Image MIME Reference
JPEG-2000
JPEG 2000 Core Image File
image/jp2
VS
Adobe Photoshop Document
image/vnd.adobe.photoshop
PSD
A complete technical comparison of JPEG 2000 Core Image File and Adobe Photoshop Document — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.
JPEG-2000 wins on browser support
Feature Support
| Feature | JPEG-2000 | PSD |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency (Alpha) | Yes | Yes |
| Animation Support | ✕ No | Yes |
| Progressive Loading | Yes | ✕ No |
| HDR Support | Yes | Yes |
| EXIF Metadata | Yes | Yes |
| ICC Color Profile | Yes | Yes |
JPEG 2000 Core Image File
image/jp2
Extension
.jp2.j2k.jpf.jpx.jpm
Container
JP2 (ISO/IEC 15444-1)
Compression
Lossy / Lossless
Algorithm
Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT)
Color Depth
8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, 38-bit
Developed by
Joint Photographic Experts Group
Released
2000
Magic Bytes
00 00 00 0C 6A 50 20 20 0D 0A 87 0A
Adobe Photoshop Document
image/vnd.adobe.photoshop
Extension
.psd.psb.pdd
Container
Adobe Photoshop Document (PSD/PSB)
Compression
Uncompressed / RLE (Run-Length Encoding) / ZIP
Algorithm
RLEZIP (with or without prediction)None
Color Depth
1-bit (Bitmap), 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit (Float/HDR)
Developed by
Adobe Systems
Released
1990
Magic Bytes
38 42 50 53
Browser Support Comparison
| Browser | JPEG-2000 | PSD |
|---|---|---|
Chrome
|
✕ | ✕ |
Firefox
|
✕ | ✕ |
Safari
|
✓ 5+
|
✕ |
Edge
|
✕ | ✕ |
IE (Legacy)
|
✕ | ✕ |
JPEG-2000
JPEG-2000 Strengths
- Superior compression efficiency over baseline JPEG without introducing blocking artifacts
- True mathematically lossless compression available in the same format
- Extremely scalable: a single file can be decoded at various resolutions (thumbnails to full size) without loading the entire file
Limitations
- Very poor native web browser support prevents it from being a web standard
- High computational complexity makes encoding and decoding significantly slower than JPEG
- Early patent concerns and complex licensing hindered its initial adoption rate
PSD
PSD Strengths
- The undisputed global standard for layered raster graphics and non-destructive image editing
- Supports incredibly complex compositions combining raster data, vector shapes, live text, and adjustment layers
- Full support for advanced color spaces (CMYK, Lab, multi-channel) and 32-bit floating-point HDR workflows
Limitations
- Proprietary format: while the specification is published, complete feature-parity is rarely achieved by third-party software (e.g., smart objects and complex layer styles often break)
- Files can reach enormous sizes (gigabytes) due to the preservation of unflattened, high-resolution layer data
- Zero support for native rendering in web browsers or standard mobile image viewers
When to choose which format
JPEG-2000
Use JPEG-2000 when…
- Digital Cinema (DCP)
- Medical Imaging (DICOM)
- Geospatial Data
- Archival Preservation
PSD
Use PSD when…
- Professional Photo Retouching
- Digital Painting and Illustration
- UI/UX Design Workflows
- Graphic Design and Print Production