Best file format for web graphics? Advantages/Disadvantages

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Permalink Reply by Aaron Vail on July 11, 2009 at 7:19am

well I like to use all sorts of types... I use the PNG for transparency, the JPG if its just an simple image with no transparency, and then I like to use the GIF if I'm makeing them animated or if someone prefers the type. GIFs are harder for someone to steal the image and modify them then use them for them self's unless they know how to (I do) also they could handle transparency.

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Permalink Reply by Jorge on July 11, 2009 at 11:53am

PNG is probably the best because it allows for High Quality and transperancy. JPG is pretty good, but because of the way it's programmed, it can get messy if you are juxtaposing because the edges become pixelated and look unnatural. However, Either of the two can vary in size but I find jpg to be smaller and better for photographs that are only edited, but for original artwork, PNG is my format of choice, but does tend to be larger in filesize.

If you are editing photos, and are fortunate enough to have a camera with RAW, DO use that, it's the absolute best format to edit photography, professional and/or aspiring photographers NEED to know how to work with this.

GIFs have their uses, but are not good for it all mainly because GIF only supports upto 256 colors. I usually use them for the web like animated favicons, animated gifs, and graphics with only a few supported colors that won't take very long to load. Do keep in mind that putting a bunch of animated GIFs in a website is BAD DESIGN, and annoying.

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Permalink Reply by Bert Verhelst on July 24, 2009 at 3:42pm

i prefer png
cause:
smaller size then jpg
supports alpha

somtimes gif cause:
smaller size
good for low number of colors

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