What is PNG file format?
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a raster-based file format that supports lossless data compression. PNG files are often used to store graphics on the web and are widely supported by graphics programs. The PNG format was created as an improved, non-patented replacement for Graphics Interchange Format (GIF). Unlike GIF files, PNG files do not support animation.
PNG File Info
A PNG file is an image file that uses the Portable Network Graphics (PNG) file format. PNG files are commonly used for web graphics, images with transparent backgrounds, and images that require high color depths. The file format supports lossless compression, which means that the image quality is not compromised when the file is compressed.
What does PNG file format stand for?
PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics.
Software, Tool, or Editor used to Create PNG File
Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, and Inkscape are all popular software programs that can be used to create a PNG file.
Software, Tool, or Editor used to Open PNG File
There are many software, tools, and editors that can be used to open a PNG file, including Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Inkscape, Paint.net, and Microsoft Paint.
License Type of PNG File Format
The Portable Network Graphics (PNG) file format is an open source format released under the libpng License. The libpng License is a free, open-source license that allows for the use, distribution, and modification of the PNG file format. The license is owned by the PNG Development Group, an open-source project dedicated to the development and maintenance of the PNG file format.
Usage of PNG File Format
- Web design (e.g. logos, icons, and other graphical elements)
- Print materials (e.g. flyers, brochures, magazines, and book covers)
- Digital photographs
- Screenshots
- Graphs, charts, and diagrams
- Text documents (e.g. PDFs with transparent backgrounds)
- Online advertisements
- Apparel designs (e.g. t-shirts, hats, and other clothing items)
- Video game graphics and textures
- Digital artwork (e.g. drawings, paintings, and illustrations)
Strucutre of a PNG File Extension
- PNG Signature: 8-byte signature which identifies the file as a PNG file.
- IHDR Chunk: Contains information such as image width, height, color depth, etc.
- IDAT Chunk: Contains compressed image data.
- PLTE Chunk: Contains palette data.
- tRNS Chunk: Contains transparency information.
- pHYs Chunk: Contains physical pixel dimensions.
- IEND Chunk: Marks the end of the PNG file.
History of PNG Format
The Portable Network Graphics (PNG) file format was created as an alternative to the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) in 1995. It was developed by a group of computer graphics experts who were looking to create a better, more efficient file format for web graphics that would provide better compression and improved color capabilities over GIFs. The PNG format was designed to be fully patent- and license-free, so anyone could use it without fear of legal action.
PNG was designed to improve upon and replace GIF as an image-file format, and it quickly gained widespread acceptance. PNG files offer a number of advantages over GIFs, including higher-quality images with more color depth and Lossless compression.
Future of PNG Format
The PNG file format is still a widely used format for storing images, and its future looks bright. While newer formats, such as JPEG 2000 or WebP, have become more popular for web use, PNG still has an important role to play in high-quality image storage. Its lossless compression makes it ideal for storing images with complex details, and it’s also capable of storing images with transparency. As more and more devices become capable of displaying high-resolution images, the PNG format will likely remain popular. Additionally, the development of PNG-specific tools and libraries will allow developers to more easily create, view, and edit PNG images.
Operations Performed on PNG File Format
To view and perform all the operations on PNG files, Check these free online PNG web apps
