: Works with both types of WebP compression without artifacting issues.
One of ACDSee’s strengths is its handling of EXIF and IPTC data. The plugin ensures that when converting to or from WebP, vital metadata—shutter speed, location, and copyright—is not stripped away, which was a common flaw in early, third-party WebP converters. The Technical Significance of Native Support
ACDSee often utilizes system-level codecs to render certain file types. By installing the Google WebP WIC codec onto your Windows operating system, you can sometimes force older versions of ACDSee to recognize the format through the OS layer. acdsee webp plugin
Once WebP functionality is enabled (either natively or via codec), you can easily convert these files to more universally editable formats like JPEG, PNG, or TIFF.
Google provides an official WebP Codec for Windows. Search for and download the WebpCodecSetup.exe . : Works with both types of WebP compression
Native WebP support was integrated into starting with the 2023 versions (Ultimate, Professional, and Home), eliminating the need for a separate plugin. This update introduced support for reading and writing static, transparent, and animated WebP files. How to use WebP in ACDSee
Click Format Options to adjust compression levels, quality sliders, or metadata preservation. The Technical Significance of Native Support ACDSee often
Note: While this reliably enables thumbnails in Windows File Explorer, success rates inside legacy ACDSee image viewers vary by exact version number.
Workarounds for Legacy ACDSee Users (Versions 2021 and Older)
For very old versions of ACDSee that support the classic .apl plugin format, some users have had success using third-party archives like the . However, these can be unstable. If you are on an older version of Windows, the WIC codec (Method 1) is generally the safer, more modern route. Why You Should Make the Switch
As web performance becomes increasingly critical, the shift from traditional raster formats to modern codecs like WebP and AVIF is accelerating. ACDSee products (e.g., ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate, Professional, Home) are widely used by photographers for cataloging, raw processing, and non-destructive editing. However, as of version 2024, core ACDSee installations lack native WebP decoding and encoding.