How to use PNG to JPG
- 1Drop in one PNG, or up to 50 to convert as a batch
- 2Set the quality — 85% is visually indistinguishable for most photos
- 3Choose the colour that will replace any transparency
- 4Compare the before and after sizes
- 5Download the JPG, or the batch as a ZIP
What PNG to JPG does
The decision that makes this conversion non-trivial is transparency. JPEG has no alpha channel — it cannot represent a transparent pixel at all — so every transparent area in the PNG has to become some solid colour before the file can be written.
Getting that colour wrong is the single most common problem with this conversion. A logo cut out on transparency, converted without thinking, arrives with a black box around it, because the default in many tools is to composite onto black. Choosing the colour deliberately — usually white, sometimes to match the page it will sit on — is the whole job.
When to use it
- Photographs saved as PNG
- Screenshots of photos, and images exported as PNG by habit, are often several times larger than they need to be. Converting to JPG at 85% typically cuts them dramatically.
- Uploads that reject PNG
- Some forms and older systems accept only JPG. The conversion is straightforward as long as you set the background colour deliberately.
- Reducing page weight
- A photographic PNG on a web page is usually the largest thing on it. JPG at a sensible quality is a fraction of the size with no visible difference.
- Email attachments
- Several PNG photos quickly exceed attachment limits. Converting is a faster route under the limit than compressing PNGs, which have far less to give.
PNG to JPG settings explained
- Quality
- Defaults to 85%, which is visually indistinguishable from the source for almost any photograph. Below about 70% artefacts start to show on detailed images; above 95% the file grows quickly for no visible gain.
- Background behind transparency
- The colour that fills transparent areas, since JPEG cannot store them. White suits most cases; match the colour of the page or document if the image will sit on a coloured background.
- Batch conversion
- Up to 50 files, 100 MB each, 300 MB in total, all sharing the same quality and background colour, delivered as one ZIP.
- Flattening happens before encoding
- Transparency is composited onto your chosen colour first, then the flattened image is encoded. That order is why a soft transparent edge blends into the background colour rather than producing a hard outline.
When this conversion helps and when it hurts
| PNG contains | Size change | Quality effect | Recommended? |
|---|---|---|---|
| A photograph | Much smaller | Negligible at 85% | Yes |
| A screenshot of text | Smaller | Visible ringing on text | No |
| A logo or line art | Often larger | Visible artefacts | No |
| Anything transparent | Smaller | Transparency is lost | Only with care |
Limits and what to expect
- Transparency cannot be preserved — JPEG has no alpha channel, so it is always flattened.
- JPEG handles hard edges poorly, so text and line art gain visible ringing.
- Converting is lossy and irreversible; keep the PNG if you may need to edit later.
- Flat graphics and logos can end up larger as JPG than as PNG, as well as looking worse.
- 50 files per batch, 100 MB each, 300 MB per queue.
Troubleshooting
- My transparent logo has a black background
- The background colour was left at a dark value, or another tool defaulted to black. Set it to white — or to whatever colour the image will sit on — before converting. There is no way to undo it afterwards.
- Text in my screenshot looks fuzzy
- JPEG is built for photographs and handles the hard black-on-white edges of text badly, producing faint coloured ringing. Screenshots of text should stay PNG, or become WebP, which handles both kinds of content.
- The JPG is bigger than the PNG
- The image is flat graphics or line art. PNG compresses large areas of identical colour extremely well, while JPEG has to encode them as photographic data. Keep such images as PNG.
- The edges of my cutout look rough
- Soft transparent edges were blended into the background colour. If that colour does not match where the image is placed, the blend shows as a fringe. Set the background to match the destination.
Your files and your privacy
The PNG is decoded, flattened onto your chosen colour and encoded as JPEG entirely on a canvas in your browser. No image is uploaded, and batch ZIPs are assembled locally as well.
What to use next
FAQ
What happens to transparency when converting PNG to JPG?
It is lost — JPEG has no alpha channel and cannot store a transparent pixel. Every transparent area is filled with the background colour you choose before encoding. Setting that colour deliberately, rather than accepting a default, is the main thing to get right.
What quality should I use?
85% is a good default and visually indistinguishable from the source for almost any photograph. Below about 70% artefacts become visible on detailed images; above 95% the file grows quickly with no visible benefit.
Why is my JPG larger than the PNG was?
The image is flat graphics, a logo or line art. PNG compresses large areas of identical colour extremely efficiently, while JPEG treats everything as photographic data. For that kind of image, PNG is both smaller and better looking.
Should I convert screenshots to JPG?
Usually not. Screenshots are full of text and hard edges, exactly what JPEG handles worst — you get faint coloured ringing around every character. Keep them as PNG, or convert to WebP, which handles text and photos both.
Can I get the transparency back afterwards?
Not from the JPG — the flattening is permanent. Your original PNG is never modified, so go back to that. If you only have the JPG, the background remover can cut a new mask, but it will not match the original edges exactly.
Are my images uploaded?
No. Decoding, flattening and encoding all happen in your browser on your own device.