Learn about PNG
Clear, practical guides to the PNG format and how it compares to other image formats — so you always know which one to use.
Guides
- What is a PNG?How the PNG format works — lossless compression, transparency, PNG-8 vs 24, and when to use it.
- What is WebP?How the WebP format works — lossy and lossless modes, transparency, animation, and when to use it.
- PNG Transparency ExplainedHow the PNG alpha channel works, how to make a PNG transparent, and why transparency sometimes disappears.
- What is JPG?How the JPG (JPEG) format works — lossy compression, why it suits photos, and its limitations.
- What is AVIF?How AVIF works — AV1-based compression, HDR and wide-gamut colour, support, and when to use it.
- What is SVG?How the SVG vector format works — infinite scaling, when to use it, and why it can't do photos.
- What is GIF?How the GIF format works — the 256-colour palette, animation, and binary transparency.
- What is HEIC?How HEIC works — Apple's high-efficiency iPhone photo format, what it stores, and why it won't open.
- What is BMP?How the BMP format works — uncompressed Windows bitmaps, why files are large, and modern alternatives.
- PNG-8 vs PNG-24 vs PNG-32The difference between PNG-8, PNG-24, and PNG-32 — colour palettes, transparency, and file size.
- What is APNG?Animated PNG explained — how it works, how it beats GIF on quality, and where it's supported.
- How PNG Compression WorksHow PNG's lossless compression works — scanline filtering and DEFLATE, and why PNG suits graphics.
- PNG Bit Depth & Colour TypesPNG bit depth and colour types explained — grayscale, indexed, truecolor, alpha, and 8 vs 16-bit.
- How to Open a PNG FileHow to open a PNG on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android — and what to do if one won't open.
- How to Reduce PNG File SizePractical ways to shrink a PNG — compress the palette, resize, or convert — and which to choose.
- How to Save an Image as PNGHow to save or export an image as PNG from your browser, Paint, Preview, Photoshop, or GIMP.
- How to Save a Screenshot as PNGWhy screenshots save as PNG, and how to capture them on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android.
- PNG Metadata ExplainedWhat metadata a PNG can store in its chunks — text, dates, DPI, EXIF — and why you might strip it.
- The History of PNGHow PNG was created in 1995 as a free, patent-unencumbered replacement for GIF.
- PNG Interlacing (Adam7)How Adam7 interlacing shows a progressive preview — and why it's rarely worth it today.
- Indexed Colour in PNGHow palette-based indexed colour works in PNG (PNG-8), and how it shrinks file size.
- What is a TIFF?How the TIFF format works — lossless, layers, CMYK and high bit depth, and why it rules print but not the web.
- What is a PDF?What the PDF format really is — a page-description document that can hold text, vectors, and raster images.
- What is an ICO file?How the ICO icon container works — multiple sizes and bit depths in one file, and the favicon.ico story.
- What is an EPS file?Encapsulated PostScript explained — the legacy print vector format and how it compares to PNG, SVG, and PDF.
- What is a data URI?How data: URIs embed an image directly in HTML or CSS, the Base64 overhead, and when inlining is worth it.
Comparisons
- PNG vs JPGPNG vs JPG compared: compression, transparency, quality, file size, and which to use when.
- PNG vs WebPPNG vs WebP compared: file size, transparency, quality, and support — and which to use when.
- PNG vs AVIFPNG vs AVIF: modern AV1 compression, HDR and wide-gamut colour, support, and which to use.
- PNG vs SVGPNG vs SVG: raster pixels vs scalable vectors — and which to use for logos, icons, and photos.
- PNG vs GIFPNG vs GIF: colour depth, binary vs alpha transparency, and animation — and which to use.
- PNG vs HEICPNG vs HEIC: Apple's iPhone photo format vs the universal PNG — compression and compatibility.
- PNG vs BMPPNG vs BMP: compressed lossless vs raw uncompressed — and why PNG almost always wins.
- PNG vs TIFFPNG vs TIFF: web graphics vs the print and archival standard — colour, bit depth, and file size.
- PNG vs PDFPNG vs PDF: a single image vs a multi-page document — and when to convert one to the other.
- PNG vs ICOPNG vs ICO for icons and favicons: single raster image vs a multi-size Windows icon container.
- PNG vs JPEG XLPNG vs JPEG XL: next-gen lossless compression and features vs PNG's universal support. Should you switch?
- PNG vs AVIF vs WebPPNG vs AVIF vs WebP compared three ways — compression, transparency, support, and which next-gen format wins.
- PNG vs WebP vs JPG: Smallest Size?Which format gives the smallest file — it depends on the image. Photos vs graphics vs transparency, compared.
- PNG vs JPG for TransparencyWhy JPG can't do transparency, what happens when you try, and why PNG is the right choice for alpha.
Choosing a format
- Best Format for LogosThe best image format for logos — why SVG and PNG win, and why to avoid JPG.
- Best Format for the WebThe best image formats for the web — WebP, PNG, JPG, and SVG by content type.
- Best Format for PrintingThe best image format for print — resolution, lossless quality, CMYK, and the 300 DPI rule.
- Best Format for TransparencyThe best image format for transparency — PNG, WebP, and SVG compared, and why not JPG.
- Best Format for PhotosThe best image format for photos — why lossy JPG, WebP, and AVIF beat PNG for photographs.
- Best Format for EmailThe best image format for email — small, universally viewable JPG and PNG, and what to avoid.
- Best Format for Social MediaThe best image format for social media — JPG vs PNG, and why feeds flatten transparency.
- Best Format for IconsThe best image format for icons — SVG, PNG, and ICO for UI icons, app icons, and favicons.
- Best Image Format for a FaviconICO, PNG, or SVG for your favicon — sizes, browser support, and the layered approach that works everywhere.
- Best Image Format for Game AssetsWhy PNG dominates sprites, UI, and textures — plus when JPG or WebP make sense for game art.
- Best Image Format for Open GraphPNG vs JPG for og:image social cards — the 1200x630 size, file limits, and which to pick by card type.
- Best Image Format for PresentationsPNG for diagrams and screenshots, JPG for photos — keep slides crisp without bloating the deck.
- Best Image Format for ScreenshotsWhy PNG is the right default for screenshots, why JPG ruins UI text, and when WebP helps for sharing.
- Best Image Format for StickersTransparent PNG for digital and die-cut stickers — sizes for WhatsApp, Telegram, and print.
- Best Image Format for T-ShirtsHigh-res transparent PNG for DTG print-on-demand, and when vector wins for screen printing.
- Best Image Format for WallpaperJPG for photo wallpapers, PNG for crisp gradients and illustrations — matched to your screen.
Convert with software & code
- Convert a PNG in PhotoshopHow to convert a PNG to JPG, WebP, and more in Adobe Photoshop using Export As and Save for Web.
- Convert a PNG in GIMPHow to convert a PNG in the free GIMP editor using File → Export As.
- Convert a PNG in PaintHow to convert a PNG in Microsoft Paint — and why Paint can't keep transparency.
- Convert a PNG on MacHow to convert a PNG on a Mac with the built-in Preview app, including batch conversion.
- Convert a PNG in PythonHow to convert a PNG with Python and Pillow — JPG, WebP, and batch conversion, with code.
- Convert a PNG with ImageMagickHow to convert a PNG from the command line with ImageMagick's magick and mogrify commands.
- Convert a PNG in JavaScriptHow to convert a PNG in the browser with the Canvas API — load, draw, and canvas.toBlob, with code.
- Convert a PNG in CanvaHow to convert a PNG in Canva by uploading to a design and downloading as JPG or PNG.
On your device
- Convert a PNG on iPhoneConvert a PNG on iPhone with the browser, the Shortcuts app, or from a HEIC photo.
- Convert a PNG on AndroidConvert a PNG on Android using the browser, Google Photos, or an editing app.
- Convert a PNG on WindowsConvert a PNG on Windows with Paint, the Photos app, or a browser tool that keeps transparency.
- Convert a PNG on a ChromebookConvert a PNG on a Chromebook the browser-first way, plus the Gallery and Android/Linux apps.