PNG vs JPEG: which should you use?
Have you ever hesitated over whether to save an image as PNG or JPEG? Both formats are everywhere, but they are good at very different kinds of images. This article explains the difference and how to choose.
The key difference: how they compress
Image files are compressed to keep them small. PNG and JPEG differ in how they do it.
- PNG (lossless): the original data can be restored exactly. Saving again and again never reduces quality.
- JPEG (lossy): detail that the eye is unlikely to notice is thrown away, making files much smaller. The trade-off is that quality drops a little every time the image is saved.
PNG at a glance
- No quality loss, so text and thin lines stay crisp
- Supports transparent backgrounds (transparent PNG)
- Small files for images with few colors — shapes, illustrations, screenshots
- Files can get large for photos and other images with complex colors
JPEG at a glance
- Makes photos dramatically smaller
- No transparency — transparent areas are filled with a color such as white
- Fuzzy noise (“mosquito noise”) tends to appear around the edges of shapes and text
- Quality degrades a little each time you edit and re-save
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | PNG | JPEG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Best for | Shapes, illustrations, text, screenshots | Photos, images with lots of gradients |
| File size | Small for simple images, large for photos | Small, even for photos |
Which should you choose in Shape Maker?
Shape Maker creates images made of shapes, lines and text — exactly what PNG does best. Edges stay sharp and files stay small, so PNG is the right default.
Choose JPEG only when:
- the place you are uploading to accepts JPEG only, or
- you will combine the image with photos and want the smallest possible file
Note that when you choose JPEG in Shape Maker, the image is saved with a white background even if the background is set to transparent. If you need a transparent background, choose PNG — see How to make a transparent PNG for details.
Don’t forget resolution
The number of pixels matters as much as the format. If you pick 2x under Resolution in Shape Maker, an 800×600 canvas is saved at 1600×1200 pixels. For images viewed on phones or high-density displays, or for print, 2x or 3x keeps lines smooth.
Summary
- Shapes, illustrations, text or anything that needs transparency → PNG
- Photos, or when file size matters most → JPEG
- When in doubt, PNG is always a safe choice for shape-based images