iPhone: stop creating HEIC
Settings → Camera → Formats → "Most Compatible". New photos now save as JPEG. For existing ones, share → "Save as JPEG".
Free guide · Updated 2026
Image formats, without the jargon.
HEIC, JPEG, WebP, PNG — which one is for what, what lossless vs lossy actually means, which formats support transparency, and how to convert a stubborn HEIC photo to JPG in seconds, no converter app required.
The 30-second version.
Lossless compression keeps every pixel (PNG, TIFF) — quality never degrades, files are bigger.Lossy compression drops detail the eye misses (JPEG, HEIC, WebP-lossy) — much smaller files.HEIC is Apple's iPhone format: half the size of JPEG but poorly supported outside Apple.WebP supports both lossy and lossless and transparency — the best all-round web format.PNG is lossless and supports transparency — best for logos, icons and screenshots. For a photo you want to upload, print or turn into a gift, JPEG is the safe default.
The 6 formats you'll actually meet.
Each row answers: is it lossy or lossless, does it support transparency, and what is it actually best for?
| Format | Compression | Transparency | File size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
JPEG (.jpg) | Lossy | No | Small | Photos for web, email, social, printing, uploads Universal compatibility — the safe default for any photo |
HEIC (.heic) | Lossy (HEVC) | No | Smallest | iPhone camera roll Apple-only; convert before uploading or printing |
WebP (.webp) | Lossy + lossless | Yes (lossless) | Small | Website images, logos, hero graphics Best all-round web format; universal since ~2020 |
PNG (.png) | Lossless | Yes | Large | Logos, icons, text, screenshots, stickers Transparency and pixel-perfect edges |
GIF (.gif) | Lossless (8-bit) | Yes (1-bit) | Medium | Simple animations, memes Legacy animation; use WebP/MP4 for real video |
TIFF (.tiff) | Lossless | Optional | Very large | Scanning, pre-press print Print-industry masters; overkill for most people |
What the words mean when you save a file.
Every image editor asks you this at "Save". Here is what it decides — and the one habit that protects your photos.
| Lossless | Lossy | |
|---|---|---|
| Keeps | Every pixel — a perfect copy on every save | Detail the eye is unlikely to notice |
| File size | Larger | Much smaller |
| Formats | PNG, GIF, WebP-lossless, TIFF, RAW | JPEG, HEIC, WebP-lossy, MP4 |
| Use when | Masters, logos, screenshots, anything re-edited | Web, email, social, prints at high quality |
| The habit | Keep the lossless master forever | Export a lossy copy only for sharing — never edit it as your working file |
Four ways, no converter app needed.
Apple made HEIC the default on iPhone in 2017. Every one of these uses a tool you already have.
Mac: Preview bulk-export
Select HEIC files in Finder → right-click → Quick Actions → Convert Image → JPEG. Takes seconds for a whole batch, no app needed.
Android / PC: the two free ways
Google Photos can download "as JPEG" from the web, or drag HEIC files into most free editors (GIMP, Paint.NET with a plug-in) and export as JPEG.
Then use the JPEG
Upload it anywhere — print labs, upload forms, and ImgKit accept JPEG directly.
Once it's a JPEG, it's usable everywhere.
Upload forms, print labs, and personalised gifts all accept JPEG. If you have one photo worth more than a file format — make it move.
Image format questions, answered
What is a HEIC file?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Coding) is Apple's default photo format since iOS 11. It stores the same visual quality as a JPEG in roughly half the file size by using the HEVC video codec for stills. Photos you take on an iPhone save as
.heic unless you change the Camera setting to "Most Compatible".Is HEIC better than JPEG?
For file size, yes — HEIC is about half the size of JPEG at the same quality, which is why Apple uses it on phones with limited storage. The problem is compatibility: JPEG works everywhere (browsers, printers, labs, photo editors, upload forms), HEIC mostly works within the Apple ecosystem. If an upload form rejects your
.heic, convert it to JPEG first.HEIC vs JPEG vs WebP vs PNG — which format should I use?
Use JPEG for photos you upload, print, or share anywhere (broadest compatibility). Use HEIC only if you stay inside Apple apps and want the smallest files. Use WebP for website images when you control the pipeline (great compression, universal browser support since ~2020). Use PNG when you need transparency (logos, icons, stickers) or lossless text/screenshots. For one photo you want to print or turn into a gift, JPEG is the safe default.
What is lossless compression?
Lossless compression shrinks a file with zero quality loss — the decompressed file is a perfect copy of the original. It works by removing redundancy (e.g. "the next 50 pixels are the same colour" becomes a short instruction). PNG, GIF, WebP (lossless mode), FLAC and ZIP are lossless. The trade-off: lossless files are larger than lossy ones at the same visual quality.
What is the difference between lossy and lossless compression?
Lossy permanently discards detail the eye is unlikely to notice, achieving much smaller files — JPEG is lossy, and every re-save degrades quality further. Lossless keeps every pixel, so files are bigger but quality never degrades no matter how many times you save. Rule of thumb: photos that will be edited repeatedly or printed large → keep a lossless master (PNG/TIFF/RAW); photos for the web, email or social → lossy JPEG/WebP is fine.
Does WebP support transparency?
Yes. WebP has both lossy and lossless modes, and the lossless mode supports full alpha transparency like PNG — often at a smaller file size. That makes WebP a drop-in PNG replacement for transparent web graphics (logos, icons) when browser support allows (universal since ~2020).
How do I convert HEIC to JPG on an iPhone?
The simplest method needs no app: open Settings → Camera → Formats and switch to "Most Compatible" so new photos save as JPEG. To convert existing HEIC photos, share one and pick "Save as JPEG" (or use the Share sheet → export options in recent iOS versions). You can also email it to yourself — iOS offers to send a JPEG copy.
How do I convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac?
Open the
.heic file in Preview, then File → Export… and choose JPEG in the Format dropdown. For several files at once: select them in Finder, right-click → Quick Actions → Convert Image, choose JPEG, and they convert in bulk. No extra software needed.Why is my PNG file so large, and how do I reduce it?
PNG is lossless, so photographic detail is stored pixel-perfectly and the file gets big. To shrink it: (1) export as JPEG/WebP if you do not need transparency; (2) reduce pixel dimensions to what you actually display or print; (3) flatten layers and remove the alpha channel where it is unused. For print at 300 DPI keep the full resolution; for web, a JPEG at 80-85% quality is usually visually identical at a fraction of the size.
Can I use a HEIC photo in ImgKit?
ImgKit accepts JPEG, PNG and WebP. If your photo is an iPhone HEIC file, convert it to JPEG first (Settings → "Most Compatible", or Preview → Export on a Mac — both take seconds), then upload the JPEG. Any quality you need for a print or HD gift is fully preserved in the JPEG conversion.
Is JPEG or PNG better for printing a photo?
For photographic prints, a high-quality JPEG is the better choice — smaller file, and at 300 DPI the compression is invisible. PNG only wins when the image has transparency (not relevant for a photo print) or sharp text/line art. Export your print file as JPEG quality 90-100% at the required pixel size (e.g. 2400×3000 px for 8×10 at 300 DPI).