Choose an image format based on photography, transparency, sharpness and file size.
EditFull practical documentation · edition reviewed: 26 October 2026
When this task helps
JPG works well for photos, PNG is useful for transparency and crisp edges, and WebP combines efficient compression with modern features.
Worked example
A product photo without transparency often suits JPEG. A transparent logo needs PNG or WebP. Compare small lettering at 100% zoom before choosing lossy output.
What to check before starting
Think about the image content and destination first. A screenshot with text may need a different format than a large photograph.
Choosing the settings
Choose for the content and destination. Select an appropriate background when converting transparency to JPEG. Check the actual exported file type and extension.
Limits that affect the result
Format conversion does not vectorize a bitmap or automatically preserve layers, animation or editing data.
Mistake to avoid
Avoid choosing only by the file extension. Compare visible quality and size in the context where the image will actually be used.
Illustrative example: size and quality depend on the source file.