Stop Using JPG in 2025. I Can Prove It!
11Is your hard drive full? Got another email from your cloud storage provider to upgrade - bills creeping up? It might be because you're using the WRONG image file format. In the world of photography and digital media, every byte saved is money in the bank!
In this ultimate "Image File Format & Compression Shootout," we go deeper than any video has before. We're not just talking about theory; we are doing a deep-dive "pixel peeping" comparison to see exactly how modern file formats perform under pressure. Forget what you think you know about JPG – the results will shock you.
We start with a massive 96MB high-resolution "ground truth" image and push the most popular formats to their absolute limits. I compare:
✅ JPG
✅ JXL (Lossy & Lossless)
✅ AVIF (Lossy & Lossless)
✅ WEBP (Lossy & Lossless)
✅ PNG
✅ BMP (the 1:1 memory hog!)
To reveal their secrets, I developed a custom application specifically for this video. It allows us to do a direct A/B comparison and, for the first time on YouTube, generate a bit-by-bit HEATMAP that visually exposes every single pixel change. You will SEE exactly how each format saves space and what compromises it makes to your original image. Some even completely change the colors! 🤯
We'll find the answers to crucial questions:
Which format is the undisputed champion of insane compression, shrinking a 96MB file to just 400KB? (That's a saving of over 99.5%!)
What is the one and only choice for true lossless quality?
Why is the trusty old JPG failing us in the age of high-resolution cameras?
By the end, you'll have clear, data-driven recommendations on the best file format for your specific needs, whether you're a professional photographer, a web designer, or a casual shooter.
The perfect "ground truth" image for this test was found from a library of tens of thousands of photos using our powerful media management tool, metaSort. Learn how to organize your own creative assets like a pro!
👉 Learn more about metaShttps://www.metasort.app/t.app
Found this deep dive helpful? Hit the LIKE button, SUBSCRIBE for more, and let me know in the comments – what's your go-to file format, and did this video change your mind?
Chapter List:
00:00 - Introduction
01:26 - Install JXL/AVIF for Windows 11
02:38 - Use metaSort to get the Pictures
04:25 - The Idea and Execution
08:13 - My Custom A/B Heat Map Explorer
08:47 - Is PNG Lossless?
10:30 - Now, its JXL Time - is it Really Lossless?
11:36 - Is AVIF Lossless Shining?
12:53 - What about WBP - Is Google Right? Lossless as Well?
13:48 - Lossy Compression? Round of Quality = 100
22:12 - What about Insane Compression Quality =10 ?
30:31 - The Conclusion!
#ImageCompression #FileFormats #JXL #AVIF #WEBP #PhotographyTips #TechExplained #PixelPeeping