There are so many image formats — JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, TIFF, SVG — it's easy to get confused. Here's a complete guide to common image formats, with a table showing what each is best for.
Common image formats at a glance
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Compatibility | Size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPG | Lossy | No | Excellent | Small | Photos, sharing, documents |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | Good | Large | Logos, icons, transparency |
| WebP | Lossy/Lossless | Yes | Good | Small | Web images, saving bandwidth |
| AVIF | High | Yes | Poor | Tiny | New-platform web |
| GIF | Lossy | Yes | Good | Large | Simple animations, stickers |
| TIFF | Lossless | Yes | Medium | Huge | Print, publishing, scanning |
| SVG | Vector | Yes | Good | Small | Logos, icons, infinite scaling |
Choosing by scenario
Photos, documents, general sharing → JPG — universal and small.
Logos, icons, transparency → PNG or SVG — PNG supports transparency; SVG scales infinitely.
Web pages, saving bandwidth → WebP — smaller at same quality. AVIF for extreme size, watch compatibility.
Print, publishing, pro scanning → TIFF — lossless and detailed.
Simple animations → GIF — easiest for stickers and small animations.
Conversion & compression tips
- Convert formats with the PixelForge Convert Tool
- Compress large images with the Smart Compress Tool
- WebP/AVIF for web, JPG/PNG for local and general use