RIOT

Digital images can be difficult to upload or post on forums is they are too large. Reducing their size may solve this issue, but it automatically reduces their quality as well. With RIOT, you can find the perfect balance between size and quality. This lightweight application allows you to make a series of adjustments and tweaks on your images and preview the results in real time. Its entire functionality is straightforward and you will not encounter any difficulties while optimizing your images.

The application's setup file is only 1.70 MB and it takes only a few seconds to install its components on your computer. RIOT is offered free of charge and you can use it on Windows 2000 or any later version. It does not ask for additional tools and you won't have to restart your computer, after installing the application.

RIOT allows you to process images individually or in batch mode. If you decide to process your pictures one by one, you will have more controls at your disposal, as well as a side by side comparison of the original and optimized images. Once you load an image, the application will offer to resize it right away. The compared images will appear in separate panels and you can make a series of adjustments, on separate tabs, in the lower region of the interface.

The application places several optimization tools at your disposal. You can increase or decrease the picture's quality, set a high, medium or low chroma subsampling, choose a different encoding method, like standard optimization or progressive. It is also possible to remove the image file's metadata. RIOT can clear a picture's IPTC, XMP and EXIF information, comments and ICC profiles. You can also make a few visual adjustments, like increasing or decreasing the brightness, contrast and gamma levels, inverting the colors or setting the picture to greyscale.

If you wish to optimize more than one image in a single run, you can switch to batch mode, by clicking the appropriate option, on the application's toolbar. Once you go to batch mode, you just need to load a number of images and add one or more tasks. Added tasks appear on the left side of the window, where you can reconfigure them.