XotkaHow to Reduce an Image File Size
Reducing an image file size can help with upload limits, forms, sharing, and page performance. The best settings depend on the file format, dimensions, image content, and the quality you need to preserve.
Choose the right approach
If an image is much larger in pixels than needed, resizing it may reduce file size without requiring aggressive compression. If dimensions must stay the same, adjusting the compression quality or choosing a suitable format may help.
Photographs often compress well as JPEG or WebP. Images with transparency, sharp edges, or flat colors may work better as PNG or another format that preserves those features. Results vary by image.
A practical workflow
- Keep a copy of the original image in case you need to start again.
- Choose the required pixel dimensions or the upload site's maximum file size.
- Try a suitable output format and moderate compression settings.
- Preview the result at the size it will actually be viewed and check text, edges, and fine details.
- Confirm the final file meets the destination's size and format requirements before uploading it.
Avoid common mistakes
Do not judge quality only from a tiny thumbnail. Repeatedly re-saving a lossy image can reduce quality, and changing the filename extension does not convert the underlying file format.