Free webp to jpg
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Image MIME Reference
Harlequin-PGB

Global Graphics Page Graphics Buffer

image/vnd.globalgraphics.pgb
VS

High-Throughput JPEG 2000 Image

image/jph
HTJ2K-(JPH)

A complete technical comparison of Global Graphics Page Graphics Buffer and High-Throughput JPEG 2000 Image — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.

Equal browser support

Feature Support

Feature Harlequin-PGB HTJ2K-(JPH)
Transparency (Alpha) ✕ No Yes
Animation Support ✕ No ✕ No
Progressive Loading ✕ No Yes
HDR Support ✕ No Yes
EXIF Metadata ✕ No Yes
ICC Color Profile Yes Yes
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)
Full Harlequin-PGB reference →
High-Throughput JPEG 2000 Image
image/jph
Extension
.jph
Container JPH (ISO/IEC 15444-15)
Compression Lossy / Lossless
Algorithm
High-Throughput JPEG 2000 (HTJ2K)
Color Depth 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, 38-bit
Developed by Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
Released 2019
Magic Bytes
00 00 00 0C 6A 50 20 20 0D 0A 87 0A ... 66 74 79 70 6A 70 68 20
Full HTJ2K-(JPH) reference →

Browser Support Comparison

Browser Harlequin-PGB HTJ2K-(JPH)
Chrome Chrome
✕ ✕
Firefox Firefox
✕ ✕
Safari Safari
✕ ✕
Edge Edge
✕ ✕
IE IE (Legacy)
✕ ✕
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
HTJ2K-(JPH)

HTJ2K-(JPH) Strengths

  • Delivers orders of magnitude faster encoding and decoding than standard JPEG 2000 by utilizing a new, parallelizable block coder
  • Supports mathematically lossless and lossy compression within the same codestream architecture
  • Allows for resolution scalability, progressive decoding, and region-of-interest extraction without needing to decode the entire image
Limitations
  • Zero native web browser support, requiring specialized libraries, API conversions, or WebAssembly (like OpenJPH.js) for web deployment
  • Lack of broad consumer awareness, keeping it confined to professional, medical, and scientific workflows
  • Requires more advanced software ecosystems to decode than ubiquitous formats like JPEG or WebP

When to choose which format

Harlequin-PGB
Use Harlequin-PGB when…
  • Commercial Printing Output
  • Computer-to-Plate (CTP) Manufacturing
  • Prepress Soft Proofing (e.g., FirstPROOF)
  • Harlequin RIP Spooling Pipelines
HTJ2K-(JPH)
Use HTJ2K-(JPH) when…
  • Medical Imaging (DICOM)
  • Geospatial Data
  • Digital Cinema
  • Professional Archiving

More comparisons

Harlequin-PGB vs ACES → HTJ2K-(JPH) vs ACES → Harlequin-PGB vs APNG → HTJ2K-(JPH) vs APNG → Harlequin-PGB vs AVCI → HTJ2K-(JPH) vs AVCI → Harlequin-PGB vs AVCS → HTJ2K-(JPH) vs AVCS → Harlequin-PGB vs AVIF → HTJ2K-(JPH) vs AVIF → All comparisons →
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