Image4 min read
Image Compression Quality Settings Explained
Understand quality controls, visual artifacts, and why the best setting depends on how an image will be used.
Quality is a trade-off
Higher quality generally preserves more image detail but creates a larger file. Lower quality can produce a much smaller file, but repeated edges, fine textures, and gradients may show compression artifacts.
Pick the setting for the destination
A small preview thumbnail can tolerate more compression than a portfolio image. A website hero image may need a different balance again. Choose the quality based on how large the image will appear and how closely people will inspect it.
Use visual inspection
File size alone cannot tell you whether an image is acceptable. Always inspect the compressed version at the intended viewing size before replacing the original.