The emerging JBIG2 standard

The Joint Bi-Level Image Experts Group (JBIG), an international study group affiliated with ISO/IEC and ITU-T, is in the process of drafting a new sta ndard for lossy and lossless compression of bilevel images. The new standar d, informally referred to as JBIG2, will support model-based coding for tes t and halftones to permit compression ratios up to three times those of exi sting standards for lossless compression. JBIG2 will also permit lossy prep rocessing without specifying how it is to be done. In this case, compressio n ratios up to eight times those of existing standards may be obtained with imperceptible loss of quality, It is expected that JBIG2 will become an in ternational standard by 2000.