Compressing JPEG files

andy2004

no one on here has mentioned Jstrip or Jpgcleaner both freeware, they remove rubbish from the jpgs create by the camera that took them.
jstrip http://davidcrowell.com/jstrip/
jpgcleaner http://www.rainbow-software.org/programs.html#JPG%20Cleaner
both freeware and i've used both.

jpg's cant be compressed as jpeg is already a compressed format for pictures. read here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG

Lifeforms

It's worth finding out what the OP wants to do with them exactly.

So, scottishminnie, what site is it you want to upload them too? If it's file sharing you can usually avoid having to shrink down the size by emailing them to whomever you want to share them with.
If it's a site like facebook, then you should be shrinking them down to a reasonable size. (length, width not file size)

Compressing isn't the same as shrinking. All of the programs listed (aside from winzip/winrar o.O) will resize them to a suitable size. Cameras take in a BIG size, you don't need that size for posting online, more often it just screws pages up, is forced resized by the site (and looks bad) or refused even though it's under the mb limit.
If it's on facebook, or a photo site there are generally size recommendations you should try and obey for those.

Even though on windows you view them in the viewer, that is not it's actual size, it is shrunk to fit. That is the reason it is so massive in file size, because the picture is really quite big too.
If you drag it onto a browser window, or file, open it and then click on the picture once (usually zooms out to fit it first). That will show you the true size of the picture on your computer)

andy2004

espresso wrote: »

Those programs will not turn an 8MB file into one less than 5MB as required by the OP, by simply stripping out the embedded image properties!

no, but they will remove rubbish from the jpgs that have been added by programs like adobe, paintshop, or any that add info which isnt required to actually display the image, and it also depends on the size of the internal thumbnails other rubbish. especially if he wants to display the pictures on a webpage for family etc.

A.Penny.Saved

Images from a digital camera usually have a resolution (number of pixels horizontally & vertically) of mega pixels so are massive in resolution and very large in file size. For most common usage the cameras resolution is unnecessary and resizing them will dramatically lower the file size.

Lowering the jpeg saving quality can also lower the file size, therefore the OP has two options available to lower the file size. Just ensure when doing either that when saving the file, ensure that the original is NOT overwritten.

Irfanview can easily do batch resizing and conversion which is available on the File menu under Batch Conversion/Rename. Then in that dialogue either use Work as: Batch conversion or select Batch conversion - rename resulting files if you intend saving to the same folder because you don't want to overwrite the current files. Making a new folder makes them easier to find in which case use the first option

Under Batch conversion settings: The format can be selected, keep it as jpg and then the options button can be clicked and the save quality can be adjusted. The image data as mentioned by other people in this thread, can also be stripped or kept in those options. It only saves a tiny amount of space and you don't need other programs with Irfanview.

Then underneath the save settings, are the Use advanced options (for bulk resize....). Tick that box and click the advanced button to show the resizing and advanced image adjustment dialogue. Tick the Preserve aspect ratio box and tick the Use re-sample function (better quality).

In the file selection box, select the images you wish to manipulate. You can add them all (use button) or ctrl click to select individual images and click the add button. Create a new folder for the new images by clicking the create new folder button.

Then you are almost ready to do it. You just need to select the folder in the output directory for resulting files: Click the Use Current (look in) directory: button and then the browse button and select the previously created folder.

Finally click the start batch button.