Pictures come in several file types, and the right one saves space or keeps quality. Here is a short guide to the three you meet most often.
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Open Convert from JPGJPG: best for photos
JPG, also written JPEG, is made for photographs. It makes files small by throwing away detail you are unlikely to notice. It does not support transparent backgrounds, and repeated saving at low quality can make a picture look blocky. Almost every device and website accepts it.
PNG: best for graphics and transparency
PNG keeps every pixel exactly, so it suits logos, screenshots, drawings and anything with sharp edges or text. It supports transparent backgrounds. The price is size: a photo saved as PNG is often much larger than the same photo as JPG.
WebP: smaller files for the web
WebP is a newer format that can be smaller than JPG or PNG at similar quality, and it supports transparency too. It is a good choice for websites. Most modern browsers open it, but some older tools and some upload forms do not.
Quick chooser
- Photo to share or upload to a form: JPG.
- Logo, screenshot or transparent picture: PNG.
- Images for your website where page speed matters: WebP.
- Not sure what a form accepts: JPG is the safest.
How to convert between them
- To make JPG, use Convert to JPG for PNG, WebP and similar files. Transparent areas become white.
- To go from JPG to PNG or WebP, use Convert from JPG.
- Converting does not add back detail that was already lost, so keep your original file.
Common mistakes with image formats
- Saving a photo as PNG and wondering why it is so large.
- Saving a logo as JPG, which makes the edges look fuzzy.
- Converting a JPG to PNG and expecting better quality. It will not add lost detail.
- Using WebP for a form that does not accept it.
A note on transparency
Transparent backgrounds only work in PNG and WebP. When you convert such a picture to JPG, the transparent areas have to be filled with a colour, and white is the usual choice. If you still need the transparent version later, keep the original file.
A quick rule of thumb
Use JPG for photographs, PNG for graphics with sharp edges, text or transparency, and WebP when you want the smallest file on a website that supports it. If you only remember one thing: photos go to JPG, screenshots and logos go to PNG.
Why each format behaves the way it does
JPG throws away detail that the human eye hardly notices, which is why photographs shrink so well. The same trick makes sharp lines and text look slightly fuzzy. PNG keeps every pixel exactly, which is perfect for screenshots, diagrams and logos but makes photographs very large. WebP can do both jobs, lossy like JPG or lossless like PNG, usually at a smaller size, and it supports transparency.
Where compatibility matters
JPG and PNG open everywhere. WebP is supported by all current browsers and most modern apps, but some older software, email programs and print services do not accept it. If your picture is going to a form, a printer or an unknown person, JPG is the safest choice.
For your own website, WebP often reduces page weight and helps pages load faster. For archiving original photos, keep the highest quality version you have and create other formats from it when needed.
Frequently asked questions
Which format has the best quality?
PNG keeps every pixel exactly. For photos, a high quality JPG or WebP looks the same to most people at a much smaller size.
Which format is smallest?
WebP is often the smallest for the same visible quality, then JPG for photos.
Which should I use for email?
JPG is the safest choice because every device can open it.
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