Essential Image Formatting Tips For Photographers
When To Use PNG Vs. JPG?
If you’ve ever had files that look stunning on your screen but look like crap on social media or your blog you’ve probably wrestled with which format is best. With so many options for exporting to share images and graphics online, the two most common formats are PNG and JPG.
Why Does Image File Type Even Matter?
You’ve got a killer photo or an important graphic to share, but hold up, how you save it can determine whether the colors pop or if everything ends up looking terrible! It can also impact how large the file is, which matters when you’re posting online or storing thousands of photos.
Anyone who’s tried emailing a high-res image file knows that painfully slow feeling of a 25MB file struggling to send. Different formats have different strengths, especially if your images feature text, logos, or photography with a lot of subtle gradations. Something else a lot of folks overlook is that format can affect editing. If you keep re-saving a JPG, you might start noticing a little deterioration in quality (a phenomenon known as “generation loss”) – which is why I always recommend editing your RAW files in Lightroom or PhotoShop. But that’s a blog for another day!
PNG files, on the other hand, don’t lose quality each time you save them, though they might start chewing through your hard drive space like it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Of course, it’s possible to convert PNG to JPG, but knowing which format best suits your needs can help save you a lot of hassles along the way.
What is a PNG?
PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics and fancy name aside, its defining feature is the ability to preserve transparency and avoid lossy compression. If you’re working on a design that requires a logo or text over a transparent background, PNG is absolutely perfect. That means, when you’re creating graphics for your blog or social media – PNG is the way to go!
Another key benefit is that PNG uses lossless compression, meaning the image retains its detail no matter how many times you resave it. That’s handy for images with flat colors or sharp edges, such as graphics, screenshots, or clipart.
But there’s a catch, PNG files can get pretty dang large. If you try turning a richly detailed photograph into a PNG, you’ll likely end up with a monster file. It’s no problem if you’re dealing with a few images, but if you’ve got a massive photo library, expect your storage to fill up fast. And it can make uploading to your blog or website really not ideal.
What is a JPG?
JPG (or JPEG) stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, and JPG’s are the go-to format for photographic images because it uses “lossy compression,” which squishes file sizes down by discarding some data after saving from RAW format.
The idea of using “lossy compression” might sound scary, but your eyes likely won’t detect much difference, especially on a screen. This approach is fantastic when you need smaller files, especially when you can get crisp, vibrant images for web use or emails without hogging your bandwidth.
The downside, though, is visible when you push the compression too far. You might see blocky artifacts or banding in areas that should be smooth. And as mentioned, every time you resave a JPG, it compresses again, losing a bit more detail. If you keep your editing minimal and store the higher quality RAW version, you’ll probably never have to worry about that.
But if you open, edit, and resave a JPG twenty times, it’ll look pretty terrible compared to when you first started – which is DEFINITELY not ideal for printing!!!
When Should You Use PNG For Images?
- Logos & Graphics: If you need transparent backgrounds, crisp edges, or you’re working on text-based designs, PNG is the way to go. You’ll avoid nasty blurring or jagged lines that can pop up with high-compression formats.
- Screenshots: If you’re recording UI elements, software tutorials, or infographics, PNG images ensure that small text and lines remain easy to read.
- Minimal Color Gradients: For images without subtle transitions, like icons or simple artwork, PNG retains every pixel of detail without compression-related fuzziness.
- Frequent Editing: Planning to repeatedly open, tweak, and save a graphic? PNG’s lossless approach means you can do so without downgrading the quality over time. But, for photos, I really only recommend re-editing the original RAW photo files!
Just be prepared for big file sizes. Your computer might sigh from exhaustion if you’re editing a huge PNG project while running multiple design programs. And your internet might act a fool if you decide to bulk-upload them somewhere.
When Should You Use JPG For Images?
- Photography: Most photographers prefer JPG for everyday shots that need to be shared, emailed, or posted online.
- Prints: High-quality JPGs (set to minimal compression) are the preferred file types for print labs like Millers or Artifact Uprising. Just keep an eye on resolution and compression levels when you’re exporting to ensure you get that glossy, true-to-life look. This is great for graduating senior sessions, game and competition photos for athletes, and more, especially when you want to share it far and wide.
- Web & Social Media: Faster loading times matter when folks are scrolling through infinite feeds. JPG files load quickly, and services like Instagram and Facebook re-compress images anyway, so PNG’s edge might be wasted. When exporting your JPGs from Lightroom, you can export specifically for sharing online.
- Large Collections: If you’re hoarding a massive library of photos, JPG keeps your storage usage and backup times way more manageable. I personally keep all of the original RAW files as well as the finished JPG files, but, then again – I like to go back and re-edit old photos when my editing skills improve or change.
AGAIN: Just remember that resaving or going nuts with compression can degrade quality. My tip: keep a high-resolution “master” copy in a format like TIFF or RAW1
AND AGAIN: Whenever you need a social-media-ready version, export a smaller, more compressed file. It’s an easy workflow to protect your primary files.
So … Basically …
Ultimately, PNGs are perfect for images that demand crystal clear lines and a transparent background, while JPGs remain the reigning champion for photos. When you’re sharing your work and information online, be sure to use the best option for your images and graphics!