How to Save a PNG in GIMP
The regular file format for images produced in GIMP is XCF, which isn’t suitable for use outside the graphics program. When you’ve finished working on an image in GIMP, you should save it to a standard format such as PNG. To save an XCF file in the PNG format using GIMP:
The Export Dialog in GIMP
There are several options in the Export dialog that you can select to optimize your images for the web. For example:
Interlace will load the PNG progressively within a web page.Save Background Color allows you to specify the background color when the PNG being displayed in a browser doesn’t support variable transparency. The background color in the toolbox is the color specified.Save Gamma helps browsers display colors more accurately.Save Resolution, Save Creation Time, and Save Comment stores this information in the file’s metadata.
The other settings are best left to their defaults.
Why Use PNG Files?
PNG stands for “portable networks graphics.” These files are saved in a lossless format, which means that changing the compression level will not affect their quality. When you save an image in PNG, it’s guaranteed to appear at least as sharp as the original image. PNG files also offer high capacity for transparency.
