Image Format Conversion
Image formats trade off compression, transparency, animation, and browser support. HEIC is the iPhone capture format that Windows can't open natively; AVIF compresses tighter than JPEG but Microsoft Office can't read it; PNG preserves transparency but bloats photographic content. This catalog covers the most common format conversions, with each preset naming the trade-offs and the right scenario for the conversion.
Format compatibility errors are the most common 'why won't this open?' issue in cross-platform document workflows. The HEIC you sent your Windows-using colleague, the AVIF your CMS rejected, the WebP your PowerPoint won't import — all solvable by a one-click conversion to JPEG or PNG. The presets here produce the universally-supported fallback while preserving as much of the original quality as the destination format allows.
How to choose the right preset
- Pick by source format. Each preset is named for the source-to-target conversion (e.g. HEIC → JPEG). If your source is HEIC, look for the preset that starts with 'Convert HEIC'.
- JPEG is the universal fallback. Every operating system, browser, and email client opens JPEG. Use it when the recipient's software is unknown or older.
- PNG when you need lossless or transparency. PNG is the safe choice for screenshots, line art, icons, and any image where compression artefacts would be visible. Bigger files than JPEG for photographic content.
- WebP for modern web. WebP runs 25-35% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality and supports transparency. All browsers shipped after 2020 render it; older email clients may not.
- Avoid double-encoding. Each lossy save discards detail. If your source is JPEG and you need PNG, the JPEG → PNG step locks in what's left but can't recover what was lost — start from the original capture where possible.
Every Format Conversion preset
All 9 recipes in this category. Click any card to land in chat with the recipe pre-loaded — drop an image to run.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the target format is universally supported — older systems and email clients may not render HEIC, AVIF, or even WebP.
- Losing the alpha channel — JPEG can't store transparency. Converting a transparent PNG to JPEG flattens the alpha onto solid white.
- Re-encoding an already lossy file — each JPEG save discards a little detail; converting JPEG → JPEG repeatedly compounds artefacts.
- Submitting an animated source (GIF, WebP) when the target is a static format — the static format stores only the first frame; animation is lost.
- Stripping iPhone HEIC metadata — HEIC carries depth maps, Live-Photo motion frames, and full EXIF including GPS. JPEG conversion drops the depth map and motion frames.
- Converting to AVIF for compatibility — AVIF compresses tighter but support gaps remain in older Microsoft Office, Adobe CS6, and pre-2022 stock photo platforms.
Frequently asked questions
Is JPEG → PNG lossless?
The PNG-side conversion is lossless — every pixel from the JPEG input is preserved exactly. Note that the JPEG was already lossy: the PNG locks in what's left but cannot recover detail that was previously discarded by JPEG compression.
Will the file size go up or down?
Depends on the conversion. PNG → JPEG typically shrinks photographic content 5-10×. JPEG → PNG typically grows 3-8× for photographic content because PNG is lossless. WebP usually runs 25-35% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality.
Can my existing software open WebP / AVIF?
WebP — every modern browser, macOS Big Sur+, Windows 10+, Adobe CC since 2020. AVIF — Chrome / Firefox / Safari, but limited Office and stock-platform support. JPEG and PNG are the safe defaults when the destination software is unknown.
How does HEIC compare to JPEG for size?
HEIC is roughly 50% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality. The trade-off is compatibility — Windows, older email clients, and most Linux setups don't open HEIC natively. Convert to JPEG when sharing outside the Apple ecosystem.
Will my EXIF / metadata be preserved?
Standard EXIF (camera, exposure, date, GPS) is preserved through these presets. HEIC-specific extensions (depth map, Live Photo motion frames) are not — those are HEIC-only and are lost in JPEG/PNG conversion.
How private is the processing?
Every conversion runs in your browser — canvas APIs for natively-supported formats, WebAssembly decoders for HEIC and TIFF. The file is never uploaded; verify in your browser's network panel.