PNG, JPEG, or WebP: Choose an Image Format for Publishing
Choose a format for photos, transparent graphics, or web images. Check dimensions, file size, and the limits of conversion before exporting.
By PixOnDeck ·
Choose an image format for the place where the file will be used. A transparent logo, a profile photograph, and a website banner have different requirements. First check the destination's accepted formats, pixel dimensions, and file-size limit; then prepare a delivery copy from your original.
AI-generated concept illustration, not actual conversion results. The checkerboard represents transparency; it is part of the illustration and does not mean this image file is transparent.
Choose PNG, JPEG, or WebP for the task
| Your task | Starting choice | Check before publishing |
|---|---|---|
| A cutout or logo needs a transparent background | PNG | Edge transparency and whether the destination retains it |
| A photograph must be submitted as JPG/JPEG | JPEG | The background, fine detail, and upload limit |
| A website accepts WebP and you want to compare delivery options | WebP | The downloaded result, file size, and the site's upload support |
| A diagram or graphic contains small text and hard edges | PNG as a starting point | Lettering, thin lines, and any changes from export settings |
| The recipient names a required format | That format | Open the actual exported file before sending it |
PNG and WebP support transparency; JPEG does not. The .jpg and .jpeg extensions refer to the same format. MDN's image format guide documents these format capabilities. A format being supported by a browser does not establish that every publishing service accepts it.
No format change repairs an already blurry source. If the issue is pixel dimensions or framing, first read upscaling, resizing, and outpainting: which change do you need?.
Know what the converter changes
The PixOnDeck image converter processes static images in your browser. It accepts PNG, JPEG, WebP, AVIF, JPEG XL, and HEIC/HEIF input, and offers PNG, JPEG, WebP, AVIF, or JPEG XL output. For HEIC/HEIF, it processes the primary still image with SDR output; it is not a way to preserve a Live Photo or an HDR workflow.
Conversion changes the file encoding while keeping the pixel dimensions. Transparent areas become white when exported to JPEG. Prepare a different background in an editor first if white is unsuitable.
PNG export also needs a settings check. In PixOnDeck's converter and compressor, the quality presets can reduce the color palette while retaining transparency. Do not assume a PNG download is an unchanged copy of the original colors. Inspect gradients, brand colors, and small lettering.
When a PNG, JPEG, or WebP input is already in the selected output format, the converter can return the original file unchanged. Use the compressor when the goal is a smaller file rather than a different format.
Prepare the delivery copy in four steps
1. Set the final framing and dimensions
Keep a separate original. If a crop is needed, choose it in an editor before preparing the final size. In the image resizer, width-only or height-only resizing keeps the source proportions. Exact width and height stretch the image to fit; that mode does not crop or add scenery.
The resizer accepts PNG, JPEG, and WebP. For another supported source format, first use the converter to make an input the resizer accepts. If the resizer already exports the format you need, skip a separate conversion step.
2. Convert only if the delivery format needs changing
Open the image converter, choose your image and the required output format, then process and download. For transparent artwork, inspect the edge against the background on which it will appear. For JPEG, confirm that a white replacement for transparency is acceptable.
3. Compress if the file is still too large
Open the image compressor with the prepared copy. Choose the output format and a quality preset, then compare the downloaded file with the source. Check actual file size as well as text, faces, edges, and gradients.
Compression does not guarantee a particular number of kilobytes. An already optimized image may not get smaller; for same-format compression, PixOnDeck keeps the original if re-encoding would be no smaller. If the file still exceeds the limit, consider smaller dimensions where the destination permits them, or another accepted format. Start another attempt from the retained source rather than repeatedly compressing a lossy download.
4. Check the file at its destination
Open the downloaded file, then use the destination's preview if one is available. Check for automatic cropping, an unexpected background, or text that becomes hard to read at display size. Keep the delivery copy and original clearly separated.
- Accepted format:
- Required width and height:
- Maximum file size:
- Transparent or solid background:
- Downloaded dimensions and file size checked:
- Destination preview checked:
For a headshot, format and file size come after likeness and crop. Use the headshot reference guide to assess the source photograph and portrait result before preparing its delivery copy.
Ready to change the file type? Open the image converter. If the format is already accepted, go straight to resizing or compression for the requirement that remains.