---
title: "Output tile format | Guides | Map tiling hosting | Data processing"
description: "Learn how to configure output tile image formats in MapTiler Engine."
---

> For AI agents: a documentation index is available at [/llms.txt](https://docs.maptiler.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of all pages are available by appending .md to any URL.

# Output tile format settings

Tiles produced by MapTiler Engine can be saved in one of several output image formats. Choosing the right one will help you minimize the disk size occupied by the rendered maps as well as optimize the data transfer between clients and the server once the tiles are served online. This page explains how to use these settings to achieve the desired results.

One of the steps you need to take during the rendering process is setting the parameters of the output tiles, which includes the configuration of output tile format:

![output\_settings\_format.png](./output_settings_format.png)

There are two main options to choose from:

-   If you need to produce an **overlay** that you’ll then present over a base map (or any other image layer for that matter), choose the **yes (map overlay)** option.
-   If you want to generate a **base map**, choose the **no (base map)** option.

## Generating a map overlay (transparency on)

In the **Compression** menu, you can choose from several output image formats for your tiles that support storing transparency information:

-   PNG
-   WebP
-   Hybrid (JPG + PNG)

**Size**

When PNG is set as the output format, you can choose from two variants using the **Size** menu:

-   **Small (optimized)** – 8-bit PNG (paletted RGBA PNG image) optimized for rendering speed and output size (default)
-   **Small (quantized)** – 8-bit PNG (paletted RGBA PNG image)
-   **Large (lossless)** – 32-bit PNG (color scheme RGBA, 8bit per each band)

**Quality**

It is a parameter passed to the compression algorithm. You can decrease its value to save space on your drive. This setting is available for the WebP tile format.

### Hybrid tiles

In some situations, you might want to **reduce the size of the rendered map**. One obvious solution is to reduce the number of bits used to encode a pixel - choose a compressed format or get rid of the transparency channel. However, if you don’t want to sacrifice the transparency information, MapTiler Engine offers a solution to this problem - **hybrid tiles**. It saves some tiles with transparency and some without. You can find this setting as one of the **compression formats** when **transparency** is **on**.

The combination of formats provided by MapTiler Engine is **Small (optimized) PNG (8-bit paletted RGBA)** for transparent tiles **and JPEG** for non-transparent ones.

## Generating a base map (transparency off)

**Compression**

Using the **Compression** menu, you can choose from several output tile formats that support storing transparency information:

-   JPEG
-   PNG
-   WebP

**Size**

When PNG is set as the output format, you can choose from two variants using the **Size** menu:

-   **Small (optimized)** - 8-bit PNG (paletted RGB PNG image) optimized for rendering speed and output size - this is the **default** setting
-   **Small (quantized)** - 8-bit PNG (paletted RGB PNG image)
-   **Large (lossless)** - 24-bit PNG (color scheme RGB, 8bit per each band).

**Quality**

It is a parameter passed to the compression algorithm. You can decrease its value to save space on your drive. This setting is available for the JPEG and WebP tile formats.

**Background color**

In case you need to set the background color of a map, you can use the button located in the right-hand side of the section. The chosen color will be used on **all rendered tiles** outside of your image:

1.  In **Transparency**, select **no (base map)**.
2.  In **Compression**, select **WebP** from the menu.
3.  Click on **Background color**. This opens the color picker to set the desired color.

## Useful links

[How to overlay an image over a map](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/map-tiling-hosting/data-processing/how-to-create-tiles-from-raster-data)  
[Pick a color for transparency](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/map-tiling-hosting/data-processing/select-a-color-for-transparency)  
[Transparency of input file](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/map-tiling-hosting/data-processing/transparency-of-input-file)  
[Troubleshooting: Output basemap error](https://docs.maptiler.com/guides/map-tiling-hosting/data-processing/output-preview/)