JPEG 9 with lossless JPEG compression immediately available

JPEG 9 Logo

LEIPZIG, January 13 2013 – The Independent JPEG Group (IJG) at the Leipzig Institute for Applied Informatics (InfAI, http://www.infai.org) has released the new version of the software library „libjpeg“. This software library is the basis for the processing of images in the ubiquitous JPEG format and is used worldwide in a countless number of applications of software vendors and in the photographic industry under a fee-free license with open source code. After 15 years of continuous development, the upgrade to the new version 9 enables for the first time an effective lossless image compression mode and thus offers end users and industrial adopters a high added value.

Software vendors like Mozilla Firefox, Irfanview, Picasa, Debian Linux, Steinberg, Kaspersky, and many others make use of the solution developed by the Independent JPEG Group for the image processing and data compression. The solution is also integrated in mobile phones, smart phones, and digital photo cameras.

The JPEG 9 version of the software library „libjpeg“ realises for the first time ever the lossless image compression in such a way that even smaller photographic image files are obtained in comparison to other popular image compression methods as for example PNG (Portable Network Graphics). With the new version, vendors and end users benefit from quality preserving image processing workflows and higher image quality results. „With the release of version 9 we achieve a big step forward for the lossless compression of images in the well-proven JPEG format. Thereby we establish the foundation for future applications in industrial software and hardware areas“ says Roland Fassauer, Managing Director of InfAI.

The first version of the software package was introduced 22 years ago in 1991, together with the introduction of the JPEG standard. The software library „libjpeg“ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libjpeg) is since then used in countless applications as basis for the processing of images in JPEG format. The new version JPEG/libjpeg 9 developed at InfAI completes a set of format and function extensions which were introduced step by step in previous years. Newly added functions are improved compression by arithmetic entropy coding, flexible scaling options with versatile usability („SmartScale“), and options for true lossless compression.

About InfAI:

The Institute for Applied Informatics e.V. is a non-profit organization supporting science and research as an associated institute of the University Leipzig on the areas of Informatics und Business Informatics. Currently 50 staff members conduct research there. The Independent JPEG Group (http://infai.org/jpeg) is located at InfAI and benefits from its know-how. The InfAI features an excellent network and has realised numerous research and industry projects since its formation in 2006.

 

Project Contact InfAI:

Institute for Applied Informatics e. V. at the University Leipzig
Dr. Andrej Werner
Neumarkt 20
04109 Leipzig

GERMANY

Phone: +49 341 97-33725
jpeg@infai.org
www.infai.org

 

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