How Image Compression Works
Lossy vs. Lossless Compression
Lossless compression reduces file size without any loss of quality. Formats like PNG use lossless compression. It's great for images with sharp lines and text, but file sizes can still be large.
Lossy compression, used by formats like JPEG, significantly reduces file size by permanently removing some data. This tool uses lossy JPEG compression. Lowering the quality removes more data, making the file smaller but potentially creating visible artifacts.
The Quality Slider
The "Quality" slider in this tool controls the level of lossy compression. A value of 1.0 is the highest quality (least compression), while 0.1 is the lowest quality (most compression). Finding the right balance is key: you want the smallest file size possible without a noticeable drop in visual quality for your specific use case.
