2004.05.27 12:49 "Re: [Tiff] large TIFF - two alternatives", by Andrey Kiselev

This is a serious question, and not intended as a flame: if I need to support a new file format to get >2/4GB support, why wouldn't I just use PNG?

TIFF is much more powerful and flexible file format. You can store almost any C data type (signed/unsigned 32 bit integer, floating point, complex values). That is widely used in the area where I'm working (geospatial and remote sensing applications, scientific data processing). Also we have widely approved and working GeoTIFF extension. Nothing similar for PNG. For me TIFF is most comfortable image file format, the only limitation is 4GB barrier.

PNG has its own advantages, namely it is fully streamable. These are different formats designed with different goals in mind.

Andrey

Andrey V. Kiselev
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