Sahil Verma 
| Updated On - January 27, 2023 |
Read time: 6 minutes
Are you looking for an image format that will give you better quality photos with smaller file sizes? If so, then you might be familiar with the debate between JPG and PNG – two of the most popular image formats used for everything from web development to printing high-resolution graphics. While both formats offer a range of great features and benefits, understanding which one is best suited for your needs can help you save time and money in the long run.
In this post, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about the differences between JPG vs PNG so that you can make a smarter decision when it comes to choosing an image format.
JPG & PNG Basic Overview
JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is another type of graphic file format that uses lossy compression to reduce file size without sacrificing too much quality. Unlike PNGs, which are pixel-based images, JPGs are usually used for photos or other complex images where there are more colors and shades involved. This makes JPGs ideal for posting on social media or storing on your computer since they take up less space but still look great onscreen.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) format is a type of faster graphic file that uses lossless compression and supports transparency. This means that it will maintain the highest quality while still being relatively smaller in size. It’s often useful for web graphics like logos, icons, buttons, and other small images. Because of its high-quality resolution and good color depth, it is also suitable for print purposes such as flyers or brochures.
All You Need to Know About JPG vs PNG
When it comes to digital images, there are two main formats used by the majority of people – JPG and PNG. But which one should you be using for your project? Here, we’ll compare the two image formats and break down the differences between them so you can make an ideal decision on which format is best for you.
- File Size
The most obvious difference between the two formats is that PNG files are typically larger in size than JPGs. This is because the PNG format uses lossless compression, which means that it preserves more data from the original image file than a JPG does. As a result, while you will get better quality images with PNGs, they will take up more memory and require more time to upload or download. - Compression Ratio
The compression ratio determines how much of a file’s original size is compressed, with a higher compression ratio meaning smaller files and faster loading times. JPG has a higher compression ratio than PNG, which means that it takes up less space & you can compress the image while still maintaining its quality. However, if you need to maintain a high level of detail in your image, then PNG might be the better option due to its lossless compression. - Color Depth
Another important factor to consider when comparing these two image formats is color depth. Color depth refers to the no. of colors used in an image, and it can have a significant impact on its overall quality and appearance. JPG supports up to 24-bit color depth, while PNG supports up to 48-bit color depth. This means that PNG images will have more vibrant colors compared to JPEG images but will also consume more storage space due to their larger file size. To avoid fixing color casting issues, you must opt for the PNG image support. - Transparency Support
One major advantage that PNG has over JPEG is its support for transparency, meaning that elements within an image can be made transparent or semi-transparent instead of being solid blocks of color as they would be with JPEG images. This makes it easier to create complex designs with overlapping layers as well as other effects like drop shadows or inner glows without having to use additional graphic editing software like Photoshop. - Image Quality Loss Over Time
JPEGs tend to suffer from what is known as “generation loss” – meaning that each time an image is saved or re-saved with a lower quality setting (such as reducing its resolution), some of its original quality gets lost and cannot be recovered again. On the other hand, since PNG uses lossless compression, it does not suffer from generation loss no matter how many times it is saved or re-saved with different settings – making it ideal for archiving purposes where preserving the original image quality over time is important. - Editing Capabilities
Finally, when it comes to editing capabilities there’s no comparison — JPEGs are much easier to edit than PNGs since they use lossy compression which simplifies the editing process significantly compared to its counterpart format! For example, if you want to quickly crop out parts of an image then JPEG will do just fine whereas if you want more precise control over the changes made then using a PNG would be preferable due to its lossless compression technique which allows for more precise control over edits made within an image file type.
Tabular Comparison (JPG Vs PNG)
| JPG | PNG | |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
| Image Quality | Lower | Higher |
| Transparency | Not Supported | Supported |
| Color Depth | 24-bit color depth | 48-bit color depth |
| File Type Support | Limited supportability | Supportable in many applications |
| Editing Quality | Quality deterioration with multiple edits | Retains quality after multiple edits |
| Interlacing Support | Unsupported | Supported |
| Best Use Cases | Photography and realistic images. | Web graphics and print design, logos, text and illustrations, screenshots, etc. |
What if My JPG & PNG Files are Corrupted? (The Expert’s View)
We are now through with our choices whether to use PNG or JPG files but what if our photos are corrupted & damaged. Worry no more! With today’s modern solutions, it has never been simpler to handle such files. No matter what caused your photos to become corrupted – be it an interrupted download or a power surge – there’s help available! Kernel Photo Repair Tool is a quick and safe tool with advanced features that can take care of all your photo woes. This tool can repair damaged, pixelated, disoriented, & corrupt photos from different formats including JPG, JPEG, GIF, RIFF, RAF, PNG, etc.
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What’s more? It can repair multiple image formats in a single batch. To make things even easier for users, it has added features like drag/drop feature & runs on all the Windows OS. All these features are covered under a friendly graphical user interface (GUI).
All in all, it is one of the best photo repair tools designed with the end-user in mind so that they can quickly fix their corrupted images without any hassle. With its extensive list of features and powerful capabilities, it is the ideal tool for repairing damaged, grainy images or faded photos. So, if you have been struggling with corrupted images then this software can be your savior.
Closing Notes
After exploring the major differences between JPG and PNG, it is important to understand when each file type should be used. On one hand, if you are looking for a clear and clean image with no loss in quality, then going with a .PNG file is your best option. In contrast, if you’re looking for images with a reduced file size and have no transparency, then the .JPG format is your ideal choice. Not only that but this will save time for webpages to load because of its smaller file size as well as conserve internet data usage.
Ultimately, knowing when to use which picture format can make all the difference when creating visuals for online content and websites. If you decide to go with both formats living together in harmony – great! Keep up the good work of finding the visual balance that best suits your content goals while understanding when graphic formats come into play.
FAQs
In what situations would you use JPEG and when would you use PNG? ›
The general rule is to use JPGs for photographs, images that don't have a transparent background, and other memory intensive files. And to choose PNGs for graphics, files with transparent backgrounds, and other images where clarity and color vibrancy are important.
What is the major difference between JPG and PNG file? ›Because of their different compression processes, JPEGs contain less data than PNGs — and therefore, are usually smaller in size. Unlike JPEGs, PNGs support transparent backgrounds, making them preferred for graphic design.
Is it better to use PNG or JPG? ›The biggest advantage of PNG over JPEG is that the compression is lossless, meaning there is no loss in quality each time it is opened and saved again. PNG also handles detailed, high-contrast images well.
When should you use PNG? ›Portable Network Graphics files (PNGs) are compressible and like JPEGS, can handle 16 million colors. They're mostly used for web graphics, logos, charts, and illustrations, rather than high-quality photographs, because they take up more storage space than JPEGs.
What situations is JPEG good in? ›JPEG is one of the most commonly used standards for compressing images and photographs. It works particularly well for big, complex pictures where there are a lot of gradients. It's not ideal for images with solid lines or text. Like any standard, it has benefits and drawbacks.
What is the difference between a PNG & JPEG answers? ›JPEG and PNG both are a type of image format to store images. JPEG uses lossy compression algorithm and image may lost some of its data whereas PNG uses lossless compression algorithm and no image data loss is present in PNG format.
What are PNG files used for? ›The PNG file format is widely used on websites to display high-quality digital images. Created to exceed the performance of GIF files, PNGs offer not just lossless compression, but also a much broader and brighter color palette.
What is JPEG used for? ›It's the go-to file format for digital images — and it has been ever since photographers began snapping and storing images on digital cameras and other reprographic devices. JPEG images group together the following filename extensions: . jpg.
What is the difference between JPG 100% and PNG? ›PNG format is a lossless compression file format, which makes it a common choice for use on the Web. PNG is a good choice for storing line drawings, text, and iconic graphics at a small file size. JPG format is a lossy compressed file format. This makes it useful for storing photographs at a smaller size than a BMP.
What are the pros or cons of using JPG & PNG? ›...
JPG/JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| High compatibility | Lossy compression |
| Widespread use | Doesn't support transparencies and animations |
| Quick loading time | No layers |
| Full colour spectrum |
Is PNG or JPEG safer? ›
If you need to ensure that your images will be displayed correctly across a wide range of devices and software, JPEG may be the safer choice. Transparency is an important factor to consider when working with graphics. PNG supports transparency, while JPEG does not.
What is the difference between JPG and JPEG? ›JPGs and JPEGs are the same file format. JPG and JPEG both stand for Joint Photographic Experts Group and are both raster image file types. The only reason JPG is three characters long as opposed to four is that early versions of Windows required a three-letter extension for file names.
What are 3 advantages of PNG? ›Advantages of PNG
Support for transparency -- supports compression of digital images with transparent areas. Perfect for editing images – lossless compressions makes it perfect for storing digital images for editing. Sharp edges and solid colors -- ideal for images containing texts, line arts and graphics.
TIFF — Tagged Image File Format
TIFF is the workhorse format for high-resolution printing, including art photography and other fine artwork. It's a lossless image file format that retains extremely high photographic quality for scanning and printing.
JPEG (or JPG) is short for Joint Photographic Experts Group. They work best with photographs both in color and black and white. JPEGs are also the file format that we print most often for our customers.
When should you not use JPEG? ›- You need a web graphic with transparency. JPEGs do not have a transparency channel and must have a solid color background. ...
- You need a layered, editable image. JPEGs are a flat image format meaning that all edits are saved into one image layer and cannot be undone.
- The JPEG file format is typically smaller in file size than other image formats. ...
- JPEGs compression is very effective for most use cases. ...
- JPEGs are supported by most web browsers. ...
- JPEGs can be easily converted to other file formats.
What is a JPG File? JPG is a widely used compressed image format for containing digital images. It is the most common image format used in digital cameras, different operating systems and on the Internet. A compression ratio of 10:1 can be applied in JPG images without losing significant details.
Does a PNG or JPG have more colors? ›If you are trying to choose a format in which to save your image, use this rule of thumb to decide: JPEG for photographs or photorealistic images with lots of colors; PNG for line art, images with lots of text, or transparent images; and GIF for animated pictures.
Why change JPG to PNG? ›The biggest reason to convert JPG files to PNG is to create transparency support. If you have an image with a lot of white space that you'd like to remove in editing software, you won't be able to do it. JPGs must have color information within every pixel, so empty pixels are usually filled with black or white colors.
Is PNG or JPEG better for social media? ›
On websites and social media platforms, both PNG and JPEG formats are extensively used. PNG is mostly used to display logos, banners, and illustrations that need a transparent background. Apart from that, JPEG is a more acceptable format to display images on all kinds of websites and social media platforms.
What are the pros and cons of PNG? ›| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Lossless compressions | Not suitable for print |
| Supports (semi)-transparency and the alpha channel | Requires more memory space |
| Full color spectrum | Not universally supported |
| Animations are not possible |
Disadvantages of PNG Files
Being a lossless compression file, PNGs retain all their original data, which makes it a bigger file size than a JPEG, so it'll take up more room on your computer's hard-drive; Because PNGs are full of detailed image data, their large file size can slow down the loading of a web page.
As we mentioned, JPEG is a lossy format, meaning it reduces quality with every action. Using the PNG file means you keep the resolution and high-quality image. Photographers and those who work with digital graphics use PNG files.
Is JPEG good enough? ›First, JPEG, by its very nature, means some image information is lost through compression. Does that mean a loss of image quality? Yes. However, if you set your camera for best quality JPEG (meaning a larger file but less compression), it's rare that you'd see any issues from that.
Do PNGs or JPEGs load faster? ›This can make it hard to know what format you should use for your website. In general, PNG is a higher-quality compression format. JPG images are generally of lower quality, but are faster to load.
Are PNG files editable? ›A PNG is meant to be a high quality file that loses resolution only when it's time to edit it. Unfortunately, in order to edit it extensively, it needs to be converted into a more manageable file type. There are a lot of extensions that allow for further editing but Illustrator is a lot more complex.
Can you use PNG files for print? ›Several file formats, including JPG, PNG, TIFF, and PDF, can work for printing.
What are the pros of JPG? ›- Portability. The JPEG files are highly compressible. ...
- Compatibility. JPEG images are compatible with almost all devices and software, which means that there is no need to change the format for usage.
- Vibrant. High-resolution JPEG images are vibrant and colorful.
JPGs find a balance between image quality and file size. That's why pictures in JPG format are still acceptable for viewing and sharing on the web in most cases. JPEG is more often chosen as an image format vs PNG (or even GIF) – largely for this reason.
What image format is safest? ›
Using Photos & Images on a Website
The safest option right now is to use JPG for photos and high-detail images and PNG for graphics or illustrations. But if you're looking to optimize your website's speed (or trying to satisfy Google's new Core Web Values), there are newer, more-optimized file formats.
A good idea when sending important documents such as a resume via email attachment or a link is to send them as PDFs. The PDF is a great format for professional correspondence because it's universal, versatile and accessible.
Are JPG images high quality? ›A high-resolution JPEG is an image that is typically 300 DPI (dots per inch) or higher. While its file size may be larger, it can be ideal for those wanting to save a photograph or art piece and retain detail and quality. However, if it needs to be compressed for online use, it will likely lose some of this quality.
When would you use a JPEG JPG image? ›jpeg and . jpg file formats are best used for digital photography. Digital photographs have extensive color gradations that appear seamless when saved as raster JPEG/JPG images.
Should I use JPG or JPEG? ›JPG and JPEG are two equivalent file extensions that both refer to the same digital image format, so there are actually no differences between the JPG and JPEG formats. The only difference is the number of characters used. JPG files are saved with the file extension .
Is PNG the best format? ›PNG is the best choice for graphs, the pics with text, screenshots, and for designs that require the use of transparency, such as logo designs and similar. However, the biggest downside is that they are greater in size and they will slow down your website.
What makes PNG unique? ›Papua New Guinea boasts of over 850 different languages and approximately 1000 different cultures. It is definitely one of the most diverse country in the world. To put this into perspective the land mass of PNG is about 462 840 square kilometres with over 600 Islands and a population of just over 7 million people.
Why is PNG best for printing? ›So, when it comes to printing, know that PNG files are an excellent option for delivering good quality printouts using office or home printers. This is because these files contain high-resolution images and better color depth. Images from JPEG files become blurry in printouts.
What is the most recognized image file format? ›JPEG (.
JPEG files are very common on the Internet and JPEG is a popular format for digital cameras - making it ideal for web use and non-professional prints.
Copying the JPEG file won't affect the quality, only opening it and saving it again will do that. Opening the JPEG and by saving it as a lossless TIFF or DNG file, you will prevent further degradation when working on the file.
What is the highest quality image ever taken? ›
This is the largest and most detailed photo ever taken of a work of art. It is 717 gigapixels, or 717,000,000,000 pixels, in size. The distance between two pixels is 5 micrometres (0.005 millimetre), which means that one pixel is smaller than a human red blood cell.
What is the best format to save an image without losing quality? ›The PNG format is better for image files with lower levels of detail, like graphics and illustrations. PNG is a lossless format, meaning that no data is removed during compression.
When would you use a JPEG image? ›You should use a JPEG when…
You want to print photos and/or artwork. At high resolution files with low compression, JPEGs are perfect for editing and then printing. You need to send a quick preview image to a client. JPEG images can be reduced to very small sizes making them great for emailing.
The PNG file format is widely used on websites to display high-quality digital images. Created to exceed the performance of GIF files, PNGs offer not just lossless compression, but also a much broader and brighter color palette.
What is JPEG most commonly used for? ›It's the go-to file format for digital images — and it has been ever since photographers began snapping and storing images on digital cameras and other reprographic devices. JPEG images group together the following filename extensions: . jpg.
When should you use a JPG image and when should you use a GIF image? ›This page describes the difference between these approaches and offers tips on when to use each. While GIF is great for computer generated images with limited palettes, JPG is far better for photographs. It gives better quality images for the same file size.
What is the best image format for quality? ›TIFF — Tagged Image File Format
TIFF is the workhorse format for high-resolution printing, including art photography and other fine artwork. It's a lossless image file format that retains extremely high photographic quality for scanning and printing.
One of the biggest benefits of using the PNG file format is that it has minimum compression loss. This means that the image quality won't be changed when you compress the file. This is one major benefit that the PNG format has over the JPEG format.