Image management — watermarks, compression, and WebP

What this solution does

The Image Management — Watermarks, Compression and WebP module is designed for the 1C-Bitrix: Site Management system. It enables adding text or logos to images, adjusting save quality, and converting files to the WebP format. Processing is available for both newly uploaded files and images already stored in the system.

The solution is suitable for product photos, portfolio items, publications, and other images registered in Bitrix. Settings can be applied globally for the entire site, specific rules can be defined for individual information blocks, or custom processing parameters can be set during data exchange with 1C.

Watermark capabilities

The module supports adding text overlays or images, including PNG files with transparency. For text watermarks, users can select the font, color, and shadow effect. Size is defined relative to the image width, with adjustable opacity, margins, and rotation angle.

Nine placement options are available, or the watermark can be repeated in a tiled pattern. The interface includes a live preview showing current field values, including unsaved changes. A new image intended for use as a watermark must be saved first.

Compression and WebP conversion

Compression quality for JPEG and WebP formats is configured independently. JPEG files, or a combination of JPEG and PNG, can be converted to WebP during upload, batch processing, or via scheduled agent execution. To enable the "WebP only" mode, simply disable the watermark overlay function.

The setting "Keep format if WebP is not smaller" allows skipping conversion when the new file size would not be smaller than the original. The final result depends on the image content and the selected quality level. When the format changes, the module automatically updates the file name, MIME type, file size, and dimensions in Bitrix.

Image selection

The module can process all information blocks, only selected information blocks, or only those with their own enabled rules. Processing covers the announcement image, the detail image, and the file properties of elements.

File properties can be filtered by codes: one code per field, with buttons to add or remove fields. Leaving the list empty means all file properties will be processed.

The module can also load data from other modules, such as main, fileman, forum, or blog.

Settings allow defining minimum image dimensions and limiting the total number of megapixels.

A rule for a specific information block can override the sign, position, format, quality, and set of fields. Parameters not specified in the rule are inherited from the general settings. If a rule is disabled, the information block is excluded from element processing.

The module supports reprocessing and data exchange with 1C.

During upload, the module processes images in a temporary copy without modifying the original file, including those in the 1C exchange directory. The system stores hashes of the results and skips files whose bytes match previously processed outcomes. This prevents redundant watermark application to the same images. If an image is modified by an external editor, hash-based recognition may fail.

Integration with 1C supports three modes: using general settings and information block rules, applying individual parameters, or skipping processing entirely. Additional exchange addresses can be specified for non-standard scripts. The skip mode is recommended to be combined with subsequent agent-based processing.

Managing uploaded images

On the page Service → Watermark: Batch processing, three modes are available:

• Process new files — execute operations on files not yet marked by the module.

• Re-process with current settings — restore the saved original and apply a new watermark or format.

• Restore originals — revert to the saved source files.

Image processing runs in steps with progress tracking and reasons for skipped files. The process can be paused and resumed in the same tab. Automation is handled by the Bitrix agent; settings include the execution interval, the age threshold for modified images, and the volume limit per run.

Originals and limitations

During batch processing or agent operation, backup copies of original files can be saved. Re-processing and restoration are available only if such backups exist. A full site backup is required before modifying an existing directory structure. The module is disabled by default after initial installation.

Supported formats and exclusions

The module supports JPEG, PNG, static GIF, and WebP formats, provided the GD library capabilities are available. Animated images, Bitrix cloud files, unsupported formats, and images exceeding limits are skipped. Files uploaded directly to the site directory without registration in the Bitrix system are not processed.

Watermarks and metadata

A watermark indicates authorship and branding but does not prevent image copying or editing. Metadata, including EXIF, is not preserved during re-encoding. Converting to WebP changes the file name; any manually entered links referencing the old name must be updated.

Requirements

The Image Management — Watermarks, Compression and WebP module is designed for the 1C-Bitrix: Site Management platform. It is compatible with the First Site, Start, Standard, Small Business, Expert, and Business editions.

Correct operation requires PHP version 8.2 or newer, the main module version 24.0 or newer, UTF-8 encoding, and a MySQL database. The GD extension is mandatory; the iblock module must be installed to work with information blocks. To create text watermarks, the FreeType library and an available TTF or OTF font containing the required characters are needed. Conversion to WebP format is possible if WebP is supported by GD and write permissions are granted to the site upload directory.

The module allows applying text overlays or logos to images, adjusting save quality, and converting images to the WebP format. Processing applies to both newly uploaded files and existing images. The tool is suitable for product photos, portfolios, publications, and other images registered in 1C-Bitrix. Users can set general parameters for the entire site, create specific rules for individual information blocks, and configure image processing directly during data exchange with 1C.

A watermark can be a text overlay or an image, including PNG with transparency support. For text watermarks, settings are available for font selection, color, and shadow effects. Size is defined relative to the image width, while opacity, margins, and rotation angle are adjustable. The module provides nine placement options or the ability to repeat the watermark in a tiled pattern.

Preview displays current field values including unsaved changes. A newly uploaded watermark image must be saved first.

Compression and WebP

JPEG and WebP quality settings are configured separately. Images in JPEG format, or both JPEG and PNG, can be converted to WebP during upload, batch processing, or agent execution. To operate in "WebP only" mode, simply disable watermark overlay.

The "Keep format if WebP is not smaller" setting allows skipping conversion when it does not reduce the file size. The result depends on the image content and the selected quality level. When the format changes, the module updates the file name, MIME type, size, and dimensions in Bitrix.

Info block selection

Options include all info blocks, selected info blocks, or only info blocks with their own enabled rules.

Target objects

Preview image, detailed image, and element file properties.

File property filtering

Restriction by codes: one code per field with add and remove buttons. An empty list indicates all file properties.

Integration with other modules

Support for loading from a specified list of modules, such as main, fileman, forum, or blog.

Size constraints

Configuration of minimum image dimensions and a limit on the maximum number of megapixels.

An information block rule can override the watermark, its position, format, quality, and field set. Parameters not specified in the rule are inherited from the general settings. A disabled rule excludes the information block from processing its elements entirely.

Reprocessing and 1C Exchange

When a file is uploaded, processing occurs on a temporary copy. The original file, including those in the 1C exchange directory, remains unchanged. The module stores hashes of processed results and skips files whose bytes match previously processed results. This prevents applying a watermark to files that have already been recognized. If an image is modified by an external editor, hash-based recognition may fail.

Three modes are provided for 1C exchange: using general settings and information block rules, applying custom parameters, or skipping processing entirely. For non-standard scripts, additional exchange addresses can be specified. Skipping processing is convenient for subsequent handling via an agent.

Processing Existing Images

On the "Service → Watermark: Mass Processing" page, the following modes are available:

Process New — process files that have not yet been marked by the module.

Reprocess with Current Settings — restore the saved original and apply the new watermark or format.

Restoring originals returns previously saved copies of source files. Processing runs step-by-step with progress tracking and reasons for skipped items. The process can be stopped and resumed in the same tab. Automatic processing is performed by the Bitrix agent; the interval, image modification age threshold, and volume per run are configurable.

During batch processing and agent operation, copies of originals can be saved. Re-processing and restoration are available only if such copies exist. A full site backup is required before modifying an existing directory. The module is disabled after initial installation.

Supported formats include JPEG, PNG, static GIF, and WebP, provided the GD library has the corresponding capabilities. Animated images, Bitrix cloud files, unsupported formats, and images exceeding limits are skipped. Files uploaded directly to the site directory without registration in the Bitrix system are not processed.

A watermark indicates authorship and brand but does not prevent copying or editing the image. Metadata, including EXIF, is not preserved during re-encoding. When converting to WebP, the file address changes; manually entered links pointing to the old filename must be updated.

The image management module supports watermarking, compression, and conversion to WebP format. It is compatible with the First Site, Start, Standard, Small Business, Expert, and Business editions of the 1C-Bitrix: Site Management platform. The system requires PHP version 8.2 or newer, the main module version 24.0 or newer, UTF-8 encoding, and a MySQL database. The GD extension is mandatory; the iblock module must be installed to work with information blocks. Creating text watermarks requires the FreeType library and an available TTF or OTF font containing the necessary characters. Conversion to WebP requires support for this format in GD and write permissions in the site upload directory.

If “Image management — watermarks, compression, and WebP” is required, General iT can help with installation, configuration and a technical check after integration.