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The Group 4 file format, also known as G4, is a standard for encoding black-and-white images in a highly compressed manner. It is primarily used for fax transmission and is based on the CCITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee) Recommendation T.6. This format is particularly well-suited for bi-level images, which consist of only two colors: black and white.
Group 4 compression is a lossless method, meaning that it reduces file size without sacrificing image quality. This is achieved through a technique known as modified Huffman coding, which is efficient in compressing the repetitive patterns commonly found in scanned documents. As a result, Group 4 files can be significantly smaller than their uncompressed counterparts, facilitating faster transmission over networks.
Due to its efficiency, Group 4 is widely adopted in the telecommunications industry, especially for fax machines that need to send documents quickly and reliably. The format is also utilized in various document management systems and archival solutions, where storage space and retrieval speed are essential considerations.
While the Group 4 format is excellent for monochrome images, it does not support color or grayscale, which limits its use to specific applications. However, for scenarios involving text and line drawings, it remains one of the preferred formats due to its superior compression capabilities.
In addition, the Group 4 format has become a staple in the legal and medical fields, where documents must be transmitted and stored in a compact, easily retrievable manner. It is also used in various scanning applications where high-quality document reproduction is required.