File Size Reduction | IGCSE Information and Communication Technology Preparation - Year 11 PDF Download

File Size Reduction

• File size reduction is essential for effectively storing, sharing, and loading digital images.
• It becomes particularly crucial when managing large images or dealing with limited storage space.
• One common method to reduce file size is by lowering the image resolution. 
  • Image resolution indicates the level of detail in an image. 
  • Higher resolution means more pixels and a larger file size. 
  • Decreasing resolution reduces the number of pixels, thereby reducing file size. 
  • It's important to note that decreasing resolution can lead to a loss of image quality, especially when viewing images at larger sizes.
• The image on the right has a lower resolution than the one on the left:
  
• Another method to reduce file size is by reducing the colour depth of an image:
  • Color depth, or bit depth, indicates the number of bits utilized to depict the color of each pixel.
  • A higher bit depth allows for representation of more colors but results in larger file sizes.
  • Decreasing color depth involves employing fewer bits, thereby representing fewer colors and reducing file size.
  • Similar to resolution, decreasing color depth may compromise image quality, leading to a visually flatter or posterized appearance.