AVIF to JPG Converter

What is AVIF Format and Why You Need to Convert It

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is a next-generation image format developed by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia) in 2019. The alliance includes tech giants: Google, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, Amazon, Meta, and Mozilla. AVIF is based on the AV1 video codec - an open compression standard created as a royalty-free alternative to patented codecs like H.265/HEVC.

The main advantage of AVIF is its exceptional compression efficiency. According to Netflix research, AVIF provides 50% file size savings compared to JPG and 20% compared to WebP at identical visual quality. For web developers and website owners, this means dramatically faster page loading and reduced bandwidth consumption.

However, AVIF remains a young format with limited compatibility. While Chrome, Firefox, and Safari support AVIF, many programs, operating systems, and online services cannot work with it. Graphics editors, email clients, office applications, content management systems - most require converting AVIF to a more common format. That's precisely why converting to JPG remains necessary for working with AVIF images in a universal environment.

AVIF Technology: How the Format of the Future Works

AV1 Codec - The Foundation of the Format

Unlike HEIC, which uses the patented HEVC codec, AVIF is built on the completely open and free AV1. This is a fundamental difference: any developer can implement AVIF support without licensing fees. AV1 was developed as the successor to VP9 (used by YouTube) with the goal of surpassing the efficiency of all existing codecs.

Technically, AV1 applies a complex set of advanced compression methods:

• Superblocks up to 128x128 pixels - four times larger than HEVC (64x64) and 256 times larger than JPG (8x8). Large blocks encode uniform areas more efficiently
• Recursive partitioning - blocks are dynamically divided into parts of different sizes for optimal detail representation
• Directional prediction - 56 intra-prediction modes versus 35 for HEVC and 9 for JPG
• Constrained Directional Enhancement Filter (CDEF) - post-processing to eliminate block artifacts
• Loop restoration filter - adaptive smoothing of boundaries between blocks

The result is images with minimal compression artifacts even at aggressive quality settings.

AVIF Format Capabilities

AVIF supports functionality unavailable in JPG:

The format is particularly strong in HDR content delivery. AVIF can store images with extended dynamic range in HDR10, PQ (Perceptual Quantizer), and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) standards. When viewed on HDR monitors, such images demonstrate impressive contrast and brightness.

AVIF vs JPG: Detailed Analysis

Technical Specifications of the Formats

Compression Efficiency in Practice

AVIF's file size advantage depends on the image type:

• Photographs - AVIF is 40-60% more compact than JPG at identical visual quality
• Graphics and illustrations - advantage reaches 60-70% due to efficient encoding of sharp edges
• Interface screenshots - AVIF is 50-80% more efficient thanks to text and flat color handling
• Images with gradients - 30-50% savings, gradients are more challenging for AV1

When converting AVIF to JPG, file size inevitably increases. However, JPG provides universal compatibility that is critical for many scenarios.

Image Quality

AVIF surpasses JPG not only in size but also in quality at the same bitrate:

• Fewer block artifacts - CDEF filter eliminates the characteristic "blockiness" of JPG
• Better fine detail preservation - adaptive partitioning preserves textures
• More accurate shadow colors - 10-12 bit prevents posterization in dark areas
• Sharper object edges - directional prediction preserves contours

When converting to JPG with high quality (90-100%), the visual difference is minimal for most images.

When AVIF to JPG Conversion is Necessary

Software Compatibility

Despite growing support, AVIF doesn't open in many applications:

For using images in presentations, documents, online editors, and content management systems, conversion to JPG is mandatory.

Operating Systems and Devices

AVIF support across operating systems:

• Windows 11 - built-in support (with updates)
• Windows 10 - requires AV1 Video Extension from Microsoft Store
• macOS - support since macOS Monterey 12.0
• iOS/iPadOS - support since iOS 16
• Android - support since Android 12
• Linux - via libavif, gdk-pixbuf libraries

On devices with older OS versions, AVIF files won't open without conversion.

Web Services and Platforms

Many online platforms don't accept AVIF:

• Social networks - Instagram, Facebook, Twitter require JPG/PNG
• Marketplaces - Amazon, eBay, Etsy accept only classic formats
• Stock photo sites - most don't support AVIF for uploads
• Print services - photo labs work with JPG
• Email marketing - mailing platforms require JPG/PNG

Converting to JPG ensures guaranteed upload to any platform.

File Sharing

When sending AVIF images, recipients may encounter issues:

• Email attachments - email clients may not display AVIF previews
• Messengers - Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber support AVIF incompletely
• Cloud storage - not all generate previews for AVIF files
• Corporate systems - most don't support the format

JPG guarantees that recipients can open the image on any device.

AVIF to JPG Conversion Process

Conversion Stages

1. AVIF container parsing - analyzing file structure according to ISOBMFF specification (ISO Base Media File Format). AVIF uses the same container as HEIC, MP4, MOV

2. AV1 decoding - unpacking the bitstream with reverse transformations: dequantization, inverse DCT, prediction application, filtering

3. Color space processing - if the image is in Display P3, Rec. 2020, or HDR, conversion to sRGB with tone mapping is performed

4. Metadata extraction - reading EXIF data from the container: camera information, capture date, GPS coordinates, exposure parameters

5. Transformation application - if specified: rotation, reflection, scaling, grayscale conversion

6. Transparency handling - JPG doesn't support alpha channel, so transparent areas are filled with white background

7. JPG encoding - compression using JPEG method at specified quality level. Image is divided into 8x8 blocks, DCT and quantization are applied

8. Result writing - saving JPG file with transferred EXIF metadata

Quality Settings During Conversion

The quality parameter (1-100%) determines JPG compression level:

For most tasks, the 85-95% range is recommended - the file remains compact while visual losses are imperceptible.

What is Preserved During Conversion

• Image resolution - pixel count remains unchanged
• EXIF metadata - date, camera, shooting settings, GPS (if present)
• Visual quality - with correct settings, the difference is minimal
• Correct orientation - rotation is automatically applied from EXIF

What is Lost During Conversion

• Transparency - replaced with white background
• HDR data - converted to standard dynamic range
• Extended color gamut - Display P3 and Rec. 2020 are converted to sRGB
• Color depth - 10-12 bit is converted to 8 bit
• Lossless compression option - JPG always uses lossy compression
• Animation - if AVIF contained a frame sequence, only the first frame is saved

Additional Processing Options

Quality Adjustment

Adjusting compression level allows finding the optimal balance between file size and visual quality. At 100% quality, the file is as close to the original as possible, but also the largest.

Scaling

Size adjustment in percentage (10-200%) is applied for:

• Reducing images for web publication
• Creating thumbnails for galleries
• Optimizing for specific platform requirements

Image Rotation

Rotation by 90, 180, or 270 degrees is useful when:

• Automatic EXIF orientation is incorrect
• Frame composition needs to be changed
• Image was uploaded with wrong rotation

Mirror Reflection

Horizontal or vertical reflection is used for:

• Correcting selfie shots
• Creating symmetrical compositions
• Preparing images for printing

Grayscale Conversion

Black and white mode is applied for:

• Artistic photo processing
• Preparing documents and scans
• Reducing file size

AVIF in Browsers and Websites

Current Browser Support

For web developers, AVIF is an excellent choice for image optimization. However, to ensure compatibility with older browsers, a fallback to JPG or WebP is necessary.

Recommendations for Webmasters

When using AVIF on websites, the <picture> element with alternative formats should be used:

<picture>
  <source srcset="image.avif" type="image/avif">
  <source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp">
  <img src="image.jpg" alt="Description">
</picture>

Converting AVIF to JPG is necessary for creating fallback versions of images.

Where AVIF Files Come From

Sources of AVIF Images

• Modern browsers - when saving images from sites using AVIF
• Screenshots - some screen capture tools save in AVIF
• Graphics editors - Photoshop, GIMP, Squoosh export AVIF
• Image converters - when optimizing for the web
• CDN and optimizers - Cloudflare, imgproxy automatically create AVIF
• Operating systems - macOS Monterey+ and iOS 16+ support AVIF

Why AVIF is Becoming More Popular

AVIF's growing popularity is driven by several factors:

1. Free - no patent royalties unlike HEIC
2. Giant support - Google, Apple, Microsoft promote the format
3. Superior compression - bandwidth savings are critical for mobile internet
4. Web-oriented - the format was created for the modern web

According to forecasts, AVIF will become the dominant format for web images in the coming years. However, for universal compatibility, JPG remains irreplaceable.

Alternatives to AVIF to JPG Conversion

Converting to PNG

If preserving transparency is important, choose PNG instead of JPG:

• Alpha channel support
• Lossless compression
• Larger file size

Converting to WebP

WebP is an intermediate option between AVIF and JPG:

• Better compression than JPG (25-35%)
• Transparency support
• Wider compatibility than AVIF
• Supported by all modern browsers

Using AVIF Directly

If compatibility isn't critical:

• Modern browsers display AVIF
• macOS/iOS, Windows 11, Android 12+ support the format
• For web projects, AVIF is optimal in size