OCR Supported Image Formats: Choosing the Best Format for Recognition
Learn about the characteristics of various image formats supported by OCR and how to choose the most suitable format for optimal recognition results.
Why Image Format Matters
Different image formats have different characteristics. Choosing the right format can:
- Improve OCR recognition accuracy
- Reduce file size for faster uploads
- Maintain image quality and avoid compression loss
Common Image Format Comparison
JPEG / JPG
Characteristics:
- Lossy compression, smaller file size
- Supports 16 million colors
- No transparent background support
Best for: Photos, scanned documents, most OCR scenarios
OCR recommendation: Quality setting 80-90%, balancing file size and clarity
PNG
Characteristics:
- Lossless compression, high quality
- Supports transparent backgrounds
- Larger file size
Best for: Screenshots, documents requiring high quality, images with transparent backgrounds
OCR recommendation: Ideal for screenshots and high-precision scenarios
BMP
Characteristics:
- No compression, highest quality
- Very large file size
- Windows native format
Best for: Professional scenarios requiring maximum quality
OCR recommendation: Good quality but files too large, recommend converting to PNG or high-quality JPEG
WebP
Characteristics:
- Modern format developed by Google
- Supports both lossy and lossless compression
- Small file size, high quality
Best for: Web images, modern applications
OCR recommendation: Excellent format, but some older systems may not support it
TIFF
Characteristics:
- Professional image format
- Supports multi-page documents
- Lossless compression
Best for: Professional scanning, printing industry
OCR recommendation: Good quality but large files, some online services may not support it
Characteristics:
- Document format that can contain images
- Supports multiple pages
- May contain text layers
Best for: Scanned documents, electronic documents
OCR recommendation: Need to extract images first or use OCR services that support PDF
Format Selection Recommendations
Daily Use: JPEG
- Small file size, fast upload
- Best compatibility
- Quality setting of 85% meets OCR needs
High Precision Needs: PNG
- Lossless compression, complete detail preservation
- Ideal for documents with sharp text edges
- First choice for screenshots
Modern Applications: WebP
- Balances quality and file size
- Suitable for web and mobile applications
Format Conversion Tips
If your image format isn't supported, you can convert it:
Online Conversion Tools
- CloudConvert
- Convertio
- ILoveIMG
Local Conversion
- Windows: Paint, Photos
- Mac: Preview
- Command line: ImageMagick
EasyOCR Supported Formats
EasyOCR supports the following common image formats:
- JPEG / JPG ✓
- PNG ✓
- BMP ✓
- WebP ✓
File Size Limits
Most OCR services have file size limits. If files are too large:
- Reduce JPEG quality (80-85%)
- Resize image (2000px width is sufficient)
- Crop unnecessary areas
Summary
For most OCR scenarios, JPEG format is the best choice. If higher precision is needed, use PNG. Try EasyOCR now, supporting multiple common image formats.