Detailed explanation of PNG image format: A must-have guide for Mac users

PNG, even Portable Network Graphics, is a high-quality graphics file format, known for not losing image quality. This article will answer "What is a PNG file? Why should Mac users use it?" and guide you on how to easily open, edit, and convert PNG files on your Mac.

What is a PNG file?

PNG is designed to replace GIF format. Although PNG does not support animation, it is one of the best lossless compressed image formats. Here are the reasons why you should use PNG:

• Lossless compression: Unlike other formats, PNG files do not lose quality when repeatedly opened and saved. This is one of the key reasons why lossless compression - PNG is better than JPEG.
• Best choice for screenshots: PNG handles high contrast graphics better than JPEG due to no quality loss. This means that saving images containing text and lines (such as screenshots) is best used in PNG format. If you need to edit and resave the screenshots, PNG will help maintain quality.
• Great for logos because of transparency support: What's unique about PNG is also its transparent pixels, which makes overlaying images possible. For example, if you need to place your logo on certain website content, you must use PNG.

How to open a PNG file

The native utility to open a PNG file on your Mac is Preview. On most Macs, it is set as the default program to open images, so you can open it by double-clicking on the PNG file. Alternatively, you can right-click on the image > Open with > Preview.

If you don't want to download a PNG file to your Mac (PNG files are larger than JPEG files, which is usually the main reason people don't want to use it), you can view the PNG file in your browser. Most browsers, including Chrome and Safari, can open PNG images natively in new tabs. You can also drag and drop the PNG image into your browser and it will open in a new tab page.

Tips: Use CleanShot X to capture PNG screenshots to save storage space.

Unlike macOS native utilities, CleanShot X allows you to save screenshots to its internal cloud storage and get shareable links right away. You no longer have to worry about the size of those high-quality PNG screenshots!

If you need to edit screenshots (crop, add comments, etc.), it makes more sense to use CleanShot X. CleanShot X provides unparalleled process: After you take a screenshot, you will see an overlay menu that allows you to edit the screenshot before saving it. You will love the various editing options it offers!

How to edit and convert PNG files

Although CleanShot X is great for editing PNG screenshots, how do you edit images in other PNG formats? Don't worry, there are a lot of tools available.

TouchRetouch is such a tool—and a great tool. Not only does it help with basic editing, such as cropping or inserting text, TouchRetouch can also remove unwanted objects and lines from images! All points, spots and defects will disappear in an instant. We recommend this app for professional image modification and for the preparation of logos and other graphics for the website. Guaranteed excellent quality.

Use Permute to convert PNG to JPEG or any other image format. Understandably, PNG is not always suitable for your purpose, you may need to change the format. If that's what you want to do, Permute is the most flexible – and safest choice!

Note: While converting files online for free may seem like an easy task, you should be aware of the risks. Free web services may contain malware, so uploading any files (especially files containing sensitive information) to a random website is not recommended.

Permute is a universal media converter that can convert files to PNG (any file), PNG to JPEG, PNG to PDF, and more. You can also use Permute to safely convert video and audio files on your Mac. Here is how to use Permute:

1. Open Permute
2. Click the plus button and upload your file or use drag and drop
3. Select the format to convert to in the upper left corner
4. Click the "Start" button to start the conversion
5. You can also edit the PNG before converting (e.g. cropping).

If the converted file is too large, we recommend using Squash. This is a win-win solution – image converter and compressor. Like Permute, it is completely secure because it processes all files locally on the Mac. Squash supports converting PNG to JPEG, TIFF and more formats. Here's how to reduce the weight of these images:

1. Open Squash and drag and drop your image
2. In the Compression menu, select Format and set the compression level
3. Click "Export Image as" > "Select".

You can use the Preview native feature to convert PNG to JPEG without installing any applications. The benefit is that it allows you to convert multiple images at the same time. Here is how it works:

1. Open preview
2. Hold down the Command key and select all PNGs to convert
3. Once the image opens in preview, click its thumbnail > Export As
4. Click Options > Format > JPEG > Select
5. Save the converted file to the selected location.

Tip: One problem with Preview is that you always end up looking around in Finder to find where the newly converted files are. Default Folder X can help – it adds a useful toolbar to your Open and Save dialogs, so you can set your preferred location and send files there easily.

Advantages of PNG Files: Why You Should Use It

Compared with popular competitor JPEG, PNG has obvious advantages in image quality. Thanks to lossless compression and transparency support, you can create website graphics using PNG and you can edit and resave screenshots as needed without sacrificing image quality.

PNGs don't seem that tempting in terms of size - they're heavier than JPEG. However, if you have Setapp tools like Squash, CleanShot X, and Permute installed on your Mac, it's easy to fix this. If you like to save the screenshot as PNG (you should do this!), CleanShot X is undoubtedly the solution. It saves screenshots to an internal security cloud, so you don't have to worry about wasting gigabytes of space. Setapp offers a 7-day free trial with all the apps we mentioned above.

FAQ

Can you open PNG files on your Mac?

You can open PNG files on your Mac using the native preview app. Just double-click on the PNG file or right-click on the image and select "Open with" > "Preview" to view it.

Does Apple support PNG files?

All macOS versions support PNG files and can be opened in almost all built-in image editing programs. iOS devices also support PNG files and can be opened in photos or files.

How to create a PNG file on a MacBook?

Use the preview application to open the file you want to convert. Then, go to File > Export. In the dialog box, select PNG from the Format drop-down menu and click Save to create your PNG file.

How to download PNG on Mac?

Right-click the image and select Save as Image, then select the desired save location and click Save.

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