one click)

3) Choose the WebP Export Preset (one click)

4) [Export] (one click)

5) In XnConvert that opens [Convert]  (one click) , done.

Although, yes, an export preset for WebP would be handy.

I want to add a vote to including a WebP export option from Lightroom Classic. I have a publisher who wants WebP files. It seems like something that should have been included a while ago. 

@Ambrosial_style1587, see these previous posts in this thread:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/camera-raw-ideas/p-camera-raw-lightroom-classic-lightroom-ecosystem-support-for-webp/idc-p/12304363#M3918

https://community.adobe.com/t5/camera-raw-ideas/p-camera-raw-lightroom-classic-lightroom-ecosystem-support-for-webp/idc-p/13332354#M5621

https://community.adobe.com/t5/camera-raw-ideas/p-camera-raw-lightroom-classic-lightroom-ecosystem-support-for-webp/idc-p/13119120#M5613

https://community.adobe.com/t5/camera-raw-ideas/p-camera-raw-lightroom-classic-lightroom-ecosystem-support-for-webp/idc-p/13913135#M5629

He didn't say anything about importing WebP images. He wants to export some images in WebP format.

How did you get webp into LRC in the first place?  I have been trying to import .webp for years.  My inability to do so is the main reason I want to dump Adobe forever.

@johnrellis suggested in a post that it might be possible to add the Google Convert code somehow as a Post Processing option in Lightroom.

I would like to get the highest resolution, and best quality but produce very small sized WebP images to be used on a website.

I would like the photos to be sized 1200 x 900 with a DPI of 72, and quality of 80%.

I use a Windows 10 desktop.

The procedure I plan to use is

• Within Lightroom, use the Develop module
  • to adjust all the parameters such as exposure, colour etc.
  • crop to aspect 1200 x 900
  • export as TIFF and select
  • Image Sizing – 1200 x 900 pixels, Resolution 72 DPI
    • Output sharpening un-ticked

There is a Post Processing option in this Lightroom Export screen

@johnrellis suggested in a post that it might be possible to add the Google Convert code somehow as a Post Processing option in Lightroom.

Has anybody ever done this… or could explain the steps needed to set this up?

How can I export a photo as WebP from Lightroom Classic?

I have a few hundred photos I need to export as WebP.

I don't want to have to export them as jpg, and then open each one in Photoshop in order to save them as WebP.

Could someone let me know the steps to do this please?

Thanks in advance,

Dave