Prepare sharp, lighter website images
Good website images balance clarity, relevance and file size. Keep your original photograph, then prepare a separate version for the place it will appear. There is no single file size or pixel width that suits every page: a small team portrait and a wide homepage image have different jobs.
Before you start
- Confirm you have permission to publish the images and identify any people or sensitive details shown.
- Keep untouched originals in your own files and work on copies.
- List the pages and image positions that need improvement, with up to ten images for the listed tidy-up.
What to do
Choose the right crop
Decide what the visitor needs to see: a finished job, a dish or a person. Leave enough space around the subject for different screen shapes. Do not stretch a narrow portrait into a wide banner or expect a tiny downloaded preview to become a sharp photograph.
Match dimensions to the placement
Check how large the image appears on the page and what your platform recommends. Provide enough detail for larger or high-density screens without uploading an unnecessarily huge camera file. A developer can use responsive image sizes where supported rather than serving every device the same file.
Compress and compare
Export a supported format and compare its quality and file weight with the original. Inspect fine detail, logos and edges at the intended display size. Keep the smaller version only if it remains suitable; excessive compression can make a professional image look damaged.
Describe the image’s purpose
Add concise alternative text for an image that conveys useful information. Describe its meaning in the page, not a list of search keywords. Purely decorative images usually need an empty alternative, while an image-only link needs an accessible description of its destination.
What to check
- The subject is not awkwardly cropped on a phone or a wider screen.
- Final file sizes are recorded and compared without sacrificing necessary detail.
- Useful images have appropriate alternatives and originals remain recoverable.
Sources and further reading
Platform features can change. Check the provider’s current guidance before changing a live service.