PNG Converter
PNG stores images losslessly with a full alpha channel, which makes it the right choice for logos, screenshots, line art and anything needing transparency. On photographs it is simply large, because lossless compression has little to exploit in continuous tone.
PNG at a glance
| Full name | Portable Network Graphics |
|---|---|
| Extension | .png |
| MIME type | image/png |
| Compression | Lossless |
| Transparency | Yes |
| Animation | No |
| Colours | 16.7M+ (24/32/48-bit) |
| Browser support | All browsers, all devices |
| Typical use | Screenshots, graphics, logos, images needing transparency |
| Introduced | 1996 |
Convert PNG to another format
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Already have PNG files that are too large? Compress PNG instead of converting.
PNG questions
Why is my PNG so much larger than the JPG?
PNG is lossless, so it cannot throw away detail the way JPG does. On a photograph that means several times the size for no visible gain. PNG wins on screenshots, logos and line art, where flat colour compresses extremely well and JPG introduces fringing.
What is the difference between PNG-8 and PNG-24?
PNG-8 uses a palette of up to 256 colours and is small; PNG-24 stores full colour and is larger. Both can carry transparency, though PNG-8's is a single index rather than a smooth alpha channel, which shows as hard edges against a coloured background.
Can a PNG be compressed without losing quality?
Yes. PNG compression is lossless whatever the setting, so a smaller PNG is pixel-identical to a larger one. Reducing the palette does change the image, which is why it is offered separately from ordinary optimisation.
Does PNG support animation?
Standard PNG does not. APNG extends it and is supported by every current browser, but plenty of software still shows only the first frame. For animation that has to work everywhere, GIF or a video format is the safer choice.