What is BMP (Bitmap)?
BMP is an uncompressed (or lightly compressed) raster format from early Windows. Each pixel is stored directly, so files are large but never lose quality.
Best for: Simple, legacy Windows workflows where compatibility beats file size. Trade-offs: Very large files, no real transparency support, and no metadata — almost always converted to PNG or JPG for modern use.
What is PNG (Portable Network Graphics)?
PNG is a lossless raster image format that supports up to 16.7 million colours plus a full 8-bit alpha channel for transparency. It uses DEFLATE compression, so re-saving a PNG never degrades quality.
Best for: Logos, icons, screenshots, line art, and any image that needs sharp edges or a transparent background. Trade-offs: Files are much larger than JPG or WebP for photographs, and PNG cannot store animation.
| Property | BMP | PNG |
|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| Transparency | No | Yes |
| Typical use | Simple | Logos |