There are several image formats that are suitable for the web, including JPEG, PNG, SVG, WEBP and GIF.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
JPEG is a popular format for photographs and images with lots of colors and details. It is a compressed format that can reduce file size without compromising image quality. JPEG is widely supported by web browsers and is recommended for photographs and complex images.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
PNG is a lossless format that supports transparency and is ideal for images with simple graphics, logos, and icons. PNG files tend to be larger than JPEG files, but they offer higher quality and can be compressed without losing any information. PNG is recommended for images with transparency and simple graphics.
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
SVG is a vector image format that uses XML to describe two-dimensional graphics. Unlike raster images, which are made up of pixels, SVG images are scalable and can be resized without losing quality.
SVG is ideal for graphics that need to be scaled, such as logos, icons, and illustrations. It is also suitable for animations and interactive graphics.
SVG is supported by all modern web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. It is a lightweight format that can help to improve the performance of your website by reducing the size of your graphics files.
WEBP
WEBP is a relatively new image format developed by Google that offers superior compression compared to JPEG and PNG. It uses advanced compression algorithms to create smaller file sizes without compromising image quality.
WEBP supports both lossy and lossless compression, making it suitable for a wide range of images, including photographs, graphics, and animations. It also supports transparency and can be animated, similar to GIF.
While WEBP offers many advantages over other image formats, it is not yet widely supported by all web browsers. As of 2021, most modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, support WEBP. However, Internet Explorer does not support WEBP.
If you decide to use WEBP on your website, it is important to provide fallback images in other formats, such as JPEG or PNG, for users with unsupported browsers. This will ensure that all users can view the images on your website, regardless of their browser or device.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
GIF is a format that supports animation and is ideal for simple animations and graphics. GIF files are limited to a maximum of 256 colors, which makes them unsuitable for photographs and complex images. However, they are widely supported by web browsers and can be used to create simple animations and graphics.
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
TIFF is a file format commonly used for storing raster graphics images, such as photographs and digital art. TIFF is a flexible format that can store images with a high level of detail and color depth, making it suitable for professional printing and publishing.
While TIFF is a popular format for storing images, it is not commonly used for displaying images on the web due to its large file size. TIFF files are typically much larger than other image formats, such as JPEG and PNG, which can slow down the loading time of web pages.
In addition, some web browsers may not support TIFF images, which can cause compatibility issues for users. TIFF files are not ideal for the web. Here’s why:
- Large file size: TIFFs are known for their high quality, but this comes at the cost of a large file size. Large files take longer to load, slowing down your website.
- Limited browser support: While some browsers may display TIFFs, it’s not guaranteed. This means some visitors might not see your image at all.
- Alternatives exist: There are other image formats, like JPEG and PNG, that are better suited for web use. They offer good quality at a much smaller file size and have near universal browser support.
In short: If you’re looking to display images on a website, it’s best to convert your TIFF files to a more web-friendly format like JPEG or PNG.
Conclusion
In general, JPEG is the recommended format for photographs and complex images, while PNG is recommended for images with transparency and simple graphics. GIF should be used for simple animations and graphics. However, the choice of image format ultimately depends on the specific needs of the website and the type of image being used.
NOTE: Palleon Image Editor comes in a built-in functionality which allows you to download your design as JPEG, PNG, WEBP, TIFF or SVG. This means you can convert an image format to the other easily.
