You wonder what are the differences between PNG, JPG, GIF and BMP image formats? Then read carefully the following guide, where we will explain a little about these popular image formats.
What are the differences between PNG, JPG, GIF and BMP image formats?
Do you know what types of digital image formats exist? There are various image formats. In any case, the most recognized are PNG, JPG, GIF and BMP. Through the following guide, we will make a comparison of each of these formats so that you can choose the most convenient according to each situation.
JPG and its differences with respect to PNG, GIF and BMP
JPG is a lossy compression image format. This means that images with this extension will be smaller in size, but the quality may be affected.
Images in JPG format usually have decent quality at a low weight. Therefore, this is one of the most recommended options in case you want to save storage space.
The JPG format is one of the most relevant and that is why we often see it on various websites and social platforms. While it does have its downsides, the quality it offers is decent and rarely does an average user need anything better.
PNG vs. JPG
The PNG format is very interesting because it is usually considerably larger than the JPG format. In any case, it offers certain advantages that are not possible in JPG, such as transparency. However, some users rightly find it convenient to convert PNG images to JPG without losing quality.
Transparency allows you to create “empty” spaces within images. This means that with PNG it is possible to save non-square images (with specific shapes) keeping their transparency, something that makes the format especially useful for graphic design.
The PNG format is widely used on websites as it allows for a more stylized appearance. In any case, the format is not the most recommended for complex images or photographs.
gifs
Unlike the previous formats, the basic version of the GIF format is limited to 256 colors. For this reason, this format is not recommended for storing images since it does not offer the best quality and its weight is not the most appropriate either.
In any case, the GIF format has an advantage that others do not have, and that is that it allows you to use animated images. Indeed, the GIF format is capable of storing moving images and this is the reason why it is known.
The GIF format is also used within various Internet platforms, and was popularized mainly by memes and similar humorous content. Similarly, it was very popular on old websites.
BMP and its differences from JGP, PNG and GIF
BMP is a format that Microsoft created in the year 1986 and refers specifically to bitmap images. This format was very popular in the early years of modern computing. Even so, it has its pros and cons that must be analyzed before using this format.
The BMP format is an uncompressed format, so it will provide excellent image quality. In any case, the weight of the images in is usually quite high. Reason why its use in online platforms is not massive. However, users can resize or reduce the size of a BMP image whenever they see fit.
Although the BMP format represented a revolution at the time, today new technologies prove to be more efficient, therefore, the format has fallen into disuse.