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Image MIME Reference
JPM

JPEG 2000 Compound Image File Format

image/jpm
VS

Sigma X3F RAW Image

image/x-sigma-x3f
Sigma-X3F

A complete technical comparison of JPEG 2000 Compound Image File Format and Sigma X3F RAW Image — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.

Equal browser support

Feature Support

Feature JPM Sigma-X3F
Transparency (Alpha) Yes ✕ No
Animation Support ✕ No ✕ No
Progressive Loading Yes ✕ No
HDR Support ✕ No Yes
EXIF Metadata Yes Yes
ICC Color Profile Yes Yes
JPEG 2000 Compound Image File Format
image/jpm
Extension
.jpm.jpgm
Container ISOBMFF / JPM (ISO/IEC 15444-6)
Compression Lossy / Lossless / Mixed Raster Content (MRC)
Algorithm
JPEG 2000JBIG2JPEGMMR
Color Depth 1-bit (Text/Masks), 8-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit
Developed by Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
Released 2003
Magic Bytes
00 00 00 0C 6A 50 20 20 0D 0A 87 0A ... 66 74 79 70 6A 70 6D 20
Full JPM reference →
Sigma X3F RAW Image
image/x-sigma-x3f
Extension
.x3f
Container Foveon Proprietary Header
Compression Uncompressed / Proprietary Lossless
Algorithm
NoneFoveon Proprietary Huffman-based
Color Depth 12-bit (Per Channel), 14-bit (Per Channel)
Developed by Foveon, Inc. / Sigma Corporation
Released 2002
Magic Bytes
46 4F 56 62
Full Sigma-X3F reference →

Browser Support Comparison

Browser JPM Sigma-X3F
Chrome Chrome
✕ ✕
Firefox Firefox
✕ ✕
Safari Safari
✕ ✕
Edge Edge
✕ ✕
IE IE (Legacy)
✕ ✕
JPM

JPM Strengths

  • Highly optimized for scanned documents, drastically reducing file sizes without sacrificing the readability of text or the quality of embedded photos
  • Supports multi-page documents within a single file
  • Object-based architecture allows for complex layout representation and independent extraction of elements
Limitations
  • Failed to achieve widespread adoption, largely being overshadowed by PDF/A and DjVu
  • Zero native web browser compatibility
  • Requires complex, specialized software to properly encode and decode the multi-layered MRC structure
Sigma-X3F

Sigma-X3F Strengths

  • Provides absolute per-pixel color accuracy without the interpolation artifacts or moiré patterns typical of Bayer-sensor RAW files
  • Unique 'FOVb' magic byte signature prevents accidental misidentification by standard file sniffers, unlike many TIFF-based raw formats
  • Incredible sharpness and detail resolution at the raw sensor level
Limitations
  • Decoding is extremely computationally expensive and completely proprietary, meaning third-party software often struggles to match the color science of Sigma's own (famously slow) Photo Pro application
  • Massive file sizes because it records three complete RGB channels for every single spatial pixel coordinate
  • Zero support in web browsers or standard OS image viewers

When to choose which format

JPM
Use JPM when…
  • Scanned Document Archiving
  • Mixed Raster Content (MRC) Imaging
  • Digital Libraries
Sigma-X3F
Use Sigma-X3F when…
  • Professional Digital Photography
  • Sigma / Foveon High-Acuity Imaging
  • Non-destructive RAW Post-Processing

More comparisons

JPM vs ACES → Sigma-X3F vs ACES → JPM vs APNG → Sigma-X3F vs APNG → JPM vs AVCI → Sigma-X3F vs AVCI → JPM vs AVCS → Sigma-X3F vs AVCS → JPM vs AVIF → Sigma-X3F vs AVIF → All comparisons →
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