How to prepare legacy images for a photography portfolio

You may have photos saved as TIFF, BMP, GIF, or an older JPEG, and your portfolio site may not accept every file. Converting them can make a copy that is easier to display, but the right format depends on whether you need small web images, transparency, or a high-quality master.

Use the Image Converter to convert supported image files in your browser, up to 50 at once. Keep your originals untouched so you can return to them if you need a different export later.

Convert legacy images for your portfolio

1. Make a separate copy of the files you plan to prepare. Keep the originals in a safe folder, especially if they are the only copies or are large TIFF files.
2. Open the Image Converter and select up to 50 supported files. It handles JPG, PNG, WEBP, GIF, BMP, ICO, and TIFF. Camera RAW files are not on this list.
3. Choose an output format based on how the image will be used. For standard portfolio photographs, JPG is a common choice. Choose PNG if you need transparency or want a lossless copy, and WEBP if your portfolio platform accepts it.
4. Convert the files, then open the resulting images and check them at the size visitors will see. Look at skin tones, shadow detail, fine texture, and the image edges.
5. Save the converted files in a clearly named folder, separate from the originals. Use filenames that help you identify the image and its role, such as studio-portrait-web.jpg.

File extensions can help you identify a format, but they do not tell you whether an image is the original, a high-quality export, or a small preview. If you are unsure, compare the file dimensions and appearance before converting a large collection.

Choose the right format for each image

JPG for photographs that need to load quickly

JPG is widely accepted and usually keeps photo files manageable. It uses lossy compression, which means some image information is discarded to reduce file size. Avoid repeatedly opening and saving the same JPG as a new JPG, since each lossy save can reduce quality. Keep the original and make a fresh portfolio export from it.

PNG for transparency or lossless copies

PNG keeps image data without the same kind of lossy compression as JPG and supports transparent areas. It can be useful for a cutout, graphic, or image that must retain transparency. For a full-size photograph, PNG may take up much more space than JPG, without making the picture look better at normal viewing size.

WEBP for a web portfolio

WEBP is designed for web images and can produce a smaller file than a comparable JPG or PNG. Use it only if your portfolio platform accepts WEBP and you have checked that the converted image looks right. Keep another copy in a format your other editing and delivery tools can open.

TIFF, BMP, and GIF need different treatment

TIFF is often used for high-quality image files and may be worth keeping as a master. BMP files can be large and are less convenient for web display. GIF is limited to a small palette of colors, so it is usually a poor choice for photographs, even if an old image happens to be saved that way. Convert a working copy rather than replacing the only source file.

How to fix common conversion problems

1. The file is not accepted. Check its extension and confirm that it is one of the supported formats. A camera RAW file may need to be exported as JPG or TIFF by the software that came with the camera before you use the browser converter.
2. The converted image looks different. Compare the original and converted copies on the same screen, at the same zoom. Color profiles and the viewer can affect how colors appear. If color accuracy matters, keep the original and check the exported file in the software or portfolio system where it will be used.
3. The file is still too large. A format change does not necessarily reduce a file's dimensions or make it small enough for a site. Check whether the portfolio platform has a maximum file size or image width, and create a suitably sized export from the original if needed.
4. The image looks soft or blocky. Check that you did not convert a tiny preview instead of the full-size image. Converting a file cannot restore detail that was already lost or increase its real resolution.
5. A large batch stops partway through. Try a smaller group of files. Large images use more browser memory, and closing other heavy tabs can help. Keep the original files and check which outputs were created before trying again.

Keep a master and a portfolio copy

Think of the portfolio image as a delivery copy, not a replacement for the original. Keep your best source file, then make a separate export for the website. This gives you room to produce a different size or format later without starting from a compressed copy.

After conversion, check that the portfolio page displays the image at the intended crop and size. A file can look correct when opened by itself but appear cropped or resized by the site.