Image file formats - which one to use where?

Pixel-based files are made up of a grid of pixels and thus create an image. Pixels have a fixed proportion of the image due to their already defined size. If the image is enlarged or distorted, the pixels are stretched to fill the empty space, resulting in blurred and out-of-focus images. It is therefore important to know in advance what the image will be used for, as enlarging it unfortunately leads to a high loss of quality.

Pixel file formats are for example: JPEG, GIF and PNG.

Vector-based files have the major advantage that they are flexible. They consist of proportional shapes and not pixels. They are perfect for creating graphics that need to undergo frequent resizing, such as logos, brand graphics, etc. They can be resized from the size of a postage stamp to that of a house wall without any loss of quality.

Vector file formats are for example: EPS, AI and PDF.

Various image file formats at a glance:

JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group

Raster or pixel file format. Probably the best known and most widely used image format.

Advantages: Supported by all operating systems. Good ratio of image quality to file size

Disadvantages: Does not support transparency or animations. Loss of quality after multiple editing and saving

Application: Large, detailed images for sending, saving or for websites.

PNG - Portable Network Graphics

Raster or pixel file format. This format is not very different from JPEG, but PNG is better suited for larger files and images in areas with a lot of color and sharp transitions.

Advantages: Supports transparency, does not discard information after saving compared to other image formats.

Disadvantages: File size is huge compared to others, format is not supported everywhere.

Application: Icons, transparent or semi-transparent images

SVG - Scaleable Vector Graphics

Vector-based image format. A very versatile file format and very popular with many designers for creating printed matter and logos.

Advantages: Offers very high quality. No loss after scaling or zooming as it is vector based.

Disadvantages: Knowledge required for editing

Application: Logos, print, websites

WebP - Graphic file format developed by Google

Alternative image or graphic file format for static or animated images developed by Google. The format is intended to serve as a new open standard for true color graphics on the web and will thus become the new competitor to JPEG by enabling significantly smaller files with comparable quality.

Advantage: relatively low loss of quality despite small file sizes, supports transparency

Disadvantage: There is currently very little software that can be used to view this format

Application: Web graphics