Choosing the right image file types might seem similar a footling decision.

But homo beings are visual creatures, and images are an integral part of the online feel.

Nearly pages and articles use screenshots and images to enrich the text content. In fact, only around eight% of websites don't include whatever visual content.

Unfortunately, many website owners however don't understand which paradigm file types to choose for different use cases. The result? They cease upward slowing downward their site loading speed because their images aren't the all-time format available, nor are optimized.

In this article, we'll cover all the about of import image file extensions and when you should utilize them to provide the best possible user experience to your visitors.

What Are the Unlike Image File Types?

Image file types and formats are divided into two main different categories: raster image files and vector image files.

Let's have a closer look at each category.

Raster Image File Formats

The most common image formats for the spider web (JPEG, GIF, and PNG) are all nether the raster category.

Raster image file types brandish static images where every pixel has a defined color, position, and proportion based on their resolution (for example 1280×720).

Since they're static, you cannot efficiently resize the images, the original design and pixels volition merely get stretched to fill the extra infinite. This ends up creating a blurry, pixelated, or otherwise distorted image.

Image file types: raster image jpg
Raster Image – JPEG example

The vast majority of the photographs or images you see on the internet utilise a raster image format.

Vector Paradigm File Formats

SVG, EPS, AI, and PDF are examples of vector image file types.

Unlike the static raster paradigm file formats, where each design shape and colour is tied to a pixel, these formats are more flexible.

Vector graphics instead use a system of lines and curves on a cartesian plane, scaled in comparison to the total area, not any single pixel.

This means y'all can endlessly overstate the original prototype resolution without any loss in quality or distortion.

Image file types: vector image
Vector Image Format Magnification (Prototype source: Wikipedia.com)

Every bit you can see, the deviation between quality when magnified 7x is completely incomparable.

Since the SVG calculates the positions based on a per centum of the total surface area, and not pixels, there'southward no pixelation at all.

Only eight% of websites include no visual content... but for the other 92%, displaying images with the right file type is essential. 🖼 Observe the 15 best options in this guide👇 Click to Tweet

xv Most Popular Image File Types

Below, we cover every major graphic file format, from raster web images, to vectors, to paradigm editing software files.

Nosotros practice a deep-dive and cover the pros and cons, browser and Os back up, and ideal employ cases for each format.

1.JPEG (And JPG) — Articulation Photographic Experts Group

tiger jpg
Tiger Image JPEG Format

JPEG (or JPG) is a raster image file format with lossy compression that makes it suitable for sharing images. JPEGs are "lossy" significant they reduce file size, but also the quality of the images when you use the format.

JPEG is still one of the most used image file types that you lot'll run across on the internet considering of its compression and virtually universal browser/OS support.

Most social media platforms (like Facebook and Instagram) automatically plow uploaded image files into JPEGs. They also utilise unique social media prototype sizes to control the resolution of your photos.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • Universal browser and OS support.
  • Fairly low file size.
  • Lossy prototype compression might lead to poor text readability.

Browser and Bone Back up

  • Supported since version ane.0 of all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.)
  • Supported by default by all image viewers and editors of all major operating systems.

Use Cases

  • Good choice for blog and article images, like interviewee headshots, product images, and more.
  • Do not use JPEG for infographics with a lot of small text or tutorial screenshots where the text is key.

two. PNG — Portable Network Graphics

Image file types: kinsta resource center png image
Kinsta'due south resources eye .png image file

PNG is a raster graphics format that supports lossless compression, maintaining detail and contrast betwixt colors.

In item, PNG offers much amend text readability than JPEG.

This makes PNG a more than pop selection for infographics, banners, screenshots, and other graphics that include both images and text.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • Higher quality (lossless) images and clearly visible text.
  • Larger file sizes tin tiresome down your website if overused (especially high-resolution images).

Browser and Os Back up

  • Supported past all major browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Cyberspace Explorer, Opera, Safari).
  • Supported by all major operating systems and their standard image editors.

Use Cases

  • Skilful choice for infographics, banners, blog graphics, screenshots, coupons, and other visuals that include text.
  • Practice not use for high-resolution photos, equally it volition create large files of up to several megabytes.

iii. GIF — Graphics Interchange Format

Image file types: turtle dancing gif
Example of a gif image

The GIF is another image file type falling within the raster format. Information technology uses lossless compression only "constrains" the epitome to 8 $.25 per pixel and a limited palette of 256 colors.

The GIF format is near famous (and nearly used) for animated images because its 8-flake limitation keeps file sizes of animations small and internet-friendly.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • Low file size.
  • Blitheness back up.
  • 8-bit limitation leads to limited prototype quality.

Browser and Bone Back up

  • Supported past all major browsers (Chrome, Border, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari).
  • Supported by all major operating systems and their standard image editors.

Use Cases

  • Employ animated GIFs not just to "spice up content" but demonstrate how to complete tasks in tutorials and guides.
  • Practice not use it if you need greater than 8-bit color images (JPEG supports upwardly to 24-bit).

iv. WebP

Image file types: webp image compression
WebP image example

WebP is an epitome format developed specifically to provide better lossless and lossy compression of images.

Switching from JPEG and PNG to WebP can help save server disk space and meaning bandwidth, with upward to 35% smaller image files for identical quality.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • Smaller files for the same or better prototype quality.
  • Not supported by all browsers and image editors.

Browser and Os Back up

  • Google Chrome (Version 17+ for desktop, 25+ for mobile), Firefox (65+), Edge (18+), and Opera (11.0+), back up WebP natively. Safari's planned version 14 will support WebP.
  • The format is still not supported by most native OS image editors, but professional options similar Photoshop supports WebP.

Use Cases

  • Replace JPEG and PNG files to salve bandwidth and speed up your site. If y'all're using WordPress as your preferred CMS software, here's how to use WebP images in WordPress and deliver other formats to legacy browsers.

5. TIFF

Image file types: tiff icon
TIFFC icon

Ane format that shouldn't be missing in this guide to image file types,  we take TIFF.

TIFF, which is short for Tagged Prototype File Format, is a raster paradigm format most commonly used for storing and editing images that will be later used for print.

While it does support lossy pinch, information technology'south typically used equally a lossless prototype format. Furthermore, most professional graphics applications that support TIFF (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.) practise not apply compression. Thus, it'due south mutual for TIFF images to be large in file size.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • High-quality files perfect for storage or impress publishing.
  • Large file size due to typical utilize with no pinch.
  • Express browser back up.

Browsers and OS Support

  • No major browsers tin render a TIFF file without add-ons or extensions.
  • Mainly available as an export format for professional image editing and publishing tools.

Utilise Cases

  • Storing and preparing images and graphics for publication.
  • Used by many scanners to preserve the quality of scanned documents or pictures.

6. BMP — Bitmap

Image file types: bmp vs gif
Bitmap vs gif

Bitmap (BMP) is a by and large outdated image file format that maps private pixels with picayune to no compression. That means BMP files tin easily go extremely big and are impractical to store or handle.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • Giant file sizes without noticeable quality gains over formats like WebP, GIF, or PNG.

Browsers and Bone Support

  • Supported by all major browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari).
  • Native support in nearly default OS prototype editors, like MS Pigment.

Use Cases

  • In 2022, there are basically zilch legitimate use cases for the BMP epitome format.

seven.  HEIF — High Efficiency Prototype File Format

Image file types: jpeg vs heif
JPEG vs HEIF format

HEIF, short for High Efficiency Prototype File Format, is an image format developed by the team behind the MPEG video format to exist a direct competitor to JPEG.

In theory, the compression is most twice equally efficient every bit JPEG, leading to images of upward to double quality with identical file sizes.

It's a raster prototype format, based on pixel mapping, significant you cannot scale up the images without losing quality.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • Great quality to file size ratio.
  • No browser and limited Os support.

Browsers and Bone Support

  • Not supported by any major browsers.
  • Native back up in macOS Sierra and iOS eleven and later, only not in their respective Safari versions.

Use Cases

  • Used past some newer phones and devices to shop photos in college quality than JPEG files.

8. SVG — Scalable Vector Graphics

Image file types: SVG logo
SVG logo

The Scalable Vector Graphics file format, ordinarily referred to as SVG, was developed past W3C as a markup language to render ii-dimensional images correct within the browser.

It doesn't rely on pixels like a raster format, but rather uses XML text to outline shapes and lines in a similar manner to how mathematical equations create graphs.

This means you can scale up SVG images infinitely without whatever loss of quality.

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Advantages and Disadvantages

  • Small file sizes and loss-free scaling for simple illustrations, shapes, and text.
  • Not an platonic format for images or complex drawings.

Browsers and OS Back up

  • Supported past all major browsers (Chrome, Border, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari).
  • Default image editors tend not to back up SVG (as it's not suitable for photographs), but most illustration software support SVG exports.

Utilise Cases

  • SVG is the ideal format for logos, icons, uncomplicated illustrations, and anything else you want to be freely scalable with your responsive design. If you're using WordPress, make sure to check out how to enable WordPress SVG support for your website.

9. EPS — Encapsulated Postscript

EPS icon
EPS icon

In essence, an EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) file is a vector image file used for storing illustrations in Adobe Illustrator and other illustration software like CorelDraw.

Like SVG files, EPS is actually a text-based document that outlines shapes and lines with code, rather than mapping pixels and colors. Every bit a upshot, EPS files as well support lossless scaling.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • Lossless scaling.
  • Printer support for documents and designs.

Browsers and Bone Support

  • EPS isn't a standard spider web prototype file format and isn't supported by whatever major browsers.

Use Cases

  • It's mostly used for storing, saving, and printing illustrations when working with Adobe Illustrator or other software.

10. PDF — Portable Document Format

adobe pdf
PDF file example

You probably associate PDF with storing, saving, and reading generally-text based documents. That's perfectly understandable — document is right there in the name after all.

But PDF files are actually based on the aforementioned PostScript language that powers EPS vector prototype files and can exist used to salve images and illustrations likewise.

It's the epitome format of choice for storing illustrations, magazine covers, and more for later printing. It'due south also the preferred pick for our Kinsta ebooks.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • Indexable and searchable text makes it perfect for in-depth infographics or reports.
  • Can include links, CTA buttons, and other interactive elements.
  • Lossless scalability.
  • Cannot exist included in web content, must be loaded and read equally a separate file.

Browsers and Bone Support

  • Supported by all major browsers, but you are forced to open up the PDF equally a split file. (You lot cannot use PDF files to display images throughout your HTML content.)
  • Supported as a format by virtually standard document editors (similar MS Word or Google Docs), and illustration software (AI, Inkscape) but non by paradigm editing software.

Use Cases

  • PDF is the best option if you desire to create an interactive visual written report or infographic that complements your content. Here'south a nice list of the best PDF viewer plugins for WordPress users.

11. PSD — Photoshop Document

Image file types: psd logo
PSD logo

As the name suggests, the PSD file format is an paradigm format used for saving prototype documents and works in progress with Adobe Photoshop.

It'south not a web-safe epitome format, and so it's not supported by any browsers or standard image viewers or editors.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • All filters, transparency, paths, and edits are fully customizable and reversible.
  • Lossless image quality.
  • Large file sizes.

Use Cases

  • Saving and storing Photoshop projects before and after they're completed.

12. AI — Adobe Illustrator Artwork

adobe illustrator file icon
Adobe Illustrator file icon

AI is another image format specifically adult by Adobe to not just salve the image, but also the project country.

Like PSD, it'due south not meant for use on the web and isn't supported by whatsoever browsers, nor most default paradigm viewers.

Different PSD files, yous can freely calibration AI files without any loss in quality.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • All strokes, lines, shapes, filters, are customizable and reversible.
  • Scale up or down illustration sizes freely.
  • Big file sizes.

Utilise Cases

  • Saving and storing Adobe Illustrator projects before and afterwards they're completed.

13. XCF — eXperimental Computing Facility

xcf icon
XCF icon

XCF, which stands for eXperimental Calculating Facility, is an image file type native to the open source paradigm editor GIMP. It's the equivalent of PSD files and saves paths, transparency, filters, and more.

Once again, this is a native file blazon for storing projects and it's non supported by any browsers or default prototype viewers.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • All paths, filters, and shapes are customizable and reversible.
  • Lossless image quality.
  • Large file sizes.

Use Cases

  • Saving and storing GIMP projects earlier and after they're completed.

xiv.  INDD — Adobe InDesign Document

adobe indesign icon
Adobe InDesign icon

The INDD is a native file blazon for Adobe InDesign users where you tin salve projection files including page content, styles, swatches, and more.

Although sometimes referred to equally an image file format, it tends to link to visual elements beyond text.

It isn't supported by any browsers or default image viewers, as it's non a web-rubber format.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • Store large, multi-page design projects with customizable elements.

Use Cases

  • Information technology's mainly used past graphic designers and production artists for designing and collaborating on posters, flyers, magazines, pamphlets, and more.

15. Raw Paradigm File Types

Raw image formats are the file types a digital camera uses to store total-quality images for later post-product and editing.

Major raw image file types by camera maker:

  • Kodak: CR, K25, KDC
  • Canon: CRW CR2 CR3
  • Epson: ERF
  • Nikon: NEF NRW
  • Olympus: ORF
  • Pentax: PEF
  • Panasonic: RW2
  • Sony: ARW, SRF, SR2

Rather than the 256 shades per colour channel (8 bit) available in a JPEG file, RAW files offer up to 16,384 shades per color aqueduct (14 bit) in a single picture. That gives you more flexibility when tweaking colors and contrast in post-processing.

Raw images aren't meant for the spider web or sharing and aren't supported past any major browser or image viewer.

Advantages and Disadvantages

  • Higher quality pictures with more than variability in colors.
  • Giant image files (a raw file can easily exist up to xx to 40 megabytes).

Utilize Cases

  • Saving photos in the highest possible quality for postal service-processing and editing.

Prototype File Types FAQs

What Are the iii Mutual File Types of an Epitome File?

Based on data related to web usage, the 3 most mutual image file types are PNG, JPEG, and SVG.

image file types statistics
Usage statistics of image file formats (Image source: w3techs.com)

Let'due south examine what makes them and so widespread below.

1. PNG: Screenshots, Banners, Infographics, Pictures

Since PNG every bit a format lends itself better to text inside the prototype, it's more ofttimes used for screenshots, banners (depending on the banner advertizing size), and more.

Since information technology uses lossless compression, it's also used past designers and photographers to showcase high-quality pictures on their portfolio websites for example.

These ii factors, along with its universal browser and OS back up, make it the most popular image file type on the spider web. PNGs are present on a whopping 77% of websites.

two. JPEG: Pictures

The lossy pinch means that JPEG is a improve option to use to showcase pictures throughout your content. The loss in quality is barely visible to the average internet user, and you lot can salvage considerable deejay space and bandwidth.

That'southward why it's the second near popular format on the internet, used by almost 72% of websites. Most sites use both PNGs and JPEGs for different purposes.

Every bit a reminder: In that location'south no difference between JPG vs JPEG, they're ii different acronyms and file extensions for the same format.

iii. SVG: Logos, Icons, and Illustrations

SVG files are scalable vector files that are perfect for icons, logos, graphs, and uncomplicated illustrations. The paradigm tin can fifty-fifty be inserted directly into the page as CSS code.

That'south why SVGs come in tertiary, used by 27% of websites.

Honorable Mention: Animated GIF Images

While rarely the format of choice for static images, GIF has made a improvement as the #i pick for sharing animations.

comeback gif
Blithe gif example

As a event, around 22% of websites employ GIFs on their pages, even though they likely utilise PNGs and JPEGs equally their standard formats too.

Which Image Format Is the Highest Quality?

Raw epitome formats are the highest quality only have unreasonably large file sizes of upward to hundreds of megabytes.

For web images, the WebP file format offers 25-35% smaller file sizes than JPEG for the same quality photos, meaning you can upload higher quality images for the same disk space and speed upwards your site.

HEIF is another JPEG alternative with more than efficient compression only isn't currently supported by whatever major browsers.

PNG files offer lossless pinch, but that means the file sizes will be exceedingly big and slow to load. A unmarried PNG file can oft be hundreds of KB or even 1MB+. However, if you accept advantage of some tactics like lazy loading (available in core since WordPress 5.v) and a CDN, yous could withal accept a fast site.

Which File Formats Support Transparency?

The most mutual prototype file types for the spider web that support transparency are PNG, WebP, GIF, and even SVG.

Nearly native project paradigm file types like PSD, XCF, and AI also support transparency.

On the other hand, the popular JPEG image format does notsupport transparency.

Is PNG Better than JPEG?

The master difference betwixt PNG and JPEG is that PNG is a lossless image format, while JPEG is a lossy i. This basically means that PNG uses compression techniques without sacrificing the original quality or item of the image.

For text in images, tutorial screenshots, and when you desire signs or other fine elements to exist 100% visible in a photo, PNG is the right format.

Image file types: PNG vs JPEG
PNG vs JPEG comic strip (Image source: lbrandy.com)

As you tin can see from this funny picture above, PNG, which is depicted on the left, is much better at clearly displaying text and simple shapes when compared to JPEG, the one on the right.

Does this mean JPEG is a bad image file blazon? Non at all!

For regular blog posts or header images, JPEG offers more than expert plenty quality with significantly lower file size. Yous can oftentimes save upwardly to l% or more space while struggling to spot any deviation in quality with the naked heart.

Go on your website's visual content looking clear with this guide to the all-time image file types ✨ Click to Tweet

Summary

There's no shortage of images yous could legitimately use for your projects. Hopefully, this article has helped you understand which image file types and formats to use in which context for the best results.

Raster formats are all-time used for images and pictures, while vectors are a great substitute for logos, icons, and digital graphics.

Using the right image file types for the right task can non but assist better your page loading speeds but also lower bandwidth and server loads. As a subsequent positive result, your overall user experience volition also improve large time. Bully, uh?


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