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Image MIME Reference
Sigma-X3F

Sigma X3F RAW Image

image/x-sigma-x3f
VS

SealedMedia SoftSeal GIF

image/vnd.sealedmedia.softseal.gif
SoftSeal-GIF

A complete technical comparison of Sigma X3F RAW Image and SealedMedia SoftSeal GIF — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.

Equal browser support

Feature Support

Feature Sigma-X3F SoftSeal-GIF
Transparency (Alpha) ✕ No ✕ No
Animation Support ✕ No ✕ No
Progressive Loading ✕ No ✕ No
HDR Support Yes ✕ No
EXIF Metadata Yes ✕ No
ICC Color Profile Yes ✕ No
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 →
SealedMedia SoftSeal GIF
image/vnd.sealedmedia.softseal.gif
Extension
.sgif.sealed-gif
Container SealedMedia SoftSeal Wrapper
Compression Encrypted Payload (LZW)
Algorithm
AES EncryptionLZW (Internal GIF payload)
Color Depth Encrypted Payload (Historically up to 8-bit Indexed)
Developed by SealedMedia (Acquired by Oracle Corporation)
Released Late 1990s
Magic Bytes
Unknown (Proprietary SealedMedia Container)
Full SoftSeal-GIF reference →

Browser Support Comparison

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

SoftSeal-GIF Strengths

  • Provided robust, persistent security that traveled with the file, ensuring images could not be leaked even if sent outside the corporate firewall
  • Enabled dynamic revocation, meaning administrators could instantly kill access to a file globally
Limitations
  • Completely proprietary and dependent on an active authentication server; if the DRM server dies, the image is permanently locked
  • Zero support in modern operating systems, web browsers, or standard image editing suites without heavy enterprise client installations
  • Often caused massive friction for legitimate end-users trying to view documents

When to choose which format

Sigma-X3F
Use Sigma-X3F when…
  • Professional Digital Photography
  • Sigma / Foveon High-Acuity Imaging
  • Non-destructive RAW Post-Processing
SoftSeal-GIF
Use SoftSeal-GIF when…
  • Enterprise Information Rights Management (IRM)
  • Secure Distribution of Corporate Assets
  • Revocable Medical, Legal, or Financial Imaging

More comparisons

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