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Lossy vs. lossless compression
Lossless compression (PNG) reduces file size without throwing away any image data, decompressing it gives back exactly the original pixels. Lossy compression (JPEG, and WebP when not set to lossless mode) gets much smaller files by discarding detail that's hard for the eye to notice, but that detail is gone for good once compressed, re-saving a lossy image repeatedly compounds the quality loss each time.
Choosing a format for the job
PNG fits flat-color graphics with sharp edges, transparency, or text, screenshots, logos, diagrams, where lossy artifacts would be obvious and unwanted. JPEG fits photos, where the eye tolerates some quality loss in exchange for a much smaller file and PNG's lossless approach wouldn't compress nearly as well. WebP covers both cases in one format, usually beating JPEG and PNG at a matching quality level, though it's worth checking that wherever the image ends up actually supports it.
Quality settings and file size
For JPEG and lossy WebP, quality and file size trade off directly: pushing quality down shrinks the file but introduces more visible artifacts, blockiness around sharp edges, blurred text, banding in gradients. There's no single right value, a thumbnail can usually take a much lower setting than a large hero image without the difference being noticeable. PNG output ignores the quality slider entirely, since lossless compression has no quality dial to turn.
Metadata and EXIF data
Compressing here decodes your image and redraws it onto a canvas before re-encoding it, and that process doesn't carry EXIF metadata, like GPS coordinates, camera model, or capture timestamp, through to the output. That's usually a privacy advantage when sharing photos publicly, but if you need that metadata preserved for some other purpose, this isn't the tool for that.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between lossy and lossless compression?
- Lossless shrinks a file without discarding any image data, the decompressed result is pixel-for-pixel identical to the original, which is what PNG does. Lossy compression discards data that's hard to perceive to get much smaller files, at the cost of some quality that can't be recovered, which is how JPEG and (optionally) WebP work.
- JPEG, PNG, or WebP, which should I pick?
- PNG for images that need to stay lossless or have transparency and large flat areas, like screenshots, logos, or diagrams with text. JPEG for photos where some quality loss is fine in exchange for a much smaller file. WebP for either case: it supports both lossy and lossless modes and generally produces smaller files than JPEG or PNG at equivalent quality, but check that wherever the image is going actually supports it.
- How does the quality setting affect the result?
- For JPEG and lossy WebP, a lower quality value increases compression artifacts, visible blockiness or blurring, especially around sharp edges and text, in exchange for a smaller file. There's no universal correct number: a lower value is fine for a thumbnail, but a hero image usually needs a higher one to avoid visible degradation. PNG output ignores quality entirely, since it's always lossless.
- Does compressing strip photo metadata like GPS location or camera info?
- Yes, as a side effect of how this tool works: your image is decoded and redrawn onto a canvas before being re-encoded, and that process doesn't carry EXIF metadata (camera model, GPS coordinates, capture time) through to the output. If you specifically need to preserve that metadata, this isn't the right tool; if you're compressing images before sharing them publicly, losing it is usually a privacy plus.
- Why did WebP or JPEG come out larger than my PNG?
- It happens most often with simple graphics: flat colors, sharp edges, and lots of repeated pixels (icons, logos, screenshots of UI) compress extremely well under PNG's lossless algorithm, sometimes better than a lossy format can manage without visible artifacts. Lossy formats have the advantage on photos and other detailed, noisy images, not on simple graphics.