JPG VS TGA
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Joint Photographic Experts Group and Truevision TGA.
JPG
jpgUniversal image format with lossy compression, perfect for photography.
Pros
- Small file size
- Universal compatibility
- Adjustable compression levels
Cons
- Lossy compression (quality degrades)
- No transparency support
- No animation
TGA
tgaLegacy raster format used in broadcast and game development with optional RLE compression.
Pros
- Supports alpha channel
- Straightforward structure
- Trusted in VFX pipelines
Cons
- Large uncompressed files
- Sparse metadata
- Poor native web support
When JPG wins
Stay with JPG when you need web images or digital photography. Its strengths center on small file size and a feature set native to Joint Photographic Experts Group.
When TGA wins
Choose TGA when your workflow prioritizes game textures or broadcast graphics. It delivers supports alpha channel plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | JPG | TGA |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/jpeg | image/x-tga |
| Developer | Joint Photographic Experts Group | Truevision |
| Release Year | 1992 | 1984 |
| Best For | Web images, Digital photography, Email attachments | Game textures, Broadcast graphics, VFX matte passes |
Need to switch?
Where JPG still wins
Keep JPG when you need small file size and workflows depend on web images / digital photography. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship TGA deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .jpg glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use TGA for game textures while archiving originals as JPG.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.