Draft:Tinify (TinyPNG)

Tinify, also known as TinyPNG, is a web-based service, application programming interface (API), and Content Delivery Network (CDN) company that provides image optimization. It was created to help web developers and designers reduce the file size of their images without significant loss of quality, thereby improving website performance and loading times.

History
TinyPNG was founded in 2012 by internet solution provider Voormedia, after struggling with creating a website that contained big PNG files, causing slow loading times. As a result, they developed an online image compression tool and made it available on the internet. The company “TinyPNG” was founded a year later, once the service became popular among web developers and designers for its simple and effective image compression capabilities. The brand's mascot is a panda named George, which reflects the founders' secret obsession with the animal.

The solution was initially offered for free, providing only PNG online compression. Later on, they developed their first API and expanded to include JPEGs in 2014. The WordPress plugin was made available in 2015.

In 2017, TinyPNG rebranded as Tinify to signify its broader focus on image optimization beyond just the PNG format. In 2019, they introduced Tinify CDN, a multi-Content Delivery Network for images. The platform now supports compression for both PNG and JPEG images, as well as the next-generation format WebP.

In 2023, Tinify introduced an image converter solution, which is accessible through their website and API.

Image optimization and compression techniques
TinyPNG is a tool that reduces the file size of WebP, JPEG, and PNG files to improve web performance without compromising quality. The compression engine analyzes each image's content to determine the best compression levels for optimal results.

TinyPNG's intelligent algorithm determines the optimal compression levels for each image, taking into account factors like colors, textures, and patterns. For this, they employ lossy compression techniques to decrease the size of images. One of them is called "quantization", which decreases the number of colors in images by converting 24-bit PNG files into 8-bit indexed color images. This process helps achieve significant file size reductions while maintaining transparency support. Additionally, metadata is typically removed. As a result, the compressed images keep their visual appeal and are suitable for web use, without requiring users to select from various settings.

Usage and reception
Tinify is widely used by web developers, designers, and businesses around the world to optimize their images for websites, mobile apps, and other digital platforms. Tinify has received positive reviews for its ability to significantly reduce image file sizes while maintaining visual quality. Users appreciate its simplicity, reliability, and the time-saving benefits it provides for website optimization