Does $image->size(x,y) create new image each time when the method is called?

[valan]

Or it returns existing image, if image with such dimensions already exists (e.g. has been created formerly)?

Or in other words - do I need to cycle through $image->getVariations() in order to minimize load onto the server? Or there is another/PW-way to get specific image variation, without image generation if it already exists?

Thanks in advance for tip!

[adrian]

PW caches any image sizes you create with $image->size(), $image->width() or $image->height(). 

They are all stored in your assets folder and called directly if they already exist.