What is PNG?
PNG — PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless image format that supports transparency and produces exact, pixel-perfect copies of source images. It is the standard format for logos, icons, screenshots, and images requiring transparent backgrounds.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) was developed in 1995 as a free, patent-unencumbered replacement for GIF, with additional features including 24-bit color and full alpha channel transparency. PNG uses DEFLATE compression (lossless) — the same algorithm used in ZIP files — combined with pre-compression filters that improve compression ratios.
Because PNG is lossless, every pixel in the output is identical to the input — no quality degradation occurs at any number of saves. This makes PNG the correct choice for any image where pixel-perfect fidelity is required: logos, UI screenshots, pixel art, diagrams, charts, and images with text.
PNG supports 8-bit per channel (24-bit RGB or 32-bit RGBA with transparency), as well as 16-bit per channel for HDR-like precision. It does not support animation (use APNG or WebP for animated images) and does not support CMYK color mode.
PNG-8 vs PNG-24 vs PNG-32
PNG-8 uses an indexed palette of up to 256 colors. It produces small files for flat-color graphics (logos, icons) but cannot represent photographic color ranges. PNG-24 uses 24-bit full color (8 bits per R, G, B channel) — suitable for photographs and images requiring accurate colors. PNG-32 adds an 8-bit alpha channel to PNG-24 for transparency. Most tools output PNG-32 for any image with transparency.
When to Use PNG vs JPEG
Use PNG for: images with transparency, screenshots, logos, icons, text-heavy images, pixel art, and diagrams. PNG preserves sharp edges and text without artifacts. Use JPEG for photographs and natural images where some quality loss is acceptable in exchange for much smaller file sizes. A photograph saved as PNG is typically 3–5× larger than the same image at JPEG quality 85 with no perceptible quality difference for photographic content.
PNG Tools on PicsSizer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PNG or JPEG better for websites?▾
It depends on the image type. JPEG is better for photographs — smaller files with acceptable quality loss. PNG is better for logos, icons, UI screenshots, and any image requiring transparency. For modern websites, use WebP with PNG/JPEG fallback to get the best of both: smaller files with full transparency support.
Can PNG files be compressed without quality loss?▾
Yes. PNG is already lossless, but most PNG files have room for further lossless compression using tools like pngquant (lossy palette reduction) or OptiPNG/Zopfli (lossless DEFLATE optimization). PicsSizer's PNG Compressor applies these techniques to reduce file size without changing any pixels.
Does PNG support animation?▾
Standard PNG does not support animation. APNG (Animated PNG) is an extension that adds animation support and is supported by all major browsers — but it is not universally supported in image editing software. For animation with transparency on the web, WebP animated is the better-supported option.