Microsoft has formally unveiled its "HD Photo" format, a file system for digital still photography the firm said will offer higher image quality, better data preservation, and more advanced features than other digital formats currently on the market, notably JPEG. Microsoft displayed HD Photo at last weekend's Photo Marketing Association trade show (PMA07) in Las Vegas.
Microsoft has said in previous statements it intends to standardize its proprietary photo technology and plans to submit it soon to the appropriate standards group for formal approval, according to Shards of Photography.
Microsoft said HD Photo doubles the compression efficiency of JPEG with less artifacting, which it says will result in better perceived image details in files half the size of JPEG files. It said HD Photo will preserve the content of entire original image information, resulting in increased image fidelity.
