2004.10.02 01:45 "Re: [Tiff] Re: BigTIFF extension issue", by Bob Friesenhahn

uncommon for applications to not be able to foresee future incompatible versions of file formats, users do know that, and expect Photoshop 4.0 to eg not know what a DNG file extension means. That is merely logical, no user expect up to date behaviour from an outdated version.

GraphicsMagick would attempt to read the DNG file like a normal TIFF file and obtain poor results. Extensions are almost meaningless except for as a hint since responsible readers look at the file header instead (if they can). Users are usually illogical when something doesn't work. Most users won't know what BigTIFF is.

I feel the primary issue is: Is BigTIFF a new version? Or is it a new file format? Let's decide, and be consistent, is what I propose. Do you plan to write

Since no existing standard TIFF reader can read BigTIFF, it must be a new file format.

Bob

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Bob Friesenhahn
bfriesen@simple.dallas.tx.us
http://www.simplesystems.org/users/bfriesen