HEIC format

Dolby

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Anyone use it over JPEG ? What are the compatibility issues?
 
Anyone use it over JPEG ? What are the compatibility issues?


What is the difference between HEIC and JPEG files?

Despite their shared ability to store detailed photographs, there are many differences in compression, size, image quality, and compatibility between HEIC and JPEG files to consider before choosing between them:

Compression.

Because they can compress large images into more manageable files, JPEGs are the more popular choice for many web designers. The trade-off for that smaller file size is what’s known as lossy compression, which means that whenever you edit and resave a JPEG, it loses some background data. This can affect image quality.

On the other hand, HEICs offer a much more efficient, modern compression method than the older JPEG format. HEICs break images into significantly smaller files without affecting quality.

Storage space.

Most HEIC files will take up significantly less room than a JPEG on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Their innovative compression process means HEICs can use as little as half the space that a JPEG file would. This can ease the strain on your hard drive while allowing you to store a much larger number of files. More streamlined storage is one of the reasons why Apple made the switch from JPEG to HEIC back in 2017.

Image quality.

When it comes to both compression and image quality, HEIC files win out over JPEG. The HEIC format can actually enhance the quality of photos with transparency and a broader dynamic range capabilities.

Compatibility.

JPEG files have a longer history than HEICs and are generally more compatible across operating systems, software, and devices. It’s a straightforward process to open and edit JPEGs almost anywhere — from Windows computers to Macs, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, and beyond. You can also view JPEGs in most modern web browsers by simply dragging and dropping the file.

While JPEGs have almost universal compatibility, HEIC files don’t. HEICs have become more commonplace in recent years, but their primary use is on Apple devices. You may even need to convert your HEIC files to JPEGs when transferring photos from an iPhone to a PC.

Transparency.

HEICs support image transparency in a similar way to PNG files. Transparency is especially useful in web design because it allows images — like logos or graphics — to merge seamlessly with the existing background of a webpage.

The JPEG format, on the other hand, doesn’t support transparency. This limits its flexibility when it comes to website design and can make it less suitable for logos.

Editing.

Because JPEG is a lossy file format, the files lose data each time you edit and resave an image. This means the quality of a file can degrade over time as you edit and re-edit, destroying more data each time.

HEICs, while also a lossy file format, tend to retain better image quality over time. They also store editing information, so even once you’ve saved edits to an image, you can reverse them in the future.
 
Prefer JPGs. You have to do a lot of reedits to notice degradation and they're more compatible.

Raw is nice too, and it saves you from Apple's horrific HDR (which you can't disable on the 13Pro), but they're bulky.
 
Apple Explained did a really simple to follow vid a while back.

As always the comments should be of some value.

0:30ish - The only solution to running out of space is to delete photos and videos (etc) or buy more iCloud storage? :unsure:
 
Raw is nice too, and it saves you from Apple's horrific HDR (which you can't disable on the 13Pro), but they're bulky.

You could always shoot raw and then use a shortcut to automatically convert to jpeg avoiding the processing/HDR.
 
Interesting, I just saw this option on my phone. Other than storage (which is not an issue for me), at this point for the average guy there is no point to switch to HEIC?
 
You could always shoot raw and then use a shortcut to automatically convert to jpeg avoiding the processing/HDR.
I could, but why? I might as well keep it as a raw file.
 
Space? Ease of later use?
Despite what it indicates 72gb of my storage is used by audio books compared to 30gb for photos so space isn't really an issue. Besides I regularly upload my photos to google or one drive and then also onto my laptop so it's just as easy to use the raw file.

IMG_2862.PNG
 
Basically with - seemingly - the biggest negative of HEIC being incompatibility, I was wondering from those that have used it where they have struggled ? Google Photos ? Outlook etc ? In other words, personal experience .

@bwana Deep Fusion is the iPhone equivalent of HDR ? I see you specifically mention the iPhone 13 with regards to disabling? It's the only one with issues?
 
This says HEIF under info via the MyBB app - so so guess it works ?

IMG_0966.jpg
 
This says HEIF under info via the MyBB app - so so guess it works ?
The MyBB app is Tapatalk so I don't know if it's their software converting your image to JPG or the forums' but whatever it was, it's a jpg now.

@bwana Deep Fusion is the iPhone equivalent of HDR ? I see you specifically mention the iPhone 13 with regards to disabling? It's the only one with issues?
I'm not sure. Deep Fusion is available on iPhone 11 and newer, whilst Smart HDR, the one you could disable, is available on pre iphone 13 devices so there is some definite overlap - iPhone 11 and 12.
 
Basically with - seemingly - the biggest negative of HEIC being incompatibility, I was wondering from those that have used it where they have struggled ? Google Photos ? Outlook etc ? In other words, personal experience .

@bwana Deep Fusion is the iPhone equivalent of HDR ? I see you specifically mention the iPhone 13 with regards to disabling? It's the only one with issues?
I’ve had HEIC/HIEF enabled since 2019 on my old Xs Max, never had an issue.
Compatibility seems to be far less of an issue, in fact I’ve never come across a compatibility issue, if you send the image via WhatsApp it auto converts to JPEG it seems anyway.

Given the popularity of iPhone I think a lot of developers for social media apps, websites etc… have ensured HEIC/HEIF conversion exists.

EDIT:
The image below is posted straight from my 13 Pro Max via Safari…
IMG_5474.jpeg


EDIT 2:
It got uploaded as a HEIF image but once I downloaded it it’s now a JPEG…
IMG_7411.png
 
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Basically with - seemingly - the biggest negative of HEIC being incompatibility, I was wondering from those that have used it where they have struggled ? Google Photos ? Outlook etc ? In other words, personal experience .
As stated already, right here. Maybe it's fixed? Or maybe I'm thinking of powerforum or carb...
 
Been using it for years now with little to no issues, since it first became the Apple standard when Live Photos became a thing I think.

Pretty much everything is compatible with it or converts it on the fly so that you don’t even notice.

Google Photos supports it natively. I upload it here without any drama. Use it will all my apps and it’s not been an issue.

The only time I recall having had issues is emailing to people who on their end couldn’t read it but either that was a case of just a long time ago or I just haven’t done since to have noticed.
 
As stated already, right here. Maybe it's fixed? Or maybe I'm thinking of powerforum or carb...
I don’t think you’re really understanding the question
 
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