About converting PNG to GIF
GIF is limited to a 256-colour palette, so converting a full-colour PNG means colours are mapped to the nearest available entry. Flat graphics, simple logos and line art survive this well; photographs and smooth gradients usually show visible banding.
Its transparency is also all-or-nothing: a pixel is either fully opaque or fully transparent, with no partial alpha. Soft shadows and anti-aliased edges that faded smoothly in the PNG will develop hard, jagged outlines in the GIF.
In almost every modern context PNG or WebP is the better format. Convert to GIF when something specifically demands it - an older system, a platform that accepts nothing else, or a workflow built around GIF assets.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does my image look worse as a GIF?
- GIF supports only 256 colours per image. Converting a full-colour PNG forces every colour to the closest palette entry, which appears as banding across gradients and smooth areas. Flat-colour graphics are affected far less than photographs.
- Does GIF support transparency?
- Only fully on or fully off - there is no partial transparency. Soft shadows and anti-aliased edges that faded gradually in the PNG become hard-edged in the GIF, which is the most common reason converted logos look ragged.
- Should I use GIF or PNG?
- PNG in nearly all cases: more colours, real alpha transparency and usually a smaller file. Choose GIF only when a specific system requires that format and will not accept anything else.