Understanding Image Compression: Lossy vs Lossless

When you save or share a photo, you’re often using a compressed format. Compression reduces the file size, but it doesn’t always do it the same way. The two main types are lossy and lossless compression.

LOSSY COMPRESSION
Lossy formats like JPEG and WebP (lossy mode) permanently remove some image data to shrink the file size.
- Pros: Much smaller file sizes, great for web use and social sharing.
- Cons: Some quality loss, especially after repeated editing and saving.

A simple example: a 5 MB RAW photo might shrink to 1 MB as a JPEG, but with a small trade-off in detail.

LOSSLESS COMPRESSION
Lossless formats like PNG, TIFF, and WebP (lossless mode) compress data without losing any image details.
- Pros: Perfect for archiving, editing, and professional work.
- Cons: Much larger files compared to lossy formats.

For instance, a logo saved as a PNG will always look identical to the original design.

WHICH SHOULD YOU USE?
- Everyday photos: JPEG or lossy WebP.
- Editing or printing: RAW, TIFF, or PNG.
- Logos, graphics, or transparency: PNG.