The best format depends on the image, its destination, and what you need to preserve. Use this guide to make a deliberate choice instead of exporting everything the same way.
Find a practical starting point.
These options describe PikoZip’s current encoders. Compare an actual image before committing to a format.
| Format | Transparency | PikoZip encoding | A useful starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNG | Yes | Smart, conservative Balanced, Lossless or palette | Graphics and screenshots |
| JPEG | White fill on conversion | Lossy, quality adjustable | Photos and compatible uploads |
| WebP | Yes | Lossy, quality adjustable | Web photos and graphics |
| AVIF | Yes | Lossy, quality adjustable | Modern web delivery |
Start with the destination
Check what the receiving website, app, or printing workflow actually accepts. A technically efficient format is not useful if the recipient cannot open it. For web-only work, test your chosen image in the browsers and content tools you support.
Decide what matters
Photographs, screenshots, and transparent artwork ask different things of an encoder. A photo usually tolerates some lossy compression. Small interface lettering and smooth transparent edges deserve a closer look. Keep a separate editing master when revisions are likely.
Compare with your own image
Choose an output, leave original dimensions in place for a fair size comparison, and inspect the preview. Then try a sensible maximum width. If you are unsure, Smart mode compares the available encoded file sizes for you.
Put the guide into practice.
Start with one representative image, inspect the result, then prepare the rest of the batch.
Open the compressor