Reduce Image File Size in Less KB to Optimize Load Time

Quality digital image may be large in file size. Usually photos taken from high resolution digital camera can have very large file size (hundreds of KB or sometimes in MB too). Even picture files obtained from scanner after scanning are also large in size. It is problematic to upload such large image file online due to the huge file size of the digital picture. Before the image file is uploaded, reducing the image file size into less KB can be a solution to these types of optimization problems.

Why Digital Image File Resizing is Necessary

There are several reasons behind reducing image file size in less KB before you upload any image file online:
  • Nobody likes big images as it takes lots of time for downloading and eat unwanted internet data usage.
  • Some websites prevent uploading large-sized image file. So upload quality images with decreased filesize. For this you need to convert image files into smaller file size pictures.
  • Many websites pre-set the maximum filesize limit for digital images | pictures. For Example, to upload your photo, some websites instruct you to upload the image file up to a limited size (such as maximum 50KB, 100KB, etc.) while filling online application forms.
  • Certain e-Mail provider sites have file size restriction for mail attachment. So, before attaching huge image file one has to first reduce its filesize.
  • Social networking websites like Google Plus, Facebook, Orkut like small images as they can be uploaded | downloaded quickly and efficiently.
  • Even if you and your friend have fast internet connections, you should always upload compressed | resized image files for fast optimization purpose.
  • Attaching large image file will require more time for uploading.
  • Bloggers running sites having greater page views should always think about reducing image size as this will save their image bandwidth thereby keeping their bandwidth usage under certain threshold.
  • If you are developer, designer of any website, you have to care the image files you would be adding to your sites. Because users like quality images but reduced filesize for faster browsing.
  • While uploading big image files sometimes errors may occur which is annoying.
  • Uploading big image files simply kills your internet data usage too.
  • Reduced image files occupy less memory | space even storage on your disk.
Observing the above reasons you have now clearly understood it that how important is to reduce image files for online usage. Remember, good quality images could be created of small files sizes too. But for this you have to apply some simple tricks. So think of quality and perfect sized images only. This can be time-saving, bandwidth-saving and well-optimized, provided you decrease image size without losing its quality.

Basic Tips | Tricks to Reduce Image FileSize

Digital image file formats are GIF, PNG, BMP, JPG, JPEG, JPE, BMP, DIB, RLB, EMF, TIF, TIFF, JIF, JIFF, RAW, PPM, PGM, PBM, PNM, etc. Out of hundreds of digital image file formats available, only PNG, JPG and GIF formats are the most widely used formats to display images on the Internet. You should know where to use these popular image file formats such as GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) or JPG|JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) or PNG (Portable Network Graphics) correctly for better performance. Delivering images with minimum filesize and least download | upload time has always been choice of every webmaster. So, you can observe these simple basics to generate reduced file-sized quality images for internet use.

Where and How to Use GIF, JPG and PNG Image Formats

  • GIF Image Files: If there are large areas of uniform color and the total number of colors is less than 256, GIF images are preferred for creating images of less file size. For computer generated images (such as line drawings, text logos, black and white images and small text with few pixels high, etc.) with limited color palettes GIF file format are used. GIF graphics is not suitable for photograph or complex graphics. GIF image format is a lossless compression technique. GIF images are usually less in filesize. Two or more GIF images can be put together with an animation editor for creating animated images.
  • JPG | JPEG Image Files: For displaying photograph or complex graphics image JPG | JPEG file format is used because JPG images support 16 million colors. JPG graphics is not appropriate for line drawings, simple graphics or text logos. JPG image format is a lossy compression technique. JPG image filesize is larger for higher image quality whreas the filesize is smaller for lower image quality. If you select JPG image format you have to compromise on either the quality of the image or the size of the file.
  • PNG Image Files: PNG image is newer format i.e. improved version of the GIF technique and currently supported by major web browsers. PNG image format uses ZIP compression. A PNG format image file is, in general, 5% to 25% more compressed than a GIF format image file of the same image. PNG format is a lossless compression technique. PNG graphics can be used for any type of images such as photographic images, quality photos, graphics, text logos, line art etc. Hence, PNG file format can be undoubtedly used for unquestionable best quality graphics. Unlike GIF format, the PNG image format does not support animation. However, for general purpose graphics file, PNG format is excellent.
As per your needs, you can use one of the GIF, JPG or PNG file format. For web pages and for emailing, JPG image format is of smallest filesize. If you want to take screenshot image of Google search pages, a block of source code, menu-bar of active window, etc. use PNG file format for making the filesize smaller. However, to take a snapshot of YouTube Flash video player, Google Map, Wallpapers, real photographs, realistic scenes etc. always use JPG file format as image filesize using this format will always be less than that of PNG file format maintaining the same quality.
While editing JPG images, you should avoid saving the file again and again as every time you saving the same image file reduces the image quality. This is why JPG image is known as lossy image file format. The better way to edit JPG images is to edit | make all the changes you want and finally save the image file with a new | different file name. So we have seen it that understanding the usage of the three widely used image file formats (GIF, JPG and PNG) is most important for managing image file sizes without affecting the quality.

Reducing Image File Size Using a Software

Only knowing when and how to use JPG, GIF and PNG graphics file format is not sufficient for reducing image file size all the time. Usually, you arrive at a situation where you need to use an efficient software to reduce the image size keeping the image quality more or less similar to the original image quality. So dont worry! There are many software using which you can easily reduce the image filesize. Even some online sites can reduce the image file size. But these online sites are useful for converting few images only as you need to upload original image file and download the reduced sized image every time you would convert any graphics. So better to install a software on your PC | laptop for unlimited usage of image size reducer program. I have used so many image resizing programs available online for downloading. But I like one small and simple but handy image size reducer software i.e. Free Picture Resize Starter. Resizing and editing photos with Free Picture Resize Starter is easy to use.
free picture resize starter start up screen

Important Features of Free Picture Resize Starter

Free Picture Resize Starter resizes your photos, but does much more as well, including zooming, cropping, rotating, sharpening, softening, and changing the contrast and brightness. The important features of Free Picture Resize Starter are:
  • Optimize and share your photos.
  • Edit and add effects to your photos with a few simple clicks.
  • Convert – Optimize – Resize your images in a single easy to use interface.
  • Share your photos with others through email and slide shows: it’s fast, easy.
  • Better control to manually resize individual images.
  • Free Picture Resize Starter aims to optimize images for particular purpose besides simply resizing images.
  • Convert images to the most popular formats, including TIFF, GIF, JPEG, PNG and BMP.
  • Convert a single image or a batch of images, also rename pictures in bulk.
  • Free Picture Resize Starter helps you in resizing multiple files instantly.
  • Choose or create preset sizes to quickly set the height and width of an image using 6 different scales such as pixels, points and inches, automatically maintain aspect ratio to keep proportions while resizing.
  • Share Your Images, easily import, browse, edit, and share your images all from one simplified interface.
  • Quickly e-mail your favorite memories to friends and family. Web and CD/DVD Slide Show Creator, share your favorite images so virtually anyone can view them.
  • Burn to CD/DVD, easily create a CD with any or all of your photos for sharing with friends, or safe keeping.
  • And lots more...

How to Download Free Picture Resize Starter

You can download Free Picture Resize Starter from the link below:
Download Free Picture Resize Starter
http://download.cnet.com/Free-Picture-Resize-Starter/3000-12511_4-10297789.html
After clicking on the above download link for Free Picture Resize Starter you can easily download the installer setup file which is of about 4.7 MB. Then you can install Free Picture Resize Starter on your PC | Laptop. Once you install Free Picture Resize Starter on your PC you can resize | reduce filesize any picture files absolutely free.
free picture resize starter working screen

How to reduce image size using Free Picture Resize Starter

Free Picture Resize Starter had user friendly interface for resizing image files. The simple steps are:
  • Open Free Picture Resize Starter from either Start Menu or from Desktop Shortcut Icon
  • Open the image file which is to be resized.
  • For Resizing Image File you have two options such as:
    • Preset Sizes using Quick Size:
      • On the Quick Bar of Picture Resize locate the Quick Size drop down box.
      • Click on the drop down arrow and select the desired resize size, picture will now resize to desired size.
    • Manually enter height and width:
      • Set your desired height or width, Picture Resize will calculate the proper aspect ratio and put the proper value in the other field.
      • If you want to manually enter each size uncheck the ‘Maintain aspect ratio’ check box.
      • Update the picture size by clicking on the ‘Update Image Size’.
  • The image size will now be updated to the new size
  • Example: I have reduced image file from 83 KB size to 8 KB size only. However, you can reduce image file size up to the limit you wish to convert so using Free Picture Resize Starter software.
I hope you have enjoyed this post as well as the cool and most useful software Free Picture Resize Starter. Do share your own views | comments on the above tips & tricks related to compressing image files.

{ 2 comments... read them below if any or add comment }

reduce image file size said...

Thanks for sharing important information on web images files and for also awesome technique which allowed me to reduce file size of my PNG, JPG and GIF images for my weblog. This way I saved lots of image file size and thereby saved the valuable internet bandwidth. My website users will now enjoy accessing optimized images which I had recreated today. This is one of the best tricks described to reduce image file size without losing quality.

make photo files smaller in KB said...

I followed the suggested tricks to decrease kb size of photos and believe it, my image file sizes are drastically decreased. Before I was unaware of usage of GIF, JPG and PNG file types but the comprehensive explanation to how and where to use these mostly used image file types (GIF, JPG and PNG) helped me a lot. Now less KB bandwidth will be required and images will load instantly on site pages.

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