Thumbsplus Webp ((exclusive))

ThumbsPlus and the WebP Challenge: How to Manage Next-Gen Images

If you’ve been a long-time user of ThumbsPlus by Cerious Software, you know it’s a powerhouse for organizing massive libraries of photos, fonts, and vector files. However, as the web moves toward the WebP format for its superior compression and quality, many users find themselves in a bit of a bind.

Here is what you need to know about using WebP files with ThumbsPlus and how to keep your workflow smooth. Does ThumbsPlus Support WebP?

As of current versions, such as ThumbsPlus 10, native support for the WebP format is not explicitly listed in the standard supported formats like JPEG, PNG, or TIFF. While the software supports over a hundred file types—including diverse RAW formats through Pro plugins—WebP often requires a workaround because it is a relatively newer "next-gen" format compared to the legacy codebases of many classic image managers. Why WebP Matters for Your Collection

Smaller File Sizes: WebP files are often 25-34% smaller than comparable JPEGs without losing visible quality.

Transparency and Animation: Unlike JPEG, WebP supports alpha channels (transparency) and can even replace bulky GIFs.

SEO Performance: If you are using the ThumbsPlus Web Page Wizard to build online galleries, WebP is the format Google recommends for better search rankings and faster load times. Workarounds for ThumbsPlus Users thumbsplus webp

If your ThumbsPlus isn't generating thumbnails for your WebP images, here are a few ways to bridge the gap:

System-Wide WebP Codecs: Ensure your Windows OS has the WebP Video Extensions installed from the Microsoft Store. Sometimes, third-party apps like ThumbsPlus can leverage system codecs to "see" file types they don't natively handle.

External Batch Conversion: Use the batch processing features within ThumbsPlus to convert existing archives to WebP if you have a compatible plugin, or use a tool like XnConvert to turn WebP files into high-quality JPEGs that ThumbsPlus can catalog effortlessly.

Launch External Editors: You can configure ThumbsPlus to launch external editors for specific file types. By linking WebP files to a modern browser or a free editor like Paint.NET, you can still view the full-resolution files even if the thumbnail preview is a generic icon. Looking Forward Files: Thumb not working with WEBP format #825 - GitHub

ThumbsPlus, a long-standing image management tool developed by Cerious Software, has traditionally focused on supporting a vast array of raster, vector, and multimedia formats. However, support for the WebP format is not natively built-in for older versions and requires specific configurations or workarounds for more recent ones. Current Support Status

Version 10 and Below: Standard installations do not natively support the WebP format for viewing or generating thumbnails. The software relies on internal libraries that originally predated the widespread adoption of WebP. ThumbsPlus and the WebP Challenge: How to Manage

WebP Integration: While modern versions of ThumbsPlus have expanded database capacities (up to 5 million thumbnails) and improved metadata handling, native "plug-and-play" support for WebP remains limited compared to standard formats like JPEG, PNG, or TIFF. How to Use WebP with ThumbsPlus

To manage or view WebP files within ThumbsPlus, you typically need to rely on external system components or manual workarounds: Files: Thumb not working with WEBP format #825 - GitHub

3. Advanced Batch Processing Options

Add new WebP-specific rules in the Batch Expert:

Error: Thumbnails show as blank white squares

Cause: Windows thumbnail cache is corrupted or the WebP codec is not registered. Solution:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Admin.
  2. Run regsvr32 "C:\Windows\System32\WebpCodec.dll"
  3. Clear ThumbsPlus cache: Maintenance > Purge Thumbnail Cache.

Find all WebP files

cursor.execute("SELECT filename, path FROM images WHERE extension = 'webp'") rows = cursor.fetchall()

for filename, path in rows: full_webp = os.path.join(path, filename) proxy_jpg = os.path.join(proxy_folder, filename.replace('.webp', '.jpg')) Resize + re-encode to WebP in one operation

# Use ImageMagick to convert
if not os.path.exists(proxy_jpg):
    subprocess.run(['magick', full_webp, '-quality', '90', proxy_jpg])
# Update ThumbsPlus to point to proxy (requires DB write)
cursor.execute("UPDATE images SET proxy_path = ? WHERE filename = ?", (proxy_jpg, filename))

conn.commit() conn.close()

Note: Requires the proprietary ThumbsPlus DB schema, which may change between versions. Always backup first.

Error: "Unsupported file format"

Cause: Windows lacks the WebP codec or ThumbsPlus’s file type list is missing .webp. Fix: Install WebP Extensions. Manually add "webp" to Tools > Options > File Types.

Tool C: IrfanView (The Thumbnail Fix)

IrfanView (with plugins) renders WebP instantly. Use it as ThumbsPlus's external viewer.

  1. In ThumbsPlus, go to Tools > Options > Program Settings.
  2. In "External Viewer," point to i_view64.exe.
  3. When you double-click a WebP in ThumbsPlus, it opens in IrfanView.

Key Strengths

What About ThumbsPlus v9 and Earlier?

For users clinging to the classic ThumbsPlus v9 (still beloved for its speed on legacy hardware), you are not entirely out of luck. You cannot natively load WebP, but you can use a workaround: External Viewers.

4. Troubleshooting Common Issues