{"id":"image-vnd-globalgraphics-pgb","mimeType":"image/vnd.globalgraphics.pgb","name":"Global Graphics Page Graphics Buffer","shortName":"Harlequin-PGB","category":"Printing \u0026 Prepress","extensions":[".pgb"],"description":"The image/vnd.globalgraphics.pgb MIME type represents the Page Graphics Buffer (PGB) format, developed by Global Graphics Software (now part of Hybrid Software Group) for their industry-standard Harlequin RIP (Raster Image Processor). PGB files are highly optimized, high-resolution raster images that contain pre-rendered page separations, screening patterns, and trapping data. They are heavily utilized in professional commercial printing, Computer-to-Plate (CTP) operations, and prepress proofing workflows to inspect digital plates before physical printing.","seo":{"title":"image/vnd.globalgraphics.pgb MIME Type | Developer Reference for Harlequin PGB","description":"Complete reference for the image/vnd.globalgraphics.pgb MIME type: Harlequin RIP, Page Graphics Buffer (PGB), commercial prepress workflows, and file details.","faqs":[{"question":"What is a PGB file?","answer":"A PGB (Page Graphics Buffer) file is a proprietary, high-resolution raster image generated by the Harlequin RIP software. It contains print-ready separations, halftone screening, and ink data used for digital proofing and commercial platemaking."},{"question":"What is the Harlequin RIP?","answer":"The Harlequin RIP (Raster Image Processor) is a renowned print engine developed by Global Graphics. It translates complex page description languages, like PostScript and PDF, into the pixel-perfect raster bitmaps (such as PGB or 1-bit TIFF files) required by commercial printers and platesetters."},{"question":"Can I open a Harlequin PGB file in Photoshop?","answer":"No, standard image editors like Photoshop do not support PGB files. Because they contain specialized print metadata, screening patterns, and prepress separations, you must use dedicated print inspection software (like FirstPROOF) or RIP-integrated viewers to open them."}]},"index":{"compression":["Uncompressed","Run-Length Encoding (RLE)"],"browserSupport":{"score":1,"label":"None"},"commonUses":["Commercial Printing Output","Computer-to-Plate (CTP) Manufacturing","Prepress Soft Proofing (e.g., FirstPROOF)","Harlequin RIP Spooling Pipelines"]},"technical":{"magicBytes":{"hex":"Unknown (Proprietary Harlequin Header)","ascii":"Unknown"},"container":"Proprietary Harlequin Raster Container","compressionAlgorithm":["Proprietary RLE","None"],"colorDepth":["1-bit (Monochrome Separations)","8-bit (Grayscale)","8-bit/10-bit (Contone)","CMYK / N-Color Spot Channels"],"transparency":false,"animation":false,"metadata":{"exif":false,"xmp":false,"iccProfile":true},"alphaChannel":false,"progressiveLoading":false,"hdrSupport":false},"history":{"developer":"Global Graphics Software (Hybrid Software Group)","released":"1990s","specification":"Proprietary (Registered with IANA)"},"browserSupport":{"chrome":false,"chromeVersion":"None","firefox":false,"firefoxVersion":"None","safari":false,"safariVersion":"None","edge":false,"edgeVersion":"None","internetExplorer":false},"softwareSupport":[{"name":"Harlequin RIP (Global Graphics)","logo":""},{"name":"FirstPROOF (Hamillroad Software)","logo":""},{"name":"Compose Express RIP","logo":""}],"conversion":{"convertTo":["tiff"],"convertFrom":["postscript"]},"developer":{"httpHeaders":[{"header":"Content-Type","value":"image/vnd.globalgraphics.pgb"}],"htmlAccept":"None","fileDetection":["Due to its specialized role in enterprise prepress environments, standard magic file databases (like libmagic) do not contain definitions for the proprietary Harlequin PGB format.","Identification within server architectures relies entirely on the HTTP Content-Type header emitted by RIP integrations or string-matching the .pgb extension."]},"prosCons":{"pros":["Unlike generic 1-bit TIFFs, PGB files inherently encapsulate vital print-job metadata within their headers (e.g., job name, page number, separation colors, screening angles)","Highly optimized for ultra-fast viewing and processing within professional printing workflows"],"cons":["Completely proprietary and closed-source, locking its usage strictly to Harlequin-powered RIP environments","Zero support in standard desktop operating systems, web browsers, or consumer image editing software like Photoshop or GIMP"]},"specifications":{"url":"https://www.hybridsoftware.com/products/harlequin/","rfc":"","mimeAliases":[]},"developerSnippets":{"python":"import magic\n# Libmagic lacks definitions for the proprietary PGB format. It will likely identify the file as 'application/octet-stream'.\nprint(magic.from_file('separation.pgb', mime=True))","nodejs":"const mime = require('mime');\n// Many JS MIME libraries map .pgb to image/vnd.globalgraphics.pgb purely based on historical IANA registry associations\nconsole.log(mime.getType('separation.pgb')); // Outputs 'image/vnd.globalgraphics.pgb'","go":"import \"net/http\"\n// The standard net/http library cannot detect Harlequin PGB files internally via byte sniffing. You must rely on extension string matching.","php":"$mime = mime_content_type('separation.pgb');\necho $mime; // Standard server environments will map this to application/octet-stream"},"relatedFormats":["tiff"]}