Image conversion
PNG to JPG: When to Remove Transparency and Reduce File Size
PNG is excellent for transparency and sharp graphics, but it can be unnecessarily heavy for regular photos and marketing images.
Convert when transparency is not needed
JPG does not support transparency. If the image has a transparent background, conversion will flatten it, usually onto a white or solid background. This is fine for product photos, blog images, banners, and email attachments where transparency is not part of the design.
If the transparent area is important for a logo, icon, cutout, or overlay, keep PNG or convert to WebP with transparency instead.
Where PNG should stay PNG
Keep PNG for logos, UI screenshots, diagrams, simple graphics, and images with sharp text. JPG compression can blur edges and introduce visible artifacts around text or flat color areas.
If a screenshot must remain crisp but still needs a smaller file, try WebP before JPG.
Best use cases for JPG
JPG works best for photos with many colors, gradients, and natural detail. It is a good choice for email, CMS uploads, gallery previews, blog images, and product photos without transparent backgrounds.
Use the quality slider to control the balance. A product photo may look good around 80-85, while a quick email preview can often go lower.
- Photos: PNG to JPG is often worth it
- Screenshots with text: usually keep PNG
- Transparent logos: keep PNG or use WebP
SEO and file naming
After conversion, rename the file for the page context and add useful alt text in the CMS. A smaller JPG helps load time, but the surrounding content still needs to explain what the image shows.