TGA VS AVIF
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Truevision TGA and AV1 Image File Format.
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
AVIF
avifNext-gen compression codec derived from AV1 video, offering the best quality-to-size ratio.
Pros
- Best-in-class compression
- HDR support
- 10-bit color depth
Cons
- Slow encoding speed
- Limited software support outside browsers
When TGA wins
Stay with TGA when you need game textures or broadcast graphics. Its strengths center on supports alpha channel and a feature set native to Truevision.
When AVIF wins
Choose AVIF when your workflow prioritizes next-gen web delivery or high-quality streaming assets. It delivers best-in-class compression plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | TGA | AVIF |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/x-tga | image/avif |
| Developer | Truevision | Alliance for Open Media |
| Release Year | 1984 | 2019 |
| Best For | Game textures, Broadcast graphics, VFX matte passes | Next-gen web delivery, High-quality streaming assets |
Need to switch?
Where TGA still wins
Keep TGA when you need supports alpha channel and workflows depend on game textures / broadcast graphics. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship AVIF deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .tga glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use AVIF for next-gen web delivery while archiving originals as TGA.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.