PNG vs SVG: Which Image Format Should You Use

PNG and SVG are both common image formats, but they work in completely different ways. Choosing the right one saves you blurry prints, oversized web pages and last-minute redesigns.

How PNG and SVG Are Different

PNG is Raster :
It stores a grid of coloured pixels. It is perfect for photos and screenshots, but it has a fixed resolution.
SVG is Vector :
It stores shapes, lines and colours as code. It scales to any size without losing quality and can be edited shape by shape.

When to Use Each Format

Photos :
Stay with PNG or JPG - photos have too much detail to trace well.
Logos and Icons :
Use SVG so they stay crisp from a favicon to a hoarding.
Product Labels and Packaging :
SVG prints sharply at any size and is easy for printers to work with.
Website Graphics :
Simple SVG icons are usually smaller than PNGs and look sharp on high-resolution screens.

Turning a PNG into an SVG

If your logo or icon only exists as a PNG, the PNG to SVG converter traces it into vector shapes. Colour mode keeps multi-colour artwork, and black & white mode gives the lightest file for text, signatures and line art.

Conclusion

Use PNG for photos and SVG for anything that needs to scale. When you only have a PNG of a logo, convert it once and use the SVG everywhere.

PNG vs SVG: Which Image Format Should You Use for Logos?