Photo Quality

[darkerhorse]

Which is the better quality photo: a 4mb png or a 2 mb jpeg?

They look similar to me.

I only want to keep one version of each photo in my collection, unless it's better to keep both for utility/versatility.

[MarcuccioV]

Which is the better quality photo: a 4mb png or a 2 mb jpeg?

They look similar to me.

I only want to keep one version of each photo in my collection, unless it's better to keep both for utility/versatility.

I prefer .jpgs for the simple reason that they are easier to drag or upload to other sites -- .png's can be tricky to deal with & some sites won't accept them (just in case you ever want to share them). If you have the space to save both, you can, but if it's one or the other I would choose the .jpg. JMHO.

[darkerhorse]

In my example, does the larger size of the png indicate higher quality?

[joetucciarone]

Hi - I would definitely keep the ".png" image, because it's an archival format. The ".png" format is considered "lossless," which means you can alter it an application like Photoshop an infinite number of times and it's quality will never degrade. You can edit and re-save the ".jpg" image, but every time you do so, minute imperfections will be automatically added to the image that weren't there before. That's just the nature of the ".jpg" format; the format sacrifices image quality for the benefit of a smaller file size.

If you use an Apple computer (I use an iMac), you can easily open a ".png" file and save a copy of it as a ".jpg" file. If you can do the same with a PC, then by all means keep the ".png" file. If you have a ".jpg" image, it can be saved as a ".png" file, but all the imperfections that are part of that ".jpg" file will be saved with it.

[darkerhorse]

That's helpful.

[unitedbronx]

I think a 4-MB png file is of a higher quality IF it has a bigger size and higher DPI, not jut taken in a dark mode at night somewhere.