Image File Guide

Selecting the right file type for the images on your site can impact the clarity of the media but also site performance which in turn impacts SEO.

When to use JPEG or PNG

JPEGs (or JPGs) work best for web photos, while PNGs might be a better choice for charts or simple graphics.

Use JPEGs for Your Media

JPEGs are used for web images because they can be compressed to much smaller file sizes than other types of image files. This makes them load faster on websites. Sites that load faster are ranked higher for SEO purposes than poorer performing sites.

Using Screenshots

Sometimes taking a screenshot of photos, for example a faculty image on another site, may actually create a larger file than actually using the original jpeg image. The default file type for most screenshot apps is PNG. PNGs are not as compressed as JPEGs, so they tend to produce larger file sizes. It is best to ask for the original JPEG file or save your screenshots as jpegs.

Summary

There is no denying the importance of images to enhance our content. And when you utilize the CU photo database you realize there is not shortage of images you could use for your website. Hopefully, this article has helped you understand which image file types and formats to use in which context for the best results.