How to Convert PNG to JPG (and Keep It Sharp)

PNG and JPG both store pictures, but they were built for different jobs. PNG keeps every pixel exactly and supports transparent backgrounds, which makes it perfect for logos, icons and screenshots. The trade-off is size: a photo saved as PNG can be several times larger than the same photo as JPG. When a website, form or app asks for a JPG — or simply chokes on a big upload — converting is the fix.

When JPG is the better choice

Reach for JPG when the image is a photograph or has lots of colour and gradients, when file size matters (email, messaging, slow connections), or when a form only accepts .jpg. JPG uses clever compression that throws away detail your eye barely notices, so you get a much smaller file that still looks good.

Stick with PNG when you need a see-through background, or when the image is a sharp-edged graphic like a logo, a chart or a screenshot of text — JPG can add faint smudges around hard edges.

The transparency question

Here’s the one thing that trips people up: JPG cannot store transparency. So when you convert a transparent PNG, those see-through areas have to be filled with a solid colour. White is the usual default and works for almost everything, but if your image will sit on a dark background, choose black or a matching colour instead. A good converter lets you pick that fill colour before you export — ours does.

Keeping it sharp: the quality setting

JPG has a quality dial, usually from 0 to 100. Lower numbers mean smaller files but more visible artefacts; higher numbers mean cleaner images but bigger files. For most images, a quality of around 90 hits the sweet spot: the result looks essentially identical to the original while staying comfortably small. Only drop below 80 if you specifically need a tiny file and can accept a little softness.

One tip: if your PNG is a screenshot full of text, test at 90 first and zoom in on the letters. If they look clean, you’re done. Text is where low-quality JPG shows its weakness first.

Convert PNG to JPG, step by step

1. Open the image converter and drop your PNG in.
2. Make sure JPG is selected as the output.
3. If the PNG has a transparent background, choose the fill colour (white is safe).
4. Set quality to about 90 and convert. Download the JPG — done.

The whole thing happens inside your browser, so the image never leaves your device. That means it’s private, and it works even when your connection is patchy.

A quick note on file size

Converting to JPG already shrinks most PNGs a lot. But if you need to hit a specific size — say, “under 200 KB” for an application form — use a dedicated compressor after converting. Our sister tool Picture Compressor lets you target an exact size.