ftp://swrinde.nde.swri.edu/pub/mng/documents/.
This document is an informal draft of the PNG development group.
It is a proposal, and the format is subject to change.
Comments on this document can be sent to the PNG specification maintainers at one of the following addresses:
Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
At present, the latest version of this document is available on the World Wide Web from
ftp://swrinde.nde.swri.edu/pub/mng/documents/.
In the case of any discrepancy between this extract and the full MNG specification, the full MNG specification shall take precedence.
This document presents the format of a JNG (JPEG Network Graphics) datastream. JNG is a lossy single-image member of the PNG (Portable Network Graphics) format family. It encapsulates a JPEG datastream in PNG-style chunks, along with an optional alpha channel and ancillary chunks that carry color-space information and comments. While JNG is primarily intended as a subformat of the MNG (Multiple-image Network Graphics) format, standalone JNG files are also possible.
JNG (JPEG Network Graphics) is the lossy sub-format for MNG objects.
Note: This specification depends on the PNG Portable Network Graphics specification [PNG]. The PNG specification is available at the PNG home page,
http://www.cdrom.com/pub/png/
A JNG datastream consists of a header chunk (JHDR), JDAT chunks that contain a complete JPEG datastream, and optionally, IDAT chunks that contain a PNG-encoded grayscale image that is to be used as an alpha mask. Such a mask must have the same dimensions as the image itself. The JDAT and IDAT chunks can be interleaved. Some of the PNG ancillary chunks are also recognized in JNG datastreams.
While JNG is primarily intended for use as a sub-format within MNG, a single-image JNG datastream can be written in a standalone file. If so, the first eight bytes of a JNG datastream are
139 80 78 74 13 10 26 10
(decimal) which is similar to the PNG signature with "\213 J N G" instead of "\211 P N G" in bytes 0-3.
JNG is pronounced "Jing" [or "J N G" in the local language pronunciation of Roman letters].
This section specifies the critical chunks that are defined in the JNG format.
The format of the JHDR chunk introduces a JNG datastream. It contains:
Width: 4 bytes (unsigned integer, range 0..65535).
Height: 4 bytes (unsigned integer, range 0..65535).
Color type: 1 byte
8: Gray (Y).
10: Color (YCbCr).
12: Gray-alpha (Y-alpha).
14: Color-alpha (YCbCr-alpha).
JDAT sample
depth: 1 byte
8: 8-bit samples and quantization tables.
12: 12-bit samples and quantization
tables.
20: 8-bit image followed by a 12-bit
image.
JDAT compression
method: 1 byte
8: ISO-10918-1 Huffman-coded baseline JPEG.
JDAT interlace
method: 1 byte.
0: Sequential JPEG, single scan.
8: Progressive JPEG.
IDAT sample
depth: 1 byte.
0, 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16.
IDAT compression
method: 1 byte.
0: Zlib DEFLATE.
IDAT filter
method: 1 byte.
0: Adaptive (see PNG spec).
IDAT interlace
method: 1 byte.
0: Not interlaced.
The width, height, JDAT_sample_depth, JDAT_compression_method, and JDAT_interlace_method fields are redundant because equivalent information is also embedded in the JDAT datastream. They appear in the JHDR chunk for convenience. Their values must be identical to their equivalents embedded in the JDAT chunk. We use four bytes in the width and height fields for similarity to MNG and PNG, and to leave room for future expansion, even though two bytes would have been sufficient.
When the color_type is 8 or 10 (no alpha channel), the
last four bytes, which describe the IDAT data, must be set to
zero. The IDAT_sample_depth must be nonzero when the alpha
channel is present.
A JNG datastream must contain one or more JDAT chunks, whose data, when concatenated, forms a complete JNG baseline JPEG datastream.
A JNG baseline JPEG is a baseline JPEG as defined by JPEG Part 1 (ISO IS 10918-1), using only JFIF-compatible component interpretations, with a few additional restrictions that reflect limitations of many existing JPEG implementations.
A baseline JPEG according to Part 1 is DCT-based (lossy) sequential JPEG, using Huffman entropy encoding, with the following further restrictions:
JDAT_sample_depth=20,
the datastream contains an eight-bit image followed by an twelve-bit
image, with a JSEP chunk between them. Viewers must display
only one of them; the eight-bit image is only for use by viewers that
cannot decode twelve-bit images.
The SOF marker type for baseline JPEG is SOF0.
JDAT datastreams must always follow "interchange JPEG" rules: all necessary quantization and Huffman tables must be included in the datastream, no tables can be omitted.
The image data is always stored left-to-right, top-to-bottom, ie, only the default SPIFF orientation is permissible.
The encoded data shall have one of the two colorspace interpretations allowed by the JFIF specification:
Y = Luma_red*R + Luma_green*G + Luma_blue*B Cb = (B - Y) / (2 - 2*Luma_blue) + Half_scale Cr = (R - Y) / (2 - 2*Luma_red) + Half_scale
By convention, the luminance coefficients are always those defined by CCIR Recommendation 601-1:
Luma_red = 0.299 Luma_green = 0.587 Luma_blue = 0.114
The constant Half_scale is 128 when dealing with 8-bit data, 2048 for 12-bit data. With these equations, Y, Cb, and Cr all have the same range as R, G, and B: 0 to 255 for 8-bit data, 0 to 4095 for 12-bit data.
The JFIF convention for YCbCr differs from typical digital television practice in that no headroom/footroom is reserved: the coefficient values range over the full available 8 or 12 bits.
Intercomponent sample alignment shall be such that the first (upper leftmost) samples of each component share a common upper left corner position. This again differs from common digital TV practice, in which the first samples share a common center position. The JFIF convention is simpler to visualize: subsampled chroma samples always cover an integral number of luminance sample positions, whereas with co-centered alignment, chroma samples only partially overlap some luminance samples.
JNG imposes three additional restrictions not found in the text of either JPEG Part 1 or the JFIF specification:
In other words, the chroma components may be downsampled 2:1 or 1:2 horizontally or vertically relative to luminancey, or they may be left full size. These four sampling ratios are the only ones supported by a wide spectrum of implementations (1x2 is relatively new, and is usually the result of a lossless rotation of a 2x1 sampling).
For grayscale images, the sampling factors are irrelevant according to a strict reading of JPEG Part 1. Hence decoder authors should accept any sampling factors for grayscale. However, we recommend that encoders always emit sampling factors 1h1v for grayscale, since some decoders have been observed to malfunction when presented with other sampling factors.
For JNG progressive JPEG datastreams, the JPEG process is progressive Huffman coding (SOF marker type SOF2) rather than baseline (SOF0). All JNG-compliant decoders must support full progression, including both spectral-selection and successive-approximation modes, with any sequence of scan progression parameters allowed by the JPEG Part 1 standard.
Otherwise, all the restrictions listed above apply, except these:
We require full progression support since relatively little code savings can be achieved by subsetting the JPEG progression features. In particular, successive approximation offers significant gains in the visual quality of early scans. Omitting successive-approximation support from a decoder does not save nearly enough code to justify restricting JNG progressive encoders to spectral selection only.
No particular progressive scan sequence is specified or recommended by this specification. Not enough experience has been gained with progressive JPEG to warrant making such a recommendation. To allow for future experimentation with scan sequences, decoders are expected to handle any JPEG-legal sequence. Again, the code savings that might be had by making restrictive assumptions are too small to justify a limitation.
When the JSEP chunk is present, both images must be progressive if one of them is progressive.
JDAT chunks are like PNG IDAT chunks in that there may be multiple JDAT chunks, the data from which are concatenated to form a single datastream that can be sent to the decompressor. No chunks are permitted among the sequence of JDAT chunks, except for interleaved IDAT chunks. The ordering requirements of other ancillary chunks are the same with respect to JDAT as they are in PNG with respect to the IDAT chunk.
This chunk is exactly like the IDAT chunk in a PNG grayscale
image, except that it is interpreted as an alpha mask to be applied to
the image data from the JDAT chunks. The alpha channel, if
present, can have sample depths 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16. The IDAT
chunks can be interleaved with the JDAT chunks. No other chunk
type can appear among the sequence of IDAT and JDAT
chunks. No other chunk type can appear between the sequences of
IDAT and JDAT chunks when they are not interleaved.
The samples in the IDAT must be presented in noninterlaced order, left
to right, top to bottom. As in PNG, zero means fully transparent and
2^IDAT_sample_depth-1 means fully opaque.
The IDAT chunks must precede the JSEP chunk, if the JSEP chunk is present. Minimal viewers that ignore the 12-bit JDAT chunks must read the 8-bit IDAT chunks and apply the alpha samples to the 8-bit image that is contained in the JDAT chunks that precede the JSEP chunk. Viewers that skip the 12-bit JDAT chunks must read the 8-bit IDAT chunks chunks that precede the JSEP chunk and apply the alpha samples to the 12-bit image that is contained in the JDAT chunks that follow the JSEP chunk. JDAT chunks must read the 8-bit IDAT chunks and apply the alpha samples to the 8-bit image that is contained in the JDAT chunks that precede the JSEP chunk.
The JNG IEND chunk is identical to its counterpart in PNG. Its data length is zero, and it serves to mark the end of the JNG datastream.
The JSEP chunk is empty.
A JSEP chunk must appear between the JDAT
chunks of an 8-bit datastream and those of a 12-bit datastream, when
JDAT_sample_depth=20 in the JHDR chunk. The 8-bit
datastream must appear first. Both images must have the same width,
height, color type, compression method, and interlace type. Viewers can
choose to display one or the other image, but not both.
Some PNG ancillary chunks can also appear in JNG datastreams, and are used for the same purposes as described in the PNG specification:
If the bKGD chunk is present, it must be written as if it were written for a PNG datastream with sample_depth=8. It has one 2-byte entry for grayscale JNGs and three 2-byte entries for color JNGs. The first (most significant) byte of each entry must be 0.
The following chunks have exactly the same meaning and have the same format as given in the PNG specification: cHRM, gAMA, iCCP, sRGB, pHYs, oFFs, tEXt, tIME, and zTXt.
The PNG PLTE, hIST, pCAL, sBIT, and tRNS chunks are not defined in JNG.
When cHRM, gAMA, iCCP, or sRGB are present, they provide information about the colorspace of the decoded JDAT image, and they have no effect on the decoded alpha samples from the IDAT chunks. Any viewer that processes the gAMA chunk must also recognize and process the sRGB chunk. It can treat it as if it were a gAMA chunk containing the value .45455 and it can ignore its "intent" field.
The chunk copying and ordering rules for JNG are the same as those in PNG, except for the fact that JDAT and IDAT chunks can be interleaved.
Glenn Randers-Pehrson
611 Rivershore Court
Edgewood, MD 21040-3603
Phone: (410) 278-6554
EMail: randeg @ alumni.rpi.edu
End of JNG Specification.
This document expires on 11 May 1999