Supported Image Formats

There are only a few image formats which are supported on the Web: GIF and JPEG are the most frequently used, while PNG is more recent and not yet widely used.

• GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) was created by CompuServe because they wanted to accelerate image display on their online service. This format has quickly gained acceptance on the Web.
  
  
• JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) uses a more powerful algorithm to obtain more compact images, but at the cost of possible quality loss. At the end of the day the decision is yours - you choose the compression rate according to the quality you are aiming to achieve.
  
  

Having trouble making your choice? Then PNG (Portable Network Graphic) might meet your needs since it unites the benefits of the two other formats: transparency, progressive display, no limitations on the number of colours, and a good compression rate. Unfortunately, only the latest generation of browsers recognises this format.