Learn how to compress entire ZIP folders with nested files and directories while preserving folder structure. Perfect for design assets, project handoffs, and client deliveries.
If you're a designer or developer, you've probably been there: a client needs the project files, your design assets are scattered across multiple folders, or you need to share a complete website build. Traditional compression tools make you upload everything to someone else's servers or force you to compress files one by one.
Shrink.zip changes this workflow entirely. Drop your entire project ZIP file, and it intelligently compresses every image, optimizes every asset, and hands back your complete folder structure exactly as you organized it.
Design projects grow organically. You start with a few mockups, add some assets, create variations, and before you know it, you have:
Traditional compression means either uploading your entire project to a third-party service (privacy risk) or spending hours compressing individual folders. Both options break your workflow and waste time you don't have.
Here's where Shrink.zip's approach becomes invaluable. Instead of treating your project as individual files, it understands your folder structure as an organizational system worth preserving.
Your workflow becomes:
The tool automatically extracts your ZIP, applies compression settings to appropriate file types, and rebuilds your archive with the same folder hierarchy you created.
Website Development Handoff
You've finished a client website with multiple environments:
Drop the project ZIP into Shrink.zip, set your image quality to 85%, and get back a complete project where every image is web-optimized but your documentation and folder structure remain untouched.
Design System Delivery
Your design system includes:
Compress the entire system while maintaining the organizational logic your team spent weeks perfecting.
Client Asset Packages
Marketing deliverables often include:
Each folder serves a specific purpose, and breaking that structure confuses clients and creates support headaches.
Beyond convenience, this approach offers technical advantages traditional tools miss.
Metadata Preservation
Your folder names, organization, and file relationships remain intact. When a client opens the compressed project, they see exactly what you intended, not a flat directory of renamed files.
Selective Optimization
Different file types get appropriate treatment. Images compress aggressively, PSDs pass through unchanged, and code files maintain their exact formatting. You don't waste time configuring settings for each file type.
Version Control Friendly
The folder structure you use locally matches what gets delivered. No confusion about which file goes where or how the project should be organized.
Client work often involves confidential information, unreleased products, or proprietary designs. Uploading these files to traditional compression services creates unnecessary risks.
Browser-based compression means:
This approach particularly matters for agencies handling multiple client projects, freelancers working with NDAs, or in-house teams dealing with unreleased products.
Understanding how compression affects different file types helps you make better decisions about quality settings.
Photography and Hero Images
These typically compress well at 80-85% quality. The visual impact remains high while file sizes drop dramatically. For a typical project with 20-30 hero images, you might see a 70% reduction in total size.
UI Screenshots and Graphics
Interface designs with lots of solid colors and sharp edges work well with slightly higher compression. 75-80% quality usually provides excellent results while maintaining pixel-perfect clarity.
Icons and Simple Graphics
Consider converting appropriate files to WebP format during compression. Many icons and simple graphics see 40-50% size reductions with zero visible quality loss.
Working Files
PSDs, Sketch files, and other source materials typically don't compress well and shouldn't be processed. The tool automatically skips these file types, preserving them exactly as they were.
For agencies or freelancers handling multiple projects, this workflow scales efficiently.
Create a standard folder structure across projects:
Process multiple client folders simultaneously by creating separate ZIP files and running them through compression in batches. Each project maintains its individual structure while getting optimized for delivery.
Before sending compressed projects to clients, establish a quality control process:
Spot Check Representative Files
Download the compressed archive and verify that a few representative images from different folders maintain acceptable quality. This prevents quality issues from reaching clients.
Test File Organization
Extract the compressed archive and ensure folders appear in the correct order and hierarchy. Clients should be able to navigate your project structure intuitively.
Verify File Compatibility
Check that compressed images work in the client's expected applications. WebP files, for example, might not open in older graphics programs.
This compression workflow integrates naturally with existing design and development tools.
From Figma/Sketch
Export your complete design system, organize exported assets into logical folders, ZIP the entire structure, and compress for client delivery.
From Development Environments
After building a project, compress your /dist or /build folder along with documentation and source assets for complete project handoffs.
From Asset Management Systems
Export organized asset libraries, maintain your folder structure, and deliver compressed versions that clients can immediately understand and use.
Track how this workflow affects your client relationships and project efficiency:
File Size Reductions
Most design projects see 60-80% size reductions, making email delivery possible and download times manageable for clients.
Client Feedback
Clients appreciate receiving organized, immediately usable project files rather than confusing flat directories or multiple separate downloads.
Time Savings
Eliminating manual file-by-file compression saves hours per project, especially for asset-heavy design deliverables.
Weekly Client Updates
For ongoing projects, create a standard update package structure and compress weekly deliverables consistently. Clients learn to expect and navigate your folder organization.
Project Archive Creation
Before moving completed projects to long-term storage, compress the entire project folder to save disk space while preserving the complete project structure for future reference.
Team Collaboration
When sharing large projects with remote team members, compressed folder structures ensure everyone sees the same organization and can contribute effectively.
Don't Over-Compress Working Files
Resist the urge to compress source files like PSDs or original video footage. These files rarely compress well and may become corrupted if processed inappropriately.
Maintain Logical Folder Names
Clients will see your folder structure, so use clear, professional naming conventions. "/random-stuff/" doesn't inspire confidence, but "/additional-assets/" communicates purpose.
Test Download and Extraction
Always test the final compressed file by downloading and extracting it completely. This catches any issues before clients encounter them.
The shift toward privacy-conscious, structure-preserving compression tools reflects broader changes in how creative professionals approach file management and client relationships. Tools that respect your organization and protect your privacy naturally fit better into professional workflows.
For designers and developers who've spent years working around the limitations of traditional compression tools, this approach feels like a natural evolution. Your folder structure becomes part of the deliverable, your privacy stays protected, and your workflow becomes more efficient.
Try this approach on your next project delivery. The combination of maintained organization, optimized file sizes, and complete privacy protection tends to become an essential part of the client delivery process once you experience how smoothly it works.