On the Internet sites most commonly used image formats are:
- GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
- JPG (JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Group)
- PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
File or GIF image types (this is the abbreviation for Graphics Interchange Format), can contain up to 256 colors. For the modern Internet sites it is a major constraint. On the other hand, GIF image formats can be transparent (like PNG) and animated.
Therefore, it is desirable to use GIF when you need pictures with relatively little color without the subtle nuances, such as for example charts.
Otherwise, non-animation GIF images can be done and using Adobe Flash technology, which is not supported by iPhone and iPad mobile devices. Also, it is now popular use of AJAX and jQuery particular technology, as well as HTML 5 technology to create animations, which are supported by all kinds of mobile (smart) phones and devices, but it is important to understand that in this case you do not make an animated image but in a particular way or combine images, or with these technologies perform various actions on the pictures.
JPG (JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Group)
JPG or JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, the authors of this format. Allows you to display over 16 million colors. A special advantage of this image formats is that it allows compressing the file size, with of course the equivalent loss of quality. It is recommended to not compressed to more than 60%, in order to maintain image quality. This format is used practically for all the photos you come across on the Internet sites.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
A very popular type of image formats that are used on the Internet, although long was not fully supported by some Web browsers.
It originated in the desire to find an alternative to GIF. A good feature of PNG image formats is that files can be 5 to 25% less than the identical size GIFs. Also, PNG provides transparency, and also to regulate the level of transparency (opacity properties), but unlike GIF, PNG images can not be animated.
PNG images are not used for displaying of photography because the image will be several times bigger than identical in JPG / JPEG format.
Below you can check infographic about proper use of PNG, GIF & JPEG images:
