Large PNG files that need to be JPG
Screenshots, design exports and photos are often saved as PNG, and these files can be large. Some websites and upload forms also accept only JPG. Converting PNG to JPG gives you a file these forms accept, and a photo usually becomes smaller as a JPG.
- Upload a screenshot to a form or website that accepts only JPG.
- Make exported photos smaller before you attach them to an email.
- Prepare product images for a shop that asks for JPG files.
Transparency, compression and file size in the JPG
- Transparent areas
- Always white. The JPG format has no transparency, and Pixcon does not offer another color.
- Compression
- Always lossy, also with "Optimize images" off.
- File size
- Usually smaller for photos. A screenshot or a flat graphic can even get larger, so compare both files.
- Width and height
- Unchanged, unless you choose "Resize" or "Crop".
- File name
- Kept. Only the extension changes, to .jpg or .jpeg as chosen in "Convert to:".
Settings that affect your JPG
- "Optimize images" on, the default: Pixcon compresses the JPG more strongly, which gives a smaller file for websites and email.
- "Optimize images" off: Pixcon saves the JPG at a higher quality. More fine detail stays visible, but the file is larger.
- "Resize": enter a "Width:" or "Height:" of up to 4096 px to shrink a large export. With "Maintain Aspect Ratio" on, the other side follows automatically.
When to keep the PNG instead
Keep the PNG, or convert PNG to WebP, when the image needs transparent areas, such as a logo for a colored background. Pixcon keeps transparency in PNG and WebP output, but not in JPG.
Lossy JPG compression can make small text and thin lines in screenshots look blurry. To make such a PNG smaller and keep the format, use the Compress image tool. Pixcon then reduces the number of colors in the PNG and keeps the result only if the file gets smaller.
Converting the JPG back to PNG later does not restore the transparency or the detail that JPG compression removed.
PNG to JPG: background, size and sharpness
What happens to a transparent background when I convert PNG to JPG?
Pixcon fills transparent areas with white, because the JPG format does not support transparency. A logo on a transparent background gets a white background in the JPG.
Can I pick a background color other than white?
No. Pixcon always uses white for transparent areas in a JPG. To keep the transparency, convert the PNG to WebP or keep it as PNG.
Will converting PNG to JPG make the file smaller?
Usually, yes. Pixcon saves JPG with lossy compression, and "Optimize images", which is on by default, compresses the file further. A smaller result is not guaranteed, so compare both files before you delete the PNG.
Why does text look less sharp after converting a screenshot to JPG?
JPG compression is always lossy, and the sharp edges of small letters show its changes more clearly than photos do. Turning "Optimize images" off keeps more detail. If the text must stay exactly as it is, keep the screenshot as PNG.
Is converting PNG to JPEG different from PNG to JPG?
No. JPG and JPEG are two extensions of the same format, and Pixcon creates the same kind of image for both. Choosing JPEG in "Convert to:" only changes the file extension to .jpeg.