500 KB / 1 MB

Fit photos under 500 KB or 1 MB: checks and settings

A guide by Pichn

If an attachment is too large, check its format and the destination's requirements as well as its dimensions. Pichn can apply a per-image size limit while converting to a different format. It does not reduce a file while keeping the input format.

Check three separate requirements

Format: the destination's accepted file types.
File size: a per-image limit or a total attachment limit.
Dimensions: width, height or aspect ratio requirements.

A 1 MB limit and a 1,000px limit are different: one measures file size and the other image dimensions. Multiple images can each meet a per-file limit but still exceed a total attachment limit.

Set the limit in Pichn

Choose the original format from the menu.
Select Fit a file size limit and choose a different output accepted by the destination.
Select 500 KB, 1 MB or a custom value.
After conversion, check both the size-limit result and the actual dimensions.

Pichn treats 500 KB as 500,000 bytes and 1 MB as 1,000,000 bytes. For a strict destination limit, leave some margin to accommodate display rounding or different conventions.

Dimensions may change too

For JPEG and WebP outputs, Pichn adjusts quality and then reduces dimensions if necessary. For PNG, it uses resizing rather than the quality slider. A file size limit can therefore produce dimensions smaller than those requested. Small source images are never enlarged.

Inspect the saved copy

Open the saved image and check important text or facial detail. If the result is no longer useful, check whether the destination allows a larger limit or try another accepted output. Keep the original instead of overwriting it with a reduced copy.

Warnings and ZIP downloads

Results that miss the limit show a warning. They can still be saved and included in ZIP, so a successful download does not mean the requirement was met. ZIP groups files; it does not satisfy an individual image's attachment requirements. Processing stops before retained results exceed 100 MB. Save completed images, then process the remainder separately.

Convert an image to a different format

Open the converter