Imagine is a free and open-source photography tool that was created by indie developer, Berton Zhu. It is an image optimizer that helps users compress their PNG, JPEG, and WebP image files. This cross-platform tool features a modern graphical user interface, making it easy to use even for beginners.

Compared to other image optimization tools, such as Ashampoo Photo Optimizer or Gumlet, Imagine is a no-cost alternative that supports multiple formats, allows for file conversions, and can process and optimize images in batches. Additionally, it has a portable option that does not require any installation to use.

How do I use Imagine?

Imagine features a user interface with a clean and modern design. Click on the Add button to choose an image or you can alternatively drag-and-drop your images—or folders for batch processing—onto it. Once added, photos are displayed as thumbnails, showing you their format and file sizes. A quality adjustment slider is also present to help you with image compression.

Adjust the quality by dragging the slider. It shows how much reduction in size is made and a percentage to represent it. You can also convert them to either PNG, JPEG, or even WebP. Click on the green dot icon to get a larger preview of the image, complete with handy before and after buttons to see the change in quality after compression.

Lastly, you can adjust global settings for color and image quality when you click on the icon at the top-left corner of the main window. Imagine offers enough features to let you control the quality and size of your images easily. Do note that it doesn't allow you to set a global setting for file formats, hence, you'll need to do that manually.

A great tool for batch image compressions

Overall, Imagine is great for those who are looking for a tool to be able to compress image files easily. The ability to process images in batches saves you time, and the file conversion option is a welcome addition. It's easy-to-use, looks great, and is completely free. Highly recommended.