compression
Quality setting
A numerical parameter that controls how much lossy compression is applied to an image.
What is Quality setting?
A quality setting is a numerical parameter (typically 1–100) that controls the degree of lossy compression applied to an image during export or processing. Higher quality settings preserve more image detail but create larger file sizes, while lower settings produce smaller files with more visible compression artifacts. The quality setting directly determines the balance between file size and visual fidelity in compressed image formats.
Importance of Quality setting
Quality settings determine whether your images load quickly on websites without sacrificing visual appeal. Without proper JPEG quality setting optimization, you'll either end up with bloated files that slow down page loading or compressed images with visible artifacts that look unprofessional on social media and email campaigns.
Quality setting in Practice
When compressing a 2MB JPEG photo for web use, setting the quality to 85 might produce a 450KB file that looks identical to the original on most screens. Reducing the quality setting to 75 could shrink the same image to 280KB with barely perceptible quality loss, while dropping to 60 would create a 180KB file but introduce visible compression artifacts around text and sharp edges.
Quality setting Best Practices
- → Set JPEG quality between 75–85 for web images to balance file size and visual quality.
- → Use lower quality settings (60–75) for thumbnails and images where file size is critical.
- → Test quality settings at actual display sizes since compression artifacts are less visible in smaller images.
Example of Quality setting
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best quality setting for JPEG images?
The best JPEG quality setting for web images is between 75–85, which provides excellent visual quality while keeping file sizes manageable. Below 75, compression artifacts become noticeable, while above 85, file sizes increase significantly with minimal visual improvement. The exact setting depends on your specific use case and whether file size or image quality is more important.
What happens when you lower the quality setting on an image?
Lowering the quality setting reduces file size by increasing compression, but also introduces more visible artifacts like blockiness around edges and color banding in gradients. Each time you lower the setting, more image data is permanently discarded to achieve smaller file sizes. The key is finding the lowest setting that still maintains acceptable visual quality for your intended use.
Does a higher quality setting always mean better image quality?
A higher quality setting preserves more original image data, but doesn't always result in visibly better quality, especially above setting 85 for JPEG images. The improvement becomes negligible while file sizes continue to increase dramatically. Quality setting 100 often produces files 3-4 times larger than setting 85 with virtually no perceptible difference when viewed on typical screens.