We can save image files in many formats, but which is better? Here I'm going to talk a bit more about some of them of them:

• JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): JPG is one of the image file formats supported on the Web. JPG is a lossy compression technique that is designed to compress color and grayscale continuous-tone images. The information that is discarded in the compression is information that the human eye cannot detect. JPG images support 16 million colors and are best suited for photographs and complex graphics. The user typically has to compromise on either the quality of the image or the size of the file. JPG does not work well on line drawings, lettering or simple graphics because there is not a lot of the image that can be thrown out in the lossy process, so the image loses clarity and sharpness.
  
  
• GIF (Graphics Interchange Format): Unlike JPG, the GIF format is a lossless compression technique and it supports only 256 colors. GIF is better than JPG for images with only a few distinct colors, such as line drawings, black and white images and small text that is only a few pixels high. With an animation editor, GIF images can be put together for animated images. GIF also supports transparency, where the background color can be set to transparent in order to let the color on the underlying Web page to show through. The compression algorithm used in the GIF format is owned by Unisys, and companies that use the algorithm are supposed to license the use from Unisys.
  
  
• PNG (Portable Network Graphics format): the third graphics standard supported by the Web (though not supported by all browsers). PNG was developed as a patent-free answer to the GIF format but is also an improvement on the GIF technique. An image in a lossless PNG file can be 5%-25% more compressed than a GIF file of the same image. PNG builds on the idea of transparency in GIF images and allows the control of the degree of transparency, known as opacity. Saving, restoring and re-saving a PNG image will not degrade its quality. PNG does not support animation like GIF does.
  

What is a lossless compression file format? It is a format where you won't lose quality. Of course, your file size will be bigger, buuut...

Basically what I'm saying is: if you want image quality, choose PNG. If you want moving images or isn't using many colors, go with GIF. Now, if you want a smaller image for bandwidth reasons, JPEG is the one for you.

Here we have an image to exemplify the PNG X JPEG thing:


Now, I'm gonna show one image I have just made so you can see the difference:

x

Check out the pixels around the text and Usagi's face on the JPEG file. They don't exist on the PNG file.

Personally, I ALWAYS save my graphics in PNG, unless specifically asked me not to. The quality is much much better. Now, you choose what you prefer: quality or bandwidth.

---

Sources:
http://www.labnol.org/software/tutorials/jpeg-vs-png-image-quality-or-bandwidth/5385/
http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2002/JPG_GIF_PNG.asp

#ag #agclass

Thanks for this Mi! adding this to the index thread!

no problem. i decided doing this when i realized many of the girls don't know this information

Awesome, Mi! 
I am a fan of PNG myself. JPEG and me do NOT get along. EVER. XD

No wonder my stuff looks crappy! Because they're all JPEGs! 
Quick question: What compression level do you save PNGs at?

Photoshop has 2 (as other softwares too) PNG-8 and PNG-24, pick PNG-8 since is the lowest, but if you want FULL quality PNG-24 (but your file can be pretty heavy)

Thanks Mi, this is a great post!

woahhh thanks for the info!! I knew png was better than jpg, but now I know why  
very interesting~

Wow! I didn't have a clue what the difference between PNG and JPEG were! I'll be saving my graphics as PNGs from now on. Thanks!

Found this on Pinterest, it's basically what you said but it explains vectors well and I just thought I'd post it here

Aztnara wrote:

I knew png was better than jpg, but now I know why  

^ THIS

I didn't know why PNG was better xD
so thank you for the information!! <3