Date   : Thu, 05 Jul 2001 10:28:50 +0100
From   : Paul Wheatley <p.r.wheatley@...>
Subject: Re: Magazine test scans - Update

Mark Usher wrote:
> 
> I have added an example scan of what jpeg compression does to a picture.
> 
> http://members.magnet.at/marku/bbc/autest.htm
> 
> Also considering the amount of visits to the page I am rather dissapointed
> at the amount of feedback so far. Please, I need everyones input on this.

This is only an issue if you don't set the quality of compression high
enough. If you want to use JPEG as a handy, widely used, open format then
simply compress all images on 100 which makes them lossless. They will still
be compressed well using the lossless compression that JPEG uses as well.

> [in reply to Robert Schmidt]
> >The danger with proprietary technology like this is of course the
> >possibility of its disappearance from the market.  If DjVu never takes
> >off, we're stuck with a plug-in that may not work in future browsers.
> Yes, I would agree 100% there. There are also programs and plugins
> (photoshop) provided to convert the images back to say .tif format which is
> a big plus.

This is probably a predictable response from someone working on a long term
digital preservation project, but please stick to simple open source formats!
Programs and plugins that convert back from rare propriety formats are fine
at the moment, but if they don't catch on (or perhaps even if they do) you
may struggle to find a platform to run them on.

You guys are doing some interesting and invaluable preservation work here.
Don't waste your effort by restricting its usefulness to the short term.

Paul
-- 
Camileon Project Officer
http://www.si.umich.edu/CAMILEON/
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/camileon
0113 233 5830