Common Mistakes to Avoid When Compressing Images
Keep your images sharp and professional by avoiding these simple errors.
Image compression is essential for fast websites and easy file sharing, but it's easy to make mistakes that ruin image quality. A blurry, pixelated image can look unprofessional and undermine your message.
The good news is that these mistakes are easy to avoid. This guide will walk you through the most common errors in image compression and show you how to get the perfect balance between file size and visual quality every time.
The 4 Biggest Compression Mistakes
1. Over-Compressing Your Images
Pushing the compression slider too far is the most common mistake. While it creates tiny files, it also introduces noticeable artifacts, blurriness, and color banding.
Solution: Aim for a quality setting around 60-80 for JPGs. Always preview the result. A few extra kilobytes are worth it to avoid a poor-quality image.2. Choosing the Wrong File Format
Using JPG for a logo with sharp lines or PNG for a photograph can lead to poor results. Each format is designed for a specific purpose.
Solution: Use JPG for photos and complex images. Use PNG for logos, graphics with text, or images that require a transparent background.3. Re-Compressing an Already Compressed Image
Every time you save a JPG, it loses some quality. Opening a compressed JPG, making a small edit, and saving it again will degrade it further. This is known as "generation loss."
Solution: Always work from the highest-quality original file you have. Keep uncompressed source files (like PSD, RAW, or original PNGs) safe.4. Ignoring Image Dimensions (Resolution)
Compressing a massive 5000x3000 pixel image is inefficient if you only need to display it in a 600-pixel wide box. The browser still has to load the large file before resizing it.
Solution: Resize your image to the final display dimensions *before* you compress it. This is one of the most effective ways to reduce file size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Avoiding these common mistakes will dramatically improve the quality of your compressed images. By resizing first, choosing the right format, avoiding re-compression, and finding a sensible quality level, you can achieve small file sizes without sacrificing the professional look of your visuals.