Understanding image formats is crucial for web design, photography, and digital content creation. This comprehensive guide covers all major image formats, their uses, and when to choose each one.
JPEG - Best for photos
HEIC - Modern iOS photos
RAW - Professional photography
PNG - Transparency support
SVG - Vector graphics
GIF - Simple animations
WebP - Modern web format
AVIF - Next-gen compression
JPEG - Universal compatibility
TIFF - High quality print
EPS - Vector print files
PDF - Document format
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Animation | File Size | Quality | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG | Lossy | ❌ No | ❌ No | Small | Good | Photos, web images |
| PNG | Lossless | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Medium | Excellent | Graphics, logos, screenshots |
| GIF | Lossless | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Small | Limited | Simple animations, icons |
| WebP | Both | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Very Small | Excellent | Modern web images |
| TIFF | Lossless | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Large | Excellent | Print, archival |
| SVG | Vector | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Very Small | Perfect | Icons, logos, illustrations |
Best compression with modern browser support
Universal compatibility for photos
Transparency and sharp edges
Scalable vector graphics
Modern iOS format with great compression
Universal compatibility
Transparency and quality
Scalable interface elements
Lossless compression for print
Vector and raster combination
Professional print format
High resolution, minimal compression
How it works: Permanently removes data to reduce file size
How it works: Reduces file size without data loss
| Quality Level | File Size | Image Quality | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90-100% | Large | Excellent | Print, archival |
| 80-89% | Medium | Very Good | Web, presentations |
| 70-79% | Small | Good | Social media, thumbnails |
| 60-69% | Very Small | Acceptable | Email, quick sharing |
| <60% | Tiny | Poor | Not recommended |
Apple (part of HEIF standard)
Alliance for Open Media
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