When Not to Compress Your Photos

There’s a time and place for compression. But when you’re editing, exporting, or composing shots, knowing when not to compress is just as important.

Compression helps reduce clutter — in files and in photos. But overdoing it can:

Permanently erase image data
Introduce visual artifacts
Flatten your composition or make scenes look unnatural

When to be cautious with file compression:

Saving the same JPG repeatedly (each save adds more loss)
Exporting at very low quality settings
Compressing thumbnails from already-compressed files

Best practice: export your final edit at high quality, then compress for sharing separately.

When to be cautious with background compression:

Using extreme zoom where it distorts perspective
Compressing backgrounds that shouldn’t feel “close” (e.g., wide landscapes)
Trying to fake depth of field with focal length alone

Compression is a tool — not a goal. When used intentionally, it simplifies. When used blindly, it can backfire.