Computer Science – 1.3 Compression | e-Consult
1.3 Compression (1 questions)
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I would use lossy compression (specifically, JPEG) for this image.
Justification:
- File Size:** The primary constraint is limited bandwidth. Lossy compression significantly reduces file size compared to lossless methods. JPEG can achieve compression ratios of 10:1 or even higher.
- Image Quality:** While lossy compression does result in some data loss, the level of lossiness can be controlled. By selecting a moderate compression level, a reasonable balance between file size and acceptable image quality can be achieved. For many applications, a slight reduction in quality is acceptable to conserve bandwidth.
- Intended Use:** The intended use of the image is crucial. If the image is for display on a website or in a presentation, a moderate loss of quality is often imperceptible to the human eye. If the image is for archival purposes or requires precise reproduction (e.g., medical imaging), lossless compression would be more appropriate. However, given the bandwidth constraint, the benefits of lossy compression outweigh the potential quality reduction in this scenario.
Using lossless compression (e.g., PNG) would result in a much larger file size (close to 2MB), exceeding the bandwidth limitations. Therefore, lossy compression is the more practical choice.