PNG vs JPEG
Lossless PNG versus lossy JPEG—compare transparency, artefacts, and file size for photos, screenshots, and UI assets.
Overview
Content type decides the format. PNG stores exact pixels, which is why screenshots, diagrams, and logos stay legible and can keep transparency. JPEG discards detail the eye is unlikely to notice, which is a huge win on photographs and a visible loss on flat colour and text. The costly mistake is re-saving a JPEG repeatedly, since each pass bakes in more artefacts.
Pros
- Lossless, so text and edges stay crisp
- Supports full alpha transparency
- Re-editing does not degrade quality
Cons
- Photographs become very large files
- No quality dial to trade size for fidelity
Pros
- Dramatically smaller photographic files
- Adjustable quality for size targets
- Universally supported everywhere
Cons
- Lossy artefacts around text and edges
- Re-saving compounds the degradation
Comparison table
| Aspect | PNG | JPEG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
| Transparency | Full alpha channel | None |
| Weak spot | Large photo files | Ringing around crisp text |
| Best fit | The image has sharp edges, text, or transparency | The image is a photograph without transparency |
Recommendation
Use PNG for screenshots, diagrams, and anything with transparency, and JPEG for photographs where a quality dial helps you hit a size budget. Keep a lossless master and export lossy copies rather than editing the compressed file.
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Frequently asked questions
- Why does my screenshot look blurry as a JPEG?
- JPEG compresses in blocks and smears the high-contrast edges of text. Screenshots belong in PNG, or in WebP where lossless mode is available.
- How do I shrink a PNG without switching format?
- Reduce dimensions to the size you actually display, then run a PNG optimiser. Cutting a 3000px asset to 1200px usually saves more than any encoder setting.
- What pushes someone toward PNG instead of JPEG?
- PNG wins when the image has sharp edges, text, or transparency. The practical upside is that lossless, so text and edges stay crisp, and supports full alpha transparency. The trade-off to watch is that photographs become very large files.
- When does JPEG beat PNG for the same job?
- Reach for JPEG when the image is a photograph without transparency. It gives you dramatically smaller photographic files plus adjustable quality for size targets, at the cost that lossy artefacts around text and edges.
- Can ToolHub help me try PNG and JPEG before I commit?
- Yes. The tools linked from each side of PNG vs JPEG run in your browser, so you can exercise PNG and JPEG with sample data without uploading anything.