Digital booths
Compare photo strip compression before sending
Use small text and facial detail as your test subjects.
A file can shrink dramatically while losing the part of the portrait you cared about. A simple comparison makes that compromise visible.
Choose a demanding sample
Use a copy containing a face, a dark area and a short caption. These give you different things to inspect. Keep the untouched export beside the test files. A comparison using only a plain background can hide damage that becomes obvious around hair or lettering.
Make labelled alternatives
Export two delivery copies with deliberately different settings. Keep the same dimensions while comparing compression, or the same quality while comparing dimensions. Changing both at once makes the result difficult to explain. The format guide describes JPEG as lossy; use your own image to judge the practical effect.
Evidence: Technical documentation
Check at the final size
View the alternatives at the size the recipient will actually see. Zoom in as a secondary check, not the only test. Choose the smallest version that remains acceptable for that purpose, record the setting and send a test through the real destination before distributing a batch.
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- MDN — image file formatsTechnical documentation