Comment on Portable Network Graphics (PNG) New Specification
fwygon@beehaw.org 5 weeks agoAlpha channels are critical. The ability to have images have transparency in them is much more useful than you believe it is. Many end users have a need for it, more than they know they do; so this argument really isn’t doing much for your stance supporting PNG. Similarly PNG has supported alpha channels for quite a while.
Powderhorn@beehaw.org 5 weeks ago
For production, yes. What percentage of images produced are for production, though? I know damn well how important alpha channels are, but for posting something on social media, which is orders of magnitude more output than image creation within the context of a larger presentation, no one cares.
The vast majority of people aren’t graphic artists. That you and I know what alpha channels are has no bearing on daily use by the masses.
skullgiver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nl 5 weeks ago
Powderhorn@beehaw.org 5 weeks ago
If you know why you need alpha channels, of course you’re going to save in an appropriate format. But most casual users aren’t going to care. They took a picture of their breakfast or dog and just want to upload now. I’m not arguing PNGs serve no purpose; I’m arguing that most people aren’t Web or app designers. They don’t care whether it’s lossy or lossless, let alone about transparency.
B0rax@feddit.org 5 weeks ago
You are talking about photos. PNG is not the right format for photos.