GIF vs. JPEG

The two popular image formats are on the web are GIF and JPEG. These are two ways in which designers have tried to reduce the file size of image files. GIF reduces the file size by disguarding all non-web safe colors. While JPEG uses a mathematical formula to compress the image file.

I will use GIF format when I create my own graphics with a limited number of colors because even if GIF discards all non-web safe colors, my image will not suffer because it has the unlimited amount of colors. On the other hand, I would use JPEG for photographs. This is due to the want of preservation of the colors of the photograph.

Anastacia M. Wood
School of Communication
Western Michigan University
Last Updated on:April 21, 2011 2:21 PM