How do I convert images from .bmp to .jpg without losing the image quality?

Question

I'm trying to convert .bmp to .jpg with a good image quality but Paint won't let me. What can I do?

Answer 1

While technically it is impossible to save as a JPEG with no quality loss, you can save it with a low compression ratio which will give an image that is compressed so little that you will NOT be able to tell a difference. Paint always gives horrible results. Eric was right; IrfanView is a wonderful program; I've been using it for years and highly recommend it. It's small, fast and lightweight, the way it should be :) Here's where you download it: http://www.download.com/IrfanView/3000-2192-10021962.html?part=dl-IrfanView&subj=dl&tag=button Save it, and when it's done install the program and during the installation when you get the option press the "Images Only" button, and don't install the Google Toolbar. When it's installed, double-click the BMP you want to convert, then simply click File>Save As and make sure you save as JPG, and move the slider to 100%.

Answer 2

A bitmap(bmp) maps every single pixel of an image, while a jpg is a compressed format which does not map every point and therefore loses a lot of color and quality. You cannot change the fact it is altered, even an image originally saved as a jpg will do the same, that is the entire point of the format.

Answer 3

It is clear to me that converting an image from .bmp format to whatever lossy (.jpg etc.) format results in an image of a lesser quality. What I do not understand is why a simple .bmp image (a red square on a yellow background, so only two different colors and well defined shapes and shape boundaries) is messed up when it is converted to .jpg. Why blurred shape boundaries? Why pixels in colors that were not there in the original image? The converting algorithms seem not to be able to cope with simple shapes.

Answer 4

You will always lose some quality with JPG because its a lossy compression format, meaning it discards bits of the file to make it smaller. This is compared to BMP which is uncompressed, and so doesn't lose any quality.

HOWEVER, you can chose the quality of a jpeg file when you save it (but paint doesn't offer this option).

Download a free image editor like Paint.net or the GIMP and you'll be able to chose the JPEG quality when you save...

Answer 5

As a precursor comment, JPG is a lossy (not lousy) format, so by definition, your request is impossible.

That being said, use Irfanview to convert BMP to JPG.

It is a free program; wonderful thing! Google for it.

You can adjust the JPG compression (read: quality) within the menus to give you the balance between size and quality that you desire.

Answer 6

Converting between any formats causes a loss in quality. Each time you save an image, its quality is decreased.

Answer 7

You can't.

BMPs are uncompressed, while JPGs are compressed (lossy) files. The tradeoff for smaller file size is the loss of a small amount of detail (depending on the compression ratio).

Answer 8

Interesting question!