All about JPEG and PNG

 

Every graphic you see online is an image file. Almost everything you see printed on paper, plastic or a t-shirt came from an image file. These files come in a variety of formats, and each is optimized for a specific use. Using the right type for the right job means your design will come out picture-perfect and just how you intended.

So, We will discuss today the JPEG and PNG image format.

JPEG/JPG

JPEG is a lossy raster format that stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, the technical team that developed it. This is one of the most widely used formats online, typically for photos, email graphics, and large web images like banner ads. JPEG images have a sliding scale of compression that decreases file size tremendously but increases artifacts or pixelation the more the image is compressed. 

When should you use a JPEG?

- You’re dealing with online photos and/or artwork. JPEGs offer you the most flexibility with raster editing and compression making them ideal for web images that need to be downloaded quickly.

- You want to print photos and/or artwork, 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.

When shouldn't you use a JPEG?

- You need a web graphic with transparency. JPEGs do not have a transparency channel and must have a solid color background. GIF and PNG are your best options for transparency.

- 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.

PNG

PNG is a lossless raster format that stands for Portable Network Graphics. Think of PNGs as the next-generation GIF. This format has built-in transparency, but can also display higher color depths, which translates into millions of colors. PNGs are a web standard and are quickly becoming one of the most common image formats used online.

When should you use a PNG?

- You need high-quality transparent web graphics. PNG images have a variable “alpha channel” that can have any degree of transparency. Plus, with greater color depths, you’ll have a more vibrant image than you would with a GIF.

- You have illustrations with limited colors. Though any image will work, PNG files are best with a small color palette.

- You need a small file. PNG files can shrink to incredibly tiny sizes—especially images that are simple colors, shapes, or text. This makes it the ideal image file type for web graphics.

When shouldn't you use a PNG?

- You’re working with photos or artwork. Thanks to PNGs’ high color depth, the format can easily handle high resolution photos. However, because it is a lossless web format, file sizes tend to get very large. If you’re working with photos on the web, go with JPEG.

- You’re dealing with a print project. PNG graphics are optimized for the screen. You can definitely print a PNG, but you’d be better off with a JPEG or TIFF file.