JPEG XR

Comparison_between_JPEG,_JPEG_2000_and_JPEG_XR

JPEG XR (JPEG extended range) is an image compression standard and file format for continuous tone photographic images. It was developed by Microsoft under the name HD Photo (formerly Windows Media Photo) and was later standardized by the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) as an ISO/IEC standard.

History

JPEG XR was originally developed by Microsoft and introduced in 2006 as HD Photo. In 2007, it was submitted to the Joint Photographic Experts Group for standardization. The standard was published as ISO/IEC 29199-2 in 2009.

Features

JPEG XR offers several advantages over the traditional JPEG format, including:

• **Higher Compression Efficiency**: JPEG XR provides better compression efficiency, resulting in smaller file sizes for the same image quality.
• **Lossless and Lossy Compression**: JPEG XR supports both lossless and lossy compression, allowing users to choose the appropriate balance between image quality and file size.
• **High Dynamic Range (HDR)**: JPEG XR supports high dynamic range imaging, which allows for a greater range of luminance levels in images.
• **Alpha Channel Support**: JPEG XR includes support for an alpha channel, enabling transparency in images.
• **Tile-based Encoding**: JPEG XR uses tile-based encoding, which allows for efficient random access to parts of the image without decoding the entire file.

Technical Details

JPEG XR uses a different compression algorithm compared to traditional JPEG. It employs a form of transform coding based on the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) and Integer Wavelet Transform (IWT). The format supports a wide range of color spaces, including sRGB, scRGB, and CMYK.

Applications

JPEG XR is used in various applications, including:

• **Digital Photography**: JPEG XR is used in digital cameras and photo editing software to store high-quality images with efficient compression.
• **Web Images**: JPEG XR can be used for web images, providing faster loading times due to smaller file sizes.
• **Professional Imaging**: JPEG XR is suitable for professional imaging applications that require high dynamic range and lossless compression.

Adoption and Support

Despite its technical advantages, JPEG XR has seen limited adoption compared to other image formats like JPEG and PNG. Some software and hardware support JPEG XR, including certain versions of Microsoft Windows and Adobe Photoshop.

Related Pages

• JPEG
• Joint Photographic Experts Group
• Image compression
• High dynamic range imaging
• Lossless compression
• Lossy compression

See Also

• JPEG 2000
• WebP
• HEIF