- Rebecca Tomasis
- Apr 8
- 6 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
PNG files are everywhere, even if you don’t realize it. They’re likely behind the logo on your favorite website, the crisp visuals on your social media feed, and the transparent images in your presentation slides. If you're a small business owner, graphic designer, content creator, or just someone looking to up their design game, knowing how PNG files work can make your life easier and your graphic design projects sharper.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about PNG files. We’ll start with what they are, what they’re used for and weigh their pros and cons. You’ll also learn how to create and edit PNG files and how they compare to other popular image file types. By the end, you’ll know exactly when and why to use PNG files in your projects.
Learn how to edit photos like a pro, work with PNG files, and make your visuals truly stand out.
What is a PNG file?
PNG, short for Portable Network Graphic, is a type of image file format that’s widely used for its ability to retain high-quality visuals while supporting transparency. Unlike some other image formats, PNG compresses your file without losing image quality, which is known as lossless compression. This means your image will look as sharp as it was when created, no matter how many times you edit or save it.
Another standout feature is its support for transparency. PNG files can have transparent background design, making them ideal for logos, icons and overlays. This versatility is why PNG files continue to be the preferred choice for web design, content creation and marketing materials.
Importantly, PNG files are versatile but can be larger in size compared to other formats, which may impact storage and website loading speeds. That said, their quality makes the trade-off worth it for many users.
What are PNG files used for?
PNG files serve a variety of purposes, particularly in scenarios that demand high-quality visuals and design flexibility. Here’s where you’ll commonly see them in use.
Web design and development: If you’ve browsed a website and noticed crisp, visually appealing icons or logos with transparent backgrounds, there’s a good chance those were PNG files. The format is often the go-to choice for images requiring clean edges or graphics that can blend seamlessly into different backgrounds.
Branding and logos: When designing a logo, it’s important that business logos look sharp and professional, whether on a website, a social media profile, or printed on a banner. PNG’s lossless compression and transparency features make it the perfect file type for such branding needs.
Social media graphics: Whether it’s a promotional post or an infographic, PNG files ensure your visuals stay sharp and vibrant when shared online. Content creators often prefer PNGs to maintain the integrity of visual assets while optimizing for various social media image sizes.
Marketing materials: Flyers, brochures and email banners often use PNG files because they can handle intricate design details exceptionally well. Their crisp details help in producing eye-catching promotional materials that align with effective marketing strategies.
Graphic overlays: Creating visuals like YouTube thumbnails, memes or custom video overlays? PNG files lead the way for producing transparent overlays that look clean and professional.
Advantages of PNG files
Lossless quality: Because they use lossless compression (this just means that image data is not lost when a file is compressed and compressing an image doesn't affect it's quality), PNG file's can be reduced in size without sacrificing quality.
Transparency: PNG files support transparency. What does that mean? It means you can create an image with a transparent background and then save it as PNG. This works especially well for logos, icons and other images with backgrounds.
Rich details: Patterns, gradients and textures all render beautifully in PNG format, making it great for intricate designs.
Use cases across digital design: PNG files are widely supported by web browsers and other applications, so you don't have to worry about how well they are displayed across different platforms.
Gamma correction: PNG files include gamma correction information, which adjusts image brightness and contrast to ensure consistency across different display devices. This feature helps maintain visual fidelity regardless of how the image is viewed.
Disadvantages of PNG files
Larger file sizes: PNGs can take up a significant amount of storage space compared to other formats, which may lead to slower loading times for web pages.
Limited use for photography: While PNG is excellent for graphics, it’s not ideal for storing detailed photographic images due to its inability to compress files as much as JPGs.
Not animation-friendly: Unlike GIFs, PNGs don’t support animation beyond single frames.
Licensing sensitivities: Another potential con is the fact that PNG files are patented and using them means paying licensing fees. However in general these fees tend to be reasonably low and not a huge blocker to using this type of file.
No support for CMYK: PNG does not support the CMYK color model, essential for professional print work. This is why PNG's are better suited for digital use rather than print design purposes.
Switch between formats without skipping a beat. Upload your image, select the file type you need and share your new format across your favorite platforms.
PNG vs other file types
PNGs offer benefits that other image formats don’t, such as support for transparent backgrounds and lossless compression. However, depending on your needs and the software you’re using, you may need to convert PNG files to other formats. This can include compatibility issues or optimizing for web use.
PNG vs HEIC
PNG is universally supported across devices and platforms, making it a reliable choice for most users, whereas HEIC is primarily used on Apple devices and newer systems. When it comes to compression, HEIC is more efficient, allowing for smaller file sizes without significant loss of quality. However, PNG offers better transparency support, which may be important for certain use cases.
PNG vs JPG
PNG and JPG files each serve different purposes depending on your needs. PNG files retain higher quality due to lossless compression, making them ideal for logos and images with text, but they are typically larger in size and slower to load. On the other hand, JPG files use lossy compression, which sacrifices some details, but their smaller size makes them better suited for photos and faster loading.
PNG vs SVG
SVG files offer scalability, as they are vector-based and can be resized without losing quality, unlike pixel-based PNG files. They are ideal for illustrations and icons due to their flexibility, while PNG files are better suited for detailed graphics and images requiring transparency.
Learn more about how to resize an image with the Wixel image resizer to suit your needs.
PNG vs WebP
WebP files use both lossy and lossless compression, resulting in smaller file sizes while maintaining high-quality images. However, they are not as widely supported as PNG files, so it's important to consider compatibility with your target audience's devices before choosing this format.
Comparison of image file formats
How to convert to PNG file format
PNG files are commonly used for high-quality images with transparent backgrounds, offering more functionality than simply storing visuals. Most devices and software that support saving or exporting images can create PNG files. Many photo editors and screenshots default to PNG format because of their high-quality output and support for transparency.
If you’re wondering how to convert an image, tools like Wixel make it easy to change PNG files into JPG, GIF, or other formats for software compatibility.
Easily convert your images to any format with the Wixel image converter tools:
PNG files FAQ
Are PNG files good for printing?
PNG files can work for printing, especially for small graphics like logos or icons, but they don’t support CMYK color profiles. This could lead to less accurate color results compared to formats like TIFF.