PNG vs JPEG: pick PNG for text, logos, and transparency

PNG and JPEG both compress images, but they serve different purposes. JPEG is designed for photographs with smooth colour gradients, where some loss of detail is acceptable. PNG uses lossless compression, preserving every pixel exactly, which makes it ideal for images with sharp edges, text, or flat colour areas like logos and diagrams. A concrete contrast: a screenshot of a webpage saved as JPEG will show fuzzy text and blocky artefacts around buttons, while PNG keeps it crisp.

A quick way to decide: if the image has any text, lines, or solid colour blocks, choose PNG. JPEG's compression blurs sharp edges and introduces visible 'ringing' around text. For images requiring transparency, only PNG supports an alpha channel; JPEG does not. In a multiple-choice question, watch for a scenario where a document contains a diagram with labels—JPEG would ruin the readability, so PNG is the correct pick. Another trap: assuming JPEG is always smaller—PNG can actually be smaller for simple graphics with few colours.

To test your choice, imagine zooming in 200% on the image. If you see blurry text or coloured speckles around edges, that's JPEG compression; if it stays sharp, it's PNG. Remember: 'PNG for precision, JPEG for photos'—the 'P' in PNG stands for 'Portable' but think 'Perfect' for text and graphics.