PicShrink

Introduction
About PicShrink
Download and Installation
Working with PicShrink
Pricing and Support
Conclusion

Introduction

Pictures may speak a thousand words, but on your computer pictures can easily occupy space enough for tens of thousands of words. With hard disk costs decreasing each day, this may no longer be an issue. Frankly, pictures should ideally stay in high-resolution, unaltered mode, in case you need to print it in high-resolution. However, you really don't want to send those high-resolution images to friends or colleagues by email, or even put them on a web page where it will take forever to load up.

The solution is to compress and optimize your pictures, but compression can often be synonymous with low quality. PicShrink, the application, we’re reviewing today lets you attain a careful balance between that quality and compression.

About PicShrink

PicShrink is from TopByteLabs, a Germany-based company that creates several optimization programs including a PowerPoint file optimization software called PowerShrink. You can download a trial version of PicShrink from their site.

PicShrink compresses pictures without affecting the quality of the picture. Also, the compression can be done in a batch. The program also has some basic built-in effects like brightness, contrast, watermark, etc. and the compressed pictures can be sent through e-mail.

Our contact at PicShrink was Bronwyn Lane. Thank you, Bronwyn.

Download and Installation

Run the setup routine and follow the instructions. You'll end up with a PicShrink program group in your Windows Start menu, as shown in Figure 1, below.

Figure 1: PicShrink Start menu Group

Working with PicShrink

Follow these steps to compress pictures using PicShrink:

1. Go to your Windows Start menu and choose All Programs | PicShrink | PicShrink, as shown in Figure 1, above.
2. Doing so opens PicShrink interface, as shown in Figure 2, below.
3. 
   Figure 2: PicShrink interface
3. Add images for optimizing by selecting the given options, as shown in Figure 3, below.
4. 
   Figure 3: Add pictures
5. You can add images in three ways: a single file, multiple files, and the entire folder for batch optimizing.
4. When the images are added, the PicShrink interface looks similar to the screenshot, as shown in Figure 4, below.
5. 
   Figure 4: PicShrink Interface
6. The PicShrink interface is explained below:

1. Resize

7. Resize allows you to set the output size for the picture(s) you want to optimize.

2. Output Format

8. Output Format lets you choose your output file format, such as JPEG, PNG, etc. A dialler lets you select a compression level.

3. Enabled

9. This area allows you to see what effects are applied. You can also open, save, and reset profiles.

4. Preview

10. Preview is divided into two areas: original and optimized. The bottom of the preview area lets you compare the original and optimized sizes.

5. Add Files

11. Add Files, as shown in Figure 3, above, allows you to add files.

6. Effects

12. Effects lets you apply effects like watermark, flip and rotate, and other basic effects.

7. Search

13. Search allows you to search the image on your computer, and E-mail lets you send the optimized picture(s) by e-mail.
5. When all the tweaks are done, click the Shrink button, as shown in Figure 5, below.
6. 
   Figure 5: Shrink
6. Doing so brings up the Shrink File To dialog box, as shown in Figure 6, below. Select the destination folder where you want to save the optimized picture(s) and click the Shrink button.
7. 
   Figure 6: Shrink Files To
7. Depending upon the settings, the application will compress the images and show the changes in the next window, as shown in Figure 7, below.
8. 
   Figure 7: Optimized Image
9. In this window, you can see a number of images optimized, old size, new size, saved space, and reduction percentage of the image. The other options are to open the folder containing the optimized image, e-mailing the images, and saving the profile.

Pricing and Support

PicShrink costs $29.95 and is available for online purchase through secure server.

Support is through email only.

Conclusion

For optimizing and compressing pictures, PicShrink is a great solution. The price:performance ratio is good. We just wish they had more support options such as a knowledge base and/or an online FAQ.