JPEG2000 Image Format Information
JPEG2000 is an alternative image format that, similar to ECW, allows high compression of imagery with little visual loss of information. JPEG2000 was developed as a public domain ISO standard format, so is gaining acceptance. JPEG2000 compressed images can also be served to 1000's of users via the Internet using the Image Web Server.

Earthstar Geographics has used JPEG2000 since 2003, and we offer our TerraColor image products in JPEG2000 to reduce the file sizes while retaining the original color and fine detail. The ER Mapper Pro software product includes unlimited JPEG2000 compression at no extra cost (and no per GB charges!). Complete technical information on JPEG2000 can be found at the JPEG2000 website.

Features and benefits of the JPEG2000 compression technology include: 

  • Support for RGB, greyscale, and multi-band format images  
  • Support for signed and unsigned bit depths from 1 to 28 per band  
  • Option for lossless compression to retain original input pixel values (but only roughly 2:1 compression)  
  • Alpha channel option to add an additional band that can be used to cleanly define empty or null background areas of an image  
  • Native support for JPEG2000 in many GIS and imaging applications 
  • JPEG2000 images can be served to a large user base directly over the Internet using the Image Web Server 
  • SDK toolkits allow developers to build JPEG2000 compression and decompression support into their own software applications