Image MIME Reference
JPEG-XS
JPEG XS Image
image/jxs
VS
Simple Vector Format
image/vnd.svf
SVF
A complete technical comparison of JPEG XS Image and Simple Vector Format — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.
Equal browser support
Feature Support
| Feature | JPEG-XS | SVF |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency (Alpha) | Yes | Yes |
| Animation Support | Yes | ✕ No |
| Progressive Loading | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| HDR Support | Yes | ✕ No |
| EXIF Metadata | Yes | ✕ No |
| ICC Color Profile | Yes | ✕ No |
JPEG XS Image
image/jxs
Extension
.jxs
Container
ISOBMFF (ISO/IEC 21122-3) or Raw Codestream
Compression
Lossy (Visually Lossless) / Mathematically Lossless
Algorithm
JPEG XS (Low-complexity wavelet transform)
Color Depth
8-bit, 10-bit, 12-bit, 14-bit, 16-bit
Developed by
Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) / intoPIX
Released
2019
Magic Bytes
FF 10 (Codestream) / XX XX XX XX 66 74 79 70 6A 78 73 20 (ISOBMFF)
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)
Browser Support Comparison
| Browser | JPEG-XS | SVF |
|---|---|---|
Chrome
|
✕ | ✕ |
Firefox
|
✕ | ✕ |
Safari
|
✕ | ✕ |
Edge
|
✕ | ✕ |
IE (Legacy)
|
✕ | ✕ |
JPEG-XS
JPEG-XS Strengths
- Provides sub-millisecond encoding/decoding latency, essential for live production and gaming
- Extremely lightweight, requiring very little CPU, GPU, or FPGA memory to process
- Replaces uncompressed video links (like SDI or HDMI) over standard Ethernet networks with visually lossless quality
Limitations
- Compression ratios are typically much lower (between 2:1 and 10:1) compared to heavy codecs like HEVC or AV1
- Zero support in web browsers or standard consumer devices
- Primarily licensed to hardware manufacturers and professional software ecosystems
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
JPEG-XS
Use JPEG-XS when…
- Live Video Broadcasting (SMPTE ST 2110)
- Video over IP Networks
- Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality (VR/AR)
- Automotive & Drone Cameras
SVF
Use SVF when…
- Historical Web-based CAD Viewers (1990s)
- Legacy 2D Vector Archival
- Autodesk Platform Services (Forge) Model Translation (Name Collision)