Photoshop provides powerful tools to reduce file size while maintaining image quality. Follow these steps to optimize images efficiently:
1. Open the Image
- Launch Adobe Photoshop and open your image (File > Open).
2. Resize the Image (If Needed)
- Go to Image > Image Size (
Alt + Ctrl + I/Cmd + Option + I). - Adjust the Width and Height while keeping aspect ratio.
- Use Bicubic Sharper for downsizing to maintain sharpness.
- Recommended sizes:
- Web Thumbnails: 150x150px
- Product Images: 800x800px or 1000x1000px
- Full-size: 1600px+ (for zoom-in features)
3. Choose the Right Format
- JPEG – Best for photos and general images.
- PNG – Ideal for transparent backgrounds.
- WebP – Newer format with better compression (requires Photoshop plugin or Adobe Firefly).
- AVIF – Best for ultra-compression but needs external tools.
4. Optimize Using “Save for Web”
- Go to File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy) (
Shift + Ctrl + Alt + S/Cmd + Shift + Option + S). - Select format: JPEG (high quality, 60-80%) for photos, PNG-8 for transparency.
- Adjust Quality slider (60-80% is ideal for a balance of size & clarity).
- Enable Progressive JPEG for faster loading.
- Click Preview to check file size vs. quality.
- Hit Save when satisfied.
5. Use Photoshop’s Export Feature (For Web & Mobile)
- File > Export > Export As
- Select WebP for best compression.
- Reduce quality (start at 80%, lower if needed).
- Adjust dimensions if required.
- Click Export and save your optimized image.
6. Additional Optimization (Optional)
- Use Photoshop’s Image Processor (
File > Scripts > Image Processor) for batch resizing and compression. - Convert to sRGB (
Edit > Convert to Profile) for better web compatibility. - Use Blur on Backgrounds to reduce file size without affecting the subject.
7. Final Check: Compare File Size & Quality
- Use Windows Explorer / Finder to check the file size.
- Compare with the original image to ensure minimal quality loss.