Whether you’re a photography hobbyist building a website or sharing photos on social media, it’s important to understand image formats. This understanding can make a big difference in how your photos look. It also affects how fast they load. At Chesley Software, we work with clients every day to optimize websites and digital content, and one of the most common pain points we see is confusion around image types. This guide will help you understand the key image formats: JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, and RAW, and how to choose the right one for your needs — whether it’s for your website, social media, or print.
🖼️ JPG (or JPEG)
Type: Lossy Compression
Best For: Web, Social Media, Email, General Photography
Not Ideal For: High-quality print, transparency
Overview:
JPG is the most common image format on the web. It uses lossy compression, which means some image quality is sacrificed to reduce file size. This makes JPGs quick to load and easy to share — perfect for websites and social media.
Tips for Use:
- Great for photos with many colors and gradients (like sunsets or portraits).
- Use 70–80% compression for a good balance of quality and speed.
- Not ideal for images that require sharp edges or transparency (like logos).
🖼️ PNG
Type: Lossless Compression
Best For: Logos, Icons, Transparent Backgrounds
Not Ideal For: Large photographs (due to bigger file size)
Overview:
PNG files retain all image detail without compression loss, which makes them perfect when quality is critical — like with logos or text-based images. PNG also supports transparency, which JPG does not.
Tips for Use:
- Use PNGs for site assets like icons, badges, and overlays.
- Avoid using PNG for large photographic images unless transparency is needed.
🖼️ WebP
Type: Lossy or Lossless
Best For: Modern Websites and Blogs
Not Ideal For: Older browsers (limited support)
Overview:
Developed by Google, WebP is a newer format that provides great quality at smaller file sizes. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, and can even handle transparency.
Tips for Use:
- Use WebP for blog images and product photos to speed up page load times.
- Make sure your website has a fallback option for browsers that don’t support WebP.
🖼️ HEIC (High Efficiency Image Codec)
Type: Lossy
Best For: Apple Device Users
Not Ideal For: Web use (limited browser support), Printing
Overview:
HEIC is Apple’s default image format for iPhones and iPads. It delivers high image quality with smaller file sizes than JPG. But it’s not yet universally supported — many websites and printers can’t handle HEIC files directly.
Tips for Use:
- Convert HEIC to JPG or PNG before uploading to websites or sharing.
- Use HEIC to save space on your device, but export in a more compatible format for others.
🖼️ RAW
Type: Uncompressed / Lossless
Best For: Professional Editing and High-Quality Printing
Not Ideal For: Web or Social Media Sharing (without conversion)
Overview:
RAW files are straight from your camera sensor, capturing every detail without any processing or compression. This gives you maximum flexibility for editing but comes with very large file sizes.
Tips for Use:
- Edit and convert to JPG or TIFF for printing or sharing.
- Archive RAW files for future use but avoid uploading them directly to a website.
📌 Best Practices: Choosing the Right Format
| Use Case | Best Format(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Website photos | JPG or WebP | Use WebP if supported, otherwise JPG (70–80% quality). |
| Social media | JPG or PNG | JPG for photos, PNG for graphics with transparency. |
| Logos and icons | PNG or SVG | Use PNG if transparency is needed, SVG for scalable vector logos. |
| High-res printing | TIFF or JPG (100%) | Export from RAW; ensure at least 300 DPI for print. |
| Email newsletters | JPG | Small file size helps ensure faster delivery. |
| Archive originals | RAW | Best for future edits or large-format prints. |
Graphics Programs for Editing and Format Conversion
For basic image editing and file format conversions on Mac, built-in tools like Preview allow you to crop, resize, adjust colors, and export to formats like JPG, PNG, or PDF. On Windows, Photos provides similar features. For more advanced editing and batch conversions, both platforms support powerful tools like Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Photo, and the free, open-source GIMP. Mac users may also consider Pixelmator Pro, while Windows users might try Paint.NET or ACDSee Photo Studio. These programs support a wide range of formats, non-destructive editing, and fine-tuned export settings — ideal for photographers preparing images for both web and print.
Final Thoughts
Every image format serves a purpose. Understanding when and why to use each one can help your photos look their best — and make your website or project perform better. If you’re not sure which format is right for your next digital project, Chesley Software is here to help. From optimizing images for your website to building a full digital presence, we specialize in making your content shine.