Help and User Guide
Resize, Convert, and Prepare Images
Learn how to resize common image formats and export images as JPG, PNG, or WebP when supported by your browser, prepare images for websites and social media, adjust cropping, and download single images or bulk ZIP packages.
Image Prep Guide
Chapter One
Getting Started with Image Prep
GetSkipa Image Prep is a browser-based image resizer, image converter, and image preparation tool. It can resize screenshots, photographs, product images, profile pictures, social media graphics, website images, and other common image files. Available output formats are based on the browser currently running Image Prep.
You can paste a screenshot, choose one or more image files from your device, or drag files into Image Prep. When one image is selected, Image Prep displays a converted preview that can be downloaded. When several images are selected, Image Prep lets you review each image and creates a downloadable ZIP file when you select Download ZIP.
Choose Image Files imports the file selected through your browser's file picker. Dragging files directly from Finder on macOS or File Explorer on Windows also imports the file from that folder. Some photo management applications, such as Apple Photos and similar libraries, may provide a reduced-resolution image when dragging or copying. That behavior is controlled by the operating system or source application, not by Image Prep.
Basic Image Preparation Workflow
- Paste, choose, or drop one or more image files.
- Select the desired image dimensions.
- Choose an available output format.
- Select Fit or Fill.
- Adjust rotation, horizontal position, vertical position, and zoom if needed.
- Review the converted image or ZIP summary.
- Download the completed output.
Chapter Two
How to Resize and Convert One Image
To prepare one image, paste a screenshot or choose or drop a common image file. The selected image remains loaded while you change the output settings.
This makes it possible to create several versions of the same image without selecting it again. For example, one product image can be exported as a 600 by 600 thumbnail, a 1280 by 720 cover image, and a WebP website image during the same session.
Choose an Image File
Select the Choose Image Files button and choose one image from your device. Image Prep accepts common image formats such as JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, HEIF, AVIF, GIF, BMP, and TIFF when the browser can decode them.
Paste a Screenshot
If your browser provides an image file during paste, click outside text
inputs and press Command V or Control V. Text
paste is ignored by Image Prep.
Create Several Outputs from One Image
After an image is loaded, change the size preset, format, crop, rotation, zoom, or quality setting. The output preview updates automatically. Download the current version, change the settings, and download another version.
Select Clear Image only when you are finished with the current source image and want to begin again.
Chapter Three
Bulk Image Conversion and ZIP Downloads
Image Prep can resize and convert several images at the same time. Select more than one image through the Choose Image Files button. Each selected image keeps its own output size, format, crop setting, quality setting, reviewed state, rotation, and image position while it remains in the batch.
The ZIP package is created when you select Download ZIP. It contains each included image as a separate converted file.
Why Similar Image Sizes Produce Better Results
A group of images with similar dimensions and orientation will usually respond consistently to the same Fit, Fill, rotation, position, and zoom settings. A mixed group containing square, portrait, and landscape images may require different cropping decisions.
Recommended Bulk Conversion Process
- Select one representative image and confirm the output dimensions and format.
- Select the complete group of images.
- Review each thumbnail and adjust any image that needs different Fit, Fill, rotation, position, zoom, format, or quality settings.
- Mark images as Reviewed when they are ready.
- Select Download ZIP to export the full batch, or turn on Download Reviewed Only to export only reviewed images.
Download Reviewed Only is useful when a batch includes images you are still checking. It does not remove unreviewed images from the batch; it only limits which files are included in the ZIP.
Apply to All lets target size, output format, Fit or Fill, and compression changes update every loaded image. Rotation, position, and zoom remain specific to the selected image.
Reviewed confirms that the current version of an image has been checked. If an image is adjusted afterward, its status automatically returns to Needs Review.
Downloading an image does not change its Reviewed status.
After a reviewed image is downloaded, Image Prep hides it from the active work list. Use Show Completed to view it again. Editing a completed image returns it to Needs Review.
Chapter Four
JPG, PNG, and WebP Image Formats
The best output format depends on the type of image, where it will be published, and what the current browser can export. Disabled output formats are not available in this browser.
Animated GIF files are imported as still images. Image Prep uses the first frame, and animation is not preserved.
| Format | Best Use | Advantages | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPG | Photographs and general social media images | Widely supported and usually smaller than PNG | Does not preserve transparency |
| PNG | Screenshots, logos, graphics, text, and transparency | Sharp text and lossless image quality | Files can be larger than JPG or WebP |
| WebP | Website images, blog graphics, and modern web applications | Good image quality with smaller file sizes | Some publishing platforms may not accept WebP uploads |
When to Use JPG
JPG is a practical choice for photographs, product covers, profile images, and social media posts. It offers broad compatibility and reasonable file sizes.
When to Use PNG
PNG is recommended for screenshots, user interface images, logos, diagrams, illustrations, and images containing text. PNG is also the preferred choice when transparency must be preserved.
When to Use WebP
WebP is a strong choice for websites, blogs, online portfolios, and web applications. It can reduce image file size while maintaining useful visual quality, which can improve page loading performance.
Chapter Five
Browser and Format Support
Image Prep runs entirely in your browser. Images are not uploaded during normal conversion. Your browser and operating system determine which image formats can be imported, rendered, exported, selected, and downloaded.
Browser support varies. A browser may be able to display a format but not create that same format as an output file. Disabled output formats are unavailable in the current browser, and Image Prep never silently changes the selected output format.
Some photo-library apps provide compatibility copies or reduced-resolution previews instead of the source-library master file. Image Prep processes the image actually supplied to the browser and cannot restore pixels, resolution, or image data it did not receive. For maximum quality, use Choose Image Files or drag files directly from Finder or File Explorer.
Chapter Six
Understanding Target Size Presets and Aspect Ratios
Target Size provides common dimensions and platform-specific output sizes in one menu. Each preset displays the pixel dimensions and, where appropriate, the image aspect ratio.
Selecting a Target Size automatically updates the output width and height.
Pixel dimensions describe the exact width and height of an image. Aspect ratio describes the proportional relationship between width and height.
Common Square Image Sizes
- 320 by 320 pixels, 1 to 1 ratio
- 400 by 400 pixels, 1 to 1 ratio
- 600 by 600 pixels, 1 to 1 ratio
- 1080 by 1080 pixels, 1 to 1 ratio
- 1200 by 1200 pixels, 1 to 1 ratio
Common Landscape Image Sizes
- 640 by 360 pixels, 16 to 9 ratio
- 1200 by 630 pixels, approximately 1.91 to 1
- 1280 by 720 pixels, 16 to 9 ratio
- 1500 by 500 pixels, 3 to 1 ratio
- 1584 by 396 pixels, 4 to 1 ratio
- 1600 by 900 pixels, 16 to 9 ratio
- 1920 by 1080 pixels, 16 to 9 ratio
Common Portrait Image Sizes
- 1080 by 1350 pixels, 4 to 5 ratio
- 1080 by 1920 pixels, 9 to 16 ratio
- 1000 by 1500 pixels, 2 to 3 ratio
Custom Width and Height
Select Custom when the needed dimensions are not included in the preset list. Enter the desired width and height in pixels, then review the converted preview before downloading.
Chapter Seven
Fit Versus Fill
Fit and Fill control how the source image is placed inside the selected output dimensions.
Fit
Fit keeps the complete source image visible. If the source image and output area use different aspect ratios, empty space may appear around part of the image.
Fit is useful when nothing should be cropped, such as screenshots, diagrams, product images with important edge content, or images containing text.
Fill
Fill enlarges the image until the complete output area is covered. Part of the source image may extend beyond the output frame and be cropped.
Fill is useful for cover images, banners, thumbnails, profile images, and social media graphics where an edge-to-edge result is preferred.
Chapter Eight
Rotate, Move, and Zoom the Output Image
Image Prep includes rotate, horizontal, vertical, and zoom controls. These controls help straighten and position the important part of an image inside the selected output dimensions.
Rotate
Use Rotate to straighten a slightly tilted image or add a small angle before download. Rotation supports adjustments from -45° to +45° and works with Fit, Fill, crop, position, zoom, and resize.
Move Left or Right
Use the horizontal control to move the image toward the left or right side of the output frame. This is useful when the main subject is not centered.
Move Up or Down
Use the vertical control to move the image higher or lower within the output frame. This is useful for portraits, screenshots, product images, and banners.
Zoom
Use Zoom to enlarge or reduce the source image within the output frame. Zooming in can remove unwanted edges. Zooming out can reveal more of the source image.
Reset Position
Use Reset Position to return rotation, horizontal, vertical, and zoom controls to their default values.
Chapter Nine
Image Quality and File Size
The quality control affects JPG and WebP compression. Higher quality settings generally preserve more image detail but create larger files. Lower quality settings may create smaller files but can introduce visible compression.
Recommended Quality Settings
- 85 to 92 for product images, covers, and professional photographs
- 75 to 85 for general website images and blog graphics
- 65 to 80 for smaller thumbnails where file size matters more
PNG uses a different compression method and is commonly selected for sharp graphics, screenshots, logos, and transparency.
PNG is lossless in Image Prep, so the compression control is inactive when PNG is selected. Re-encoding can sometimes create a larger file, especially when dimensions increase or PNG is selected.
Review the Conversion Summary
Image Prep displays the imported dimensions and file size beside the output dimensions and file size. It also shows the percentage reduction when the converted output is smaller than the imported file.
Imported describes the image actually received by the browser. That may be the original file, a compatibility copy, or a preview image supplied by another application.
A smaller file does not always mean a better image. Review text, logos, faces, gradients, and fine details before publishing.
Chapter Ten
How to Optimize Images for Websites and Blogs
Website image optimization can improve page loading speed, reduce bandwidth use, and provide a better experience for visitors on mobile devices and slower connections.
Choose the Correct Dimensions
Avoid publishing an image much larger than the space where it will be displayed. A 4000 pixel image is usually unnecessary when the website displays it at 1200 pixels wide.
Use WebP When Supported
WebP often provides smaller files than comparable JPG or PNG images. This makes it useful for website covers, article images, product images, thumbnails, screenshots, and interface graphics.
Keep Source Files
Keep a copy of your source image before resizing or converting it. Image Prep can only preserve the exact file it receives from your browser.
Original Dimensions
Original Dimensions preserves the imported image width and height. It does not necessarily preserve the imported file bytes unless the selected format matches the imported format and no crop, zoom, or position change is applied.
Use Descriptive File Names
Rename exported images with short, descriptive words before uploading them to a website. For example:
image-prep-webp-converter.webp
Descriptive file names can help organize website assets and provide search engines with additional context.
Add Useful Alternative Text
When publishing an image on a website, add alternative text that clearly describes the image. Alternative text improves accessibility and helps search engines understand the image content.
Chapter Twelve
Marketplace Image Sizes
Image Prep includes common dimensions used for marketplace product thumbnails, product images, hero images, store banners, and seller avatars.
Marketplace recommendations may change over time. Confirm current requirements before publishing important product assets.
| Marketplace Image | Recommended Size | Ratio | Suggested Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seller avatar | 400 by 400 pixels | 1 to 1 | JPG or PNG |
| Product thumbnail | 600 by 600 pixels | 1 to 1 | JPG or PNG |
| Product hero | 1920 by 1080 pixels | 16 to 9 | JPG or PNG |
Chapter Thirteen
Image Resizing and Conversion Troubleshooting
The Browser Cannot Export a Format
Image Prep checks which output formats this browser can create. If a format is disabled, choose one of the available formats. Image Prep does not silently change the selected output format.
The Image Has Empty Space Around It
The Fit setting keeps the complete source image visible and may leave unused space when the source and output aspect ratios are different. Select Fill if the image should cover the complete output frame.
The Image Is Cropped
Fill may crop part of the source image. Use the horizontal, vertical, and zoom controls to reposition the crop. Select Fit if the entire source image must remain visible.
The Image Looks Blurry
Avoid enlarging a small source image far beyond its original dimensions. Use a larger original image, increase the quality setting, or choose output dimensions closer to the source image size.
The Output File Is Larger Than the Imported File
The output can become larger when the selected dimensions exceed the imported dimensions, when PNG is selected, or when a high-quality setting is used. Choose smaller dimensions or an available compressed output format to reduce file size.
The Image or Batch Is Too Large
Image Prep uses browser-safe limits for file count, individual source image megapixels, total selected source file size, export canvas size, and ZIP size. Very large images or batches may be rejected to avoid freezing the tab.
Bulk Images Are Cropped Differently
Images with different sizes, orientations, and aspect ratios may react differently to crop and size choices. Select each thumbnail and adjust the per-image settings before creating a ZIP.
Browser-Safe Dimensions
Some images have dimensions that exceed what a browser can safely process. When that happens, Image Prep may offer Browser-Safe Dimensions.
The suggested dimensions reduce width and height while preserving the image's aspect ratio. Selecting the option updates the dimensions and retries the conversion automatically. This changes image dimensions, not necessarily file size, and PNG output may still be larger than the original because PNG is lossless.
Common Runtime Messages
| Message | Why it happened | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| This browser cannot decode HEIC images. | The selected file was provided, but the current browser could not open that format for conversion. | Try another browser or convert the file to an available format first. |
| WebP export is not available in this browser. | The browser can run Image Prep, but it cannot create WebP output files. | Choose an available output format. |
| This browser cannot export WebP. | The browser did not create a valid WebP file during export. | Choose JPG or PNG if they are available. |
| Enter valid output dimensions. | The width or height is missing, zero, or invalid. | Enter a positive width and height in pixels. |
| This image's dimensions exceed what your browser can safely process. | The requested output dimensions exceed what the browser can safely process. | Reduce the image dimensions, or use Browser-Safe Dimensions when offered. |
| Select 50 images or fewer at a time. | The selected batch is larger than Image Prep's browser-safe file count. | Select fewer images, then process the rest separately. |
| This ZIP would exceed the browser-safe limit. | The converted batch would create a ZIP that is too large to build safely in the browser. | Reduce dimensions, lower quality, or export fewer images at once. |
Chapter Fourteen
Frequently Asked Questions
What image formats does Image Prep support?
Image Prep accepts common image formats such as JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, HEIF, AVIF, GIF, BMP, and TIFF when the browser can decode them. Completed images can be exported as JPG, PNG, or WebP formats available in your browser.
What is the best image format for a website?
WebP is often a strong choice for modern websites when it is available in your browser because it can provide good image quality with a smaller file size. JPG remains useful for photographs, and PNG is useful for screenshots, graphics, text, and transparency.
Why is WebP unavailable or disabled?
WebP is available only when the current browser can verify and create WebP output files.
Why did my image become smaller when I dragged it from a photo library?
Some photo-management apps provide a preview or compatibility copy when dragging or copying. Image Prep processes the image the browser receives, so use Choose Image Files or drag from a folder when you need the best available quality.
Why is my downloaded image larger than the original?
Downloaded images can be larger when the output dimensions are larger, PNG is selected, or a higher quality setting is used. Re-encoding does not always make a file smaller, so review the output size before publishing.
What is the best image format for social media?
JPG is a safe choice for photographs and general posts. PNG is useful for logos, screenshots, graphics, and images containing text.
Does Image Prep upload my images?
Images are processed locally within your browser during normal conversion and are not uploaded to GetSkipa servers as part of the conversion process.
Why should I test one image before bulk conversion?
Testing one image confirms that the selected dimensions, format, crop, rotation, zoom, position, and quality are appropriate before preparing a larger group.
Can Image Prep improve a low-resolution image?
Image Prep can resize an image, but increasing the dimensions does not recreate detail that was not provided by the browser. The best results begin with a clear, high-quality imported image.
Contact
Questions about Image Prep may be sent to:
GetSkipa LLC
Email:
admin@getskipa.com
Chapter Eleven
Social Media Image Sizes
Social media platforms may resize or compress uploaded images. The dimensions below are common starting points and may change over time. Confirm current requirements before publishing important campaigns.
Best Format for Social Media Images
JPG is generally the safest format for photographs and general social media posts. PNG is often better for screenshots, logos, illustrations, text, and graphics that need sharp edges.
WebP support varies by platform. Use JPG or PNG when broad upload compatibility is more important than file size.