Digital photos have transformed how pictures are captured, stored, and shared across platforms and devices. These photos capture unforgettable moments and experiences. This is why smartphone manufacturers are getting creative with the in-built cameras so that everyone bitten by the shutterbug can exercise their urge to be expressive.
Today, you don’t need to carry bulky cameras wherever you go. Smartphone photography is a new trend and one that will only grow in the coming years.
Unfortunately, digital photos take up a lot of space, which is why you might want to know how to reduce the image file sizes so your device can breathe. Running out of device storage is never an option because you want to click more pictures and install many applications.
Scroll down to get a general idea of how you can reduce image file size.
Reducing Image File Size On A Mac
Mac comes with an in-built image editor called Preview. You can compress your pictures using this tool. First, open the app and select the picture you wish to compress, and then select Export. The app even lets you change the image file format, making it easier to upload and share.
If you want more information, click https://setapp.com/how-to/reduce-image-size.
Reducing image size online
Digital images consist of pixels, and they are stored on your computer or phone. Some photos have more pixels than the rest, and they take up a lot of space. If the image size is very large, you will face problems when trying to email them to someone or transfer them to another device. Also, you cannot place large images on websites because they negatively impact the loading speed and increase the bounce rate.
Therefore, compressing image files is a must. You can do it online with the help of these applications.
- TinyPNG – This is a popular image optimization tool capable of compressing PNG and JPEG images. The tool uses a smart lossy compression technique, and you can upload up to twenty images at a time, with the image size not exceeding 5MB.
- Compress2Go – This is an online image compressor that quickly reduces image file size without software installation. Compress2Go is a website where you can upload images and get them compressed.
- ResizePixel – This is another website tool that allows you to compress images. Unlike other websites, ResizePixel is capable of handling oversized images. You can use this website to reduce the file size in a matter of seconds. The tool handles GIFs, PNG, and JPEG images.
Reducing Image File Size on Windows
On your Windows computer, you can reduce the file size of an image by opening it in Photos. Next, click on the three-dotted menu and choose Resize. Then, select Save As and choose the location where the resized image will be saved.
Alternatively, you can use the in-built Paint application to change the resolution of the photos. Right-click on the image you want to reduce the size for and then choose Open With > select Paint. When the picture opens in Paint, choose Resize. In the Resize and Skew window, select Pixels and then enter the new width of the photo in pixels and select Ok. Finally, choose Save As and choose a location to save the resized picture.
Remove The Metadata To Reduce The Image File Size
Most of your digital pictures have specific information saved in them, and this is called metadata. The metadata typically includes details like the various camera settings used to click the picture, the camera used, the location of the picture, etc.
If you want to reduce the size of your photo, you can remove this information. However, there will not be any significant change to the file size because metadata does not take up a lot of space.
On Windows
On your Windows computer, right-click on the image > choose Properties > choose the Details tab in the Properties window > choose Remove Properties and Personal Information > select Create a copy with all possible properties removed > click OK. A copy of the picture will be created in the same folder as where the original image was but without the metadata.
On MAC
On your Mac, you can remove image metadata or EXIF data by using the free application, called EXIFPurge. Once the app is installed, launch the app > drag and drop your image or click Select Images and find the photo > click Select > choose where you wish to save the image > click Purge Exif Info.
Besides reducing the file size, removing metadata is meant to keep your information safe when uploading images on social media or anywhere on the web.
Final Thoughts
Compressed image files save storage space on your device and do not slow down the loading speed of websites. In most cases, you will get similar image quality after the picture has been compressed.