PNG Gets Its First Major Update in Over 20 Years with HDR and Animation Support
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has officially released the third-ever update to the Portable Network Graphics (PNG) file format—marking the first significant revision since 2003. Originally introduced in 1996 as a lossless image alternative to formats like GIF, PNG has remained a staple of the web for nearly three decades. The new version brings long-awaited modern capabilities, including support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging, animation via the Animated PNG (APNG) standard, and the ability to store EXIF metadata—features that align PNG with current image quality expectations and editing workflows.
This update was sparked by internal collaboration within the W3C, where a team working on timed media—such as subtitles and audio captions—identified a growing need for PNG to support HDR content. Responding to this need, the W3C modernized the format while retaining its backward compatibility and core design principles. The updated format is already supported across major web browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Firefox, and leading creative tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Da Vinci Resolve, ensuring seamless adoption across both viewing and editing platforms.
