How to convert PNG to JPG

Good reasons to convert

• A PNG photograph that is several megabytes for no benefit.
• An upload form that only accepts JPG or JPEG.
• A batch of screenshots being archived where exact pixels do not matter.

Two cases where you should not

Keep the PNG when the image has transparency — JPG has no transparency, so the see-through areas fill with a solid colour, which ruins logos and cut-outs.

Keep the PNG when the image is mostly text or fine lines. JPG compression puts visible fuzz around lettering, and a screenshot of a spreadsheet looks distinctly worse.

Why PNG screenshots get so large

PNG stores every pixel exactly. That is ideal for a screenshot of text, but a full-screen capture of a photograph or a gradient can easily exceed 5 MB, because there is no repetition for lossless compression to exploit.

The same picture as a JPG at high quality is often under 500 KB and indistinguishable at normal viewing size — which is why photographic PNGs are the best candidates for conversion.

Pick a quality level

• 90% — archival copies and anything that may be printed.
• 80% — the sweet spot for web use and email; no visible difference for most photographs.
• 60-70% — when the file must be very small and it will only be viewed on screen.
• Below 60% — expect visible blocking, especially in skies and flat backgrounds.

Step by step

1. 1Check whether the image has transparency or a lot of text.
2. 2If neither applies, load it into the converter.
3. 3Choose JPG and set the quality.
4. 4Compare the file sizes and inspect the result.
5. 5Download the JPG and keep the PNG if you may need to edit it later.

Frequently asked questions

What happens to a transparent background?

It is filled with a solid colour, usually white or black. Keep the PNG whenever transparency matters.

Can I convert back to PNG afterwards?

You can, but the quality lost in the JPG step does not return — the PNG simply stores the compressed result losslessly.