What is a PNG and How to Convert It?

The PNG has been around for a while, and it is one of the image formats you will readily come across. This can range from received image files from friends to online downloads. The PNG also has its unique features, which differ from those of more common formats like JPG and GIF.

Though you can easily convert PNG to and from other file formats, it has its perks. And you can retain it for different usage. If you are used to compression or are a web designer, the PNG is a go-to option for seamless editing.

Below, we have further explained “what is PNG” and its pros and cons.

What is PNG?

PNG, the short-term for Portable Network Graphics, is a high-quality image file format. It comes in various advanced, versatile, and variant image formats, including GIFs and JPGs. Beyond its quality, PNG offers a lossless compression with advanced colour depths.  

If you browse through webpages, the image format is one of the file formats you will come across. PNGs are also a common requirement for mobile uploads and online form applications. More often seen on webpages with pictures and text format, owing to their high quality. Another feature of the image format is the maintained quality after compression.

The PNG supports various browsers. While you may have to provide more space to save the image on your device compared to JPGs, PNGs can undergo various degrees of editing. It also comes in handy for partial or complete transparency modifications.

The History of the PNG File

The PNG image first emerged in 1995. Although there were existing image formats such as the GIF, the developer, the PNG Development Group, came up with the PNG as the next evolution. With years of the GIF’s existence, the PNG offered a switch in the format, quality, and features.

The PNG followed up with the existing GIF format with more advanced features. For instance, the GIF had a limited 256 colours even after being around for years. The new image file format also broke the patent limitation with an expanded range of colours, which were up to millions. However, the PNG format does not support animation in contrast to GIFs.

From the emergence of PNG, the image format’s design was for more. The PNG features extend beyond the image. That is, it has extra characteristics. PNG files can store text, binary data, and webpages. The various uses and adoption of the file have been in place over the last two decades.

Pros and Cons of PNG File Format

The PNG file comes with various perks, including lossless compression and transparency. It, however, has its downside. If your webpages require specifics or if you want to opt for certain image options, you may want to compare and contrast the pros and cons.

The advantages of the PNG file include;

Lossless Compression

It is natural to want to compress your images to a specific size required for online use. It is one of the advantages of PNG files. They undergo lossless compression; they retain their quality with every precision and detail when compressed. As such, they are good options to save and upload high-quality images. You do not have to worry about losing information in the PNG image, such as in other file formats.

Supports Transparency

In addition to the lossless compression, PNG supports transparency. It is flexible to make tweaks to them, create web graphics, and edit your final image to align with the transparent backgrounds. The transparency support also helps to maintain the original quality after editing. For instance, you can use our AI tool to create a transparent background while maintaining the quality.

Colors for Complex Images

PNG is an extended version of the GIF with the capacity to handle colours in complex images. The image’s file colour depth handling capacity is up to 16 million, in contrast to other image formats. If you are into art or want to handle an image with a multiple colour spectrum, the PNG format is a suitable choice. It helps maintain the vibrancy and details, and is an ideal option for photography.

Major Web Browsers Support

With support for various web browsers, including Firefox and Chrome, the PNG works across browsers. You can upload and open a PNG file on webpages. Also, you can run it on your phone and computer. They have been around for a while and are compatible with not-too-recent browsers.

Cons

Size

PNG offers a lossless compression, which results in a relatively large size. The image file is bigger than the average JPG size. And it can be challenging to have multiple copies on your device's storage. For some webpages, you may have to convert to JPG format to fit in the required size.

Support for CMYK Colors

You could assume PNG is great for all printing, owing to the quality and lossless compression. However, a downside is that it is not ideal to print in a photograph-only format. But as PNG images with text. CMYK colours are needed for your photo prints and are unsupported by PNG. PNG is broadly designed for the web. It is also a good choice for printing as scanned documents, heavy-text images, and newspapers.

When can you use PNG Files?

There are various instances and use cases of the PNG files. It is a plus if you are looking to handle designs on the web or overlay your graphics and products for marketing.  

JPEG vs PNG

JPG is different from the PNG image file format. Also, if you are wondering about the debate “PNG vs JPEG, which is better,” it depends on what you want to do with the file format.

● PNG is designed to undergo compression without losing quality. With a lossless PNG, you can compress and retain your image in high quality. In contrast, JPEGs lose quality after compression with a size reduction.

● JPEGs do not support transparency and are not a top option for logos and overlaying graphics. With the PNG, you can utilize the image file format for web graphics with a transparent background. It is also ideal to add or remove watermark images.

Create a Transparent PNG with the AI-Background Remover

PNG transparency is one of the top features you can leverage. It supports the file to fit into backgrounds, whether as logos or overlay graphics. Their smooth edge edit is also a plus over other image formats, including GIF and JPEG.

If you want to create a transparent PNG, our AI-Background Remover is the go-to option. It is as simple as uploading the picture. The tool provides an instant fix without hassles.

● Visit the AI Background Remover webpage on your browser.

● Upload the PNG file(s).

● Wait for the AI Editor to process the image and provide a transparent background.

● Download the result.

The AI-Background Remover is ideal for creating transparent PNGs. It provides fast and accurate results for batch uploads. It is also simple to use if you are new to image editing.

With sharp precision, the AI tool provides details on the picture, including the edge and the main part. You can create stylish scenes that fit your product and fine-tune every component like a professional. 

How to Convert PNG to JPG

You can convert JPEG to PNG to modify or upgrade your image format. PNG supports a transparent background. And it enables you to maintain a lossless image quality, even for a text-fused file.

Our conversion tool supports this tweak without hassles. From uploading your JPG file online to downloading the PNG image result, it works with a few clicks.

● Upload the JPG file from your device.

● Make edits with our other tools on the sidebar if necessary.

● Click the Download button and select the PNG format to download your high-quality image.

The X-Design’s AI Editor also provides modification tools for PNG or JPG pictures. These include the background retouch, generator, and eraser.