JFIF to PNG

JFIF stands for JPEG File Interchange Format. It is not a separate image format but rather a standard defining the format for storing and exchanging images encoded with the JPEG compression algorithm. Essentially, almost all JPEG files you encounter (with .jpg or .jpeg extensions) are JFIF files. It was initially released in 1991 by C-Cube Microsystems.

JFIF specifies how JPEG compressed data, which is just a stream of bits, is put into a file format for common use. It defines things like color space (e.g., YCbCr), pixel aspect ratio, and other metadata necessary for displaying the image correctly. Since it's based on JPEG compression, JFIF uses lossy compression, making it suitable for photographic images where some data can be discarded without noticeable visual degradation.

How to Open a JFIF File:

• Windows: Use Microsoft Photos, Paint, IrfanView, or Photoshop.
• macOS: Open with Preview, Photoshop, or GIMP.
• Linux: Use GIMP, Eye of GNOME, or ImageMagick.
• Web: JFIF files open directly in most modern web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

File Extensions: .jpg, .jpeg, .jfif

Developed by: C-Cube Microsystems

Initial Release: 1991

Learn more at JFIF on Wikipedia.

PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics (PNG) was developed as an improved, non-patented replacement for the GIF format. It was officially released on October 1, 1996. PNG uses a lossless compression method, meaning no image data is lost during compression, resulting in perfect preservation of image quality.

PNG is widely used for web graphics, logos, icons, and images that require transparency. It supports millions of colors and various levels of transparency (alpha channel), making it ideal for images that need to blend seamlessly with different backgrounds. While excellent for graphics and images with sharp lines and text, PNG files can be considerably larger than JPEGs for photographs due to their lossless nature.

How to Open a PNG File:

• Windows: Use Microsoft Photos, Paint, IrfanView, or Photoshop.
• macOS: Open with Preview, Photoshop, or GIMP.
• Linux: Use GIMP, Eye of GNOME, or ImageMagick.
• Web: PNG files open directly in most modern web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

File Extensions: .png

Developed by: PNG Development Group (W3C)

Initial Release: October 1, 1996

Learn more at PNG on Wikipedia.