PNG received a major update with new features for graphics

The PNG format, one of the most widely used graphic standards, has received its first major specification update since 2003. Despite its stable reputation as a "completed" format, modern image display tasks have required an update to its capabilities. As a result, the updated Portable Network Graphics specification now includes several key improvements that bring PNG up to a new level of compliance with contemporary requirements.

The main innovation is full support for HDR — a technology that allows images to cover a much wider range of brightness and color shades, closer to human perception. The implementation of HDR in PNG proved to be quite efficient: it requires only four bytes of data plus standard metadata blocks, while ensuring high display quality.

Additionally, the specification officially includes support for the APNG format for the first time, originally developed by Mozilla. Although APNG is already used in most browsers and applications, it has now become part of the main standard, ensuring stable and predictable operation with animated images. Thanks to this, PNG has gained an alternative to the outdated GIF format — with the ability to create animations without loss of quality.

Another important update is the standardization of Exif metadata support within PNG files. Previously, adding such data was only possible through third-party extensions. Now this functionality has become a native part of the format, making PNG more convenient for use in professional, archival, and photographic environments.

The updated specification has already received widespread support. Modern versions of Chrome, Safari, and Firefox browsers, as well as iOS and macOS operating systems and professional software like Photoshop, DaVinci Resolve, and Avid Media Composer are already compatible with the new capabilities of the PNG format.

Source: howtogeek