Image guide
How to Compress an Image Without Ruining It
Effective image compression removes bytes while keeping the detail people notice. Choose the right format, lower quality in small steps, and compare the result at its intended display size.
Open the Image Compressor toolQuick answer
Dimensions and compression are different. Reducing width and height often saves more than lowering quality when the source is much larger than its final use.
Start with the image's purpose
A website thumbnail, email attachment, portfolio image, and print master need different targets. Note the maximum pixel dimensions and any file-size limit before adjusting quality.
Keep an untouched original. Compression is usually lossy for JPG and WebP, and repeated exports can accumulate artifacts.
How to compress image files
- Upload the image and note its original size and dimensions.
- Choose an output format and start with moderate-to-high quality.
- Compress, compare preview and size, then adjust one setting at a time.
Inspect faces, small text, gradients, foliage, and sharp high-contrast edges. These reveal compression problems early.
Choose JPG, PNG, or WebP
JPG is often effective for photographs and has no transparency. PNG is lossless and often best for screenshots, logos, and transparent graphics. WebP can provide small photographic files and retain transparency.
Conversion is not guaranteed to reduce size. A tiny flat-color PNG can be smaller than a JPG or WebP version.
Avoid common compression mistakes
Do not chase the smallest number without checking readability. Text that looks acceptable in a scaled preview may break apart at full size.
Resize a 5000-pixel source when it will display at 1200 pixels. Removing unnecessary dimensions often beats aggressive quality reduction.
Try it in your browser
The free ToolPixels Image Compressor processes your file locally in the browser. Review the result and keep the original file.