Format family
Image format family — raster, vector & RAW
Images are not one format. Raster files store pixels; vector files store paths; camera RAW files are editing masters that usually become JPG or TIFF for sharing. Use this family hub to pick the right branch, then open a format entity page for specs, comparisons, and private browser converters.
Raster formats
Pixel-based images for photos, UI, web delivery, and screenshots.
JPG/JPEG is still the default camera-share format: small files, universal decoding, and good enough quality for social and email. Avoid it for logos and screenshots with sharp text — use PNG or WebP instead.
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PNG keeps every pixel intact and supports translucent edges — ideal for screenshots, UI, and logos. Photos are safer as JPG/WebP/AVIF when you care about download size.
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WebP commonly beats JPEG and PNG on size for web delivery while supporting transparency. Use it for site performance; keep JPG/PNG fallbacks only if you still serve very old browsers.
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AVIF often beats JPEG and WebP on compression for photographs while supporting HDR and transparency. Browser support is now strong on current engines; keep a JPG/WebP fallback when you must support very old clients.
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iPhone cameras often save HEIC to shrink libraries without looking soft. Great on Apple devices; convert to JPG or PNG before sharing with Windows users, older apps, or websites that only accept JPEG.
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GIF shines for stickers, reactions, and low-color animations. It only supports 256 colors and 1-bit transparency, so photos look banded — use video (MP4/WebM) or PNG/WebP when you need quality or full alpha.
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TIFF (TIF) stores detailed still images, often lossless or uncompressed, and can hold multiple pages or layers. Publishers, scanners, and photographers rely on it as a master format — then convert to JPG, PNG, or PDF for everyday sharing.
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BMP is a simple pixel grid historically tied to Windows Paint and older games. Files are easy to decode but enormous compared with PNG or JPG, so convert BMP when you need to share, archive, or publish the image.
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ICO packages one or more bitmaps (and sometimes PNGs) so Windows and browsers can pick the right resolution for a shortcut or favicon. Design in PNG/SVG first, then build an ICO when a platform still requires the classic container.
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Vector formats
Resolution-independent graphics for logos and illustrations. SVG is the web-native hub; desktop print files like EPS and AI are typically edited in design apps before export.
Also in this group: EPS, AI — usually exported to SVG/PNG before web use.
RAW formats
Camera RAW (CR2, NEF, ARW, DNG) keeps sensor data for editing. Share and upload with a delivery raster — usually JPG or TIFF — after develop/export.
Also in this group: CR2, NEF, ARW, DNG — develop in camera software, then deliver as JPG/TIFF.
Best for…
Decision guides for this family — not generic productivity tips.
JPG remains the universal photo share format. HEIC saves space on iPhones. WebP/AVIF are better for websites. PNG is usually the wrong photo delivery format.
For modern websites, WebP or AVIF usually win on size. Keep JPG for maximum compatibility, PNG for UI/transparency, and SVG for logos that must scale.
TIFF and high-quality PDF pipelines dominate professional print. PNG works for sharp graphics; JPG is acceptable for photos at high quality. WebP/AVIF are web formats — convert before print.
PNG and WebP (and AVIF) support transparency. JPG and most HEIC share paths do not. SVG can also be transparent for logos.
For masters, prefer TIFF/PNG/lossless pipelines (or HEIC/AVIF carefully). For delivery, high-quality JPG/WebP/AVIF can look excellent — lossless is not always required for human viewing.
AVIF and WebP usually beat JPG for photos. Lossless WebP often beats PNG for simple graphics. SVG wins for simple logos. Compress smartly — do not just switch formats blindly.