File format conversion
Also known as: convert file format, change file type, image format converter
File format conversion re-encodes a file from one type to another — for example HEIC to JPEG, PNG to WebP, or one color profile to another — so it opens where you need it. Conversion can change file size and compatibility, and it often strips metadata in the process.
- Re-encodes a file into a different type for compatibility or size
- Can change color space, e.g. CMYK to sRGB
- Often strips EXIF metadata in the process
Why you convert
The usual reason is compatibility: a device or app cannot open the format you have, so you switch to a widely supported one. The second reason is size — converting a PNG photo to WebP or an old format to a modern codec can cut the file significantly. Conversion can also change the color space, for example mapping CMYK print files to the sRGB that screens expect.
Going from a lossy format to another lossy format re-compresses the image and can add quality loss, so convert from the best-quality source available.
Metadata and conversion
Re-encoding a file usually rebuilds it from scratch, which commonly drops EXIF metadata such as GPS and device details. That is often a privacy bonus, but if you rely on capture dates or location, check whether the converter preserves them.