Reformat website hero images for a classroom project

Your classroom website project may need hero images in a different file format than the ones you were given. A JPG might need to become a PNG, or a WEBP image might not work in the editor you are using. Converting the file can help, but it does not automatically make the image the right size or crop it to fit.

Use the Image Converter to change the format of up to 50 images in your browser. Then check the converted files against the project requirements before placing them in the page.

Convert the images

1. Open the Image Converter and add the hero image files. You can convert up to 50 images at once.
2. Check the classroom project instructions or website editor to find the accepted file formats. If no format is specified, choose one based on whether the image needs transparency or a smaller file.
3. Choose a supported output format: JPG, PNG, WEBP, GIF, BMP, ICO, or TIFF. Use the same format for a group of images when that makes the project easier to manage.
4. Convert the images and save the output files. Keep the original files until you have checked the new versions and added them to the project.
5. Open each converted image and compare it with the original. Check that it looks right, has the expected dimensions, and still has a transparent background if you need one.

Changing a file extension by renaming it does not convert the image. For example, renaming banner.webp to banner.jpg leaves the image encoded as WEBP. Use a converter to create a file in the new format.

Choose a format that fits the project

Use JPG for ordinary photographs

JPG is widely supported and often keeps photo files relatively small. It is a practical choice for a photographic hero image with no transparent areas. JPG uses lossy compression, which means some image data is discarded. Avoid converting the same image back and forth between formats repeatedly, and inspect the result for visible softness or blocky patches.

Use PNG when you need transparency

PNG preserves transparent areas and is useful for a logo, cutout, or illustration layered over a colored page. It can also preserve sharp edges in graphics. A PNG photograph may be much larger than a JPG, so use it when transparency or image detail matters, not just because PNG sounds higher quality.

Consider WEBP for website images

WEBP is a web image format that supports both lossy and lossless compression, as well as transparency. It can be a good choice when the website editor and classroom project accept it. If the editor rejects WEBP or classmates need to open the image in older software, convert it to a supported format such as JPG or PNG.

Keep animation only when you need it

GIF can contain animation, while JPG and PNG are normally still images. If your hero image is animated and you convert it to a still format, the animation will not be preserved. Check whether the project calls for a static hero image before changing the format.

Fix common hero image problems

1. Check the required dimensions. A hero image might need a particular pixel width and height. Conversion changes the file format, not its pixel dimensions. If it is too small or the shape is wrong, use an image editor to resize or crop it separately.
2. Match the image to the page layout. A wide banner can be cropped by a website layout that expects a different shape. Preview it in the page design and make sure the main subject remains visible. Leave enough space around important faces or objects in case the page crops the edges on smaller screens.
3. Check transparency after converting. JPG does not support transparency, so a transparent image cannot remain transparent as a JPG. Choose PNG or WEBP if the project needs a clear background, then open the converted file on a colored background to confirm the result.
4. Reduce an oversized file carefully. A very large image can make a classroom page slower to load, but converting it to a different format does not guarantee a smaller file. Compare the output file size and appearance. If it is still too large, resize the image to the dimensions the page actually uses.
5. Keep clear filenames. Give the converted file a name that identifies the subject and format, such as science-fair-hero.webp. Do not use the same name for different images, and keep a separate copy of the original in case you need it later.
6. Try another format if the editor rejects the file. Confirm the accepted formats in the project instructions first. If WEBP is not supported, try JPG for a photo or PNG for an image with transparency, then import the new file again.

Check the final image in the page

A converted image can look fine on its own but still appear cropped or blurry in the website layout. Add it to the hero area and preview the page at the size students are likely to use, including a narrower screen if the project supports one. Check that the subject is not cut off, text over the image remains readable, and the image does not look stretched.

If the image looks blurry, check its original pixel dimensions before converting again. A format change cannot restore detail that is missing from a small source image. If it has a solid background where you expected transparency, return to the original and export to a format that supports transparency.

The Image Converter works in your browser, and files you open stay on your device.