Image MIME Reference
DGN
MicroStation Design File
image/x-vnd.dgn
VS
Sigma X3F RAW Image
image/x-sigma-x3f
Sigma-X3F
A complete technical comparison of MicroStation Design File 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 | DGN | Sigma-X3F |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency (Alpha) | Yes | ✕ No |
| Animation Support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Progressive Loading | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| HDR Support | ✕ No | Yes |
| EXIF Metadata | ✕ No | Yes |
| ICC Color Profile | ✕ No | Yes |
MicroStation Design File
image/x-vnd.dgn
Extension
.dgn
Container
Microsoft OLE Compound File (V8) / IGDS (V7)
Compression
Uncompressed / OLE Structured Storage
Algorithm
None
Color Depth
Indexed Color (V7), 24-bit True Color (V8)
Developed by
Intergraph (Originally) / Bentley Systems (Currently)
Released
1980
Magic Bytes
D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 (For V8 DGN)
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
Browser Support Comparison
| Browser | DGN | Sigma-X3F |
|---|---|---|
Chrome
|
✕ | ✕ |
Firefox
|
✕ | ✕ |
Safari
|
✕ | ✕ |
Edge
|
✕ | ✕ |
IE (Legacy)
|
✕ | ✕ |
DGN
DGN Strengths
- Exceptionally robust at handling massive, coordinate-heavy infrastructure models that would frequently crash older versions of competing CAD software
- Deeply entrenched as the absolute standard format for many global departments of transportation and civil engineering firms
- V8 architecture supports boundless design plane coordinates, eliminating the physical scaling limitations of V7
Limitations
- Deeply proprietary format requiring complex third-party libraries (like the ODA SDK) to parse or write programmatically outside of the Bentley ecosystem
- V8's reliance on the archaic Microsoft OLE Compound File container makes file introspection cumbersome
- Cannot be rendered natively in web browsers without converting to WebGL/Canvas formats or SVG
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
DGN
Use DGN when…
- Civil Engineering and Plant Design
- Large-scale Architecture and Construction (AEC)
- 2D/3D Infrastructure Modeling
Sigma-X3F
Use Sigma-X3F when…
- Professional Digital Photography
- Sigma / Foveon High-Acuity Imaging
- Non-destructive RAW Post-Processing