PNG vs Gif

Graphic Addict · 05-08-2007, 10:56 PM

Ok, My top image on my layout is a gif, and I have had visitors complain that it is blury. I know that png is alot clearer, but it seems to load slowly. What are your prefferences? PNG or gif?

Tomassi · 05-09-2007, 12:28 AM

Depends on the usage of the image ehh.
But when I would have to choose between good quality and speed I'd go for quality.

Maxibon · 05-09-2007, 12:33 AM

yes but GIF uploads really fast and the quality is not that bad .

Tomassi · 05-09-2007, 12:38 AM

pngs are more usefull cause you can give them opacity thus making the edges look better than the rugged gif edges, the size might increase a little but not much.
Hopefully all browsers will support pngs without the stupid hacks soon

WebGeek182 · 05-09-2007, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashcannon

Depends on the usage of the image ehh.
But when I would have to choose between good quality and speed I'd go for quality.

Exactly...

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashcannon

pngs are more usefull cause you can give them opacity thus making the edges look better than the rugged gif edges, the size might increase a little but not much.
Hopefully all browsers will support pngs without the stupid hacks soon

I agree...different versions of IE have issues with em, but the hacks are worth it when you have a sweet design.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graphic Addict

Ok, My top image on my layout is a gif, and I have had visitors complain that it is blury. I know that png is alot clearer, but it seems to load slowly. What are your prefferences? PNG or gif?

I wouldn't simply choose one or the other...Like cashcannon said it requires choosing the right type for the specific use. Here are some sample applications:

Black and white (Grayscale) with no transparency - Use GIF
Color photo with no transparency - JPG - 80% Progressive (or 90% if you are losing quality)
Color with smooth (alpha) transparency to put over any background, or to move freely around the screen - PNG 32 (export to PNG 32 - don't just use the file from Fireworks - it will have extra info - when you export it, it strips all the crap out, leaving you with a lean file.)
Simple small image with transparency or small repeating pattern for bg - GIF

Graphic Addict · 05-09-2007, 09:44 AM

WOW! Thank you all for your suggestions. This REALLY helps me. I appriciate the help.

Ferre · 05-09-2007, 04:36 PM

It may sound weird, but I often make logos in Photoshop and import the psd file in illustrator and from there save it as gif. Somehow the quality is better that way than when I save it as a gif in photoshop.

marc_gfx · 05-09-2007, 05:34 PM

Hm, kind of not what I expected from the title... PNG or GIF in most cases hardly makes a difference. They both can use indexed colors and very similar techniques. GIF is usually better with very small images as PNG has a larger overhead but better compression. In the end it depends on the image being used. They both support transparency in the same way for indexed colors (transparent or not). PNG offers full alpha channel support but if I am not mistaken only for 32bit images that usually tend to be rather large.

As WebGeek182 already pointed out, the difference between GIF/PNG and JPG is much more interesting as they use entirely different compression methods.

Mad Myche · 05-09-2007, 09:07 PM

Which format to choose can be quite a headache. Some browsers can't deal with all of a PNGs capabilities. GIFs are limited in color depth, but they are practically universally supported with transparency. JPGs can be a chore with balancing quality and filesize.

In other words, keep a raw version of the original graphic, and see what saved versions look like in quality and filesize.

...on a side note, at my micropublishing job, we convert all of our 3400x4400i 1-bit TIFFs to PNG for web purposes. Haven't had a client or their customers complain yet about quality.

hs143no · 05-10-2007, 10:20 PM

I prefer PNG's. Like everyone says, GIF's load quick, but PNG's are worth the wait, that is just my point of view.

tape · 05-14-2007, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxibon

GIF uploads really fast and the quality is not that bad .

agree

tresmom · 05-15-2007, 05:56 PM

I like PNGs better. They definitely look better.

Jonathan_Hue · 05-16-2007, 04:34 AM

Faster loading - Gif
Crisp Quality - PNG
Assortment - JPEG

Depends upon your goals and needs, if u want yr users to get your message fast = Gif

If you want them to get "YOUR" message "ONLY" = PNG

Totally Confused, stakes are high on both ends...want settlement? = JPEG

Thank you

Solid_Nuts · 05-29-2007, 09:28 PM

png gives better quallity then gif but gif tent to be smaller in kb

Karen_Harwood · 06-01-2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferre

It may sound weird, but I often make logos in Photoshop and import the psd file in illustrator and from there save it as gif. Somehow the quality is better that way than when I save it as a gif in photoshop.

I'll have to try this. Good suggestion and creative troubleshooting!

labrocca · 06-05-2007, 07:25 PM

I can't believe that no one has mentioned that it really depends on the image. For some images a GIF will look EXACTLY the same as PNG. However if you have photos then you may want a JPG intead. Poor quality GIF's imho are the result of poor graphics designers and have little to do with the format.

Any chance we can get a link to view ourselves?