PNGGauntlet is a free, open-source Windows application that achieves maximum lossless compression on PNG files by combining three powerful optimization engines: PNGOUT, OptiPNG, and DeflOpt. Because it is strictly lossless, it removes unnecessary metadata, optimizes color palettes, and refines low-level compression filters without losing a single pixel of image quality. Here is how you can use it to shrink your images: Step-by-Step Compression Guide
Download and Install: Ensure you have the Microsoft .NET framework installed, then download the software from the official PNGGauntlet website.
Set Output Directory: Click the three dots in the top right corner to select a destination folder (e.g., a “Compressed” folder on your desktop).
Tip: You can overwrite original files, but choosing a separate folder lets you compare file sizes safely.
Add Your Files: Drag and drop your images directly into the main window, or click Add Images. You can add PNGs, JPEGs, GIFs, TIFFs, or BMPs—PNGGauntlet will automatically convert non-PNG files into optimized PNG format.
Optimize: Click the Optimize! button. The app processes files in a parallel batch mode to tackle multiple images simultaneously.
Review Results: Once the progress bar fills, the interface displays the original file size, the new file size, and the percentage of space saved. Critical Configuration Settings To tweak how the program runs, navigate to Tools > Options:
Quality vs. Speed: PNGGauntlet runs multiple compression trials to find the absolute smallest size. This makes it highly effective but slow. If it takes too long on your system, you can disable the preference to compress multiple files at once.
Format Overrides: By default, if converting a JPEG to a PNG results in a larger file size, the app leaves it in its original format. Check “Always convert files to PNG even if it would make them larger” in the options menu if you strictly need a PNG output.
If you would like, I can help you decide if lossless compression is the right choice for your specific project, or recommend alternative tools if you are working on a Mac or Linux system. What kind of images are you looking to optimize? PNGGauntlet – PNG Compression Software | BenHollis.net