ImageForge
Download for Mac
Documentation

Get the most out of ImageForge

Everything from your first drop to scripting batches from the terminal. Jump to a section, or read straight through.

Getting startedOutput modesProfilesMetadata & privacyConvertAutomationShortcutsTroubleshooting

Getting started

Install ImageForge from the Mac App Store, then drop images or folders onto the window — or use ⌘O to choose files. Each file is rewritten smaller, losslessly by default, and you'll see exactly how much you saved. That's the whole loop.

Output modes

Decide what happens to your originals — set a default in Preferences or change it per-batch from the toolbar.

Overwrite in placeReplace originals directly, with an optional confirm before overwriting.
Keep a copy (-min)Write a compressed sibling with a -min suffix; originals untouched.
Output to folderSend all results to a folder you choose, preserving names.
Convert to formatRe-encode to a target format with clear naming.

Profiles & per-format settings

A profile bundles per-format settings under one name. Free ships three read-only presets — Lossless, Web light and Social. Pro unlocks the editor so you can tune PNG, JPEG, WebP, AVIF, GIF and SVG individually, then export the profile to share it.

Metadata & privacy

By default ImageForge strips EXIF and GPS to protect privacy and trim bytes, while preserving the color profile, orientation and copyright. Everything runs on-device — no image ever leaves your Mac.

Convert between formats

Switch the output mode to Convert, choose a target format, and ImageForge re-encodes the dropped set — clearly flagging when a conversion is lossy versus lossless.

Automation

Start a compression four ways: the window, the Dock icon, the Finder Services menu, and the Pro menu-bar item. Pro watch folders compress files automatically the moment they're saved.

Keyboard shortcuts

Open files⌘O
Convert sheet⌘K
Open Preferences⌘,
Cancel batch⌘.
Show in Finder⌘R
Clear list⌘⌫

Troubleshooting

A file says "already optimal".

It was already as small as it can get losslessly — nothing was changed, which is the safe outcome.

A file errored with "unsupported color profile".

Some exotic ICC profiles can’t be re-embedded. Convert the profile, or turn off "preserve color profile" for that batch.

AVIF/HEIC output is greyed out.

Modern output formats are a Pro feature. Start the 7-day trial or unlock Pro to enable them.

Still stuck?
We're happy to help — reach out and we'll get you sorted.
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