PS and AVIF file formats are prevalent in web design and development. However, owing to the benefits of each format, choosing a given file type at the expense of the other amounts to opportunity cost: missing out on the features offered by the unselected format.
The article determines the structural differences and similarities by analyzing PS vs. AVIF regarding animation and transparency support, storage needs, structure, compression, file size, browser support, image quality, and performance, attributes that determine the best image format for a particular situation.
When is AVIF better than PS?
AVIF images are smaller and widely supported by almost all web browsers, while PS images are larger and have limited web browser support. This makes AVIF files suitable when there is limited storage.
The AVIF files are suitable for generating photographic portfolios, blogs, digital art, and graphic design with better user experience.
When is PS better than AVIF?
PS images can be scaled upwards or downwards without losing image resolution and high-quality levels, while AVIF images become pixelated or indistinct when scaled up or down.
The PS file extension is ideal for graphic design projects, including print layouts, illustrations, logos, and image editing activities, namely color correction, resizing, and cropping. PS files are high-resolution, high-quality, and device-independent.
PS versus AVIF Table Comparison
| Element | AVIF | PS |
| Transparency | Supports transparency | Does not support transparency |
| File Size | Smaller files compared to PS files. | Larger files than AVIF files. |
| Image Quality | Excellent image quality than PS. | High-quality, but lower than AVIF image quality. |
| Performance | Loads faster online compared to PS. | Loads slower on websites compared to AVIF. |
| Structure | Raster graphics with nested boxes such as File Type Box Container, Actual Image Data, and Metadata. | Vector graphics with file header, layer data, mask, image information, and color mode data. |
| Animation | Supports animations | Does not support animations. |
| Storage | Smaller and demands less storage space than PS. | Larger and demands more storage space than AVIF. |
| Compression | Support lossy and lossless compression | Consists of uncompressed files. |
| Browser Support | Wider web browser support compared to PS. | Limited web browser support compared to AVIF. |
Differences and similarities between AVIF and PS images
PS files are vector graphics, whereas AVIF files are raster-based. From AVIF versus PS analysis, the formats do not share any similarities. They differ in web browser support, image quality, compression, performance, animation support, structure, storage, transparency, and file size.
Transparency
PS files do not have inherent support for transparency or alpha channels when vector-based images are printed. However, partly translucent or transparent images can be rendered as transparent and opaque pixels. For instance, the translucent PostScript images are called masks.
On the other hand, AVIF supports data transparency at various degrees and enables image representation in images with distinct opacities. The AV1 video codec lets AVIF file users relish the livelier and smoother animations without quality loss or image degradation.
File Size
PS files are detailed and uncompressed. The dimensions of a PS file are limited to 30,000x30,000 pixels. Besides, each PS file cannot exceed 4GB, regardless of available storage space. In contrast, AVIF files are data-rich but use the most efficient AV1 lossy and lossless compression techniques.
Each coded AVIF file cannot exceed 65,536 x 65,536 pixes' maximum size dimension. However, the advanced compression technique of AVIF files makes them smaller than PS files. As a result, for smaller and high-web responsive files, choose AVIF instead of PS files.
Image Quality
AVIF and PS images are high-quality, but AVIF images are slightly higher quality than PS images. For instance, PS files support bit depths, including 1-bit, 2-bit, 4-bit, and 8-bit pixels per channel, which are not comparable to AVIF bit depths.
In contrast, AVIF supports 8-bit, 10-bit, and 12-bit color depths per channel. Besides, it supports multiple color sub-sampling formats like Pro Photo RGB, YUV 420, sRGB, YUV 444, Rec 2020, ICC profile, HDR, and Wide Color Range (WCR). PS files support CMYK, CIE, grayscale, and RGB colors.
Performance
AVIF file type relies on the most advanced and efficient AV1 video codec compression algorithms to compress its data significantly, resulting in smaller files or images than the uncompressed PS files. The detailed and larger PS files load slower on websites than the AVIF files.
The AVIF file format increases online user experience because its images are smaller and of higher quality, consume fewer bytes, incur fewer bandwidth expenses, and necessitate low storage or memory space compared to the PS file format. As such, AVIF should be the preferred format instead of PS for high web responsiveness.
Structure
PS is a vector-based file type, while AVIF is a raster-based file format. The structure of an AVIF file assumes a classified form of nested boxes with image data and metadata. It comprises the File Type Box (ftyp), which identifies and specifies the file type and format version used at the top-lying container or box.
The ftyp container has many boxes, namely the Item Properties Box (iprp), Item Location Box (iloc), and Media Data Box (mdat), with metadata and actual image data. The image metadata is serially stored as compressed frames using AV1 algorithms, with all frames having storage boxes (ispe) and decoder configuration records to provide encoded elements for the image data used for a particular frame.
PS file's structure, on the other hand, includes a header, color mode data, image data, mask, layer information, and other information or elements. The PostScript header contains information concerning the PS file, including the resolution, version number, and type.
The PS describes texts, images, and other elements as mathematical lines and curves rather than a pool of pixels. Therefore, given AVIF is raster-based while PS is a vector graphic file format, their structural designs can hardly be compared.
Animation
PS file type hardly supports animation, whereas AVIF files do. PS files are designed for creating still images or web-based content and lack interactive and multimedia specifications needed to support animation or lively content compared to AVIF. Thus, PS is ideal for printing and screen-based content.
Conversely, using its multilayer image storage structure, the AVIF file extension supports animation, animated content, or lively images. HEIF supports AVIF by enabling its image sequences and elements. As a result, users should choose AVIF instead of PS when the need arises to create animations.
Storage
PS files are very detailed and uncompressed, making them larger than AVIF files. AVIF stores data compressed using AV1 lossless and lossy methods, resulting in smaller files requiring less storage space and fewer bytes than PS. PS format stores data as prearranged texts, graphics, and layouts.
Irrespective of the file sizes and storage demands, AVIF and PS formats' data can be stored for life when appropriately handled and kept under conducive conditions using the best storage mediums, including Hard Drives, Folders, File Systems, Cloud, and Content Delivery Networks.
Compression
PS files are uncompressed illustrations that hardly require lossless or lossy compression. PS users do not need to configure the plotter to use available compression techniques, making PS files larger than AVIFs.
In contrast, AVIF supports innovative and effective lossy and lossless compression using AV1 video codec algorithms. The format produces smaller and higher-quality images compared to PS. The lossy AVIF compresses data by serially deleting some image data using AV1 algorithms in HEIF container format.
Browser Support
The AVIF file type is the most current, popular, and widely used image format by web developers and designers alike. Web browsers and programs support PS files only limitedly, while output devices and web browsers widely support AVIF files.
AVIF files are compatible and supported by older and new web browsers, including Samsung Internet, Chrome, Brave, Safari, Edge, Apple, Opera, Discord, Firefox, and Vivaldi. AVIF is incompatible with Internet Explorer.
In contrast, almost all web browsers do not directly support PostScript (PS) files, as with the AVIF format. Nonetheless, users can add PostScript Compiler and Viewer to their web browsers to open PostScript files in Google Chrome. Thus, choose AVIF over PS for universal web browser support.
Converting AVIF to PS or PS to AVIF
Convertjack is the best online tool that can be used to convert AVIF to PS. PS files are high-quality, detailed, scalable, and highly compatible with most software programs, platforms, and devices, allowing output quality to be regularly high when printing on a professional setup or in the home office.
Convertjack is a dependable online PS to AVIF converter that generates smaller, more web-efficient AVIF files that need fewer bytes and less storage space. These files increase online user experience as they are extensively compatible with almost all web browsers, making them easily exchanged or transferred.