Image MIME Reference
Fuji-RAF
Fujifilm RAW Image
image/x-fuji-raf
VS
PaintShop Pro Image
image/x-paintshoppro
PaintShop-Pro-PSP
A complete technical comparison of Fujifilm RAW Image and PaintShop Pro Image — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.
Equal browser support
Feature Support
| Feature | Fuji-RAF | PaintShop-Pro-PSP |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency (Alpha) | ✕ No | Yes |
| Animation Support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Progressive Loading | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| HDR Support | Yes | Yes |
| EXIF Metadata | Yes | Yes |
| ICC Color Profile | Yes | Yes |
Fujifilm RAW Image
image/x-fuji-raf
Extension
.raf
Container
Proprietary RAF Container
Compression
Uncompressed / Lossless Compressed / Lossy Compressed (Modern firmware)
Algorithm
NoneProprietary LosslessProprietary Lossy
Color Depth
14-bit (Per Channel - X-Series), 16-bit (Per Channel - GFX Series)
Developed by
Fujifilm Corporation
Released
2000
Magic Bytes
46 55 4A 49 46 49 4C 4D 43 43 44 2D 52 41 57 20
PaintShop Pro Image
image/x-paintshoppro
Extension
.psp.pspimage.tub.pat
Container
PSP Chunk-based Format
Compression
Uncompressed / RLE (Run-Length Encoding) / LZ77
Algorithm
RLELZ77
Color Depth
8-bit (Indexed), 16-bit (Grayscale), 24-bit (RGB), 32-bit (RGBA), 48-bit (High Color)
Developed by
Jasc Software / Corel Corporation (Alludo)
Released
1990
Magic Bytes
7E 42 4B 00
Browser Support Comparison
| Browser | Fuji-RAF | PaintShop-Pro-PSP |
|---|---|---|
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✕ | ✕ |
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✕ | ✕ |
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✕ | ✕ |
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✕ | ✕ |
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✕ | ✕ |
Fuji-RAF
Fuji-RAF Strengths
- Retains absolute maximum sensor data, enabling massive shadow recovery and highlight protection compared to compressed in-camera JPEGs
- Stores proprietary Fujifilm Film Simulation metadata (like Classic Chrome or Acros), allowing editors to perfectly replicate in-camera aesthetics
- Very distinct and reliable magic header makes programmatic file detection foolproof
Limitations
- Proprietary format requires continuous updates to third-party software (like Lightroom) whenever Fujifilm releases a new camera
- The X-Trans sensor matrix requires highly specialized demosaicing algorithms that are extremely computationally expensive, leading to slower import and rendering times
- Completely unsupported in standard web browsers and basic operating system image viewers
PaintShop-Pro-PSP
PaintShop-Pro-PSP Strengths
- Provides robust, non-destructive editing capabilities with full support for vector layers, adjustment layers, and layer blend modes
- Historically offered a highly capable and affordable alternative to Adobe Photoshop's PSD format for Windows users
- Features proprietary support for 'Picture Tubes' (.tub), a unique brush technology that paints sequential or random raster objects along a path
Limitations
- Deeply proprietary format tied exclusively to the Corel/Alludo ecosystem
- Third-party software support (like GIMP or ImageMagick) is often limited to parsing older .psp files, frequently failing to render complex layers in modern .pspimage files
- No support in modern web browsers; must be exported to a flattened web format (JPEG/PNG) for online viewing
When to choose which format
Fuji-RAF
Use Fuji-RAF when…
- Professional Digital Photography
- Fujifilm X-Trans Sensor Image Archival
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) Post-Processing
PaintShop-Pro-PSP
Use PaintShop-Pro-PSP when…
- PaintShop Pro Multi-layer Project Archival
- Digital Art and Photo Retouching
- Picture Tubes (.tub) and Custom Patterns (.pat)