AVIF
What AVIF is, how it compares to JPG, PNG, and WebP, and when to use it for screenshots and images.
AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is an image format published by the Alliance for Open Media in 2019. It stores frames compressed with the AV1 video codec inside a HEIF container, the same ISO base media file structure that HEIC uses. Files use the .avif extension and the MIME type image/avif.
AVIF supports lossy and lossless compression, an alpha channel, 8, 10 and 12 bits per channel, HDR and wide color gamut. It can also hold image sequences for animation.
At a similar visual quality, AVIF files are often smaller than JPEG and WebP files. Encoding is slower than JPEG, and the gap grows at higher effort settings.
Convert image formats
Temposhot exports PNG, JPG and WebP images, and Image Converter converts between those three in the browser. For AVIF, export PNG first to keep full detail, then encode it with an AVIF-capable tool.
How AVIF compares
| Format | Compression | Alpha | Typical strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPG | Lossy | No | Photos, universal support |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | UI text, exact pixels |
| WebP | Lossy or lossless | Yes | Web images, wide support |
| AVIF | Lossy or lossless | Yes | Small web images, HDR |
Browser and tool support
Current versions of the major browsers decode AVIF. Older browsers, some image editors, email clients and upload forms do not. Support changes over time, so check the target application or service before you publish AVIF only. Websites often serve AVIF with a JPEG or WebP fallback.
When to use AVIF
AVIF suits web pages where file size matters and the audience uses current browsers. Photo-heavy screenshots and hero images benefit most. For editing, archiving and OCR input, a lossless PNG master is a safer source.
Common mistakes
- Using a low quality setting on screenshots with small text, which softens thin strokes.
- Converting a JPG to AVIF and expecting quality to improve. Detail lost earlier does not come back.
- Sending AVIF files to people whose tools cannot open them.
- Deleting the PNG master after encoding.
Have an image to fix right now?
Shrink a PNG or JPG in the browser with Image Compressor, or switch formats with Image Converter.
Common questions
Is AVIF lossless?
It can be. AVIF has a lossless mode, but most AVIF files on the web use lossy compression.
Does Temposhot export AVIF?
No. Temposhot exports PNG, JPG and WebP images, plus GIF, MP4 and PDF.
Sources
Related resources
- Export formats: what each Temposhot export produces.
- Website Capture options: JPEG, PNG and WebP output with quality 1-100.
Taking the same screenshots again and again?
Temposhot captures a screen, window or area on a timer and exports the set as a PDF, images, ZIP or MP4. The free browser tools fix single images.
Related resources
Related terms
- WebPWhat WebP is, how it compares to PNG and JPG, and when to use it for screenshots.
- HEICWhat HEIC is, how it compares to JPG, and how to handle Apple's default photo format in cross-platform workflows.
- Image FormatOverview of common image formats — PNG, JPG, WebP, AVIF — and when to use each.
- Lossy CompressionWhat lossy compression is, which image formats use it, and how to balance file size against visual quality.
- Image CompressionWhat image compression is, lossy vs lossless explained, and common mistakes when compressing screenshots.