DatoCMS Asset Optimization Plugin

A plugin that allows you to mass apply optimizations to your DatoCMS assets, significantly reducing image file sizes while maintaining visual quality.

Overview

The DatoCMS Asset Optimization Plugin leverages Imgix's powerful image processing capabilities to optimize your media library assets. It helps you:

• Reduce image file sizes without sacrificing quality
• Apply batch optimization to multiple assets
• Configure quality levels based on asset sizes
• Convert images to modern formats like AVIF or WebP
• Track optimization progress with detailed logs
• View statistics on storage savings
• Preview the impact of your settings before replacing anything

Where it lives in DatoCMS

After installation, the plugin adds an Asset Management → Optimize assets entry in your environment's Configuration section. The plugin's configuration screen also provides a shortcut button to that page.

The plugin requires the currentUserAccessToken permission so it can replace assets on your behalf.

Installation

1. Log in to your DatoCMS project
2. Go to Settings > Plugins
3. Search for "Asset Optimization"
4. Click "Install"

Important: Use Sandbox Environments First

⚠️ STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Always test this plugin in a sandbox environment before using it in production.

This plugin permanently replaces your original assets and they cannot be recovered. To ensure optimal results:

1. Create a sandbox environment in your DatoCMS project
2. Test the plugin with various optimization settings
3. Fine-tune thresholds and quality settings to your liking
4. Verify the optimized assets meet your quality standards
5. Once satisfied with the results, promote your changes to production

This approach allows you to safely experiment with different optimization parameters without risking your production assets.

Usage

1. Open Configuration → Optimize assets.
2. Configure the optimization settings according to your needs
3. Click Preview Optimization to dry-run the process and see expected savings without touching any assets
4. When you're happy with the projected results, click Start Optimization. You'll be asked to confirm twice before any asset is replaced
5. Watch the progress and the live activity log as the plugin processes your assets
6. Review the final statistics, including per-category lists of optimized, skipped, and failed assets

Settings reference

The form groups settings into four sections:

• Size Thresholds

  • Large Asset (MB) and Very Large Asset (MB) — assets above each threshold get their own quality and resize profile
  • Minimum Size Reduction (%) — only replace an asset if Imgix can shrink it by at least this much

• Basic Optimization

  • Preserve Original Format — keep JPG/PNG/etc. instead of converting (fm parameter)
  • Auto Compress — let Imgix pick compression automatically (auto=compress)
  • Target Format (when not preserving) — webp or avif
  • Resize Large Images — toggle to limit max width via max-w

• Resize Dimensions (visible when resize is enabled)

  • Large Image Max Width (px) and Very Large Image Max Width (px)

• Compression Settings

  • Large Image Quality / Very Large Image Quality — q value 0–100 (hidden in lossless mode)

• Advanced Options

  • Use Lossless Compression (lossless=1)
  • Use DPR Optimization (dpr=2 for Retina)
  • Enhanced Chroma Sampling (chromasub=444 for JPEGs)
  • Preserve Color Profiles (cs=origin)

A Restore Defaults button is available at any time.

Asset Filtering & Optimization

• Size-Based Filtering: Only process assets above a certain size threshold
• Intelligent Optimization: Apply different optimization strategies based on asset size categories
• Format Conversion: Convert images to modern formats like AVIF for better compression
• Dimension Resizing: Automatically resize oversized images while maintaining aspect ratio

Website Performance Optimization

• Reduce page load times by decreasing image payload sizes
• Improve Core Web Vitals scores with optimized images
• Enhance mobile experience with appropriately sized images

Storage Cost Reduction

• Minimize storage usage in your DatoCMS media library
• Reduce CDN bandwidth consumption
• Lower operating costs while maintaining quality

Batch Processing

• Mass-update existing media libraries with optimized assets
• Apply consistent optimization settings across your entire asset collection
• Save time compared to manual optimization workflows
• Up to 10 assets are processed in parallel for faster runs

Development

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14+)
• npm or yarn
• DatoCMS account with developer access

Local Development

1. Clone the repository
2. Install dependencies: npm install
3. Start the development server: npm run dev
4. Configure a local DatoCMS plugin in your project settings pointing to your local server

Building for Production

npm run build

The built files will be in the dist directory, ready for deployment.

Support

If you encounter any issues or have questions about the plugin, please open an issue on GitHub.

License

MIT