About the JXL file format
JPEG XL is a modern image format supporting lossy and lossless compression, HDR, transparency, animation, and reversible JPEG transcoding.
On jpg.now, the format guide and converter lists below are generated from the same live converter catalog. That means every conversion shown here is an available workflow involving JXL files.
Why JPEG XL was created
JPEG XL is a modern, royalty-free raster image format standardized as ISO/IEC 18181. It was designed to cover photographs, illustrations, web graphics, archival images and high-end imaging in one format instead of requiring a different codec for every job.
The format combines efficient lossy compression with true lossless compression. It can represent ordinary web images as well as high-bit-depth, wide-gamut and HDR material, while retaining features such as transparency, animation and progressive decoding.
What JPEG XL supports
Lossy and lossless
Choose compact lossy output for delivery or mathematically lossless output when every decoded pixel must be preserved.
Reversible JPEG
An existing JPEG can be recompressed into JXL without changing its image data, then reconstructed as the original JPEG bit for bit.
HDR and wide colour
High bit depths, HDR transfer functions, wide colour gamuts and embedded colour profiles support modern photography workflows.
Transparency and animation
JXL supports alpha transparency, multiple frames and layers, so it can handle more than conventional photographic JPEG files.
Progressive decoding
A useful preview can appear while more image data arrives, with the picture progressively refining toward full quality.
Very large images
The format was designed for efficient parallel decoding and exceptionally large dimensions as well as everyday images.
Lossy, lossless and reversible JPEG conversion
These three modes solve different problems. Lossy JXL aims for a smaller file at a chosen visual quality. Lossless JXL preserves the decoded pixels exactly. Reversible JPEG transcoding is more specific: it stores an existing JPEG inside the JXL representation efficiently while retaining the information needed to recreate the exact original JPEG byte stream.
Use lossy for smaller delivery files, lossless for graphics or archival pixel data, and reversible JPEG when you need to reduce an existing JPEG without giving up the ability to restore that original file.
JPEG XL browser and software support
JPEG XL support is growing, but it is not universal across browsers and applications. Safari supports JPEG XL, while availability in Chromium- and Firefox-based browsers can depend on the release or feature configuration. Image applications including Adobe Camera Raw, Affinity Photo, darktable, GIMP and Krita have adopted JXL support in various versions.
For a public website, serve a broadly supported JPEG, WebP or AVIF fallback with the HTML <picture> element. A downloaded JXL file may also need a compatible viewer or editor on the recipient’s device.
Converting a file successfully does not guarantee that every browser, operating system preview or social platform can display it. Check the destination workflow before replacing existing web assets with JXL.
JPEG XL compared with JPEG, WebP, AVIF and PNG
| Format | Lossy | Lossless | Transparency | HDR | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG XL | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Modern photography, archives and advanced imaging |
| JPEG | Yes | No | No | Limited | Maximum compatibility for photographs |
| WebP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Widely supported web images |
| AVIF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Highly compressed web delivery |
| PNG | No | Yes | Yes | Limited | Logos, screenshots and lossless graphics |
When should you use JPEG XL?
- Photo archives: retain high fidelity, metadata and wide colour information in an efficient modern format.
- Reversible JPEG storage: recompress an existing JPEG while preserving the option to restore the original file.
- HDR photography: store high dynamic range and wide-gamut images without reducing them to an older 8-bit workflow.
- Advanced image pipelines: use one format for lossy, lossless, transparency and animation when the surrounding software supports it.
For general web publishing where universal display is more important than advanced features, JPEG, WebP or AVIF may still be the more practical primary format.
Convert JPG to JPEG XL on jpg.now
The JPG to JXL converter supports ordinary lossy conversion and reversible JPEG mode. Reversible mode preserves the original JPEG bitstream so a compatible decoder can recover the exact source JPEG; lossy mode creates a conventional JXL image using the quality setting you choose.
JPEG XL specifications and resources
Convert to JXL
Create a JXL file as the output.
JXL file format FAQ
What is a JXL file?
JPEG XL is a modern image format supporting lossy and lossless compression, HDR, transparency, animation, and reversible JPEG transcoding.
Can jpg.now convert JXL files?
Yes. This page lists all 1 currently available jpg.now conversion that accept or create JXL files.
Which converters involve JXL?
Use the Convert from JXL and Convert to JXL sections on this page to choose an available direction.
What changes when a JXL file is converted?
Converting JXL means decoding its pixels and encoding those pixels in the destination format. The output can preserve the visible image while changing compression, metadata, transparency or colour capabilities.
Should I keep the original JXL file?
Yes, when the file matters. A converted copy can be easier to use, but it may not retain every capability, editing feature or piece of metadata available in the original JXL file.
Is JPEG XL the same as JPEG?
No. JPEG XL is a newer image format with its own .jxl extension. It can also losslessly recompress an existing JPEG and preserve enough information to reconstruct the original JPEG file bit for bit.
Does JPEG XL support transparency and HDR?
Yes. JPEG XL supports alpha transparency, high bit depths, wide colour gamuts and high dynamic range imagery, as well as animation.
Can every browser display JXL images?
No. JPEG XL browser support is still not universal, so websites should provide a JPEG, WebP or AVIF fallback when publishing JXL images.