Export formats
Exporting a floor plan as JPG
JPG is what property portals and many content systems expect on image upload. It is readable everywhere, small on disk and fast to load — ideal properties for photographs.
For a floor plan, though, JPG is a compromise. It compresses lossily and was designed for soft colour gradients, not for hard black lines on white. That is exactly where the familiar grey halos next to walls and text come from.
When JPG makes sense — and when it does not
Use JPG when a portal or system explicitly asks for it, or when a file size cap gets in the way. In every other case PNG gives a much cleaner result for line drawings, often at a comparable file size.
One exception: plans with large areas of flat colour or a shaded 3D view. There JPG plays to its strength, because it compresses smooth gradients efficiently.
- Use JPG when the target system demands it
- Prefer PNG for pure line drawings
- Export large enough rather than upscaling later
- Check at full size before uploading, not as a thumbnail
Choosing the right resolution
Export at least at the size the image will be displayed, preferably at double. Portals downscale automatically, and downscaling never hurts — upscaling destroys every piece of text.
Pay particular attention to the smallest text on the plan, usually the area figures. If they are illegible at target size, reduce the dimensioning on the plan rather than pushing the resolution ever higher.
What to keep alongside the image
An image is only ever a display copy. Keep a PDF ready to send on request: it is printable, carries the scale bar and reads more professionally in correspondence than an image attachment.
The real plan stays in the editor. When something changes, change it there and export again rather than editing the picture. A floor plan retouched in an image editor is the most common source of contradictory area figures.
Frequently asked questions
JPG or PNG for a floor plan?
PNG for pure line drawings, because it compresses losslessly and edges stay crisp. JPG only when the target system requires it or when the plan contains large soft gradients, such as a shaded 3D view.
What resolution do property portals need?
Export generously and let the portal downscale. Review the result at the size it actually appears and make sure the smallest text is still readable.
Why does my JPG floor plan look dirty at the edges?
Because lossy compression produces artefacts at hard black-and-white edges. Higher resolution reduces it but never removes it. PNG does not have this problem at all.