Image to PNG Converter: Convert Photos to PNG Online
Convert images to PNG format online for free. Convert JPG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, WebP, and other image formats to PNG with transparency support.
Image to PNG Converter
Use our Image to PNG converter to convert photos and images from various formats to PNG. Upload your image, adjust transparency and compression settings, then download the converted PNG file.
Drag & drop your image here or click to browse
Supports JPG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, WebP, SVG, and more Maximum file size: 10MBImage Preview
Preview your original and converted images side by side:
Recent Conversions
What is PNG Format?
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless image format that supports transparency and is ideal for graphics, logos, and images with text. It uses compression without losing quality, making it perfect for images that require crisp edges and clarity.
Key Insight: PNG format is ideal for images with text, logos, graphics, and screenshots. It supports full alpha-channel transparency (unlike JPG), meaning you can have smooth transitions from opaque to fully transparent. PNG files are generally larger than JPGs but maintain perfect quality.
Our Image to PNG converter makes it easy to convert images from various formats to PNG, with options to control transparency, compression level, and resize dimensions.
Why Convert to PNG?
PNG supports full alpha-channel transparency, allowing smooth edges and transparent backgrounds.
PNG uses lossless compression, meaning no quality loss when saving or editing the image.
Perfect for images with text, logos, and graphics where sharp edges and clarity are essential.
PNG is universally supported by all modern browsers and operating systems.
How to Convert Images to PNG
Follow these simple steps to convert your images to PNG format:
- Upload Image: Click the upload area or drag and drop your image file
- Set Transparency: Choose whether to keep, remove, or add transparency to your PNG
- Adjust Compression: Select the compression level (balanced is recommended)
- Resize (Optional): Adjust image dimensions if needed
- Preview: See your original and converted images side by side
- Convert: Click “Convert to PNG” to process your image
- Download: Download the converted PNG file to your device
- Share: Share your converted image directly from the tool
Pro Tip: Use PNG for logos, graphics, screenshots, and images with text. Use JPG for photographs. For web use, consider WebP format which offers both good compression and transparency support. Always keep your original high-quality files before converting to PNG, especially if converting from JPG.
Supported Image Formats to PNG
Convert JPG images to PNG format. Note: JPG doesn’t support transparency, so you may need to add a background color.
Convert animated or static GIF images to PNG. Animated GIFs will convert to a single frame with transparency.
Convert modern WebP images to widely compatible PNG format with full transparency support.
Convert large BMP files to much smaller PNG files while preserving image quality and adding transparency support.
PNG Compression Guide
PNG compression is lossless, meaning no quality is lost during compression. However, different compression levels affect file size and processing time:
| Compression Level | File Size | Processing Time | Recommended Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 (None) | Largest | Fastest | Quick conversions, small images |
| 3-5 (Light) | Medium | Fast | General web use |
| 6-7 (Balanced) | Optimized | Medium | Most use cases |
| 8-9 (Maximum) | Smallest | Slowest | Final production files |
When to Use Different Compression Levels
- No Compression (0): Use for quick previews or when file size doesn’t matter. Fastest conversion.
- Light Compression (3-5): Good for web images where loading speed is important but conversion speed matters too.
- Balanced Compression (6-7): The sweet spot for most uses. Good compression without excessive processing time.
- Maximum Compression (8-9): Best for final production files, archiving, or when every byte counts. Slowest but smallest files.
Compression Algorithms: PNG uses DEFLATE compression (the same algorithm used in ZIP files). Higher compression levels use more aggressive algorithms to find patterns and reduce file size, which takes more processing time but doesn’t affect image quality.
PNG Transparency Guide
PNG supports two types of transparency: simple transparency (like GIF) and alpha-channel transparency. Understanding these can help you create better images:
Types of PNG Transparency
Images with a solid background color. All pixels are fully opaque. Best for photos and images with complex backgrounds.
Each pixel is either fully opaque or fully transparent (like GIF). Good for simple graphics with sharp edges.
Each pixel has an alpha value from 0 (fully transparent) to 255 (fully opaque). Allows smooth transitions and shadows.
When to Use Transparency
- Logos and Branding: Use transparent PNGs for logos that need to appear on different colored backgrounds
- Web Design Elements: Buttons, icons, and decorative elements that need to blend with the website background
- Screenshots and Tutorials: Highlight specific areas while keeping the rest transparent or semi-transparent
- Product Images: Show products without distracting backgrounds for cleaner e-commerce displays
- Watermarks: Create semi-transparent watermarks that don’t completely obscure the underlying image
Browser Compatibility: While all modern browsers support PNG transparency, some older browsers (like IE6) had issues with PNG alpha transparency. For maximum compatibility, you might need to provide fallback images or use tools that add IE6 support.
PNG Optimization Tips
Optimizing PNG images can significantly reduce file size without affecting quality. Follow these tips for best results:
Before Conversion
- Reduce Color Depth: Many images don’t need 24-bit color. Reduce to 8-bit or fewer colors if possible
- Crop Unnecessary Areas: Remove empty space around your subject to reduce file size
- Use Appropriate Dimensions: Don’t create PNGs larger than needed for their display size
- Simplify Graphics: Remove unnecessary details from logos and icons
During Conversion
- Choose Right Compression: Use maximum compression for final files, lighter compression for quick previews
- Optimize Transparency: Use alpha transparency only when needed, binary transparency when possible
- Remove Metadata: Strip EXIF data and other metadata to reduce file size
- Use Palette Optimization: For images with few colors, use palette optimization to reduce file size
After Conversion
- Use PNG Optimization Tools: Tools like PNGOUT, OptiPNG, or PNGcrush can further reduce file size
- Test Different Settings: Try different compression levels and color depths to find the best balance
- Check Browser Compatibility: Test transparent PNGs in different browsers
- Consider Alternative Formats: For some images, WebP or SVG might be more efficient than PNG
Pro Tip: For web use, consider using CSS sprites for multiple small images (like icons) to reduce HTTP requests. Also, use CSS3 effects (shadows, gradients) instead of image files when possible, as they’re more efficient and scalable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
PNG uses lossless compression (no quality loss), supports transparency, and is best for graphics, text, and images with sharp edges.
JPG uses lossy compression (some quality loss), doesn’t support transparency, and is best for photographs and images with many colors.
PNG files are generally larger than JPG files for photographs but can be smaller for simple graphics.
Standard PNG does not support animation. However, there’s a format called APNG (Animated Portable Network Graphics) that does support animation while maintaining PNG’s advantages (transparency, lossless compression). APNG is supported by most modern browsers but not all. For animated images with transparency, consider APNG or WebP.
PNG files can be large because they use lossless compression. Factors that increase PNG file size include:
High resolution: More pixels = larger file
Many colors: 24-bit color uses more data than 8-bit
Complex transparency: Alpha channel adds data
Low compression: Using no or low compression increases file size
To reduce file size, resize the image, reduce color depth, use higher compression, or remove unnecessary transparency.
WebP generally offers better compression than PNG (25-35% smaller files) while supporting both lossless and lossy compression, transparency, and animation. However, PNG has universal browser support while WebP is not supported in Safari (until recently) and some older browsers. For maximum compatibility, use PNG or provide WebP with PNG fallback.
Converting PNG to JPG will always lose some quality because JPG uses lossy compression. If you convert a JPG to PNG and back to JPG, you’ll lose additional quality. However, if the PNG was originally created from a lossless source (not JPG), converting to JPG will only lose quality once. Always keep your original files and convert from the original when possible.
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Convert Your Images to PNG Today
Use our free Image to PNG converter to create high-quality, transparent images for logos, graphics, websites, and more. Whether you’re a designer, developer, or just need to convert images, our tool makes it simple and fast.