Do you want to know how to use and edit JPG files?
Approximately 69% of online content posted on social media are images. The second-most popular type of content posted on social media is updates or text posts.
It’s common to see JPG files, however, not everyone has the means to access them. Keep reading to find out what JPG means and the difference between JPEG. In this guide, we also have instructions on how to open, edit, and convert JPG files.
1. What Are JPG Files?
Before we delve in, let’s first talk about what a JPG file is. As you know, you can save files on your computer in various file formats. JPG is one of the most common formats for saving image files.
JPG is one type of raster image extension. This means a series of pixels form the JPG file. They also have a defined proportion based on their resolution, which becomes blurry when stretched.
You may also know of the JPEG extension, which is a format so similar it’s almost the same as JPG. Both JPG and JPEG reduce the size of the image file. However, JPEG can reduce the quality of the image too.
The reduce size makes it ideal to send, store, or display the image on websites. The other extensions for image files also include JPE and JFIF, but they are not common. The many other image file formats include TIFF, BMP, RAW, and more.
Both the terms JPG and JPEG stand for Joint Photographic Experts Group.
If you must use JPG files, make sure you save the file at the exact dimensions you need it for. If you plan to print something out on letter-sized paper, make sure the image file can fit it in real-life. Otherwise, you end up with a blurry or unclear image.
2. Opening a JPG File
Out of all image formats, JPG is the one that’s most accepted by all viewing devices. This means all image viewers and image editors support the JPG file format. That includes the built-in image viewers on your PC, Mac, or smartphone.
If you’re on a computer, you’ll have a built-in program to view and open JPG files. On a Microsoft PC, you have programs like Paint, Microsoft Windows Photos, and/or Microsoft Windows Photo Viewer. On a Mac computer, the typical JPG file opener solutions are the Apple Preview and Apple Photos.
You can also use web browsers like Chrome or Firefox to open JPG files. Right-click on the image and select “Open with” to open it on your browser. You can also drag the file onto the browser window to access and view the JPG file.
If you have image-viewing and/or image-editing software, you can use them to access JPG files too. The typical programs include Adobe Photoshop and GIMP. You can also use online services like Google Drive to access JPG image files.
On mobile, it’s simple and easy to open a JPG file. You only need to use your built-in image-viewing app like the Gallery. Your smartphone also supports opening JPG files through email or text.
3. Editing JPG Files
Let’s say you want to post a photo of you taken via a camera on Instagram. However, you want to crop out a bystander in the background. Before you post the photo online, you can still edit it so it portrays your best look.
Before you go to Photoshop to edit your photo, remember that JPG files are difficult to edit. They are especially challenging to fix when they’re already saved in low resolution. If you want to edit JPG files, make sure it’s saved in the resolution for the final use.
Now, let’s talk about JPG file editors and how you can edit your JPG photo without losing quality.
You get various outputs depending on where you’re editing your JPG file. Making big edits on a computer versus editing on a smartphone give different results.
Built-in programs like Microsoft Paint have some of the most basic tools. Some of the most common actions done on MS Paint include cropping, resizing, and skewing an image. You can also add shapes, brush on the image, or add text.
On Mac, you need to update the Photos application. Photos, like Paint, is the built-in tool to edit images with on Mac computers. It has a few more features that Paint doesn’t have like Filters.
If you’re on mobile, your default photo-viewing application has photo-editing features too. You can do as much as use brushes and filters. However, the smaller screen makes editing more challenging.
4. Converting JPG Files
While they’re commonplace, JPG files aren’t always what you need in certain situations. There are also times when you need to use JPG files rather than other file formats for easier file storage. In this segment, we’ll teach you how to convert JPG files into other formats and vice versa.
JPG conversion is easy if you visit our main page. There, you’ll find various conversion tools for JPG to other file formats. At OffDrive, we present free online conversion for JPG, PPT, and more to JPG.
As an alternative, you can use image-editing programs to save a file as a JPG image.
If you want to convert certain JPG files into other file formats, we also offer that service. Check out our main page to find out a JPG to PDF converter.
5. Reasons to Convert Files to JPG
Do you remember how human beings are visual creatures? A study says that the collective global attention span is narrowing. This is because of the massive amount of information we receive and see every day.
If you want to get a point across or highlight something, use images. They’re not only faster for us to digest, but they also present data in a more attention-grabbing and creative way.
Why be specific and bother converting image files to JPG?
Convenience is the answer. The JPG file format is one of the most common image formats in use. Thus, it’s more likely for you to encounter files in JPG than other image file formats.
Plus, JPG supports 24-bit color and up to 16 million colors. This is why it can compress and encode digital images with high resolutions.
Also, as we mentioned earlier, JPG files compress files so you end up with a file of a smaller size. It’s perfect for storing your files. Smaller file sizes also make it easier to upload and send image files via email.
Understand JPG Files Better
The JPG file format is one of the most useful, widely-used, and convenient formats to date. It’s also accessible on a wide array of programs and devices. Thus, you must know how you can use it.
We hope our guide on how to use and edit JPG files helped you understand them better.
Do you want to learn how to convert pages to DOCX files? Check out our page and tools here for a variety of conversion tools for every file type.