PNG or JPG? Choose an export you can actually use.

You have approved the design. Now the recipient needs a file that works in its actual destination. Start with the destination's accepted formats and file limit, then choose an export. This guide focuses on a common PNG-or-JPG decision; it is not a complete guide to every image format.

Choose from the requirements

Adobe's format guide explains that PNG uses lossless compression and can preserve transparency, while JPG uses lossy compression and does not support a transparent background. There is no universal file-size winner for every image and setting. A format change also cannot restore detail that is already missing from the source.

Run a small acceptance test

• Write down the destination, required pixel dimensions, accepted formats and maximum file size. Record where you checked the requirements.
• Keep the editable source separately. Export a delivery copy so the next revision does not depend on editing a flattened file.
• Open the exported file itself. Check the headline, punctuation, logo edges and any small labels at the size the audience will see.
• Place transparent artwork against the intended background. A white rectangle or an unexpected outline needs investigation before approval.
• Check the actual file size against the upload limit. If the destination compresses uploads, inspect its preview too.
• Record which exported file passed and who approved it. Do not leave the recipient to choose between several files marked final.

Worked example: one campaign, two exports

Imagine a fictional ceramics shop delivering a photo card and a separate logo overlay. The photo card has an opaque background, so the team tests a JPG. The overlay must sit on different backgrounds, so the team tests a transparent PNG. The team checks both exports in the recipient's layout. This example is an editorial workflow, not a platform specification or a measured performance result.

Keep the message available outside the picture

An exported image does not automatically make its information accessible. W3C recommends text alternatives that match an image's purpose and context. When a graphic carries essential details, make those details available as text in the surrounding page or post as well. A decorative image and an information-bearing graphic need different treatment.

Use the related aspect-ratio guide if shape and pixel size are the unresolved questions. Use the creative brief to record deliverables, then the handoff checklist to confirm ownership and approval.