Image to Low-Res Data URI Converter

Generate extremely low-resolution image data URIs, perfect for use as placeholders in progressive image loading (like the "blur-up" effect!).

Simply upload an image, and this tool will automatically scale it down to a tiny size. You can adjust the target dimensions and quality below.

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Mastering the "Blur-Up" Effect

Have you ever visited a modern website (like Medium or Unsplash) and noticed how images appear instantly as blurry blobs before snapping into full focus? This is known as the Blur-Up Technique or Progressive Image Loading.

Why Use Low-Res Placeholders?

Images are often the heaviest parts of a webpage. If you wait for a 2MB hero image to download, your user stares at a blank white space, which increases bounce rates and hurts your Core Web Vitals (specifically Largest Contentful Paint, or LCP).

By using a Low-Quality Image Placeholder (LQIP), you can:

  • Improve Perceived Performance: The user sees content immediately, even on slow 3G networks.
  • Prevent Layout Shift: The placeholder reserves the correct space, preventing the page from "jumping" when the full image loads.
  • Add Visual Flair: A smooth transition from a blurry abstract version to the sharp original feels premium.

How to Use This Tool

This tool creates the perfect LQIP for you. Here is the workflow:

  1. Upload your high-resolution original image.
  2. The tool automatically resizes it to a tiny dimension (e.g., 20x20 pixels).
  3. It converts this tiny image into a Base64 Data URI string.
  4. Copy this string!

Integration Example (Next.js)

If you are using the next/image component, you can use the generated string directly in the blurDataURL prop:

<Image
  src="/my-high-res-image.jpg"
  alt="Beautiful View"
  placeholder="blur"
  blurDataURL="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRg..." // Paste your string here!
/>

Pro Tip

Keep your placeholder tiny! A target width of 10px to 20px is usually sufficient. The browser will upscale and blur it effectively. Larger placeholders defeat the purpose by increasing the HTML size.