GIF and PNG explained
GIF is a 1987 format limited to a 256-colour palette per frame, with support for simple animation and one fully transparent colour. Its longevity is cultural rather than technical — nothing about it is efficient by modern standards.
PNG is a lossless raster format built to replace GIF. It stores every pixel exactly as given and supports a full 8-bit alpha channel, which means genuine partial transparency rather than the single transparent colour GIF offers.
- Where GIF files come from
- Reaction images, simple UI animations, and screen recordings shared in chat.
- Where PNG is used
- Screenshots, exported logos and UI assets, and anything designed rather than photographed.