PNG Image Format Modernized with HDR, Animation, and Metadata Support
After more than two decades, the Portable Network Graphics (PNG) format is getting a major refresh. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has announced its third official update to the popular image format, which first debuted in 1996. This latest version introduces support for high dynamic range (HDR) images, animation through APNG files, and EXIF metadata storage—bringing PNG in line with the capabilities users expect from modern image standards.
The update comes after members of a W3C subgroup focusing on time-based media, such as video captions and subtitles, identified a need for better HDR image handling. That realization spurred the broader update to the PNG specification. Developers and creatives won’t need to wait to benefit from the changes either—support for the updated format is already available in widely used browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, as well as creative software tools such as Photoshop and Da Vinci Resolve.