macOS Automation: Auto-Compress with Folder Monitoring

Set up automatic image compression on macOS with Zipic's folder monitoring. Auto-compress screenshots, downloads, and design exports as they appear.

The most effective image compression is the kind you never have to think about. Zipic’s folder monitoring watches directories you specify and automatically compresses any new image that appears — no manual steps required.

Here’s how to set it up and build a fully automated compression pipeline on macOS.

What is Folder Monitoring?

Folder monitoring is a Zipic Pro feature that turns any directory into an auto-compression pipeline:

You add a folder to Zipic’s watch list
Zipic monitors that folder for new files
When a new image appears, Zipic compresses it automatically using your chosen preset
The compressed file replaces the original (or saves alongside, depending on your settings)

This happens in the background — you don’t need to open Zipic’s main window or interact with it at all.

Setting Up Folder Monitoring

Step 1: Open Monitoring Settings

Open Zipic → Settings → Automation section. You’ll see the folder monitoring configuration panel.

Step 2: Add a Folder

Click the ”+” button to add a directory. Navigate to the folder you want Zipic to watch.

Step 3: Configure Monitoring Depth

Set how deep Zipic should monitor:

Depth 0 — root folder only (just files directly inside)
Depth 1–5 — includes subdirectories up to the specified level

For a screenshots folder, depth 0 is usually sufficient. For a nested design assets folder, you might want depth 2-3.

Step 4: Select a Compression Preset

Choose which compression preset to apply to new files. Each monitored folder can use a different preset — screenshots might use Level 3 WebP, while design exports use Level 2 PNG.

For preset setup details, see Image Compression Basic.

Step 5: Configure Save Options

Decide where compressed files go:

Replace original — overwrite the source file
Save to subfolder — create a compressed copy in a subdirectory
Save to custom directory — output to a specific location

See Configuring Save Options for all options.

Best Use Cases

Screenshots Folder

macOS saves screenshots to ~/Desktop by default (or a custom location if you’ve changed it). Monitor this folder to auto-compress every screenshot you take.

Recommended preset: Level 3, PNG or WebP output

Screenshots are typically PNG files at 2–5MB each. Compression reduces them to 200–500KB without visible quality loss — saving gigabytes over time.

Downloads Folder

Images downloaded from the web are often unoptimized. Monitor ~/Downloads to auto-compress:

Recommended preset: Level 3, keep original format

Design Export Folder

If you export assets from Figma, Sketch, or Photoshop to a specific folder, monitor it:

Recommended preset: Level 2, WebP output, resize to 1200px wide

Every export gets compressed and converted to web-ready format automatically — ready for deployment without any manual steps.

E-Commerce Product Photos

Set up a dedicated folder for product images:

Recommended preset: Level 2-3, WebP output, resize to 1200px wide

Upload raw product photos to the folder, and Zipic delivers web-optimized versions automatically.

Beyond Folder Monitoring: Other Automation Methods

Folder monitoring is the most powerful automation, but Zipic Pro offers several other approaches:

Notch Drop

Drag files toward the MacBook screen notch — a drop zone appears. Release to compress instantly.

Clipboard Auto-Compress

Copy any image to the clipboard and Zipic compresses it automatically. Great for screenshots captured via ⌘⇧4 that go to the clipboard.

Raycast Extension

For keyboard-driven workflows: select files in Finder, invoke Raycast, type “Compress”, and press Enter. No mouse needed.

See the Raycast Extension Guide.

URL Scheme + Apple Shortcuts

Build custom automation workflows with full parameter control:

zipic://compress?url=/path/to/folder&level=3&format=webp

Combine with Apple Shortcuts for one-tap compression of specific folders, custom format conversion pipelines, or scheduled batch processing.

Full reference in the Workflow Integration Guide.

Tips for Effective Automation

Start with one folder — test with your screenshots folder before adding more
Use appropriate presets — don’t use aggressive compression for everything
Check save settings — decide whether to replace originals or keep both versions
Monitor storage savings — Zipic shows compression statistics in the main window
Combine methods — folder monitoring for ongoing workflows, Notch Drop for ad-hoc files

Summary

Automation Method	Best For	Effort
Folder monitoring	Ongoing, set-and-forget workflows	One-time setup
Notch Drop	Quick ad-hoc compression	Per-use (drag)
Clipboard auto-compress	Screenshots to clipboard	Automatic
Raycast extension	Keyboard-driven workflows	Per-use (keystroke)
URL Scheme / Shortcuts	Custom pipelines	One-time setup

Folder monitoring is the most set-and-forget approach. Once configured, you’ll compress thousands of images without ever thinking about it.

Ready to automate? Download Zipic and try folder monitoring with Zipic Pro — one-time $19.99, no subscription.

Full documentation: Monitoring Directory Autocompression | Optimizing Workflow