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Image MIME Reference
CNS-INF2

Comverse Network Systems INF2 Image

image/vnd.cns.inf2
VS

Sigma X3F RAW Image

image/x-sigma-x3f
Sigma-X3F

A complete technical comparison of Comverse Network Systems INF2 Image and Sigma X3F RAW Image — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.

Equal browser support

Feature Support

Feature CNS-INF2 Sigma-X3F
Transparency (Alpha) ✕ No ✕ No
Animation Support ✕ No ✕ No
Progressive Loading ✕ No ✕ No
HDR Support ✕ No Yes
EXIF Metadata ✕ No Yes
ICC Color Profile ✕ No Yes
Comverse Network Systems INF2 Image
image/vnd.cns.inf2
Extension
.inf2
Container Proprietary Comverse Container
Compression Proprietary
Algorithm
Unknown (Proprietary Telecom Encoding)
Color Depth Unknown
Developed by Comverse Network Systems (Ann McLaughlin)
Released 1999
Magic Bytes
Unknown (Proprietary)
Full CNS-INF2 reference →
Sigma X3F RAW Image
image/x-sigma-x3f
Extension
.x3f
Container Foveon Proprietary Header
Compression Uncompressed / Proprietary Lossless
Algorithm
NoneFoveon Proprietary Huffman-based
Color Depth 12-bit (Per Channel), 14-bit (Per Channel)
Developed by Foveon, Inc. / Sigma Corporation
Released 2002
Magic Bytes
46 4F 56 62
Full Sigma-X3F reference →

Browser Support Comparison

Browser CNS-INF2 Sigma-X3F
Chrome Chrome
✕ ✕
Firefox Firefox
✕ ✕
Safari Safari
✕ ✕
Edge Edge
✕ ✕
IE IE (Legacy)
✕ ✕
CNS-INF2

CNS-INF2 Strengths

  • Historically allowed Comverse to standardize media transmission internally across their global telecom messaging platforms
Limitations
  • Completely obsolete and non-functional outside of decommissioned telecom infrastructure
  • Undocumented, closed-source binary structure
  • Zero support in modern image processing libraries like ImageMagick, libvips, or FFmpeg
Sigma-X3F

Sigma-X3F Strengths

  • Provides absolute per-pixel color accuracy without the interpolation artifacts or moiré patterns typical of Bayer-sensor RAW files
  • Unique 'FOVb' magic byte signature prevents accidental misidentification by standard file sniffers, unlike many TIFF-based raw formats
  • Incredible sharpness and detail resolution at the raw sensor level
Limitations
  • Decoding is extremely computationally expensive and completely proprietary, meaning third-party software often struggles to match the color science of Sigma's own (famously slow) Photo Pro application
  • Massive file sizes because it records three complete RGB channels for every single spatial pixel coordinate
  • Zero support in web browsers or standard OS image viewers

When to choose which format

CNS-INF2
Use CNS-INF2 when…
  • Legacy Telecom Infrastructure
  • Historical Comverse Unified Messaging Systems
  • Proprietary Server-to-Server Media Exchange
Sigma-X3F
Use Sigma-X3F when…
  • Professional Digital Photography
  • Sigma / Foveon High-Acuity Imaging
  • Non-destructive RAW Post-Processing

More comparisons

CNS-INF2 vs ACES → Sigma-X3F vs ACES → CNS-INF2 vs APNG → Sigma-X3F vs APNG → CNS-INF2 vs AVCI → Sigma-X3F vs AVCI → CNS-INF2 vs AVCS → Sigma-X3F vs AVCS → CNS-INF2 vs AVIF → Sigma-X3F vs AVIF → All comparisons →
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