How to Zip JPG Files
By Dan Howard
A ZIP file is an archive that stores any number of individual files in a single file. ZIP files are extremely efficient because they compress the size of the original files into a smaller aggregate size. They're also great for keeping whole libraries of picture files, such as JPG files, backed up and readily portable. ZIP your JPGs no matter which operating system you use, as ZIP is supported by Windows, Macintosh, and Unix-based operating systems.
Windows
Step 1
Open the folder that contains the JPG files that you would like to ZIP.
Step 2
Highlight all of the JPG files that you'd like to add to the ZIP file with your mouse. Alternately, do this step with the keyboard by clicking on the bottom file in the list, holding down the shift key and clicking on the top file in the list.
Step 3
Right-click on the selected files to open up a list of commands.
Step 4
Select "Send to" from the list of commands. This will open up a list of files and locations where you can send your JPG files.
Step 5
Select "Compressed (zipped) folder" from the list of locations. This will create a ZIP file containing all of your selected JPG files in compressed form.
Macintosh OS X
Step 1
Open the folder that contains your JPG files.
Step 2
Highlight all of the JPG files that you'd like to add to the ZIP file with your mouse. Or click on the bottom file in the list, hold down the shift key and click on the top file in the list.
Step 3
Hold down the command key and click on your highlighted JPG files. This will open a menu of commands.
Step 4
Select "Creative Archive" from the list of commands. This will create a new ZIP file named Archive.zip that contains all of the selected JPG files.
UNIX
Step 1
Navigate to the directory that contains the JPG files you want to archive.
Step 2
Type "zip filename *.jpg" at the command prompt, where "filename" is the name that you'd like to give your ZIP file. This command will place all JPG files in the current directory into the new ZIP file.
Step 3
Type "zip -r filename *.jpg" to include files from multiple subdirectories. This command will create a ZIP file containing all JPGs in the current directory and all subdirectories.
References
Tips
- If you'd like to use fancier ZIP software, download WinZip for Windows, MacZip for Macintosh, or Pkunzip for UNIX and DOS (see "Resources" for links).
Writer Bio
Dan Howard is a sports and fitness aficionado who holds a master's degree in psychology. Howard's postgraduate research on the brain and learning has appeared in several academic books and peer-reviewed psychology journals.