PNG vs JPG: Which Format Should You Use?

Image Types Summary

Choosing the right format of picture is very important for digital storage and web design.Each has a particular function according to the content of the picture. If you know their variances, you can save yourself some time and storage space, while keeping your graphics.

What is a JPG file?

JPG or JPEG is the abbreviation for Joint Photographic Experts Group. It's meant for complex graphics and photography. This format uses lossy compression, meaning some of the visual data is thrown away. This method greatly reduces the size of the file, but may result in permanent degradation of the picture. JPG files are good for realistic images as they can display millions of colors. Their small size means they can be found everywhere on the web. They don't take up much space on your hard disk, and download very quickly on web pages. But you loose a little more info every time you save a JPG.

PNG file: What is it?

PNG is short for Portable Network Graphics. It was created to succeed the old GIF format. PNG uses lossless compression, meaning every pixel is retained, unlike JPG. This guarantees flawless quality even after numerous saves and edits. PNG files can be transparent , so you can have invisible backgrounds . They work great with text heavy images, logos and icons. The format also handles sharp edges well. But there is a price for these benefits. The sites may load slower because PNG files are often much larger than JPGs.

The difference is mainly the Compression Method.

The main technological difference is compression. JPG compresses files by throwing away some color information. This is very useful for landscapes and busy situations. PNG has a smarter approach that preserves all original data. So PNG files are bigger , but the quality is still perfect . Your decision will be determined by whether you value fidelity or size.

When to shoot JPG

Use JPG for any real-world shot, including sunsets, or portraits. The degradation of quality is slight and almost imperceptible to the human eye. JPG compression works very well with the many colors and gradients in photographs. You will receive a little file that is almost exactly like the original. This saves storage and bandwidth.

When to Use JPG for Online Photos

Speed is the name of the game when it comes to user experience on websites. JPG pictures load much more quickly than PNGs. Search engines, like Google also prefer web pages that load quickly. Use JPG for backdrop images or big galleries. Just be careful not to squeeze too hard. A quality setting of 70 to 80 percent is usually the best compromise.

When to Use PNG for Logos and Icons

PNG Ideal for logos, icons and basic images. Many of these graphics are often required to sit on top of a variety of hues, so transparent backgrounds are often necessary. Your logo is sitting in an ugly white box because JPG doesn’t support transparency. PNG maintains flat colors and crisp edges. Your brand will look clean and professional on any background.

When to Use PNG for Text & Screenshots

Always use PNG when you take a screenshot of a website or document. JPG compression makes the text fuzzy and unreadable. PNG keeps all the letters with sharp edges. This applies equally to line drawings, charts and diagrams. Because of its lossless quality, PNG is needed for any image that has fine detail or stark contrast.

File Size Considerations Involving Storage

PNG files can be three to five times larger than JPGs. For one icon it may not matter. But the difference is huge for a photo album with hundreds of pictures A 10-megapixel JPG image can be 2MB but a PNG image can be 15MB.

Editing and Saving Images

Every time you edit and save a JPG it loses quality. We call this a loss-generation. After several rounds of editing your picture may look awful. PNG is lossless so it won't deteriorate even after a hundred edits. If you anticipate making frequent changes to a picture, start with and stay with PNG.

Transparency Support Comparison

The biggest advantage of the PNG is transparency. Any colorful backdrop can be made into a floating logo. JPG just isn't capable of doing this. PNG is the only option if you want a drop shadow or a non-rectangular image.” Product photos against a white background, though, are good JPG material.

Color Quality and Depth

JPG is great for photos because it can hold up to 16.8 million colors. PNG supports millions of colors, too, except an alpha channel is added for transparency. PNG may also use indexed color for simple images with few colors , to keep file size down . Neither format is better than the other in terms of pure color range. It all depends on the kind of picture.

Software and Browser Support

PNG and JPG are supported by all browsers , operating systems and editing softwares . There is never any compatibility issue. You can see these formats on extremely ancient devices. Given the wide support, they continue to be the best options. Unlike newer formats like WebP, PNG and JPG are supported everywhere.

Conclusion: Basic Guideline

The easiest rule of thumb is use PNG for everything else and JPG for photographs. Choose JPG if your picture is colorful and has no text. If it has text, logos or transparency, choose PNG. If you are preserving originals, always save them as PNG for the highest quality.