JPEG VS PNG VS GIF – Often, on our website or on our social networks we use different image formats. But, do you know exactly the difference between each one of them, or the type of format that you should use in each case? Although there are others, PNG, JPG, TIFF and GIF are the best known formats, and we want to talk about them today to make their characteristics clear, to which we will add a newcomer like WEBP. We’ll tell you then.
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Differences between PNG, JPG, TIFF, GIF and WEBP formats
You have heard many times about PNG, JPG, TIFF and GIF but you do not know which one to use for your web space, online store or for your social platforms. Yes, we are referring to the different image formats that you can find, and that you should be clear about to avoid using them erroneously. Let’s go over them in detail JPEG VS PNG VS GIF VS TIF VS WEBP :
1. JPG
Perhaps the best known and most widely used image format is JPG. What is a JPG? An image format with loss of quality; that is, each time you manipulate it or reduce its size, the image in question will lose quality.
It is a format designed for the compression of digital and photographic images, and is capable of storing CMYK or RGB color information , as well as grayscales. It is the standard format used by digital cameras, although in cases where we are talking about professional photography it is recommended to use other formats.
It is also widely used on web pages and social networks, both for its compatibility with different platforms and programs, and for the fact that it is a type of image that does not weigh too much. Although for this you must first reduce its weight through editing programs such as Photoshop (in this case the software itself has a Save for web option , highly recommended in these cases).
2. PNG
On the opposite side to JPG is PNG, which is a lossless compression format. In addition, it is a format that allows you to use transparencies, while the JPG will always be seen with a white background. On the other hand, its size is also larger, so if it is used in photographs, it must be taken into account that the final file will be considerably heavy.
When to use it? Like JPG, PNG is often used for web and online platforms when you want to maintain a high quality of the final image, or in those cases where the image does not have a background. It is also used when it comes to vector drawings or logos, which will look better and with higher color quality in this format than in JPG. However, it is not a useful extension for digital printing jobs , since this format does not support CMYK colors.
3. GIF
So fashionable lately, GIF is an image format that allows you to create moving images without installing specific software (hence its recent fame, which has led to the emergence of specialized portals such as Giphy ).
In addition to animations, GIF is often used to store simple logos or simple illustrations with flat colors and low weight. Not too apt for photography: Photographic images lose too much quality in these GIF formats.
4. TIFF
Finally, we review another image format that is also widely used, especially in cases of images with very high resolution and quality, and in a more professional way. The TIFF allows images and data to be managed in a single file, without loss of color and with a lot of definition. Therefore, its use is not suitable for web or digital platforms.
5. WEBP, the newcomer
Lastly, we mention WEBP, a new image compression format developed by Google and which has become one of its main recommendations when developing websites. Developed since 2010 by Google, it is an open source initiative, which has a great advantage: both in static images and animations it achieves weight reductions of over 30%. Its big downside: it is not too widespread and not all versions of all browsers support it: only Chrome and Opera manage it without problems.
In short: how to choose the best image format
If you are looking for an image format that suits you for everything, both for the photographs of (let’s say for example) your online store, and for your logo, the most recommended format is PNG . The JPG for photography; Its low quality will make your task much easier and will improve the final loading times of your website. And the GIF for animations, and files with little color and information. In the case of TIFFs, their use is more professional and less oriented to the digital world.
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