Image guide

Compress Images Without Losing Quality

Image compression is a balance between file size and appearance. The goal is to make a file easier to upload or share while keeping enough detail for its intended use. Some quality loss is possible with lossy formats, so inspect the result rather than assuming every setting is safe.

Reduce unnecessary dimensions first

A photo intended for a small website card usually does not need the same dimensions as the original camera image. Resizing to a sensible width can reduce the amount of image data before compression. Keep the original so you can create a larger version later.

Choose the format for the image

JPG and lossy WebP can be effective for photographs. PNG is useful for transparency and sharp graphics but may create larger files for photos. A format change is not automatically an improvement; check whether the destination supports the result.

Inspect the result

Look closely at text, thin lines, edges and faces. Images used for documents, receipts or evidence need enough detail to remain readable. Avoid repeatedly saving the same lossy image, because artifacts can build up. Start from the original whenever you need another version.

Use Alyvero to make a smaller copy

Open Compress Image, choose your file and compare the original and compressed sizes. If the dimensions are too large, use Resize Image first. For photos saved by an iPhone in HEIC, use HEIC to JPG when the destination requires JPG.