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How do I reduce the size of an export in Photoshop?

Published in Photoshop Export Size Reduction 2 mins read

You can reduce the size of your image export in Photoshop by using the Export As... feature and adjusting the image quality settings, particularly when exporting as a JPG.

Detailed Steps to Reduce Export Size

Photoshop provides a straightforward way to manage the size of your exported files using the Export As dialog. This method is particularly effective for common web and digital formats like JPG.

Here's how to do it, based on the provided reference:

  1. Open your image in Adobe Photoshop.
  2. Navigate to the menu bar and select File > Export > Export As... This opens the dedicated Export As dialog box.
  3. In the Export As… menu that appears, choose JPG as your file type from the format dropdown. JPG is a popular format that allows for variable compression, making it ideal for size reduction.
  4. Locate the Quality slider. Move the slider to the left to decrease the quality setting. As you reduce the quality, Photoshop applies more compression, significantly reducing the file size. You will typically see a preview of the file size update as you adjust the slider.
  • Note: Reducing quality removes some image detail. It's a balance between the smallest file size and acceptable visual quality. Experiment with the slider until you find the right compromise.

Understanding Quality and File Size

The quality setting in formats like JPG directly relates to the level of compression applied.

  • Higher Quality (Slider to the right): Less compression, more image detail preserved, larger file size.
  • Lower Quality (Slider to the left): More compression, some image detail removed (can introduce artifacts), smaller file size.

By carefully adjusting the quality slider during the export process, you gain control over the final file size of your image, ensuring it meets your needs for web use, email, or storage.

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