Image compression for web pages

Question

Hello,
I would like to know if there is a feature that allows to compress images without loss of quality for web pages. Currently the loading speed of websites is increasingly important and the weight of the images greatly influences it. I tried online image compressors; one of these, JPEGmini, offers a Photoshop plugin. I would like to receive advice on this and, above all, if this feature will be incorporated into Photoshop without the need for an external plugin.
I await your kind reply.
My best regards

David Converse · Answer

PNG format uses lossless compression, and yes there are numerous methods of encoding a JPEG (although none, by design, are lossless.) There are also some new formats like WebP and HEIC that don't yet have universal browser support.

Most websites use JPEG for photos and PNG for flat color graphics. Part of a web developer's job is to balance quality with file sizes and load times.

Finally, for much of the web, marketing and data collection JavaScripts are the site loading chokepoint, not images- especially where broadband is available.

Fabio Consolandi · Answer

Thanks for your comment. What about image compression performed by plugins like JPEGmini? It can be useful?

Warren Heaton · Answer

Photoshop’s JPEG options allow for twelve quality levels to control the amount of JPEG compression, 1 being the most compression (as well as worst image quality) and 12 being the least compression (as well as best image quality) if you use File > Save As. Photoshop allows for 100 levels (1 to 100) if you use File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy) and 10 levels (10% to 100%) if you use File > Export > Export As.

I usually use 7 or 8 (60% to 70%) for web pages and emails when saving a JPEG from a Fine JPEG, RAW image or other high resolution format (TIFF, PSD, PSB). I used to spend a lot of time futzing with the 1 to 100 option when most US users were using dial-up.

So, Photoshop has several (maybe too many) options.

It’s probably important to note that the minimum and maximum amounts of compression are the same, it’s just the steps between the range that differ.

So... as far as JPEGmini goes, this is from their FAQ page:

In Photoshop, can I choose the quality before exporting, like in 'Save for Web'?

No, we designed the Photoshop extension to export the JPEG at quality 11 and then we optimize it. This is how we made the extension super fast and super simple.

Visit our help section for further information.

It sounds like their product starts at 11 out of 12 and then automated from there.

Maybe check for a trial version so you can test it before you buy it?

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Image compression for web pages

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