PNG Files Explained: The Go-To Format for Crisp, Transparent Images (original) (raw)

What to Know

This article describes what PNG files are and how to view one, plus why they're preferred over other image formats in certain situations and how to convert a PNG to JPG and other image types.

What Is a PNG File?

A PNG file is a Portable Network Graphics file. The format uses lossless compression and is generally considered the replacement for the GIF image format.

However, unlike GIFs, PNG files don't support animations. The very similar MNG (Multiple-image Network Graphics) format does, but it has yet to gain the kind of popularity that GIF or PNG files have.

PNG files store graphics on websites. Some operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu, store screenshots in the PNG format by default.

Another use for PNGs occurs when portions of the image need to be transparent, which can be helpful when making illustrations, designing a website, or creating photography. For example, if you have a logo you want to be placed over a photo, it's much easier to "cut" the logo out, leaving transparent pixels around it, so that when it's placed over the other picture, that picture shows through the transparency.

How to Open a PNG File

The default photo viewer program in Windows opens PNG files, but there are many other ways to view one.

All web browsers (like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and others) automatically view PNG files that you open from the internet, which means you don't have to download every PNG file you want to look at online. You can also use the web browser to open PNG files from your computer, by using the Ctrl+O keyboard combination to browse for the file. Most browsers also support drag-and-drop, so you might be able to just drag the PNG file into the browser to open it.

There are also several standalone file openers, graphic tools, and services that open PNG files. A few popular ones include:

To edit PNG files, the XnView program just mentioned can be used, as well as the Paint program included in Windows, the popular GIMP utility, and Adobe Photoshop.

Considering the number of programs that open PNG files and that you likely have at least two installed right now, there's a good chance that the one that's set to open them by default (i.e. when you double-click or double-tap on one) isn't the one you'd like to use. If so, see How to Change File Associations in Windows for detailed instructions on how to change that "default" PNG program.

How to Convert a PNG File

The FileZigZag website is an easy way to convert PNG files.

Probably every image file converter that you run across converts a PNG file to another format (like JPG, PDF, ICO, GIF, BMP, TIF, etc.). There are several options in our Free Image Converter Software Programs list, including some online options, like FileZigZag, Zamzar, and TinyWow.

If you like to use GIMP, here's how to save images to PNG in that program.

Visit Vectorizer to convert a PNG to SVG.

When to Use PNG Files

PNG files are a great format to use but not necessarily in every situation. Sometimes a PNG can be way too large and not only use unnecessary space or make it harder to email but can also drastically slow down a web page if you're using one there.

Consider if the image quality benefits are enough to sacrifice that space (or slow web page loading, etc.). Because a PNG file doesn't compress the image like other lossy formats such as JPEG, quality doesn't diminish as much when the image is in the PNG format.

JPEG files are useful when the image is low contrast, but PNGs are better when dealing with sharp contrast like when there are lines or text in the image, as well as large areas of solid color. Screenshots and illustrations, then, are best in PNG format while "real" photos are best as JPEG/JPG.

You might also consider using the PNG format over JPEG when you're dealing with an image that needs to be edited over and over again. For example, since the JPEG format undergoes generation loss, editing and saving the file repeatedly will result in a lower-quality image over time. This isn't true for PNG because it uses lossless compression.

More Help With PNG Files

To make the background transparent in a PNG, your options include automated tools like Clipping Magic or the free Remove.bg tool, or nearly any image editing program.

For example, if you have Photoshop, place the image in its own layer, delete the background layer, and then use any tool (e.g., Eraser, Marquee, Lasso) to erase the portions of the image that should be transparent.

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