Web Tips

JPEG or GIF - Which One Should I Use?

Perhaps one of the less complicated things you can do on a computer is creating or saving image files. However, there does seem to be some confusion over which of the two most common format types, JPEG or GIF, is the best to use. While both are widely supported on the web, there are some differences between them that make one preferable to the other in certain instances. Here is a basic breakdown:

JPEG – use for pictures or photos.
GIF – use for created graphics, such as buttons or animation.

JPEG – capacity of 16.7+ million colors.
GIF – capacity of 256 colors.

JPEG – carries smaller file size than GIF when used to store images with many colors (which is what it is designed to store).
GIF – can be used to customize graphic files (say, down to 2 or 3 colors for a simple graphic), which will yield a smaller file size and higher quality image than JPEG.

GIF also has another neat aspect: It allows you to add some cool features to an image, such as transparency and interlacing.

Basically, if you’ve created a graphic on your computer or have an image with minimal color, it is best to use GIF format to save the file. If you’ve scanned a photograph or copied a picture with many colors, you’ll want to go with JPEG.

Back to Tips page