JPG Files Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1 What does JPG stand for?

JPG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group.

JPG is a raster file format. It consists of a grid of separate pixels, each with a distinct color, which combine to form a complete image.

Programs that can open JPG files include Inkscape, GIMP, Photoshop, Default Photo Viewer, File Helper, XnView, Microsoft Photos, Microsoft Paint, IrfanView, Preview, Edit Your JPEG, and Google Photos.

Whether JPEG is better than PNG format depends on the application area or use case since every format has merits and demerits. As such, the definitive choice between PNG and JPEG should be anchored on a project's specific needs.

Yes. You can edit a JPG file. Various image editing software, including Pixlr, GIMP, or Photoshop, allows users to edit their JPG files by adjusting colors, cropping, resizing, adding text, and applying filters. However, editing JPGs can result in quality loss since they support lossy compression.

To make a JPG file smaller in size, compress it using GIMP, TinyJPG, or Photoshop; alternatively, resize the JPG file by reducing its dimensions, or convert it to a more compressed format such as WEBP.

JPG is a lossy file format. During compression, its files lose data permanently to minimize file sizes, reducing image quality.

You cannot make a JPG image transparent because the format does not support transparency. Nonetheless, users can make JPG transparent by converting it to other formats that support transparency, such as PNG. Below are steps to achieve this goal: 

To Make a JPG Transparent

  1. Open a JPG Image in an Editor
    • Use online editors like Photopea or image editing programs such as GIMP or Photoshop.
  2. Convert the JPG Background to a Layer
    • If the JPG image has background layers, convert them to a regular layer.
    • Double-click the JPG background layer in the layers panel.
  3. Remove the Background
    • Use Eraser, Lasso, or Magic Wand software to remove the background.
  4. Save as PNG
    • After removing the JPG background and making the image transparent, save it in PNG format.

A JPG file can be low resolution or high resolution depending on the settings used when the original file was saved and the image quality.

Yes. You can print a JPG file. It is a standard file format for digital images; most printing software and printers support it. However, to ensure high-quality printouts, use a high-resolution JPG, such as 300 PPI or higher.

Yes. Our JPG to SVG file converter and JPG to EPS file converter can convert a JPEG (a raster-base file format) to a vector file such as EPS or SVG.

To compress JPG files without losing quality, use lossless compression methods or cautiously adjust the compression settings to preserve visual quality. First, you can use lossless compression tools such as JPEGmini, RIOT, or FileOptimizer. Alternatively, you can resize the image dimensions or adjust the compression settings carefully in Adobe Photoshop by following these steps: 

  1. Open the JPG image 
  2. Go to File > Save As.
  3. Select JPG as the preferred format.
  • Use the quality slider to set it to the highest quality 

Or

  • Use the "Save for Web" option (set quality between 85 and 90%) to balance quality and size.