Posted: 20 Apr 2005

When you try to save something in The Gimp, it gives you quite a few options as to what format you'd like to save it in.


(and what you see in the image above isn't even 1/4 of the available formats.)

With so many graphic formats being available, I thought I'd explain the differences between the main formats, and what they should be used for.

• JPG or JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group format
  • This is probably the most widely used format on the Internet today - (rivaling GIF)
  • It can display up to millions of colors
  • Has variable compression levels which alter the image to make it smaller / bigger and makes the image quality less or more
  • Is best used with medium to large images with lots of colors and detail, like digital photographs
  • It cannot display any transparent pixels
  • Scales very well. Image size can be easily adjusted
  • Does *not* support layers
• GIF - Graphics Interchange Format
  • Rivals JPEG for the "most popular image format on the Internet" award
  • Can only display up to 256 colors
  • Has certain patent issues making it incompatible with free software - read more
  • Can handle completely transparent pixels just fine, but no alpha blending
  • Creates artifacts when scaled
  • Can achieve very small file sizes when used by small images, like icons, with few colors
  • Great for website small detail images
  • Does *not* support layers
• PNG - Portable Network Graphics format
  • Built as a patent-free successor to the GIF format.
  • Can be used anywhere completely free of charge or worry of being sued.
  • Can display as many colors as JPEG - up to millions.
  • Can compress images without losing any quality at all - (file size is *much* larger than JPEG in these cases)
  • Can handle transparent pixels
  • Can handle semi-transparent pixels or alpha blending
  • Does *not* support layers
• PSD - Photo Shop Document format
  • Native format of Adobe Photoshop
  • Can handle up to millions of colors
  • Supports layering
  • Can't be displayed through a web browser
  • Generally large filesizes
• XCF - Experimental Computing Facility format
  • Native file format of The Gimp
  • Supports up to millions of colors
  • Uses XML to store information
  • The only format that is guaranteed to save all the image information in The Gimp
  • Supports layering
  • Can't be displayed through a web browser
  • Generally large files, but smaller than a PSD
  • Great format to use to backup your work in The Gimp