# Compress: control the exported file size

URL: https://helpcenter.readypixl.com/articles/compress
Markdown: https://helpcenter.readypixl.com/articles/compress.md
Section: Pipelines
Summary: Sets how much your downloaded images are compressed — Off, Low, Medium, High or Very High. Applied once when the image is saved.

Compress sets **how much your exported files are compressed**. Smaller files upload faster and save space; too much compression on photos can leave visible artifacts.

There are two places to set compression, and they do the same thing:

- **Export settings** next to the download buttons (Off / Low / Medium / High / Very High; default **High**).
- The **Compress** tool in your pipeline. When it's in the pipeline, it **overrides** the export setting.

Why use the tool then? Because it's saved inside your **preset**. Put Compress in a preset and every run — on the web, in the Chrome extension, in the desktop app, from right-click or from an AI agent — uses the same compression.

## The setting

| Setting | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Compression Level** | **Off**, **Low**, **Medium**, **High** (default) or **Very High**. Applied once, when the image is saved — it doesn't matter where Compress sits in the pipeline. |

## Tips

- **Designs and graphics with flat colors** compress very well — High or Very High keeps even a large PNG around a megabyte or two.
- **Photographic images** can show artifacts at high compression. Use Medium or Low, and check the result.
- Very colorful images end up bigger files even at the same setting.

## What to read next

- **[Exporting your images](../getting-started/exporting)** — format, DPI, file names and downloading
- **[Saving and loading presets](../getting-started/presets)**