Updated Mar 04,2025

What is The PNG File Format: Everything You Need to Know – What Works and When

what is the png file format

PNG is the short form of portable network graphics which is the most frequently used image format both online and offline. Generally, PNG format is a raster graphics file format and it supports lossless data compression. This image file type comes into the limelight in the mid-1990s as a replacement for GIF. 

Today, we can see images and visual content all over the internet and on social media. Graphic design and all types of design elements work to improve our imagination with images. A single image is not only cared about its view or the object it includes but also the image file format should also be considered before preparing the image for the final presentation. Two types of image file formats are commonly used at present. One of them is PNG and the other is jpg.

But PNG is indeed the most used format as you have to use it in whatever you would do with an image. As PNG is a lossless data format, which means it remains the same before and after compression, it is a helpful solution for image content designers to keep their file format the same as it was before.

What is The PNG File Format?

The PNG (Portable Network Graphics) file format is a raster graphics file format that supports lossless data compression. It was created as an improved, non-patented replacement for the GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) and is widely used on the web and in various applications.

Moreover, they are specific in their use and application types. Experts are likely to use PNG file format for various reasons, because of its portability, completeness, lossless compression, flexibility, and freedom of legal restrictions. Professionals choose these file extensions instead of others. The main advantages of using PNG file format are:

1. Lossless Compression

PNG file format supports lossless data compression which means the original data can be perfectly reconstructed to the compressed data file. The image file that is saved with a PNG extension won’t lose detail and quality after image compression. That means the data structure would remain the same before and after editing a PNG image file.

2. Color Support

PNG image file supports a huge number of colors to apply to different types of digital images. You can use any color you want in any image if the image is saved with a PNG extension.

3. Transparency

a png file format

PNG supports the transparency of digital images in many transparent areas. You can apply a transparent background in any PNG file format image that you want. 

Sometimes you can be satisfied with the color of your image background. During that time, you would need to use a transparent background to look at the image in the way you want. This is why the clipping path and experts use it to save their images in a PNG file.

4. Image editing and design

a png file format

All types of image editing processes require PNG format in the image to edit smoothly. Because PNG format shows all types of editing processes perfectly and gives a better view, all editing works like logo design, photo editing, and photo retouching, background change, need to go through PNG files in the process.

5. Fine Points

PNG format is ideal which image has texts, lines, and shapes in it. It can show each point containing the image clearly and also each sharp edge keeps transparent enough.

When You Should Not Use PNG Format?

a png file format

There are some cases when you should not use PNG as your image file extension. Because in such cases, it is not a good idea to use PNG as there are many other image file formats. So, you should go through with one of them. Then, what are those situations when you can’t use the PNG file extension in your image? They are,

For print issues: you shouldn’t use a PNG image file format when you are going to print out the image. PNG is not ideal for professional and quality type print design graphics because it won’t support non-RGB color spaces like CMYK. Although it is better to go with JPEG or TIFF when you have to print down your images. Another disadvantage of the PNG format is, that it tends to compress photos or artwork into larger file sizes. 

It is because PNG is a lossless web format and it keeps the image size and quality the same as it was before. Besides, modern digital cameras use EXIF metadata that doesn’t support a PNG file. With a PNG extension, you can’t work with animation and can’t save them into PNG format.

How to Open A PNG File?

Generally, people will save an image file into PNG format when they need to edit the image further or re-edit it later. If you found some images which include a PNG extension, then you can easily open them with the so-called editing software like Adobe Photoshop and others. Also, there must be default programs in every device’s operating system to open this format. 

Besides, Google Drive and the internet browser work to get rid of opening a PNG file image.

How to Convert A PNG File?

When working with images, you may need to convert your PNG file into another format or vice versa. However, the way is almost easy to convert a PNG file into another PNG file. If you have photo editing software, you can do this easily as that graphic design software will let you have the easy function of converting your image. 

Also, you can do this online by a specific website that offers the option of converting the image file format.

How to Choose the Right Image File Format?

There are specifications for using an image format in specific projects. Sometimes you may have to use JPG and sometimes you may have to use PNG instead of JPG. There are a few factors that work behind saving an image file in a specific format.

First of all, you have to consider the image you are working on, what type of image is it? Is it a raster image type or vector? Well, if you are new to this topic, then you must recognize raster and vector images.

Endnote

That’s all we have found to inform you about the ping format. If you have anything to know that isn’t included in this article, then don’t forget to contact the Graphic Design Eye support team.

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