What is a major limitation of JPEG images?

Prepare for the iMedia GCSE Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Get ready to ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

What is a major limitation of JPEG images?

Explanation:
JPEG uses lossy compression, meaning some image data is permanently discarded to reduce file size. When you push the compression too far, detail is lost and you get artifacts like blockiness and blurred edges. That trade-off between smaller files and image quality is the key limitation. JPEG also doesn’t support transparency and is not a vector format; it stores color as pixels rather than scalable shapes, so resizing can degrade quality. You can adjust the quality setting to balance size and fidelity, but higher compression will always lessen sharpness and detail.

JPEG uses lossy compression, meaning some image data is permanently discarded to reduce file size. When you push the compression too far, detail is lost and you get artifacts like blockiness and blurred edges. That trade-off between smaller files and image quality is the key limitation. JPEG also doesn’t support transparency and is not a vector format; it stores color as pixels rather than scalable shapes, so resizing can degrade quality. You can adjust the quality setting to balance size and fidelity, but higher compression will always lessen sharpness and detail.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy