JPG, PNG, or GIF? Which Image Format Should You Be Using in Your Digital Design?

By Team Govstack - April 17, 2025

Your municipal website is more than just a digital hub—it’s a vital connection point that informs, engages, and unites the community, making every design choice, including image formats, essential for an accessible and impactful experience. 

When designing for digital platforms, selecting the right image format is crucial for achieving the best balance between quality, file size, and functionality. The three most commonly used formats—JPG, PNG, and GIF—each have unique characteristics, advantages, and ideal use cases. Choosing the wrong one can lead to slow load times, distorted images, or loss of crucial detail. In this blog, we'll break down these formats in depth and help you determine which one to use for your digital design needs. 

Overview of Image Formats 

Digital images come in various formats, each designed for different purposes. Some prioritize high quality, while others focus on compression and small file sizes to optimize web performance. Understanding the differences between JPG, PNG, and GIF will help you select the best option for your specific project and ensure a polished, professional final product. 

Think of it like choosing the right tool for the job—just as you wouldn’t use a screwdriver to hammer a nail, you wouldn’t want to use a GIF when a high-resolution PNG is needed. Let’s take a closer look at each format. 

JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) 

Characteristics: 

  • Uses lossy compression, meaning some data is lost when the file is saved. 

  • Supports millions of colors, making it ideal for detailed images. 

  • Does not support transparency, which can be a limitation in web design. 

  • Smaller file sizes compared to PNG, making it more efficient for web use. 

Advantages: 

  • Ideal for photographs and complex images with a high range of colors. 

  • Efficient compression significantly reduces storage space. 

  • Universally compatible with most devices, browsers, and software. 

  • Faster loading times for web pages, enhancing user experience. 

Best Use Cases: 

  • Website images where reducing file size is a priority without significant quality loss. 

  • Social media graphics and blog post images. 

  • Digital photography where high color depth is needed but absolute precision isn’t critical. 

💡 Tip: Always adjust compression levels carefully when saving JPGs to avoid excessive quality loss! 

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) 

Characteristics: 

  • Uses lossless compression, meaning no image data is lost. 

  • Supports transparency (alpha channels), allowing for creative and seamless design. 

  • Larger file sizes than JPG due to its high-quality retention. 

  • Supports millions of colors, maintaining sharpness and detail. 

Advantages: 

  • Preserves image quality, even after multiple edits and saves. 

  • Transparency support enables flexible design applications, such as logos and overlays. 

  • Excellent for images requiring crisp edges and text overlay without distortion. 

Best Use Cases: 

  • Logos, icons, and UI elements where transparency is essential. 

  • Web graphics that require sharp detail and high quality. 

  • Screenshots, infographics, and illustrations. 

💡 Tip: PNG is great for preserving quality, but if file size becomes an issue, consider compressing the image with online tools. 

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) 

Characteristics: 

  • Uses lossless compression but is limited to a maximum of 256 colors. 

  • Supports simple animations, making it unique among the three formats. 

  • Supports transparency but lacks partial transparency (edges can appear rough). 

  • Smaller file sizes than PNG but lower color depth. 

Advantages: 

  • Best format for short, looped animations. 

  • Works well for simple graphics, such as buttons and icons. 

  • High compatibility across browsers and devices. 

Best Use Cases: 

  • Animated web elements like banners, buttons, and memes. 

  • Simple, low-color images that require transparency. 

  • Icons with basic transparency needs. 

💡 Tip: Use GIFs sparingly in website design to prevent slow load times—consider modern alternatives like APNG or WebP for animation. 

Comparing the Formats: Which One Should You Use? 

Feature 

JPG 

PNG 

GIF 

Compression Type 

Lossy 

Lossless 

Lossless 

Supports Transparency 

No 

Yes 

Yes 

Supports Animation 

No 

No 

Yes 

Best for 

Photos, web images 

Logos, graphics 

Animations, simple graphics 

File Size 

Small 

Larger 

Small 

 

Each format serves a distinct purpose and using them correctly can greatly enhance the effectiveness of your designs. If you're working with high-quality photos or large web images, JPG is the way to go. When transparency or sharpness is needed, PNG is your best bet. If you're creating simple animations, GIF is the ideal format. 

Conclusion 

Selecting the right image format is a fundamental yet often overlooked part of digital design. By understanding the strengths and limitations of JPG, PNG, and GIF, you can make informed choices that enhance your visuals while maintaining optimal performance. 

A good rule of thumb: 

  • Use JPG for photos and large images where compression is needed. 

  • Use PNG when you need transparency or lossless quality. 

  • Use GIF for animations and simple graphics. 

Making the right decision can improve loading speeds, save storage space, and ensure that your images look their best across all devices. 

Optimizing images is just one part of creating an engaging and user-friendly municipal website. With Govstack, municipalities can easily manage images, maintain fast-loading web pages, and deliver a seamless digital experience to their residents. Discover how Govstack’s powerful platform can help your municipality make the most of its digital presence. Learn more today!