JPEG: Characteristics

Considering a baseline process JPEG shows the following characteristics:

The data format is independent from resolution, aspect ratio and image contents.

The quality of the representation is individually configurable. Decreasing the quality requirements results in a smaller file size.

Image contents with a simple structure (monochromatic areas, regular patterns, a small amount of colours, etc.) lead automatically to smaller files.

The reduction of the image quality becomes visible by compression artifacts in form of a "raster". The size of these structures is 8 x 8 pixels, which first appear within areas of high complexity.

A reliable reproduction of colour information, e.g. for background colours, is not guaranteed at larger compression rates.

The compression of monochromatic images (e.g. b/w graphics, technical drawings, etc.) result frequently in clearly perceptible compression artifacts.

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