Image Format
Overview of common image formats — PNG, JPG, WebP, AVIF — and when to use each.
An image format is the specification for how an image is stored in a file. It defines whether the image is raster (a grid of pixels) or vector (shapes and paths), which compression method is used, how many colors and bits per channel are allowed, and whether transparency, animation and metadata are supported.
Software identifies a format by the first bytes of the file, its signature, as well as by the extension. A PNG file starts with the bytes 89 50 4E 47, and a JPEG file starts with FF D8 FF. On the web, the format is also declared with a MIME type such as image/png.
The same picture saved in two formats can differ greatly in size and sharpness.
Convert image formats
Image Converter converts between PNG, JPG and WebP in the browser. Temposhot exports PNG, JPG and WebP directly, so a separate conversion step is often not needed.
Common formats compared
| Format | Type | Compression | Alpha | Animation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNG | Raster | Lossless | Yes | APNG only |
| JPG | Raster | Lossy | No | No |
| WebP | Raster | Lossy or lossless | Yes | Yes |
| AVIF | Raster | Lossy or lossless | Yes | Yes |
| GIF | Raster | Lossless, 256 colors | Binary | Yes |
| SVG | Vector | Text, optional gzip | Yes | Yes |
When to use each format
- PNG: interface screenshots, text, OCR input and master copies.
- JPG: photos and photo-heavy screenshots where size matters.
- WebP: web pages that need small files with or without transparency.
- AVIF: web delivery to current browsers.
- GIF: short simple loops. MP4 is usually smaller for longer motion.
- SVG: logos, icons and diagrams.
- PDF: multi-page documents built from screenshots.
Format and screenshot quality
Screenshots contain sharp edges and flat colors, which lossy formats handle less well than photos. A lossless PNG keeps every edge. JPG and WebP at quality 85 are often acceptable for sharing. In Temposhot, the JPG quality range is 1-100 with a default of 85.
Common mistakes
- Saving screenshots as JPG at low quality.
- Renaming a file's extension and expecting the format to change.
- Using GIF for long recordings.
- Sending WebP or AVIF to tools that cannot open them.
Have an image to fix right now?
Convert with Image Converter or shrink a file with Image Compressor.
Common questions
What is the best format for screenshots?
PNG for sharp text and editing. JPG or WebP when file size matters more.
Is SVG a screenshot format?
No. Screenshots are raster images. SVG is for shapes drawn as paths.
Sources
Related resources
- Export formats: every Temposhot export option.
- Website Capture options: JPEG, PNG or WebP output.
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
- PNGHow the PNG image format works, when to use it for screenshots, and how it compares to JPG and WebP.
- JPGHow JPG compression works, when to use it vs PNG and WebP, and common mistakes with lossy screenshot formats.
- WebPWhat WebP is, how it compares to PNG and JPG, and when to use it for screenshots.
- SVGWhat SVG is, how vector graphics differ from raster images, and when SVG is the right format for your content.
- AVIFWhat AVIF is, how it compares to JPG, PNG, and WebP, and when to use it for screenshots and images.
- Image CompressionWhat image compression is, lossy vs lossless explained, and common mistakes when compressing screenshots.