As technology keeps evolving throughout the years, different types of images were formed. As a result from our need to step-up from pixelated images that we usually have. Images come in different types. Choosing when to use a format depends on where you’re going to use an image for. As every image format have different performance, appearance, and scalability. The most common image formats that we encounter are JPG and PNG. These two formats seem identical. But they have visible differences in a closer look. Let’s see the battle between PNG vs JPEG image formats.

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PNG vs JPEG: Defining the Difference

JPG or JPEG

JPEG or JPG, developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group, is an acronym made using the group’s initials. It is a standard file type for professional photographers. Furthermore, it is the most common format used by digital cameras and capture devices.
The pixels of JPG compresses through the reduction of the pixels of an image. It has a compression ratio of 10:1. Meaning, a 10MB image exported to a JPG will end up as a 1MB image. It’s is very efficient because JPG have a smaller file size making it ideal in saving storage.
On the downside, most don’t prefer using it in photo editing. Neither is it a preferred format as an archival image format. That’s because the quality of an image deteriorates when compressed. It is a suitable type for edited output because it is a complete image with a background.

PNG

On the other hand, PNG is short for portable network graphics are a high-quality image. It is an alternative format to GIF. But in contrast, it cannot be animated.
It is the file type used when the image is still in the editing process. We use it when you need an image with a non-visible background. Most editors love using this format in combining photos and images and creating more graphics with ease using Photoshop, CorelDraw or more. This type contains fewer color data and is heavier than a JPEG image. PNG also appears more detailed when used in the editing process. JPEG formats can be blurred when viewed in a high-resolution image application. PNG images can also be used when there is a need for the color of an image to remain sharp for it to look lively and bright.

The Verdict

Although both PNG and JPG are distinguishable from each other, both file types are great. And their uses differ depending on the factor that you are going to consider. If you are concerned with how the image will appear on the web, PNG is the best file type format. It has a high quality that works in any image. However, if you’re concerned with the performance of your web pages, JPG will be the best type of image for you. That’s because it has a smaller file size that can speed up the performance of the pages. In the end, choosing the best file type is yours to decide.

However, on the professional point-of-view, PNG is the most ideal image format because it is easy to edit. It has high-quality resolution. And it’s an image format that can be read by many devices. Now, we have tons of image compressors that makes the PNG file size smaller. But, these tools and apps will not affect the quality of your image whatsoever.

So when you think of saving your image every time you finish editing your photo or creating your collage in Cut Paste Photos, know when you’re going to use your images. This will help guide you whether or not you should save your image in the PNG vs JPEG format.