Codecs for Images

What is a Codec :
  • Codec stands for Code / Decode.
  • It is basically a computer program that encodes data to a specified format.
  • A codec encodes a datastream or signal for transmission, storage or encryption, or decodes it for playback or editing. we have to use same codecs at the encoder and decoder.
  • Codecs are used in videoconferencing, streaming media, and video editing applications.


Image Codecs :
  • The Image codec is a method of comression/decompression of image files or image data.
  • There are various kinds of image codecs available. They have different specification and application in various fields.
  • The various software image codecs are :
    • Bmp
    • Gif
    • JPEG
    • JPEG2000
    • MJPEG
    • TIFF
    • PNG
    • WBMP


Bmp:
  • Pros:
    • Good photo quality.
    • Bitmap codecs may translate well to dot-format output devices such as CRTs and printers.
  • Cons:
    • Bmp codecs are limited to rgb images.
    • These codecs does not support effective image compression. It's also not supported well across multiple platforms.
Gif:
  • Pros:
    • This codecs allows you to create transparent, interlaced, and animated graphics for the Web.
    • When compressing no image information will be loss.
    • This codec is universally supported by all graphical browsers.
  • Cons:
    • This codec is not good for photographic images due to limited(256) number of colors used.
JPEG:
  • Pros:
    • Picture quality is generally good.Generally it is memory efficient.
    • It works very well for "slide-show" movies that have very low frame rate.
  • Cons:
    • Single Resolution & Single Quality.
    • NO lossless capability.
JPEG2000:
  • Pros:
    • improved coding efficiency & Full quality scalability.
    • From lossless to lossy at different bit rate
  • Cons:
    • Requires more in memory compared to JPEG.
    • Requires more computation time.
PNG:
  • Pros:
    • compression is ‘lossless’, you do not lose color information as you compress the file smaller.
    • It is a best one for creating complex live transparency, high-color graphics, and better compressed low-color graphics.
  • Cons:
    • It does not suport animation.
    • It has lower quality than TIFF.