PNG vs JPG vs PDF: Which Format Should You Download?

When you click Download in Ontools you can choose PNG, JPG, transparent PNG or PDF. They are not interchangeable. Picking the right one keeps your design sharp, your files small and your prints correct.

PNG — sharp graphics and text

PNG uses lossless compression: every pixel is stored exactly. Text edges, logos, icons and flat colors stay crisp.

• Use for: social media graphics with text, infographics, screenshots, anything with flat colors.
• Downside: photo-heavy designs make large files.

JPG — photos and small files

JPG uses lossy compression: it throws away detail the eye barely notices. It is excellent for photographs and makes files several times smaller than PNG. Around sharp text edges, though, it can create faint “noise”.

• Use for: photo-based designs, uploads with size limits (YouTube thumbnails under 2 MB), sending images on messaging apps.
• Avoid for: logos and designs that will be edited and saved again repeatedly — quality drops each time.

Transparent PNG — logos and overlays

PNG supports transparency. Ontools’ “PNG transparent” export removes the background layer, leaving only your text, shapes and images. Use it for logos, watermarks, stickers and any element you will place on top of something else — a website header, a video or another design.

PDF — printing

A PDF is a document with a fixed physical page size. Print shops and home printers know exactly how big to print it. Ontools PDFs use the physical size of each print format — a business card PDF is 3.5 × 2 inches, a flyer is A4.

• Use for: flyers, posters, business cards, invitations, certificates.
• Not ideal for: social media — most platforms do not accept PDFs as images.

Quick decision table

What about WebP and SVG?

WebP is a modern web format that is smaller than both PNG and JPG; it is great for websites, but some apps still do not accept it. SVG is a vector format that scales infinitely — perfect for logos made by designers in vector software. For most everyday uses, PNG, JPG and PDF cover everything.