Image Format Guide

Learn when to use JPEG, PNG, GIF, and WebP formats. Complete guide to choosing the right image format for optimal quality, file size, and sharing performance with MaiImg.

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Why Image Format Matters

I used to save everything as PNG because I thought it was "better quality." Then I learned that choosing the right format can reduce file sizes by 80% while maintaining quality. Game changer.

JPEG - Best for Photos

Use JPEG for: Photographs, images with many colors, complex images, real-world photos.

Advantages

  • Excellent compression (small file sizes)
  • Widely supported everywhere
  • Perfect for photographs
  • Good quality at 80-85% compression

Disadvantages

  • Lossy compression (some quality loss)
  • No transparency support
  • Not ideal for graphics with text
  • Can show artifacts at low quality
My JPEG Settings

For web sharing: JPEG at 80% quality. File sizes are 70-80% smaller than PNG, and quality is virtually indistinguishable. For high-quality portfolios: JPEG at 85-90% quality.

PNG - Best for Graphics

Use PNG for: Graphics, logos, images with transparency, images with text, simple graphics with few colors.

Advantages

  • Lossless compression (no quality loss)
  • Transparency support (PNG-24)
  • Perfect for graphics and logos
  • Sharp text and clean edges

Disadvantages

  • Larger file sizes than JPEG
  • Not ideal for photographs
  • PNG-24 files can be very large
  • Slower loading on slow connections

PNG-8 vs PNG-24

  • PNG-8: 256 colors max, smaller files, good for simple graphics
  • PNG-24: Millions of colors, transparency support, larger files
  • My rule: Use PNG-8 when possible, PNG-24 only if transparency needed

GIF - Best for Animations

Use GIF for: Animated images, simple graphics with few colors, small icons.

Advantages

  • Animation support
  • Small file sizes for simple graphics
  • Widely supported
  • Transparency support

Disadvantages

  • Limited to 256 colors
  • Not suitable for photographs
  • Large animated GIFs can be huge
  • Quality limitations

WebP - Modern Alternative

Use WebP for: Modern browsers, when file size is critical, when you need both quality and compression.

Advantages

  • Superior compression (30% smaller than JPEG)
  • Transparency support
  • Animation support
  • Excellent quality

Disadvantages

  • Not supported in older browsers
  • Requires conversion from other formats
  • Less universal than JPEG/PNG

Format Selection Guide

Content Type Best Format Quality Setting Typical File Size
Photographs JPEG 80% 200-500KB
Logos/Graphics PNG-8 Lossless 50-200KB
Graphics with Transparency PNG-24 Lossless 100-500KB
Animated Images GIF 256 colors 100KB-2MB
High-Quality Photos JPEG 85-90% 500KB-1MB

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Choose the Right Format

Select the optimal image format for your content and sharing needs.

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