HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) is designed to deliver higher quality images at smaller file sizes, but does it reduce image quality in the process? The answer is: no — in fact, HEIF often preserves or improves image quality compared to traditional formats like JPEG, thanks to advanced compression techniques.
Understanding Image Compression
HEIF uses HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding, or H.265) as its compression engine. This modern codec is far more efficient than the older JPEG compression algorithm. HEVC allows HEIF to retain more visual information while using less storage space.
Unlike JPEG, which uses lossy compression that may result in noticeable artifacts, HEIF:
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Maintains more detail in shadows and highlights
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Reduces visible blockiness and banding
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Preserves smoother color transitions due to support for 16-bit color depth
In short, HEIF can achieve higher visual fidelity at lower file sizes, which is especially useful for high-resolution or professional-grade photography.
Lossless and Lossy: Both Are Possible
HEIF can support both lossy and lossless compression:
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Lossy HEIF reduces file size while retaining visually lossless quality — meaning most viewers won't detect any degradation.
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Lossless HEIF keeps every bit of the original image data, suitable for editing or archiving.
This flexibility makes HEIF suitable for a wide range of use cases, from mobile snapshots to professional workflows.
When Might Quality Be Affected?
While HEIF is designed to preserve quality, there are a few scenarios where issues could arise:
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Repeated compression (saving multiple times) may degrade quality if lossy settings are used.
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Poorly implemented encoders or converters could introduce artifacts.
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Unsupported software might downscale or incorrectly render HEIF files, especially on older systems or outdated apps.
For the best results, always use modern software that fully supports HEIF/HEIC, and avoid multiple save cycles in lossy mode.
HEIF and Picsart
Picsart’s Creative APIs support HEIC input, allowing you to upload high-efficiency images from supported devices. These images retain their original quality during processing. The API does not currently output HEIC/HEIF, but delivers optimized results in JPG, PNG, or WEBP, ensuring compatibility while preserving as much quality as possible.
Conclusion
HEIF does not reduce image quality — in fact, it often improves it compared to JPEG, especially when it comes to color depth and compression efficiency. As long as you're using supported software and hardware, HEIF is a superior option for capturing and storing high-quality images without bloating file size.