RFC 2306 (rfc2306) - Page 2 of 25

Tag Image File Format (TIFF) - F Profile for Facsimile

Alternative Format: Original Text Document
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RFC 2306                     TIFF-F Profile                   March 1998


2.1  Baseline TIFF and Applications

   TIFF provides a method to describe and store raster image data.  A
   primary goal of TIFF is to provide a rich environment within which
   implementations can exchange image data.  [TIFF] characterizes
   Baseline TIFF as being the core of TIFF, the essentials that all
   mainstream TIFF developers should support in their products.
   Applications of TIFF are defined by using Baseline TIFF as a starting
   point and then defining "extensions" to TIFF that are used for the
   specific "application", as well as specifying any other differences
   from Baseline TIFF.

3.  TIFF-F Definition

3.1 Introduction

   Though it has been in common usage for many years, TIFF-F has
   previously never been documented in the form of a standard.  An
   informal TIFF-F document was originally created by a small group of
   fax experts led by Joe Campbell.  The existence of TIFF-F is noted in
   [TIFF] but it is not defined.  This document defines the F
   application of [TIFF]. For ease of reference, the term TIFF-F will be
   used throughout this document as a shorthand for "F Profile of TIFF
   for Facsimile".  TIFF-F files are intended for use with the
   image/tiff MIME media content-type which includes support for the
   "application" parameter (e.g., application=faxbw).

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED",  "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
   document are to be interpreted as described in [REQ].

 3.1.1 TIFF-F Historical Background

   Up until TIFF 6.0, TIFF supported various "Classes" which defined the
   use of TIFF for various applications. Classes were used to support
   specific applications and in this spirit, TIFF-F has been known
   historically as "TIFF Class F".  Previous informal TIFF-F documents
   used the "Class F" terminology.

   As of TIFF 6.0 [TIFF], the TIFF Class concept has been eliminated in
   favor of the concept of Baseline TIFF.  Therefore, this document
   updates the definition of TIFF-F as the F profile of TIFF for
   facsimile, by using Baseline TIFF as defined in [TIFF] as the
   starting point and then defining the differences from Baseline TIFF
   which apply for TIFF-F.   In almost all cases, the resulting
   definition of TIFF-F fields and values remains consistent with those
   used historically in earlier definitions of TIFF Class F.  Where some




Parsons & Rafferty           Informational
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