If you’ve decided to start your own business and you created a website, a great way to display high-quality digital images is by using the right image file format. An example of such a file format offers not only lossless compression but also a much wider and brighter color palette and supports transparency. This file format is called PNG (Portable Network Graphics).
What is PNG?
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a type of raster image file format used to save images, illustrations, icons, and photographs. Raster image file format refers to all pixel-based image files(JPEG and GIF). PNG represents the standard format for web graphics because it supports 24-bit true color, lossless compression, and transparency.
Typically the size of PNG files is larger which makes their processing, sharing, saving, and opening longer as well as slowing the loading time of the webpage. Vector files on the other hand such as SVG have smaller sizes which is less likely to slow down the page on your website. As we mentioned PNG supports transparency which means that there is no distracting white box around the image. This characteristic is one of the distinguishing qualities between JPEG and PNG.
What are the differences between PNG and JPEG?
PNG and JPEG represent the most used image file formats on the web as each one has its qualities.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a file format that takes up little storage space and offers a quick way to upload or download images. This makes it the perfect format for taking real-life images, such as photographs, and posting them on social media.
Unlike PNG, after converting a JPEG file, unnecessary or redundant information is lost from the file, which reduces the quality of the image.
PNG files are generally larger than JPEG and take bigger storage space but maintain a higher image quality of the images. This makes it a suitable option for detailed, high-contrast images. As it offers a nearly perfect pixel-for-pixel representation of the screen making it a great choice for screenshots.
When choosing to work with PNG, it is important to know its advantages and disadvantages.
What are the advantages of PNG?
There are some great characteristics of PNG files such as high image quality and maintaining transparency. But what are the advantages of using this file format?
- Lossless compression – This benefit makes PNG files great for editing images.
- Large number of colors – By supporting a large number of colors, a limited range of 256 colors makes this type of file a perfect option for graphics and images containing text.
- No patent – Since PNG files are patent-free they can be viewed and edited by a huge range of programs without a license.
What are the disadvantages of PNG?
- Larger file size – The size of compressing a single PNG file is much larger compared to JPEG. Which makes the page of the website load slower.
- NO CMYK color modes – The missing support for CMYK color modes can make transferring them to print more difficult.
- Lack of animation support – Another disadvantage is that PNG doesn’t support animation, unlike GIF files. However, there are some unofficial extensions available: MNG and APNG.
Conclusion
Most browsers and image editing programs accept PNG files. This advantage, as well as the ability of transparency, high quality, the number of colors, and lossless compression, makes PNG files preferred by graphic artists and web developers.
