Choose JPG, PNG or WebP for the job
Match transparency, sharp text and file size to the output format.
VertexFiles editorial · Updated 6 September 2026
Use JPEG for photographs
JPEG stores photographs efficiently and offers an adjustable quality setting. It does not support transparency, so transparent regions are filled with the chosen background color. Repeatedly exporting a JPEG at low quality can add visible artifacts. Work from the best available original and export once when possible.
Use PNG for sharp edges and transparency
PNG is lossless and often suitable for screenshots, diagrams and transparent artwork. It may be much larger than JPEG for a photograph. A quality slider does not make a PNG equivalent to a low-quality JPEG; reducing dimensions or changing format is usually the more meaningful size adjustment.
Use WebP when the destination accepts it
WebP supports transparency and adjustable lossy quality. It can be useful for web delivery, but a form or older application may insist on JPG or PNG. Check destination support before converting an entire batch. A correctly generated file can still be rejected for an unsupported format.
Check metadata and orientation
These image tools decode and re-encode the displayed pixels. Source EXIF metadata, including GPS, is not copied. Basic encoder information may still exist in the result. Confirm the output orientation and colors, and keep the original if its camera metadata is important to your archive.