JPEG vs PNG vs TIFF: Which Format Should You Use?

Why the format matters

When you save a photo you choose how its information is stored. Some formats shrink the file by throwing away detail you may not notice. Others keep everything but are larger. Choosing well means your photos stay sharp, open everywhere and do not fill your storage. Choosing badly can cost quality that you cannot get back.

Two terms explain most of the differences:

• Lossy compression makes the file smaller by permanently discarding some detail. JPEG is the common example.
• Lossless compression makes the file smaller without discarding anything, so the image can be restored exactly. PNG and (optionally) TIFF work this way.

The main formats compared

JPEG: small and convenient, with a cost

JPEG is the format almost every camera, phone and website uses. It is excellent for photographs because it can shrink a file a lot while still looking good. The cost is that each time you edit and re-save a JPEG, it is compressed again, and a little more detail is lost. Do this many times and you see blocky patches and smeared edges.

JPEG does not support transparency and is poor for sharp text, line art and screenshots.

PNG: lossless, with transparency

PNG keeps every pixel exactly and supports transparent backgrounds, which makes it ideal for logos, interface graphics and screenshots. For a detailed photograph, a PNG is usually much larger than the equivalent JPEG, so it is not the best default for sharing photos.

TIFF and PSD: for masters and archives

TIFF is a flexible, widely supported format that can store high-quality images without lossy compression. Libraries and archives use it for preservation; the Library of Congress lists TIFF among its preferred formats for still images, as noted in the sources below. PSD is Photoshop's own format and is the right place to keep layers (see the layers and masks guide) while you are still editing.

Both files are large. That is the trade-off for keeping everything.

How to choose

1. Keep a master. Store your best version as TIFF or, if you have layers, PSD. Never overwrite the original scan or camera file.
2. Export copies for sharing. Make a JPEG from the master for email, social media or the web.
3. Use PNG for graphics. If it has text, sharp edges or a transparent background, choose PNG.
4. Edit the master, not the JPEG. If you need changes later, go back to the master and export a fresh copy.

Step by step: export a JPEG in Photoshop

1. Pick the format. In the Export As dialog, set Format to JPG (or PNG).
2. Set quality. For JPG, a quality of roughly 80 to 90 per cent is a common balance for photos. Watch the preview and file size, and raise the quality if you see blocky areas.
3. Check size. Set the pixel dimensions you need (see the resolution guide). Leave the original untouched.
4. Colour space. Tick Convert to sRGB for images going on the web, since sRGB is what most screens and browsers expect.
5. Export and give the file a new name so you do not overwrite your master.

To save a TIFF or PSD master, use File > Save As and choose the format from the list.

Worked example: export one photo for three uses

Suppose you have finished editing a portrait and need to send it to a client, keep it for future changes, and use it on a website. You should not create one file and use it for every purpose. Make three outputs from the same layered master:

1. Keep the working file. Save the layered project with a clear name such as portrait-client-master.psd. Keep the original camera file too.
2. Make a client copy. Convert to the colour profile requested by the recipient, resize to the agreed pixel dimensions, then export a JPEG. A quality setting is not a universal number: inspect the face, hair and textured clothing at 100% and choose the smallest file that still looks clean.
3. Make a web copy. Resize to the actual display requirement rather than uploading a full-resolution original. Export to WebP if the site and workflow support it, and check that the image still looks natural at normal page size.
4. Check the outputs. Reopen each exported file. Confirm orientation, dimensions, colour, filename and transparency where relevant. Do not assume the export dialog produced the result you intended.
5. Keep versions distinct. Add labels such as -master, -client and -web so a compressed delivery copy is never mistaken for the editable source.

The useful habit is to think of a format as a delivery decision, not a badge of quality. A TIFF is not automatically better for every recipient, and a JPEG is not automatically unsuitable. Choose the file that preserves what the next step actually requires.

Common mistakes

• Re-saving the same JPEG repeatedly. Each save compresses again. Edit the master, then export once.
• Saving a logo as JPEG. You get fuzzy edges and a white box. Use PNG.
• Choosing PNG for every photo. Files become needlessly large, which slows websites.
• Deleting the only master. Once only the JPEG remains, lost detail cannot be recovered.
• Assuming a bigger file is better quality. Format and pixel size matter more than megabytes.

Key takeaways

Related: scanning old photographs, where the TIFF master advice matters most.