Choose an image format for the job

Start with the content and the destination

A photograph, a transparent logo and a screenshot have different needs. Ask whether the image needs transparency, whether fine text must stay crisp and which formats the destination accepts. Those answers narrow the choice before you move a quality slider.

Our image resizer handles still JPEG, PNG and WebP. It does not export SVG, AVIF, animations or layered design files. For a vector logo, keep the original vector source in your design workflow rather than treating a raster conversion as an equivalent replacement.

Use JPEG for photographic content when suitable

JPEG is often a practical option for a photograph accepted by a wide range of publishing tools. It uses lossy compression, so compare the exported appearance with the source. Look closely at edges, texture and areas surrounding fine text.

JPEG cannot retain transparency. This tool fills transparent areas with white before export. If an image must sit cleanly over different background colors, choose a format with transparency instead.

Repeatedly editing and exporting a JPEG can introduce additional loss. Keep the original and make each new publication version from that source.

Use PNG when lossless output or transparency matters

PNG is useful for flat graphics, screenshots and transparent raster assets. Its lossless encoding does not mean the entire resizing operation is lossless: resizing necessarily changes pixels. “Lossless” describes how the newly rendered image is encoded.

PNG may be considerably larger than JPEG or WebP for photographs. The quality input does not reduce a PNG’s export quality or file size in this tool. Change the dimensions or choose another supported format if the output is too large.

Try WebP and verify the destination

WebP supports transparency and can be a useful publishing format. Actual output size depends on the source and export settings, so measure it rather than assuming it will always be smaller.

Check the destination’s supported upload formats. A browser being able to display WebP does not guarantee that a particular publishing system accepts it. If your browser cannot encode the selected format, the tool reports that and asks for another choice.

Make a fair comparison

1. Load the practice image or your own source.
2. Choose one output width and keep it unchanged throughout the comparison.
3. Export JPEG at quality 85 and note the size.
4. Export WebP at the same starting quality and note the size.
5. Export PNG if its transparency or lossless encoding is relevant.
6. Open each downloaded file at the intended display size, checking edges and small details.
7. Choose the smallest result that meets your quality, transparency and compatibility needs.

Quality numbers are not visually equivalent across formats. A quality of 85 in JPEG is not a promise of exactly the same appearance as 85 in WebP. Judge the images themselves.

Keep the output’s purpose clear

Use the correct filename extension and descriptive name. Keep separate versions when destinations differ, for example a transparent site asset and a white-background email image. Never change an extension alone to “convert” a file.

For a complete preparation process, follow Resize images for the web or combine the image with structured content in Make a tidy publishing kit.