How to Reduce Image Size Without Losing Quality
Large photos are slow to upload and often rejected by forms. You can shrink them a lot while keeping them looking good.
Two ways to make an image smaller
- Compress: keeps the same pixel dimensions but stores the image more efficiently. Use the Image Compressor.
- Resize: reduces the width and height in pixels, which cuts file size quickly. Use the Image Resizer.
Which should I use?
If a form needs an exact size such as 200 x 230 pixels, resize. If it only gives a maximum size in KB, compress first, and resize if it is still too large.
Tips
- Photos work best as JPG. Screenshots and logos with flat colours may stay sharper as PNG.
- Lowering quality a little (for example, a moderate setting) saves a lot of space with small visible change.
- Do not repeatedly compress the same JPG, because quality falls each time. Keep your original.
- For documents, convert images to PDF after resizing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between KB and pixels?
KB is file size on disk. Pixels are the image's width and height. Reducing pixels usually also reduces KB.
Is my photo uploaded when I compress it?
No. The image is processed in your browser.
Can I make a photo exactly 50 KB?
You can get close by adjusting quality and size until the result is just under your limit.