IMAGE COMPRESSION IN UNIPACS

Tired of sending and storing huge DICOM image files? Do not want to lose DICOM information and image quality converting your DICOM images to JPEGs? Our use of state-of-the-art image compression will solve all these problems.

Advantages :

1. High compression ratios with no or minimal information loss.
2. Preserving all DICOM tags, so essential in diagnostics.
3. Use of several compression techniques to achieve the optimal goal.

How to use:

1. Download DICOM Image Viewer Plus.
2. In File->Options menu, select your preferred compression option (explained below).
3. When you save/export/email DICOM files (with File->Save As…, File->Batch File Image Export, File->Email options), select “DICOM Compressed” in the format list.
4. The images in DICOM files will be compressed with preferred compression method set in 2.

You can then open compressed DICOM files in DICOM Image Viewer Plus as you open any other uncompressed files. If the image was compressed with lossy compression, then, when you press the “I” toolbar button to display the info overlay, you will see Lossy in the right top corner, with compression ratio.

Compression methods:

Our software implements several state-of-the art compression algorithms (JPEG2000, JPEGLS, JPEG) to compress your DICOM files in the most appropriate way. In File->Options you can set one of the following options:

1. Lossless
   Lossless compression will compress your images without any loss of information: decompressed images will have the exact same pixel values as the original. The compression ratio will be around 3:1 (depending on the image). Use this option to preserve the original image data in every detail.
2. Nearly lossless
   This option will alter unperceivable image details to achieve higher compression ratios (5:1 on average). With very high probability you will not notice any difference between the original and the nearly-lossless-compressed image.
3. Lossy high quality
   This option implements lossy wavelet compression, altering minute image details to reduce compressed image size. Depending on the image, you compression will be around 10:1 to 100:1, thus considerably reducing the image size. This option is particularly suitable if you want to send your images over a low-bandwidth network.
4. Lossy medium quality
   Will work faster than lossy high quality, and will compress the image even more. Also, all grayscale images will be reduced to 256 shades of gray. This option is similar to standard JPEG compression, and can be used for fast image compression and download.

Purchase DICOM Image Viewer Plus for $27.00 only, on secure PayPal connection:

Note: Due to the low program cost, it is distributed "as is".