How to choose the proper image compression method?
Read time: 4 minutes
We are all aware of images and photographs profound in our lives. They serve as repositories of cherished memories, integral elements in various presentations, and much more, with their versatility being boundless. Concerning the storage of images, especially in the digital realm, concerns inevitably arise regarding their security, privacy, and the allocation of storage space. Taking care of all these factors helps avoid issues like color casting in images. In this article, we will go through the intricacies of image compression, covering three key approaches: lossless, lossy, and no compression. By the end of this discussion, you will gain valuable insights to inform your choices on capturing and storing your images, with a clear understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each format.
Before moving further, we will define a few terms below to make things clear.
When capturing images with a digital camera, whether it’s a DSLR or a camcorder, you’ll often encounter a choice of image formats: RAW or JPEG (RAW Compressed). RAW offers uncompressed image data, while JPEG represents a compressed version of your photos. Your selection should align with your specific requirements or the intended use of the image. As previously mentioned, when compression doesn’t compromise image quality, it’s referred to as lossless compression. However, when compression does impact image quality, it’s categorized as lossy compression.
As previously mentioned, the fundamental purpose of image compression is twofold: to optimize storage space utilization and facilitate rapid image transmission. When viewing images on compact screens such as camera LCDs, computer monitors, small TVs, phones, or tablets, the impact of lossy compression often goes unnoticed. However, when you require large prints, expansive screen displays, high-resolution images to preserve intricate details, or a desire to maintain the original image’s integrity, capturing photos in RAW format or lossless compressed RAW format becomes essential. Professional photographers typically opt for RAW format capture, although these images are notably larger in size. Thus, it is recommended that in order to conserve space, one should save RAW images in lossless compressed form.
Digital sensors can capture an abundance of detail that surpasses what the human eye can perceive. However, during the process of image compression, when this intricate data is selectively omitted, it often goes unnoticed by the human observer. This type of compression is referred to as “lossy compression.” Images subjected to this method are particularly well-suited for tasks like emailing and web-based uploads, where efficient data handling is crucial.
Additionally, image compression serves the purpose of enhancing your camera’s ability to write images swiftly to memory cards. This streamlined process not only accelerates image transfer to your computer but also extends your continuous shooting capacity when capturing images in compressed RAW format. Furthermore, the reduced storage footprint of compressed images ensures more efficient use of available space.
Ways to avoid deterioration or loss of quality of images due to compression can be listed below:
In this article, we explore the differences between compressed and uncompressed image formats, helping you gain a clear understanding of which format is most suitable for preserving your images. Additionally, we address potential scenarios where saved images might face issues such as corruption, deletion, inaccessibility, or inability to open. In such cases, the easiest way to retrieve and restore them is to use an efficient and powerful Photo repair tool like Kernel Photo Repair, which works irrespective of the reasons of corruption, damage, or loss, and it can recover images from any storage device and can store them in any format. It can recover lost or deleted Sony camera images.
