To answer our questions about image types for your web page, Jeff Atwood is there. "When it comes to image formats on the internet, it's generally a three-way tie between JPEG, GIF, and PNG. Deciding which image format to use is relatively straightforward; you choose lossy JPEG when you're saving continuous-tone photographic images, and you choose between lossless GIF or lossless PNG when you're saving images with large blocks of the same or similar colors. See my comparison of GIF/PNG and JPEG if you're not clear on what the difference is. But the
This page is intended to provide an explanation of some of the features of the PNG format for non-technical users. As such, it doesn't emphasize PNG features like freedom from patents; those are more of concern to developers. Where programmer information is given, it is principally to explain to the user why various applications may not perform as well as expected. Where performance claims are made--especially compression comparisons with other image formats--we assume that the PNG implementation is at least as good as the best freeware encoders. Note
This page is intended to provide an explanation of some of the features of the PNG format for non-technical users. As such, it doesn't emphasize PNG features like freedom from patents; those are more of concern to developers. Where programmer information is given, it is principally to explain to the user why various applications may not perform as well as expected. Where performance claims are made--especially compression comparisons with other image formats--we assume that the PNG implementation is at least as good as the best freeware encoders. Note
Most of us have heard about PNG by now, but few developers are using it on the Web due to the uneven support within the various Web browsers. The format was developed as a result of the Unisys/GIF controversy and the need to overcome the limitations of both the GIF and JPEG formats. Macromedia has adopted PNG as the native format for its Fireworks product, yet most users are still converting images for the Web to GIF and JPEG.
The next generation of browsers promise more complete support for all the features of this format, but one must wonder if it
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