SVG vs JPEG: Which Should You Use?
SVG for graphics, JPEG for photos - but there's more to it. Learn when each format shines and make the right choice.
Use SVG For:
- Logos and brand marks
- Icons and UI elements
- Illustrations and line art
- Graphics that need to scale
- Anything with text or sharp edges
Use JPEG For:
- Photographs
- Complex images with many colors
- Images with smooth gradients
- Social media uploads
- Email attachments
Key Differences Explained
SVG (Vector)
Mathematical instructions describing shapes, lines, and colors. The computer draws the image fresh each time, so it's always perfect regardless of size.
JPEG (Raster)
A grid of colored pixels (tiny squares). The image is "baked in" at a specific resolution. Enlarging it means stretching those pixels, causing blur.
SVG
Scales infinitely without quality loss. A logo looks identical at 16px favicon size and 16-foot billboard size. Perfect for responsive web design.
Winner for scalability
JPEG
Fixed resolution. A 500x500 JPEG enlarged to 2000x2000 will look blurry and pixelated. You need to create different sizes for different uses.
Quality degrades when enlarged
SVG
Size depends on complexity (number of paths), not dimensions. A simple logo might be 2-5KB. Complex illustrations with many paths can be larger than equivalent JPEGs.
Usually smaller for simple graphics
JPEG
Size depends on dimensions and compression level. A high-quality 1000x1000 photo might be 200-500KB. JPEG uses lossy compression - smaller file = lower quality.
Efficient for photographs
SVG
Full transparency support. Backgrounds can be transparent, and elements can have varying opacity levels. Perfect for overlays and compositions.
Full alpha transparency
JPEG
No transparency support at all. JPEG always has a solid background (usually white). If you need transparency, use PNG instead.
No transparency - solid backgrounds only
SVG
Lossless - no quality degradation ever. Edges are always crisp and sharp. Text remains readable at any size. Colors are exact.
JPEG
Lossy compression causes artifacts, especially around sharp edges and text. Each time you save a JPEG, quality degrades further. Best for photos where minor artifacts aren't noticeable.
SVG vs JPEG: At a Glance
| Feature | SVG | JPEG |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Vector (math-based) | Raster (pixel-based) |
| Scalability | Infinite, lossless | Fixed resolution |
| Transparency | Yes, full alpha | No |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
| Best For | Logos, icons, graphics | Photos, complex images |
| Editable | Yes, paths editable | Destructive edits only |
| Animation | CSS/JS animations | No |
| Browser Support | All modern browsers | Universal |
| Social Media | Not accepted | Accepted everywhere |
Real-World Examples
Why JPEG Is Bad for Logos
JPEG compression works by grouping similar pixels and averaging their colors. This is fine for photos where small color variations aren't noticeable. But for logos and graphics with sharp edges:
- Artifacts appear around edges - fuzzy halos and color bleeding where different colors meet
- Text becomes unreadable - small text gets mushy and hard to read
- Colors shift - solid colors become slightly mottled
- Quality degrades with each save - editing and re-saving makes it worse
This is why professional designers always keep logos as SVG (or AI/EPS) and only export to JPEG when absolutely required.
Converting Between Formats
Sometimes you need to convert. Here's when and how:
Good candidates:
- • Logos saved as JPEG (rescue them!)
- • Simple graphics with clear shapes
- • Icons and illustrations
- • Line art and drawings
Poor candidates:
- • Photographs (stay as JPEG)
- • Complex gradients
- • Images with many colors
When needed:
- • Social media uploads (required)
- • Email attachments
- • Print-on-demand services
- • Platforms that don't accept SVG
Tips:
- • Export at the exact size needed
- • Use high quality (90%+)
- • Keep the SVG source for future edits
Frequently Asked Questions
No. SVG is better for graphics with clear shapes (logos, icons). JPEG is better for photographs and complex images. Using SVG for photos would create huge files with poor approximations. Use the right format for each use case.
No - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other platforms don't accept SVG uploads. Design your graphics as SVG, then export to JPEG or PNG at the recommended dimensions for each platform before uploading.
JPEG compression creates artifacts around sharp edges - exactly where logos have them. The solution is to use SVG for logos, or PNG if you must use a raster format. Never save logos as JPEG if you can avoid it.
It depends on the content. For simple graphics like logos and icons, SVG is often 10-100x smaller. For photographs, JPEG is much more efficient. An SVG of a photo would be either a poor approximation or an enormous file.
No. Photos should stay as JPEG (or PNG for screenshots). Vectorizing a photo creates an artistic interpretation, not a faithful reproduction. It can be a cool effect, but it's not a replacement for the original photo.
Convert JPEGs to Scalable SVGs
Have logos or graphics stuck in JPEG format? Convert them to crisp, scalable SVG vectors.
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