Image Converter

It can be challenging to determine which image file type will best meet your needs given the wide variety of image file types available. While some image formats, like TIFF, are ideal for printing, JPG or PNG work best for web graphics.

A specific type of file converter known as an image converter transforms one image file format (such as a JPG, BMP, or PNG) into another. This kind of software can be useful if the format of a photo, graphic, or other image file prevents you from using it the way you'd like.

Here, we are providing a compiled list of some more common file types & provide a brief description of it, which file best fits, and any special attributes regarding the file.

Common Types Of Image File Formats

The following list of common digital image file formats is provided as follows.

• JPG
• PNG
• WEBP
• GIF
• BMP

1.  JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg)

A JPEG (pronounced "JAY-peg") is a graphic image file created in accordance with the Joint Photographic Experts Group standard. This team of professionals creates and updates standards for a variety of computer image file compression algorithms. .jpg is the standard file extension for JPEGs.

The most prevalent file type you encounter online might be JPEGs, and the letterhead your company uses in MS Word almost certainly contains this type of image.

JPEGs are renowned for their "lossy" compression, which implies that as the file size decreases, the image quality does too.

JPEGs are suitable for use in Microsoft Office documents, on the web, and for high-resolution printing projects. For a project to turn out well, consideration of the resolution and file size with JPEGs is crucial.

JPG vs JPEG

The filename extensions of "jpg" and "jpeg" are identical. Your file will function the same way no matter what name you give it and in the same format.

Only because.jpeg was condensed to.jpg to fit the three-character limit in early versions of Windows do the two extensions for the same format exist. Even though there is no longer a requirement for this, many image software programmes still use.jpg by default.

• Compression: Lossy - information of some files is compressed or lost
• Best For: Web Images, Powerpoint, Non-Professional Printing, E-Mail,
• Special Attributes: When saving images in image editing programmes like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP, the level of compression can be selected.

2.  PNG (.png)

PNG (pronounced as "ping") It's a Portable Network Graphics file format for image compression. In comparison to the GIF format, it has numerous benefits which can help you a lot.

A PNG file, like a GIF, is compressed losslessly, which means that when the file is decompressed for viewing, all image information can be recovered. .png is the standard extension for PNG files.

The majority of web projects use PNGs because they allow you to save your image with more colours and a transparent background. This results in a much sharper image suitable for the web.

• Compression: Lossless - compression without loss of quality
• Best For: Web Images
• Special Attributes: Save Transparency

3. GIF (.gif)

The Graphics Interchange Format is also referred to as JIF by some people, including the format's creator, and GIF by others. GIFs are binarily encoded and use a two-dimensional (2D) raster data type. The.gif extension is typically used for GIF files.

An animated GIF image format is GIF89a. The ability to create and play an animated image on a webpage is this format's main advantage. Examples of animated GIFs include a whirling icon, a banner with a waving hand, or letters that enlarge on their own. Presentations of interlaced GIF files can also use GIF89a.

GIF is a popular file format for web projects where an image must load quickly rather than one that must maintain a higher level of quality.

• Compression: Lossless - compression without loss of quality
• Best For: Web Images
• Special Attributes: Can be Animated, Can Save Transparency

4. Bitmap (.bmp)

In web apps and content, the BMP (Bitmap image) file type is primarily used on Windows-based computers and is typically only used in unique circumstances.

Note: BMP files shouldn't typically be used as website content. When compared to png or jpg image types, the most prevalent type of BMP file displays the data as an uncompressed raster image, resulting in large file sizes. Although there are more effective BMP formats, they are rarely used and supported by web browsers.

Theoretically, BMP is compatible with a wide range of internal data representations. The most basic and widely used type of BMP file is an uncompressed raster image with each row being padded with 0x00 bytes to a multiple of 4 bytes wide and each pixel occupying 3 bytes to represent its red, green, and blue components.

Although there are other data representations defined in the specification, they are rarely used and frequently go entirely unimplemented. Support for various bit depths, indexed colour, alpha channels, and various pixel orders are some of these features (by default, rather than from the top-left corner toward the right and bottom, BMP is written from the bottom-left corner toward the right & top).

• Compression: None
• Best For: High-quality scans, archival copies

5. WEBP (WebP)

This is an excellent option for static images as well as animated images.

WebP supports both lossless compressions, which substitutes for repeating data, and lossy compression using predictive coding based on the VP8 video codec. Lossy WebP images are typically 25–35% smaller than JPEG images with comparable visual levels of compression.

Typically, lossless WebP images are 26% smaller than equivalent images in PNG format. With support for higher colour depths, animated frames, transparency, and other features, WebP offers much better compression than PNG or JPEG.

Key Takeaway: Choosing The Right Image Format

For a specific need, using the appropriate image formats enables you to achieve the best performance. For instance, if you use the appropriate formats for website optimization, your users will experience your website more favourably overall and at a faster loading speed.

Given that there are fewer options with widespread support and that each has a distinct set of use cases, choosing the best image format for your needs is probably simpler than choosing the best video format.