PNGPortable Network Graphics
A lossless image format introduced in 1996. It keeps every pixel and supports transparency, which makes it ideal for screenshots, logos and illustrations. Photos are larger in PNG than in JPG.
- Compression
- Lossless
- Transparency
- Yes
- Animation
- Possible (APNG), rare
Convert to
JPGJPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
The most widely used photo format, introduced in 1992. Its lossy compression keeps files small, and it opens everywhere: phones, computers and social networks. It does not support transparency.
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- No
- Animation
- No
Convert to
WEBPWebP
A format created by Google in 2010 to make the web lighter. It compresses with or without loss, supports transparency and animation, and files are often 25–35% smaller than a JPG of the same quality.
- Compression
- Lossy or lossless
- Transparency
- Yes
- Animation
- Yes
Convert to
GIFGraphics Interchange Format
A 1987 format limited to 256 colours. It is still the favourite for short looping animations, but it is a poor fit for photos.
- Compression
- Lossless, 256 colours
- Transparency
- Yes
- Animation
- Yes
Convert to
BMPWindows bitmap
The classic Windows image format, usually uncompressed. Files are very large, so it is usually converted to JPG or PNG to save space. Formatomat writes 24-bit BMPs, which every program reads, but without transparency: transparent areas become white, and a message says so.
- Compression
- Uncompressed
- Animation
- No
Convert to
ICOWindows icon
The Windows icon format. One file holds several sizes, from 16 to 256 pixels; it is the classic format for website favicons.
- Compression
- Lossless
- Transparency
- Yes
- Animation
- No
Convert to
TIFFTagged Image File Format
A high-quality image format widely used for printing, scanning and archiving; one file can hold several pages. It keeps every detail, but files are large and not suited to the web.
- Compression
- Lossy or lossless
- Transparency
- Yes
- Animation
- No
Convert to
AVIFAV1 Image File Format
A recent image format (2019) based on the AV1 video codec. It compresses even better than WebP and supports transparency, but some apps and websites do not accept it yet.
- Compression
- Lossy or lossless
- Transparency
- Yes
- Animation
- Yes
Convert to
HEICHigh Efficiency Image Container (HEIF)
The default photo format on iPhone since iOS 11 (2017). It can be half the size of a JPG of the same quality, but Windows, many websites and plenty of apps cannot open it.
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert to
SVGScalable Vector Graphics
A vector image format written in XML. An SVG stays sharp at any size, so it is used for logos, icons and web illustrations.
- Compression
- Vector
- Transparency
- Yes
Convert to