Image MIME Reference
DECE-Graphic
Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) Graphic
image/vnd.dece.graphic
VS
Global Graphics Page Graphics Buffer
image/vnd.globalgraphics.pgb
Harlequin-PGB
A complete technical comparison of Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) Graphic and Global Graphics Page Graphics Buffer — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.
Equal browser support
Feature Support
| Feature | DECE-Graphic | Harlequin-PGB |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency (Alpha) | Yes | ✕ No |
| Animation Support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Progressive Loading | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| HDR Support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| EXIF Metadata | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| ICC Color Profile | ✕ No | Yes |
Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) Graphic
image/vnd.dece.graphic
Extension
.jpg.png.uvi
Container
Standard JPEG/PNG within DECE CFF structures
Compression
Lossy (JPEG) / Lossless (PNG)
Algorithm
DCT (JPEG)DEFLATE (PNG)
Color Depth
8-bit (RGB), 24-bit (RGB)
Developed by
Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) LLC
Released
2011
Magic Bytes
FF D8 FF (If JPEG) / 89 50 4E 47 (If PNG)
Global Graphics Page Graphics Buffer
image/vnd.globalgraphics.pgb
Extension
.pgb
Container
Proprietary Harlequin Raster Container
Compression
Uncompressed / Run-Length Encoding (RLE)
Algorithm
Proprietary RLENone
Color Depth
1-bit (Monochrome Separations), 8-bit (Grayscale), 8-bit/10-bit (Contone), CMYK / N-Color Spot Channels
Developed by
Global Graphics Software (Hybrid Software Group)
Released
1990s
Magic Bytes
Unknown (Proprietary Harlequin Header)
Browser Support Comparison
| Browser | DECE-Graphic | Harlequin-PGB |
|---|---|---|
Chrome
|
✕ | ✕ |
Firefox
|
✕ | ✕ |
Safari
|
✕ | ✕ |
Edge
|
✕ | ✕ |
IE (Legacy)
|
✕ | ✕ |
DECE-Graphic
DECE-Graphic Strengths
- Allowed the UltraViolet DRM ecosystem to easily distinguish structural UI/cover graphic assets from actual encrypted video tracks in a Common File Format container
Limitations
- Completely obsolete since the 2019 shutdown of UltraViolet
- Unnecessary abstraction, as the underlying files were just standard JPEGs or PNGs
- Causes modern strict MIME-type validators to fail if they rely on the Content-Type header
Harlequin-PGB
Harlequin-PGB Strengths
- Unlike generic 1-bit TIFFs, PGB files inherently encapsulate vital print-job metadata within their headers (e.g., job name, page number, separation colors, screening angles)
- Highly optimized for ultra-fast viewing and processing within professional printing workflows
Limitations
- Completely proprietary and closed-source, locking its usage strictly to Harlequin-powered RIP environments
- Zero support in standard desktop operating systems, web browsers, or consumer image editing software like Photoshop or GIMP
When to choose which format
DECE-Graphic
Use DECE-Graphic when…
- UltraViolet Movie Cover Art
- Common File Format (CFF) Asset Manifests
- Legacy DRM Ecosystems
Harlequin-PGB
Use Harlequin-PGB when…
- Commercial Printing Output
- Computer-to-Plate (CTP) Manufacturing
- Prepress Soft Proofing (e.g., FirstPROOF)
- Harlequin RIP Spooling Pipelines