Image MIME Reference
JPEG-LS
JPEG-LS
image/jls
VS
Kodak KDC Raw Image
image/x-kodak-kdc
Kodak-KDC
A complete technical comparison of JPEG-LS and Kodak KDC Raw Image — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.
Equal browser support
Feature Support
| Feature | JPEG-LS | Kodak-KDC |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency (Alpha) | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Animation Support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Progressive Loading | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| HDR Support | Yes | Yes |
| EXIF Metadata | ✕ No | Yes |
| ICC Color Profile | ✕ No | Yes |
JPEG-LS
image/jls
Extension
.jls.jl
Container
JPEG Bitstream
Compression
Lossless / Near-Lossless (Predictive Coding)
Algorithm
LOCO-I (Low Complexity Lossless Compression for Images)Golomb-Rice Coding
Color Depth
8-bit, 12-bit, 16-bit (Per Channel)
Developed by
Joint Photographic Experts Group (ISO/ITU-T) & HP Labs
Released
1999
Magic Bytes
FF D8 FF F7
Kodak KDC Raw Image
image/x-kodak-kdc
Extension
.kdc
Container
TIFF/EP
Compression
Uncompressed / Proprietary Lossless
Algorithm
NoneLossless JPEG (ITU-T81)Proprietary Kodak Compression
Color Depth
10-bit, 12-bit (Per Channel)
Developed by
Eastman Kodak Company
Released
1995
Magic Bytes
49 49 2A 00 or 4D 4D 00 2A
Browser Support Comparison
| Browser | JPEG-LS | Kodak-KDC |
|---|---|---|
Chrome
|
✕ | ✕ |
Firefox
|
✕ | ✕ |
Safari
|
✕ | ✕ |
Edge
|
✕ | ✕ |
IE (Legacy)
|
✕ | ✕ |
JPEG-LS
JPEG-LS Strengths
- Provides state-of-the-art lossless compression ratios for continuous-tone images, often outperforming Lossless JPEG and JPEG 2000
- Extremely fast and computationally inexpensive to encode/decode, requiring no complex floating-point math or DCTs
- Highly resilient in constrained hardware environments, making it ideal for medical equipment and deep-space probes (e.g., Mars rovers)
Limitations
- Zero native support in web browsers or standard consumer operating systems
- Lacks the advanced resolution scalability and progressive decoding features found in JPEG 2000
- Primarily relegated to niche enterprise sectors (healthcare/DICOM and aerospace) rather than consumer adoption
Kodak-KDC
Kodak-KDC Strengths
- Preserves original raw sensor data, allowing modern demosaicing software to extract significantly more detail and dynamic range than the camera's built-in JPEG engine could at the time
- Utilizes the standard TIFF container structure, ensuring broad compatibility with open-source decoding libraries (like LibRaw)
Limitations
- Completely obsolete proprietary format tied to a defunct line of consumer digital cameras
- Subject to widespread misidentification by automated MIME detection libraries due to structural similarities with standard TIFFs
- Cannot be natively viewed in web browsers or standard operating system image viewers without specialized decoders
When to choose which format
JPEG-LS
Use JPEG-LS when…
- Medical Imaging (DICOM Encapsulation)
- Space and Planetary Imaging (NASA/ESA)
- Industrial Machine Vision
- Scientific Archival Storage
Kodak-KDC
Use Kodak-KDC when…
- Vintage Digital Photography Archival
- Kodak DC and EasyShare P-Series Raw Post-Processing
- Historical Imaging Research