HoldMyTwist

Search HoldMyTwist

10 everyday tasks you can do with free browser tools

Compress, resize and export pictures, sketch a diagram and check colour contrast with free browser tools. Includes steps, screenshots and limits.

HoldMyTwist · 4 min read

A browser window with scissors, a magnifier, a calculator, a ruler and a globe floating out of it

A quick picture edit should not need a subscription. These ten jobs use free browser tools, with steps from their documentation and selected examples.

The screenshots show Squoosh's built-in sample, a fictional Photopea poster, a one-step diagram and a colour check. Keep your original files. The demonstrated image edits run locally; optional cloud and AI features can handle data differently.

1. Make a photo smaller with Squoosh

  1. Open Squoosh (opens in a new tab) and select your picture, or choose Large photo to practise.
  2. Choose MozJPEG on the right. Move the divider across important details and adjust Quality.
  3. Read the new file size before selecting the right-hand Download icon.

The sample displayed 2.79 MB before compression and 862 kB at quality 75. Your result depends on the picture. Check small text and edges for damage.

Squoosh sample showing the original size of 2.79 MB and compressed size of 862 kB

Squoosh sample showing the original size of 2.79 MB and compressed size of 862 kB
Open full-size image


2. Resize a picture to a specific width

  1. In Squoosh, turn on Resize and leave Maintain aspect ratio checked.
  2. Enter the required Width. Check that the calculated height suits your destination.

Our sample changed from 3872 × 2592 pixels to 1200 × 803. Pixel dimensions describe the picture’s width and height; file size measures the data it takes to store it.

Squoosh resize settings showing width 1200, height 803 and Maintain aspect ratio enabled

Squoosh resize settings showing width 1200, height 803 and Maintain aspect ratio enabled
Open full-size image

3. Convert a picture to another format

  1. Open the image in Squoosh.
  2. Choose the required format in the right-hand Compress menu, then download that side.

Check which formats the receiving app accepts first. Changing a filename ending does not convert the image.

4. Crop unwanted edges in Photopea

  1. Open Photopea (opens in a new tab), choose Start using Photopea, then File → Open.
  2. Select Crop Tool, draw the area to keep and confirm it in the top bar.

These crop steps follow Photopea's documentation. Inspect all four edges before exporting.

5. Rotate a sideways image

  1. With the file open in Photopea, choose Image → Transform.
  2. Select the rotation you need and check that the subject faces the right way.

Save an exported copy so you can return to the original.

Watch out

Keep your original and save an editable copy when you need layers or diagram shapes. Export a separate file for sharing, then reopen it to check the result. A correct-looking browser preview does not prove the downloaded file is right.

6. Add a label to a picture

  1. Choose Type Tool in Photopea. Click the image and type your label.
  2. Use the top-bar Confirm control to finish editing the text.

Keep a PSD copy if you want to edit that text layer later.

Photopea showing a fictional DEMO WORKSHOP text layer and a separate Background layer

Photopea showing a fictional DEMO WORKSHOP text layer and a separate Background layer
Open full-size image

7. Export an image for sharing

  1. In Photopea, choose File → Export as → PNG, or the format your destination requests.
  2. Check Format, Width and Height in Save for web, then select Save.

Reopen the exported file and check it. A PNG export does not preserve editable text layers.

Photopea Save for web dialog with PNG selected and a fictional poster preview

Photopea Save for web dialog with PNG selected and a fictional poster preview
Open full-size image

8. Sketch a process with draw.io

  1. Open draw.io (opens in a new tab) and expand General in the shape palette.
  2. Click a rectangle. Double-click it to type one action, such as "Print handouts".
  3. Add a shape for the next action and connect the shapes.

Start with the steps you actually do.

9. Keep an editable diagram copy

  1. In draw.io, choose File → Save as.
  2. Keep XML File (.drawio) as the type and choose Download under Where.
  3. Confirm the dialog, then check your browser's downloads.

The screenshot shows the prepared save dialog. Keep this editable file alongside any PNG you export.

draw.io save dialog showing demo-flow.drawio, XML File and Download as the destination

draw.io save dialog showing demo-flow.drawio, XML File and Download as the destination
Open full-size image

10. Check whether text colours have enough contrast

  1. Open WebAIM's Contrast Checker (opens in a new tab).
  2. Enter the foreground and background hex colours, then read Normal Text and Large Text.

Our navy and warm-white example (opens in a new tab) displayed 14.46:1. A colour result does not establish that a whole document or website is accessible.

WebAIM colour check for 13263D and FFF8E8 showing a contrast ratio of 14.46 to 1

WebAIM colour check for 13263D and FFF8E8 showing a contrast ratio of 14.46 to 1
Open full-size image

Cropped screenshot ©2026 WebAIM, reproduced with credit under its terms of use (opens in a new tab).

If an edit does not look right

Reopen the original and change one setting at a time. Check the exported file in the app where you will use it.

Sources: Squoosh and privacy (opens in a new tab); Photopea's image size and crop (opens in a new tab), text (opens in a new tab) and open and save (opens in a new tab) instructions; draw.io formats (opens in a new tab); WebAIM (opens in a new tab).

Share this guide

From holdmytwist.com/guides/free-browser-tools-everyday-tasks/