Question on graphics (PNG vs JPEG)

[ZarPrime]

Yeah, you're probably right but, if you've ever converted an image file from jpeg to png, you'll see that the resulting file is huge in comparison.  I know, I've done it.

ZarPrime

[Freddy]

Hehe, yep I have, they are huge.  I would use JPEG for large images and maybe PNG for smaller images.  My question was just about image quality alone - but cameras mostly seem to use JPG so it can't be that bad, but also maybe PNG has some catching up to do.

[ZarPrime]

I once read an article somewhere on the net about some new format that good old Microsoft was trying to push through that would solve the file size problem that png has with images but be better than jpeg but I can't, for the life of me, recall what that was all about at this point, not can I remember what the format was called.  It's new within the last couple of years though.

ZarPrime

[bloc]

PNG is better..but its not just one PNG type, there are 2. PNG8 is the equal of GIF really, it has support for 256 colors and renders transparency like GIF does, with a color code you can see through only. Thats why PNG8 is perfect for smaller images, icons, banners etc.

PNG24 is full 24bit color format, its better than JPG, but 10x the size. It has also transparency layer which JPG doesn't have, so its ideal also as icons and smaller images, and especially when you want thinsg to see through it as a blend.

JPG is still the best for bigger web images though, simply because you don't have to wait for a 200-500k files(and if its 10 images of that size, you get the picture). Its NOT lossless, so you cannot use it as storage(well, many digital cameras do use it, but then its typically large images so you gain something back due to the resolution anyway), only on the web.

If you use compression level over 60%(higher=better picture quality) you can't really see the difference unless you zoom in 4-5 times.

So its all about what works best on what type of image.

[Crip]

....i make all my Curve theme - main_block / menu_gfx PNG24 ..P-T-S seems to want to save them in that format so i do, yes they are Huge files but look better than any /gif/jpg to me anyway.

[bloc]

Yes, and this is the advantage of combining several images into one: you actually get asmaller size than all of them separate AND your browser doesn't have to make x calls to get them.One image and its ready.Saves the server too.