Aseprite File Format Guide: Which Save and Export Options Are Best for Web, Games, and Animation?

Aseprite is a powerful software specialized in pixel art and sprite animation, but many users wonder:
“Which file format should I use when saving my work?”

In fact, there are many formats to choose from when saving or exporting in Aseprite. Each format differs in terms of transparency support, animation compatibility, image quality, and Web-friendliness. Choosing the right format for your purpose is crucial.

In this article, we break down the file formats that Aseprite can read and write, highlight recommended options for different use cases, and point out potential pitfalls. Whether you’re creating game assets, icons, social media posts, or website graphics, this guide will help you pick the best format.

File Formats Supported by Aseprite (Save & Export)

1. Aseprite’s Native Format

• .ase / .aseprite
  Best used as the working file.
  Keeps all editing information intact: layers, timelines, tags, groups, and palette data.

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2. Formats for Web & Social Media

• .png
  Supports transparency, no animation.
  Most versatile format, ideal for UI elements and static assets.
• .webp
  Lightweight format with support for transparency and animation.
  Highly recommended for blogs and websites.
• .gif
  Supports transparency and animation but limited to 256 colors.
  Works well for nostalgic effects and sharing on social media.
• .svg
  Vector-like format.
  Scales without quality loss – great for logos.

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3. Game Development & Retro-Style Formats

• .tga
  High-quality format with transparency support.
  Well-suited for game engines.
• .bmp / .pcx / .fli / .flc
  Older formats.
  Useful only when compatibility with legacy systems is required.

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4. Other Formats

• .css
  Export animations as code for control via CSS.
  Aimed at web developers.
• .ico
  Windows icon format, best for very small images.
• .jpeg / .jpg
  Compressed format, acceptable for backgrounds but be aware of potential quality loss.
• .qoi
  A next-generation lossless image format.
  Lightweight yet high quality – worth experimenting with.

Aseprite Supported File Formats (Import & Export)

Extension	Description & Use	Features & Notes
ase	Aseprite’s legacy project file format.	Used to load files created in older versions of Aseprite.
.aseprite	Current Aseprite project file format.	Fully preserves layers, tags, and frames. Recommended for saving work-in-progress.
.bmp	Standard Windows bitmap image format.	Uncompressed, resulting in larger file sizes.
.css	CSS file for sprite sheets.	Useful for implementing animations via HTML + CSS. Exported together with image files.
.flc / .fli	Legacy animation formats.	Maintained for retro tools and compatibility. Rarely used today.
.gif	Transparent, looping animated image format.	Lightweight and widely used on social media and the web. Limited to 256 colors, which can restrict image quality.
.ico	Windows icon format.	Can contain multiple sizes (e.g. 16×16, 32×32) in a single file.
.jpg / .jpeg	General-purpose image format for photos.	Compressed and loses quality – not recommended for pixel art.
.pcx / .pcc	Old image formats.	Rarely needed, but may be required for certain legacy games or software.
.png	Ideal format for pixel art and transparent images.	Lossless and supports transparency. Not suitable for animation but best for static images.
.qoi	New lightweight image format “Quite OK Image.”	Very fast and compact, but software support is still limited. Experimental use only.
.svg	Vector format (not ideal for pixel art).	Imports only simple shapes; not pixel-perfect. Can be useful for logos or scalable elements.
.tga	Commonly used in the gaming industry.	Strong alpha channel (transparency) support. Often used for game assets.
.webp	High-performance image format by Google.	Superior to PNG and GIF for the web. Supports both static and animated images in Aseprite.

Aseprite Supported File Formats (Matrix Format)

Extension	Import	Export	Transparency	Animation	Lossless	Main Uses & Features
.ase	○	○	○	○	○	Aseprite’s own format. Keeps layers & animation data.
.aseprite	○	○	○	○	○	Same as .ase. Recommended for working files.
.bmp	○	○	×	×	○	Standard Windows format. No transparency.
.css	×	○	－	△ (pseudo)	－	Control sprite animations via CSS. Lightweight for web.
.flc	○	○	×	○	△	Old animation format (FLC). Retro game use.
.fli	○	○	×	○	△	Same family as .flc. Used for old DOS games.
.gif	○	○	△ (1 color)	○	×	Animated but limited to 256 colors. Transparency supports only 1 color.
.ico	○	○	○	×	○	Windows icon format. Supports transparency in small sizes.
.jpeg	○	○	×	×	×	For photos. Compressed (smaller size but lossy).
.jpg	○	○	×	×	×	Same as .jpeg.
.pcx	○	○	×	×	○	Old image format. Used for legacy software compatibility.
.pcc	○	○	×	×	?	Intermediate format? (unclear in official docs)
.png	○	○	○	× (static)	○	Common for web/UI/game assets. Highly versatile with transparency support.
.qoi	○	○	○	×	○	New fast & lossless format (Quite OK Image).
.svg	○	○	○	×	○	Vector-style format. Great for web or logos.
.tga	○	○	○	×	○	Strong for high-quality game assets. Supports alpha channel.
.webp	○	○	○	○ (possible)	○	High-compression, supports transparency & animation. Next-gen web format.

Saving vs Exporting in Aseprite: What’s the Difference?

Aseprite handles saving and exporting a little differently. It’s important to use each option correctly depending on your goal.

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✅ When you want to save your work in a specific file format (.aseprite, .png, etc.)

1. From the menu, go to File → Save As.
2. Choose your preferred format (.aseprite, .png, .jpg, etc.) when saving.

• Saving in .aseprite format keeps all layers, frames, timelines, and other editing data intact.
• ✳ For projects that are still in progress, saving in .aseprite format is highly recommended!

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✅ When you want to export for web or game use (.gif, .css, etc.)

1. From the menu, go to File → Export.
2. You can export as .gif (for animations), or as lighter formats like .png or .css.

• You can also export multiple frames at once.
• ✳ Use Export when you want to use the finished assets externally!

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💡 Quick summary: When to use each option

Operation	Purpose	Example formats
Save As	Keep editing the file later	.aseprite, .png, .jpg, etc.
Export	Use the completed file externally	.gif, .webp, .css, .svg, etc.

Tip: It’s safest to save in .aseprite first, then export as needed.

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Additional tips

• Work-in-progress saves: Use .ase / .aseprite to preserve layers and timing.
• For the web: Use .webp, .png, or .css (for CSS-based animations).
• Retro-style animations: Use .gif, .fli, .flc for old-school animation support.
• High-quality / game assets: Use .tga, .png (supports transparency and lossless quality).

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Summary

In Aseprite, the same artwork can look and behave differently depending on the format you save or export.

Recommended formats by purpose:

• Continue editing: .ase / .aseprite
• Transparent images: .png / .webp
• Animations: .gif / .webp
• Web icons & logos: .svg / .ico
• Lightweight & high-quality: .qoi (worth trying!)

By choosing the right format for the right purpose, you can work more efficiently and get better results when publishing your work.

👉 Bookmark this article so you’ll have a quick reference next time you’re unsure which format to use!

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