Optimizing images plays a crucial role in driving traffic to your blog or website. In a previous discussion, we highlighted four ways in which images enhance your blog. Recently, Google started ranking websites based on speed, and images greatly impact page load time. This post aims to guide you on how to compress and resize images using software tools, helping you optimize your website effectively. For WordPress users, we recommend the Shortpixels plugin.
The Art of Image Compression and Resizing
Resizing and compressing images for blogs and websites is an essential need. While tools like Photoshop can resize images easily, they are not the best for compressing images. The compressor within Photoshop lacks effectiveness in maintaining image quality after a certain limit. For instance, let’s say we create a header design for our blog using Adobe Illustrator, with a size of 990/200 px. Upon importing it as a JPG format, we notice its size is approximately 300 KB on 150 dpi resolution. Now, if we attempt to compress this image using Illustrator, we cannot reduce its size below 100 KB while maintaining image quality at around 80%. Consequently, we require a specialized tool for compressing images for webpages, ensuring the image quality remains intact.
Resizing and Compressing Made Easy
One common mistake made by bloggers is using scripts to resize images, which consumes additional resources. Instead, you can resize images and then compress them to efficiently reduce the overall size. This approach not only helps your pages load faster but also earns favor with search engines like Google, which prioritize faster websites.
Fast Stone Image Resizer
Fast Stone Image Resizer is a highly recommended freeware photo resizing software that functions nearly as well as shareware. It offers a range of advanced options for resizing images based on pixels, percentage, and sides. Additionally, it provides a preview feature for adjustments such as rotation, cropping, canvas modifications, text and watermark addition, and even the option to add borders. Its image editor is my personal favorite for JPEG compression.
IrfanView
IrfanView is another reliable freeware that performs at a professional level. Besides being an excellent image resizer and compressor, it also serves as a powerful image viewer and editor.
MS Paint
Who can forget the first-ever software we all began with? MS Paint, a free tool that comes with Windows OS, can be used not only for drawing but also for resizing images. While image compression is not available on MS Paint, you can rely on online image compression tools such as Smush.it.
WebPlus
WebPlus, a static website builder, proves to be more than just an HTML code generator. It acts as a fantastic graphic designer and image manipulator, allowing you to compress and resize images seamlessly.
Feel free to share which tool you use to compress your images without compromising on quality. Together, let’s optimize our websites for a better user experience and improved search engine rankings.
