📚 What is Image Compression?
Image compression is the process of reducing file size by removing redundant data. When you take
a photo, the file contains much more information than the human eye can perceive.
Compression algorithms identify and remove this "invisible" information, drastically reducing the
file weight while maintaining a visually identical appearance.
💡 Key fact: A 5MB photo can be reduced to 500KB (90% less) without you
noticing any difference.
🔬 Lossy vs. Lossless Compression
Lossy Compression: Permanently removes data that the human eye hardly perceives.
Ideal for photos, allowing 60-90% reductions. JPEG and WebP use this method.
Lossless Compression: Compresses without eliminating any data. The decompressed
image is bit-for-bit identical to the original. PNG and GIF use this method, with typical
reductions of 10-30%.
🎯 Which to choose? For photos: Lossy JPEG/WebP at 85%. For logos/graphics
with sharp edges: Lossless PNG.
⚡ The Sweet Spot: 85% Quality
After years of research and millions of processed images, we have determined that 85%
JPEG quality is the optimal point for most photographs.
At this level:
- Typical reduction: 60-70% of original size
- Quality loss: Imperceptible to the human eye
- Ideal for: Web, social media, email, storage
That's why our slider starts at 85% by default.
🌐 Optimization for Web
Images represent 50-70% of a webpage's total weight. Optimizing them correctly can:
- Improve SEO: Google prioritizes fast pages
- Reduce bounce rate: Users leave slow pages
- Save bandwidth: Lower hosting costs
- Improve mobile UX: Faster loading on slow connections