GIFs or JPEGs

The easy rule to remember

1. Use GIF format with graphics that you have created on your computer such as horizontal rules, buttons, or animation.
2. Use JPEG format when the images are scanned pictures or photographs.

GIF file can contain the maximum of 256 colors (8 bit) or less, which is good for customizing your graphic files. GIF file will yield a higher quality and smaller size image, compared to JPEG, when it is used with computer generated graphics such as icons, logos, buttons, etc.

JPEG was built to contain 24-bit (16.7+ million colors) and was developed specifically for photographic-style images. JPEG stores the information of images by keeping track of color changes. The advantage of JPEG is that it can carry a smaller file size than GIF when used in storing photographs and images with a wide variety of shading. But, it will not yield a smaller file when dealing with low color level and details like computer generated graphics.

GIFs also has some special features such as animation, transparency, and interlacing.

By GJSenthil, On - 2010-01-28

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