Media Conversion Quick Reference

Image Formats

JPEG/JPG

• Best for: Photos, web images
• Compression: Lossy
• Transparency: No
• Animation: No
• Quality vs Size: Excellent balance

PNG

• Best for: Graphics with transparency, screenshots
• Compression: Lossless
• Transparency: Yes (alpha channel)
• Animation: No
• Quality vs Size: Larger files, perfect quality

WebP

• Best for: Modern web applications
• Compression: Lossy/Lossless
• Transparency: Yes
• Animation: Yes
• Quality vs Size: 25-35% smaller than JPEG

GIF

• Best for: Simple animations, logos
• Compression: Lossless (256 colors max)
• Transparency: Yes (1-bit)
• Animation: Yes
• Quality vs Size: Limited colors

SVG

• Best for: Scalable graphics, icons
• Type: Vector format
• Scalability: Infinite
• File Size: Very small for simple graphics

Audio Formats

MP3

• Compression: Lossy
• Quality: Good (128-320 kbps)
• Compatibility: Universal
• Best for: Music, podcasts

WAV

• Compression: Uncompressed
• Quality: Perfect
• File Size: Large
• Best for: Professional audio, editing

FLAC

• Compression: Lossless
• Quality: Perfect
• File Size: ~50% of WAV
• Best for: Audiophiles, archiving

AAC

• Compression: Lossy
• Quality: Better than MP3 at same bitrate
• Compatibility: Good (Apple devices)
• Best for: Streaming, mobile

OGG Vorbis

• Compression: Lossy
• Quality: Excellent
• Compatibility: Limited
• Best for: Open-source projects

Video Formats

MP4 (H.264)

• Compression: Lossy
• Quality: Excellent
• Compatibility: Universal
• Best for: Web, mobile, streaming

AVI

• Container: Can hold various codecs
• Quality: Depends on codec
• Compatibility: Good
• Best for: Windows systems

MKV

• Container: Matroska
• Features: Multiple audio/subtitle tracks
• Quality: Excellent
• Best for: High-quality video storage

MOV

• Developer: Apple
• Quality: High
• Compatibility: Mac-focused
• Best for: Professional video editing

WebM

• Compression: VP8/VP9
• Quality: Good
• Best for: Web streaming
• Compatibility: Modern browsers

Conversion Guidelines

Image Conversion Rules

| From | To | When | Quality Loss | |------|----|----- |--------------| | PNG | JPEG | Web optimization | Yes (transparency lost) | | JPEG | PNG | Need transparency | No | | Any | WebP | Modern web | Minimal | | GIF | MP4 | Better animation | No |

Audio Conversion Settings

For Music

• High Quality: 320 kbps MP3 or FLAC
• Standard: 192-256 kbps MP3
• Streaming: 128 kbps AAC
• Podcasts: 64-128 kbps MP3

Sample Rates

• CD Quality: 44.1 kHz, 16-bit
• Professional: 48 kHz, 24-bit
• High-Res: 96 kHz, 24-bit

Video Conversion Settings

Resolution Guidelines

• 4K: 3840×2160 (Ultra HD)
• 1080p: 1920×1080 (Full HD)
• 720p: 1280×720 (HD)
• 480p: 854×480 (SD)

Bitrate Recommendations

| Resolution | H.264 Bitrate | H.265 Bitrate | |------------|---------------|---------------| | 4K | 25-40 Mbps | 15-25 Mbps | | 1080p | 8-12 Mbps | 5-8 Mbps | | 720p | 5-8 Mbps | 3-5 Mbps | | 480p | 2-5 Mbps | 1-3 Mbps |

Codec Information

Video Codecs

• H.264 (AVC): Most compatible, good quality
• H.265 (HEVC): Better compression, newer devices
• VP9: Google's codec, web-focused
• AV1: Next-gen, excellent compression

Audio Codecs

• AAC: Apple standard, good quality
• MP3: Universal compatibility
• Opus: Modern, excellent for voice
• Vorbis: Open-source alternative

Quality vs File Size

Image Optimization

JPEG Quality Settings:
- 95-100: Maximum quality (large files)
- 85-95: High quality (recommended)
- 75-85: Good quality (web standard)
- 60-75: Acceptable quality
- <60: Poor quality (avoid)

Compression Comparison

For a 10MB original image:

• PNG: ~10MB (lossless)
• JPEG 90%: ~2MB
• JPEG 75%: ~800KB
• WebP 80%: ~600KB

Best Practices

Before Converting

1. Keep original files
2. Choose appropriate format
3. Consider end use
4. Test quality

Batch Conversion Tips

• Consistent settings across files
• Organize by format/quality
• Verify random samples
• Document conversion settings

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Converting lossy to lossy formats repeatedly
• Using wrong aspect ratios
• Over-compressing images
• Ignoring color profiles
• Not considering device compatibility

Note: Advanced codec settings and professional workflows will be added soon.