TIFF Bitmap with Group 4 Compression

Sustainability of Digital Formats Planning for Library of Congress Collections

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TIFF Bitmap with Group 4 Compression

Table of Contents

Identification and description
Local use
Sustainability factors
Quality and functionality factors
File type signifiers
Notes
Format specifications
Useful references

Format Description Properties

ID: fdd000024
Short name: TIFF_G4
Content categories: still-image
Format Category: file-format, encoding
Other facets:
Last significant update: 2006-04-13
Draft status: Full

Identification and description

Relationship to other formats
Full name	TIFF, Group 4 Compressed Bitmap
Description	A tag-based file format for storing and interchanging raster images; in this subtype, TIFF wraps a bitmap compressed using ITU_G4 (ITU-T T.6. Facsimile Coding Schemes and Coding Control Functions for Group 4 Facsimile Apparatus), and is thus limited to bitonal imaging, suitable for the reproduction of typographic or line-art originals.
Production phase	Most often an initial-state or middle-state format; may serve as final-state format.
Subtype of	TIFF_6, TIFF, Revision 6.0 and earlier
Contains	ITU_G4, ITU-T Group 4 FAX Compression

Local use

LC experience or existing holdings	See TIFF_6
LC preference	One of the preferred formats for bitmapped images.

Sustainability factors

Disclosure	See TIFF_6
Documentation	See TIFF_6
Adoption	TIFF_G4 is widely deployed in digital library projects as a master format and, in December 2005, the Government Printing Office (GPO) announced that TIFF_G4 had been selected as the master format for bitonal preservation images. Not supported by all browsers in native format, but, as of early 2004, new PC configurations tend to include a viewer. TIFF_G4 is acceptable for raster images in the list of FCLA recommended formats (Florida Center for Library Automation; www.fcla.edu/digitalArchive/pdfs/recFormats.pdf).
Licensing and patents	None for TIFF_G4
Transparency	See ITU_G4
Self-documentation	See TIFF_6
External dependencies	None
Technical protection considerations	None

Quality and functionality factors

Still Image
Normal rendering	Good support.
Clarity (high image resolution)	See TIFF_6. TIFF_G4 is limited to bitonal (pure black and white) images.
Color maintenance	See TIFF_6
Support for graphic effects and typography	See TIFF_6
Functionality beyond normal rendering	See TIFF_6

File type signifiers

Tag	Value	Note
Filename extension	See related format.	See TIFF_6
Internet Media Type	See related format.	See TIFF_6
Magic numbers	See related format.	See TIFF_6

Notes

General
History

Format specifications

See TIFF_6

Useful references

URLs

Recommended Data Formats for Preservation Purposes in the Florida Digital Archive (http://www.fcla.edu/digitalArchive/pdfs/recFormats.pdf). From FCLA (Florida Center for Library Automation).
See TIFF_6.

Last Updated: Monday, 13-Apr-2009 17:04:03 EDT