Compression & Resize

Balancing image size, dimensions, and quality

Reducing an image can mean changing its pixel dimensions, lowering its encoded quality, changing format, or combining all three. Those choices affect file size in different ways, so a small target in kilobytes does not always require making the picture physically smaller.

For web use, start with the actual display dimensions and avoid uploading a much larger image than the page needs. Then compress a sample and inspect areas with fine text, hair, foliage, gradients, and sharp edges, where artifacts are often easiest to see.

Practical tips

• Resize to the largest dimensions the image will realistically be displayed at.
• Compare quality at 100% zoom before committing to a very low file-size target.
• Use stronger compression on photographic areas than on screenshots or graphics with text.
• Keep aspect ratio locked unless intentional stretching is required.
• When targeting a strict upload limit, leave a little space below the maximum file size.