RIOT

Pros

• A free tool for advanced image processing
• Displays image quality before you compress files
• Can perform batch image format conversions

Cons

• The software is supported by a single developer

RIOT is a free image optimization tool that helps you find the right compression settings while maintaining the quality you desire.

Released by Lucian Sabo, the Radical Image Optimization Tool (RIOT) is a program that can function standalone or as a plugin for other programs such as GIMP or XnView. It's designed for converting large image files to smaller ones with the exact settings you need. RIOT is a handy tool for efficiently minimizing the size of image files when you're managing a large collection.

RIOT imports bitmap images, Adobe Photoshop PSD files, RAW and HDR photo files, and other lesser known scientific or technical formats that use up to 128 bits per pixel. This makes it ideal for saving large image files to lightweight formats like PNG, JPG, or GIF. RIOT's streamlined and straightforward interface makes the task of converting files less time consuming. It displays what the image will look like after converting or compressing it, so you won't have to save it multiple times to achieve the right level of quality.

A simple interface doesn't mean a lack of features, though. RIOT can work in single or dual view to display the output image or a before-and-after comparison. You can also superimpose the before and after images to detect subtle pixel changes. It supports batch processing to make optimizing large archives quick and efficient. The file conversions tasks are all performed in memory for better performance.

The program also includes many basic settings, features, and tools you'd expect from image processing software. It allows you to manage transparencies, keep or discard meta data, adjust an image's brightness, gamma, and contrast, or invert its colors. There's also zoom, pan, flip, and rotate tools available. RIOT gives you full control over the number of colors to include in smaller formats like GIF or PNG.

RIOT is a great tool for amateurs and advanced users who need to process large format files into lightweight conversions for storage or use on websites.

Pros

• A free tool for advanced image processing
• Displays image quality before you compress files
• Can perform batch image format conversions

Cons

• The software is supported by a single developer