JPG vs. PNG: Which Image Format Should You Use?

When you save an image, you're often faced with a choice: JPG or PNG? While they both create great images, they are designed for different purposes. We break down when to use each format for the best results.

When to Use JPG (or JPEG)

JPG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group and is the best format for photographs and images with complex colors and gradients. It uses "lossy" compression, which means it reduces file size by discarding some image data, but it's very good at doing this without a noticeable drop in quality for photos.

When to Use PNG

PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics. This format uses "lossless" compression, meaning no data is lost when the file is saved. Its biggest advantage is that it supports transparency. This makes it perfect for logos, icons, and images that need a transparent background.