When is PNG better than JPG?
PNG file type offers high-resolution images with superior color depth. It retains all file details with lossless compression, while JPG uses lossy compression that deletes unnecessary file information, making its images blurry or lose color during printing.
Consequently, the PNG file format is suitable for delivering high-quality printouts using industrial or home printers.
When is JPG better than PNG?
JPG uses lossy compression with discrete cosine transform (DCT) algorithms that merge similar pixels and discard excessive image information, making its files smaller and of higher quality. In contrast, the lossless PNG format retains all image data, making its files larger.
Thus, the pros of JPG images include speed and efficiency - they are smaller, require less storage space, and are compatible with most software and platforms, allowing them to be easily shared online. The balance between file size and image quality makes them suitable for digital photography.
JPG versus PNG Table Comparison
| Element | PNG | JPG |
| Transparency | Supports transparency | Does not support transparency |
| File Size | There is no definite size limit, and they are larger than JPG | Smaller than PNG |
| Image Quality | Higher quality images than JPG images due to its lossless compression. | Low-quality images compared to PNGs due to their lossy compression. |
| Performance | They load slower than JPGs due to their larger files. | They load faster than PNGs due to their smaller files. |
| Structure | Begins with an 8-byte signature and includes multiple chunks for various types of data. | Starts with a specific binary value (0xFFD8) and ends with another (0xFFD9). |
| Animation | It does not support animation or lively content | It does not support animation or lively content |
| Storage | Requires more storage space than JPG. | It requires less storage space than PNG. |
| Compression | Uses lossless compression | Uses lossy compression |
| Browser Support | Supported by all browsers. | Supported by all browsers. |
Differences and similarities between PNG and JPG images
PNG and JPG are great file formats, similar in browser support, storage medium, and animation support. However, both file formats exhibit differences in transparency support, file size, image quality, compression technique, performance, and structure. Therefore, it is critical to look at PNG versus JPG features.
Transparency
JPG does not support transparency, while PNG does. A PNG file handles transparency by supporting the 'alpha channel.' Each pixel is set to a transparency level between 0 (completely transparent) and 255 (completely opaque) through the alpha channel.
The tRNS ancillary chunk then controls the transparency subjects in PNG’s structure. PNG similarly supports the RGBA color scheme, which supplements the non-compulsory alpha channel with 256 levels of transparency.
In contrast, webmasters or designers cannot incorporate transparent backgrounds into JPG images. Nonrectangular graphics or logos that feature many texts cannot function appropriately in JPG file format.
JPG files struggle to merge flawlessly with websites featuring different background colors. If an image is saved in a JPG file format, the transparent pixels are filled with white, a solid color.
File Size
When working with PNG and JPG files, it is essential to consider file sizes. If users have limited storage space and need to maximize available space, JPG images are often preferable because they generally have smaller file sizes due to lossy compression. The compression ratio for JPG can vary, but it commonly achieves around a 10:1 ratio, significantly reducing file size at the cost of some image quality.
On the other hand, the PNG file format offers higher-quality images with lossless compression, which preserves all image data but results in larger file sizes compared to JPG. While PNG images are significantly smaller than the original uncompressed files, they are typically larger than JPG files, meaning fewer PNG files can be stored on the same device compared to JPG.
Image Quality
The quality of images produced using PNG and JPG file formats depends on the compression technique. JPG uses discrete cosine transformation (DCT) compression, deletes image data and results in low-quality or blurry images.
The JPG lossy compression method takes identical pixels and places them together. DCT compression helps users create smaller file sizes than PNG, although at the expense of losing image data. Conversely, PNG images use a lossless compression method called LZW compression.
Lossless PNG compression preserves image details, resulting in high-quality PNG images. Users intending to maintain a higher image quality should opt for PNG images over JPG. Nonetheless, the ultimate PNG file size can be larger than that of JPG images.
Performance
The size of a file or an image format can affect data usage or bandwidth, loading times, and storage space needed - particularly on mobile apps and websites.
Whereas the JPG file format is recognized for its smaller file sizes, unnecessary image data is lost during lossy compression, compromising the image over time. However, the impact of quality is negligible, primarily when users prioritize speed and efficiency.
JPG is the best compared to PNG, especially for online or website usage where faster loading time is necessary. Thus, in terms of website performance and user experience, JPG’s smaller file size is the way to go.
On the other hand, the PNG file format tends to generate larger files using its lossless compression method. Nevertheless, the quality preservation nature of this file format comes at the cost of larger file sizes, which comparatively slow down the webpage loading time or website responsiveness.
Structure
JPG is a raster file format with segments beginning with a marker and several binary OxFFXX data. The first marker has a binary value, 'OxFFD8', and ends with a binary value, 'OxFFD9'. The makers designate the time of the JPG data or information.
A 0x00 byte is inserted after any 0xFF byte before the next byte within the entropy-compressed data. The insertion prevents framing errors because there will be no markers where they are not intended to be or exist. Decoders tend to skip the 0x00 byte. Structurally, JPG files are hardly comparable to PNG file formats.
In contrast, a PNG file comprises an 8-byte signature header, closely followed by chunks containing image information, control data, or metadata. Every chunk in a PNG file has three standard fields: a 4-byte CRC, a 4-byte type code, a 4-byte length, and many internal fields depending on the chunk type.
Animation
PNG and JPG file formats do not support animation. JPG has nonrectangular graphics or logos that feature many texts, which cannot function properly to support animation. PNG and JPG files can be challenging to edit and use in creating lively animated content.
Storage
JPG uses lossy compression to encode and store data. Lossy compression produces smaller JPG file sizes that require less storage space than the compressed lossless PNG images. However, the quality of the lossy-compressed JPG image is compromised since unnecessary data is lost or deleted.
PNG uses lossless compression to compress and store image data. The compressed data is stored interlaced to aid in progressive display. Both JPG and PNG compressed files have no definite storage period. However, JPG files degrade with repeated editing and compression over time.
The storage period for PNG and JPG depends on the handling process, storage medium used, and situations. Technical issues such as hard drive crashes or loss of storage media can destroy PNG or JPG images.
The storage mediums used to store PNG and JPG images are Hard Drives, file systems, cloud storage, flash drives, Content Delivery Network, and Base64 Encoding.
Compression
Among the critical decisions made when choosing between JPG and PNG is the compression method used particularly, lossy for JPG and lossless for PNG. JPG uses lossy compression that involves data deletion or some degree of data loss.
When saving JPG images, the algorithm deletes some data to reduce the file size. Thus, the file JPG image balances between image quality and file size. Whereas the lossless JPG process leans towards a slight decrease in image quality, it is ordinarily invisible to the human eye.
Nevertheless, any deleted image data during lossless compression is lost forever, which happens each time the image is compressed and saved. The more a JPG image is edited and saved over time, the higher its quality is lost.
In contrast, PNG uses a lossless compression method, where all image information is retained, or no data is deleted during compression. However, PNG uses the Huffman compression algorithm, which finds an efficient way to represent identical information, giving an image similar to the original PNG image after decompression.
Whereas lossless PNG ensures preservation and higher quality images, it results in larger file sizes than JPG. The users’ choice regarding lossy and lossless compression finally depends on whether you look for image quality or storage efficiency.
Browser Support
PNG and JPG enjoy universal support from web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Mozilla, Discord, Brave, and Opera. However, the file formats are incompatible with Internet Explorer 6 and other older browsers.
Converting PNG to JPG or JPG to PNG
One would want to convert PNG to JPG format because JPG reduces file size using lossy compression for efficient storage and display. Besides, JPG files or images download faster and are easily shared online, besides being compatible with most applications and devices. Convert PNG to JPG using Convertjack.
On the other hand, one would want to convert JPEG to PNG because PNG files offer capabilities including higher quality lossless compression faded edges and support alpha channel transparency. Use Convertjack as your JPEG to PNG converter because it upholds image quality and offers instant results.