Optimizing images
“Optimizing” an image for websites is about reducing the file size of an image as much as possible while maintaining good quality. Most photos taken with digital cameras and phones are much larger than necessary for display on a web page, and require some optimization. The UMaine websites restrict image uploads to 1MB or less to encourage photo optimization.
One way you can reduce image file size is by using the “Save for Web” command in Adobe Photoshop. When using this command, you want to adjust the image to the lowest file size possible while keeping an eye out for image quality.
If you do not have Photoshop, your computer should have a basic photo viewer that may be able to export your photo or change its resolution. Apple computers using iPhoto, for example, can export a photo to your desktop (do not choose the ‘unmodified original’ option here as that will result in a larger file size in most cases). This may not give you an image that is under 1MB, but if the exported image is under 5MB, you can use a website optimizer such as Tiny PNG. You simply go to the website and drag and drop your image into the file drop area and let Tiny PNG do the rest. Once it’s done optimizing, you can click the download link and have the new optimized images saved right to your computer.
If you have an image that you need optimized for your website, and are unsure if you have the tools needed to do this, please email us at um.weboffice@maine.edu and we will be happy to help.