Image Compressor

What this tool does

Image Compressor reduces the file size of your images while maintaining acceptable visual quality. Large images slow down websites, consume mobile data, and fill storage quickly. This tool applies intelligent compression algorithms that remove redundant data and optimize encoding without making changes visible to the human eye at normal viewing distances.

The compressor supports batch processing, so you can compress multiple images at once. It offers both lossy compression (smaller files with minor quality reduction) and lossless compression (no quality loss but smaller size reduction). You control the quality level to balance file size against visual fidelity based on your specific needs.

How to use this tool

1. Upload one or more images using drag-and-drop or the file selector (supports JPG, PNG, WebP).

2. Choose compression mode: lossy for maximum size reduction or lossless to preserve exact quality.

3. Adjust the quality slider (for lossy mode) to set your preferred balance—lower values mean smaller files.

4. Optionally set resize options if you also want to reduce dimensions.

5. Click compress and download individual files or all results as a ZIP archive.

Common use cases

• Optimize images before uploading to websites for faster page loads
• Reduce email attachment sizes to meet sending limits
• Prepare images for content management systems with upload restrictions
• Compress product photos for e-commerce platforms
• Shrink portfolio images while maintaining professional quality
• Process screenshots before documentation or support tickets
• Batch compress vacation photos for cloud backup
• Optimize images for mobile apps to reduce download sizes

Key features and behavior

Lossy vs lossless compression

Lossy compression achieves dramatic size reductions (often 60-80%) by discarding image data the human eye is least likely to notice. This is ideal for web photos where some quality loss is acceptable. Lossless compression preserves every pixel exactly but typically achieves only 10-30% reduction—best for graphics, screenshots, or archival copies where precision matters.

Quality control

The quality slider (1-100) controls the compression aggressiveness for lossy mode. Quality 80-90 typically looks identical to the original at normal viewing. Quality 60-70 shows minor artifacts on close inspection but remains suitable for web use. Below 50, compression artifacts become noticeable but file sizes drop dramatically.

Format conversion during compression

You can optionally convert images to a different format during compression. WebP typically achieves the smallest file sizes with good quality, but not all browsers and platforms support it. JPEG works best for photographs, while PNG is better for graphics with solid colors or transparency requirements.

Resize integration

Combining compression with resizing achieves the greatest file size reduction. A 4000×3000 photo compressed at quality 80 might be 800KB, but resized to 1920×1440 and compressed could be under 200KB. The tool maintains aspect ratio when resizing to prevent distortion.

Tips and limitations

• Already-compressed JPEGs don't benefit much from re-compression and may degrade
• PNG screenshots and graphics compress better than photographs
• WebP offers the best size-to-quality ratio but check platform compatibility
• Transparent PNGs must stay PNG or convert to WebP to preserve transparency
• Maximum upload size depends on server settings, typically 10-20MB per file
• Very dark or very uniform images compress better than detailed textures

FAQ

Will compression make my image look worse?

Lossy compression at quality 80+ typically produces no visible difference at normal viewing. Lower quality settings introduce artifacts like banding and blurring that become noticeable on close inspection or in areas with gradients. Lossless compression never affects appearance.

What quality setting should I use?

For web images: 70-80 provides excellent results with significant savings. For print or archival: use lossless or 90+. For thumbnails or previews: 50-60 is acceptable since small sizes hide artifacts. Test with a sample image to find your ideal balance.

Why is my PNG larger after compression?

PNG uses lossless compression that depends on image content. Complex photographs compress poorly as PNG. If your PNG is a photo, converting to JPEG or WebP will yield much smaller files. PNG excels for screenshots, logos, and graphics with flat colors.

Does compression remove image metadata?

By default, compression may strip some metadata to reduce file size. If you need to preserve EXIF data (camera settings, GPS, etc.), check the output file or use a workflow that explicitly preserves metadata.

Can I compress images without losing quality?

Yes, lossless mode compresses without any quality loss, but achieves smaller file size reductions than lossy compression. For maximum preservation, choose lossless compression and avoid format conversion.

How much smaller will my images be?

Results vary dramatically based on content and settings. A typical JPEG photo at quality 80 becomes 40-60% smaller. PNGs of graphics may shrink 50-70%. WebP conversion often achieves additional 20-30% savings over equivalent JPEG quality.

Is batch compression slower?

Processing time scales with the number and size of images. Each image is compressed sequentially on the server. Large batches may take 30-60 seconds, but you can download all results as a single ZIP when complete.

What's the best format for web images?

WebP offers the best compression for both photos and graphics with modern browser support. Use JPEG for photographs if broad compatibility matters. Use PNG only for graphics requiring transparency or pixel-perfect reproduction.