The PNG is getting an update. Yes, that PNG file that you know and love. When you need a high-quality transparent image, it is there for you. That file we all save from Google Image Search only to open it in Photoshop and have those darn checkered blocks be part of the image. That file!
After 22 years since its last update, PNG is getting support for new modern image codes. The file, also known as Portable Network Graphics, now includes native support for HDR, APNG animations, and Exif metadata, which enables users to embed data into the image files.
Thankfully, you won’t have to do anything special to your tech to read the updated PNG files. According to the W3C PNG Working Group’s Chris Blume, all major web browsers already support the upgraded PNG format. This includes Chrome, Safari, Firefox, iOS, and macOS. Adobe Photoshop already supports the new standard too.
The group says that while support is already available, future updates to tech will help improve the compression and dynamic range of the PNG file.
ProgramMax says the HDR support in PNG is also future-proof and only uses 4 bytes of data, which helps with the usual large overhead of the file. However, the file will get even further compression later down the line with “PNG Fifth Edition”.
It will be interesting to see how this new PNG data is adopted into tech. The addition of HDR support means you’ll be able to carry a wider dynamic range across these files. APNG also brings animations to the table, so it will be cool to see in action. Usually, Bitmap or GIF files are used for transparent animations, but even then, they lack the quality of PNG.
There’s a cool document on the W3C page that provides all the technical information you need about the update.
