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How to Reduce Token Usage with Image Optimisation in AI Tools

As Large Language Models (LLMs) become more advanced, many platforms now allow you to upload images alongside text prompts. From screenshots in coding tools to diagrams in research workflows, visuals help AI understand your intent more clearly. But there’s a hidden cost: token usage.

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Woman using laptop, text overlay: Reduce token usage with smarter image optimisation. LLM Image Optimizer. Make every token count.

Why Tokens Matter in AI Workflows

LLMs don’t process images in the same way humans do. When you upload an image, the platform has to convert it into a format that the model can understand — usually breaking it down into tokens.

The larger and more complex the image, the more tokens it consumes. Since most AI tools charge based on token usage, that uncompressed screenshot you drag into ChatGPT or Claude could be quietly inflating your bill.

The Impact of Unoptimised Images

  • Bigger file sizes = more tokens
  • Unnecessary background noise adds complexity for the AI to interpret
  • Slow uploads waste time in fast-paced workflows
  • Storage bloat makes managing projects harder

In other words, every oversized pixel costs you money and efficiency.

How Image Optimisation Saves Tokens

The solution is simple: optimise before you upload. By resizing, compressing, and cropping your images, you give the AI exactly what it needs without excess.

Here’s what happens when you optimise:

  • Compression reduces file size, lowering token count
  • Cropping removes irrelevant content, giving AI cleaner context
  • Resizing keeps dimensions readable but lightweight
  • Metadata stripping removes hidden data that adds bulk

The result? Faster processing, lower costs, and better AI responses.

Real-World Example

Imagine you upload a raw 5 MB screenshot to a coding assistant.

  • At full size, the AI might break it into thousands of tokens, costing you extra.
  • After optimisation, that same screenshot might shrink to under 500 KB, with fewer tokens and faster results — all without losing readability.

Optimising Without the Hassle

Doing this manually is possible — crop, resize, compress, repeat — but it’s tedious and time-consuming. That’s why we built LLM Image Optimizer.

With it, you can:

  • Automatically compress images to AI-friendly sizes
  • Batch process entire sets of screenshots
  • Use built-in screen capture to optimise instantly
  • Add watermarking for protection if sharing assets
  • Keep everything lightweight, fast, and AI-ready

Final Thoughts

If you’re serious about AI productivity, image optimisation is the fastest way to reduce token usage and cut costs.

Instead of paying extra for bloated files, streamline your workflow with LLM Image Optimizer — and make every token count.