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Image MIME Reference
FITS

Flexible Image Transport System

image/fits
VS

Simple Vector Format

image/vnd.svf
SVF

A complete technical comparison of Flexible Image Transport System and Simple Vector Format — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.

Equal browser support

Feature Support

Feature FITS SVF
Transparency (Alpha) ✕ No Yes
Animation Support ✕ No ✕ No
Progressive Loading ✕ No ✕ No
HDR Support Yes ✕ No
EXIF Metadata ✕ No ✕ No
ICC Color Profile ✕ No ✕ No
Flexible Image Transport System
image/fits
Extension
.fits.fit.fts
Container FITS
Compression Uncompressed / Tile Compressed (Rice, GZIP)
Algorithm
UncompressedRiceGZIPHcompress
Color Depth 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, 64-bit (Float/Double)
Developed by IAU FITS Working Group / NASA
Released 1981
Magic Bytes
53 49 4D 50 4C 45 20 20 3D 20
Full FITS reference →
Simple Vector Format
image/vnd.svf
Extension
.svf
Container Custom Binary/Text (Legacy) or ZIP (Autodesk Forge)
Compression Uncompressed / Deflate (in modern Autodesk SVF implementations)
Algorithm
None
Color Depth Vector Data (Not Applicable)
Developed by SoftSource & NCSA (National Center for Supercomputing Applications)
Released 1995
Magic Bytes
Unknown (SoftSource SVF)
Full SVF reference →

Browser Support Comparison

Browser FITS SVF
Chrome Chrome
✕ ✕
Firefox Firefox
✕ ✕
Safari Safari
✕ ✕
Edge Edge
✕ ✕
IE IE (Legacy)
✕ ✕
FITS

FITS Strengths

  • The undisputed global standard for archiving and sharing astronomical data
  • Self-documenting: Headers are written in plain ASCII, ensuring data is readable decades later regardless of software
  • Supports incredibly high dynamic range, N-dimensional arrays, and complex binary tables
Limitations
  • No support in standard consumer software or web browsers
  • Uncompressed raw FITS files from modern telescopes can be excessively large
  • Does not use standard metadata models like EXIF or XMP, requiring specialized parsers
SVF

SVF Strengths

  • Acted as a crucial pioneering stepping-stone in proving that scalable, zoomable vector graphics were viable and necessary for the World Wide Web
Limitations
  • Completely obsolete and unsupported by modern web standards
  • Required end-users to install bulky, proprietary browser plugins
  • Causes significant developer confusion today due to Autodesk adopting the exact same acronym and file extension for a completely different technology

When to choose which format

FITS
Use FITS when…
  • Astronomy & Astrophysics
  • Space Telescope Data (Hubble, JWST)
  • Scientific Data Archiving
  • Spectroscopy
SVF
Use SVF when…
  • Historical Web-based CAD Viewers (1990s)
  • Legacy 2D Vector Archival
  • Autodesk Platform Services (Forge) Model Translation (Name Collision)

More comparisons

FITS vs ACES → SVF vs ACES → FITS vs APNG → SVF vs APNG → FITS vs AVCI → SVF vs AVCI → FITS vs AVCS → SVF vs AVCS → FITS vs AVIF → SVF vs AVIF → All comparisons →
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