How to compress an image to 20 KB
- Drop your photo or signature scan into the box, or choose the file.
- The limit is already set to 20 KB. Pick JPG under Format if the form only accepts JPG or JPEG.
- Check the preview, then download the file. Its size shows next to the preview.
Why forms ask for 20 KB
Some online application forms, often for exams, scholarships and government jobs, set a very small limit for the photo and the signature so that thousands of applications stay quick to store and review. 20 KB is a common figure for the signature and sometimes for the photo too.
A modern phone photo is several megabytes, so getting down to 20 KB takes more than a lower quality setting. The tool first tries the highest quality at full size, then lowers the quality, and if the image is still too heavy it reduces the pixel size in steps until it fits. The result is the sharpest version that stays under the limit.
Getting the best result
Crop first. A photo with lots of background spends its 20 KB on the background. Cropping to the head and shoulders, or tightly around a signature, puts all of it into the part that matters. The crop tool does this in your browser.
If the form gives exact pixel sizes as well, such as 200 × 230, resize to those first with resize image, then compress here. A smaller picture needs less compression and looks cleaner at the same file size.