DCMTK Version 3.7.0 OFFIS DICOM Toolkit

dcmcjpeg: Encode DICOM file to JPEG transfer syntax

# SYNOPSIS

    dcmcjpeg [options] dcmfile-in dcmfile-out

# DESCRIPTION

The dcmcjpeg utility reads an uncompressed DICOM image (dcmfile-in), performs a JPEG compression (i. e. conversion to an encapsulated DICOM transfer syntax) and writes the converted image to an output file (dcmfile-out).

# PARAMETERS

    dcmfile-in   DICOM input filename to be converted ("-" for stdin)

    dcmfile-out  DICOM output filename ("-" for stdout)

# OPTIONS

## general options

      -h    --help
              print this help text and exit

            --version
              print version information and exit

            --arguments
              print expanded command line arguments

      -q    --quiet
              quiet mode, print no warnings and errors

      -v    --verbose
              verbose mode, print processing details

      -d    --debug
              debug mode, print debug information

      -ll   --log-level  [l]evel: string constant
              (fatal, error, warn, info, debug, trace)
              use level l for the logger

      -lc   --log-config  [f]ilename: string
              use config file f for the logger

## input options

    input file format:

      +f    --read-file
              read file format or data set (default)

      +fo   --read-file-only
              read file format only

      -f    --read-dataset
              read data set without file meta information

    input transfer syntax:

      -t=   --read-xfer-auto
              use TS recognition (default)

      -td   --read-xfer-detect
              ignore TS specified in the file meta header

      -te   --read-xfer-little
              read with explicit VR little endian TS

      -tb   --read-xfer-big
              read with explicit VR big endian TS

      -ti   --read-xfer-implicit
              read with implicit VR little endian TS

    compatibility (ignored by +tl):

      +Ma   --accept-acr-nema
              accept ACR-NEMA images without photometric interpretation

      # Enables compatibility for old ACR-NEMA images without photometric
      # information (only pseudo lossless encoder)

      +Mp   --accept-palettes
              accept incorrect palette attribute tags (0028,111x) and
              (0028,121x)

      # If enabled, incorrect palette attribute tags are accepted
      # (only pseudo lossless encoder)

## JPEG encoding options

    JPEG process:

      +e1   --encode-lossless-sv1
              encode lossless sv1 (default)

      # This option selects the JPEG Lossless, Non-Hierarchical, First-Order
      # Prediction (Process 14 Selection Value 1) Transfer Syntax for
      # Lossless JPEG Image Compression.

      +el   --encode-lossless
              encode lossless

      # This option selects the JPEG Lossless, Non-Hierarchical (Process 14)
      # Transfer Syntax for Lossless JPEG Image Compression.

      +eb   --encode-baseline
              encode baseline

      # This option selects the JPEG Baseline (Process 1) Transfer Syntax
      # for Lossy JPEG 8 Bit Image Compression.

      +ee   --encode-extended
              encode extended sequential

      # This option selects the JPEG Extended (Process 2 & 4) Transfer
      # Syntax for Lossy JPEG Image Compression.

      +es   --encode-spectral
              encode spectral selection

      # This option selects the JPEG Spectral Selection, Non-Hierarchical
      # (Process 6 & 8) Transfer Syntax for Lossy JPEG Image Compression.

      +ep   --encode-progressive
              encode progressive

      # This option selects the JPEG Full Progression, Non-Hierarchical
      # (Process 10 & 12) Transfer Syntax for Lossy JPEG Image Compression.

    lossless JPEG codec selection:

      +tl   --true-lossless
              true lossless codec (default)

      # This option selects an encoder, that guarantees truly lossless
      # image compression. See NOTES for further information.

      +pl   --pseudo-lossless
              old pseudo-lossless codec

      # Old encoder, that uses lossless compression algorithms, but can
      # cause lossy images because of internal color space transformations
      # etc. Higher compression ratio than --true-lossless in most cases.

    lossless JPEG representation:

      +sv   --selection-value  [sv]: integer (1..7, default: 6)
              use selection value sv only with --encode-lossless

      # This option selects the selection value for lossless JPEG.

      +pt   --point-transform  [pt]: integer (0..15, default: 0)
              use point transform pt

      # This option selects the point transform for lossless JPEG.
      # WARNING: Using this option with a value other than zero causes
      # a loss of precision, i. e. makes the compression "lossy".

    lossy JPEG representation:

      +q    --quality  [q]: integer (0..100, default: 90)
              use quality factor q

      # This option selects the quality factor used to determine the
      # quantization table inside the JPEG compressor, which affects
      # compression ratio and image quality in lossy JPEG.
      # See documentation of the Independent JPEG Group for details.

      +sm   --smooth  [s]: integer (0..100, default: 0)
              use smoothing factor s

      # This option enables a smoothing (low-pass filter) of the image data
      # prior to compression. Increases the compression ratio at the expense
      # of image quality.

    other JPEG options:

      +ho   --huffman-optimize
              optimize huffman tables (default)

      # This option enables an optimization of the huffman tables during
      # image compression. It results in a slightly smaller image at a small
      # increase of CPU time. Always on if bits/sample is larger than 8.

      -ho   --huffman-standard
              use standard huffman tables if 8 bits/sample

      # This option disables an optimization of the huffman tables during
      # image compression.

    compressed bits per sample (always +ba with +tl):

      +ba   --bits-auto
              choose bits/sample automatically (default)

      +be   --bits-force-8
              force 8 bits/sample

      +bt   --bits-force-12
              force 12 bits/sample (not with baseline)

      +bs   --bits-force-16
              force 16 bits/sample (lossless only)

    compression color space conversion (overridden by +tl):

      +cy   --color-ybr
              use YCbCr for color images if lossy (default)

      # This option enables a transformation of the color space to YCbCr
      # prior to image compression for color images in lossy JPEG.

      +cr   --color-rgb
              use RGB for color images if lossy

      # This option prevents the transformation of the color space to YCbCr
      # prior to image compression for color images in lossy JPEG. It causes
      # lossy image compression in the RGB color space which is not
      # recommendable.

      +cm   --monochrome
              convert color images to monochrome

      # This option forces a conversion of color images to monochrome
      # prior to compression.

    decompression color space conversion
    (if input is compressed; always +cn with +tl):

      +cp   --conv-photometric
              convert if YCbCr photometric interpretation (default)

      # This option describes the behavior of dcmcjpeg when a compressed
      # image is read and decompressed prior to re-compression.  If the
      # compressed image uses YBR_FULL or YBR_FULL_422 photometric
      # interpretation, it is converted to RGB during decompression.

      +cl   --conv-lossy
              convert YCbCr to RGB if lossy JPEG

      # If the compressed image is encoded in lossy JPEG, assume YCbCr
      # color model and convert to RGB.

      +cg   --conv-guess
              convert to RGB if YCbCr is guessed by library

      # If the underlying JPEG library "guesses" the color space of the
      # compressed image to be YCbCr, convert to RGB.

      +cgl  --conv-guess-lossy
              convert to RGB if lossy JPEG and YCbCr is
              guessed by the underlying JPEG library

      # If the compressed image is encoded in lossy JPEG and the underlying
      # JPEG library "guesses" the color space to be YCbCr, convert to RGB.

      +ca   --conv-always
              always convert YCbCr to RGB

      # If the compressed image is a color image, assume YCbCr color model
      # and convert to RGB.

      +cn   --conv-never
              never convert color space

      # Never convert color space during decompression.

    decompr. workaround options for incorrect encodings (if input is compressed):

      +w6   --workaround-pred6
              enable workaround for JPEG lossless images
              with overflow in predictor 6

      # DICOM images with 16 bits/pixel have been observed "in the wild"
      # that are compressed with lossless JPEG and need special handling
      # because the encoder produced an 16-bit integer overflow in predictor
      # 6, which needs to be compensated (reproduced) during decompression.
      # This flag enables a correct decompression of such faulty images, but
      # at the same time will cause an incorrect decompression of correctly
      # compressed images. Use with care.

      +wi   --workaround-incpl
              enable workaround for incomplete JPEG data

      # This option causes dcmjpeg to ignore incomplete JPEG data
      # at the end of a compressed fragment and to start decompressing
      # the next frame from the next fragment (if any). This permits
      # images with incomplete JPEG data to be decoded.

      +wc   --workaround-cornell
              enable workaround for 16-bit JPEG lossless
              Cornell images with Huffman table overflow

      # One of the first open-source implementations of lossless JPEG
      # compression, the "Cornell" library, has a well-known bug that leads
      # to invalid values in the Huffmann table when images with 16 bit/sample
      # are compressed. This flag enables a workaround that permits such
      # images to be decoded correctly.

    YCbCr component subsampling (lossy JPEG only):

      +s2   --sample-422
              4:2:2 subsampling with YBR_FULL_422 (default)

      # This option enables a 4:2:2 color component subsampling for
      # compression in the YCbCr color space. The DICOM photometric
      # interpretation is encoded as YBR_FULL_422.

    non-standard YCbCr component subsampling (not with +tl):

      +s4   --nonstd-444
              4:4:4 sampling with YBR_FULL

      # This option disables color component subsampling for compression in
      # the YCbCr color space. The DICOM photometric interpretation is
      # encoded as YBR_FULL, which violates DICOM rules for lossy JPEG.

      +n2   --nonstd-422-full
              4:2:2 subsampling with YBR_FULL

      # This option enables a 4:2:2 color component subsampling for
      # compression in the YCbCr color space. The DICOM photometric
      # interpretation is encoded as YBR_FULL, which violates DICOM rules.

      +n1   --nonstd-411-full
              4:1:1 subsampling with YBR_FULL

      # This option enables a 4:1:1 color component subsampling for
      # compression in the YCbCr color space. The DICOM photometric
      # interpretation is encoded as YBR_FULL, which violates DICOM rules.

      +np   --nonstd-411
              4:1:1 subsampling with YBR_FULL_422

      # This option enables a 4:1:1 color component subsampling for
      # compression in the YCbCr color space. The DICOM photometric
      # interpretation is encoded as YBR_FULL_422, which violates DICOM rules.

## encapsulated pixel data encoding options:

    encapsulated pixel data fragmentation:

      +ff   --fragment-per-frame
              encode each frame as one fragment (default)

      # This option causes the creation of one compressed fragment for each
      # frame (recommended).

      +fs   --fragment-size  [s]ize: integer
              limit fragment size to s kbytes

      # This option limits the fragment size which may cause the creation of
      # multiple fragments per frame.

    basic offset table encoding:

      +ot   --offset-table-create
              create offset table (default)

      # This option causes the creation of a valid offset table for the
      # compressed JPEG fragments.

      -ot   --offset-table-empty
              leave offset table empty

      # This option causes the creation of an empty offset table
      # for the compressed JPEG fragments.

    VOI windowing for monochrome images (not with +tl):

      -W    --no-windowing
              no VOI windowing (default)

      # No window level/width is "burned" into monochrome images prior to
      # compression.  See notes below on pixel scaling and rescale slope
      # and intercept encoding.

      +Wi   --use-window  [n]umber: integer
              use the n-th VOI window from image file

      # Apply the n-th window center/width encoded in the image data prior
      # to compression.

      +Wl   --use-voi-lut  [n]umber: integer
              use the n-th VOI look up table from image file

      # Apply the n-th VOI LUT encoded in the image data prior
      # to compression.

      +Wm   --min-max-window
              compute VOI window using min-max algorithm

      # Compute and apply a window center and width that covers the
      # range from the smallest to the largest occurring pixel value.

      +Wn   --min-max-window-n
              compute VOI window using min-max algorithm,
              ignoring extreme values

      # Compute and apply a window center and width that covers the
      # range from the second smallest to the second largest occurring
      # pixel value. This is useful if the background is set to an
      # artificial black (padding value) or if white overlays are burned
      # into the image data which should not be considered for the window
      # computation.

      +Wr   --roi-min-max-window  [l]eft [t]op [w]idth [h]eight: integer
              compute ROI window using min-max algorithm,
              region of interest is specified by l,t,w,h

      # This option works like --min-max-window but only considers the given
      # region of interest inside the image.

      +Wh   --histogram-window  [n]umber: integer
              compute VOI window using Histogram algorithm,
              ignoring n percent

      # Compute a histogram of the image data and apply window center
      # and width such than n% of the image data are ignored for the window
      # computation

      +Ww   --set-window  [c]enter [w]idth: float
              compute VOI window using center c and width w

      # Apply the given window center/width prior to compression.

    pixel scaling for monochrome images (--no-windowing; ignored by +tl):

      +sp   --scaling-pixel
              scale using min/max pixel value (default)

      # Monochrome image pixel values are always scaled to make use of the
      # pixel range available with the selected JPEG process as good as
      # possible. This option selects a scaling based on the minimum and
      # maximum pixel value occurring in the image.  This often leads to
      # significantly better image quality, but may cause different
      # compressed images within one series to have different values for
      # rescale slope and intercept, which is a problem if a presentation
      # state for one series is to be created.

      +sr   --scaling-range
              scale using min/max range

      # This options selects a scaling based on the pixel range as defined
      # by the stored bits, pixel representation and modality transform,
      # without consideration of the minimum and maximum value really
      # used within the image.

    rescale slope/intercept encoding for monochrome (-W; ignored by +tl):

      +ri   --rescale-identity
              encode identity modality rescale (default)
              Never used for CT images

      # This options prevents the creation of a modality transformation
      # other than an identity transformation (which is required for
      # many DICOM IODs).  Window center/width settings encoded
      # in the image are adapted, VOI LUTs are removed.

      +rm   --rescale-map
              use modality rescale to scale pixel range
              Never used for XA/RF/XA Biplane images

      # This option causes the creation of a modality rescale slope and
      # intercept that maps the decompressed image data back to their
      # original range.  This keeps all VOI transformations valid but
      # requires that the DICOM IOD supports a modality rescale slope
      # and intercept transformation other than identity.

    SOP Class UID:

      +cd   --class-default
              keep SOP Class UID (default)

      # Keep the SOP Class UID of the source image.

      +cs   --class-sc
              convert to Secondary Capture Image (implies --uid-always)

      # Convert the image to Secondary Capture.  In addition to the SOP
      # Class UID, all attributes required for a valid secondary capture
      # image are added. A new SOP instance UID is always assigned.

    SOP Instance UID:

      +ud   --uid-default
              assign new UID if lossy compression (default)

      # Assigns a new SOP instance UID if the compression is lossy.

      +ua   --uid-always
              always assign new UID

      # Unconditionally assigns a new SOP instance UID.

      +un   --uid-never
              never assign new UID

      # Never assigns a new SOP instance UID.

## output options

    post-1993 value representations:

      +u    --enable-new-vr
              enable support for new VRs (UN/UT) (default)

      -u    --disable-new-vr
              disable support for new VRs, convert to OB

    group length encoding:

      +g=   --group-length-recalc
              recalculate group lengths if present (default)

      +g    --group-length-create
              always write with group length elements

      -g    --group-length-remove
              always write without group length elements

    length encoding in sequences and items:

      +e    --length-explicit
              write with explicit lengths (default)

      -e    --length-undefined
              write with undefined lengths

    data set trailing padding:

      -p=   --padding-retain
              do not change padding (default)

      -p    --padding-off
              no padding

      +p    --padding-create  [f]ile-pad [i]tem-pad: integer
              align file on multiple of f bytes
              and items on multiple of i bytes

# NOTES

The dcmcjpeg utility compresses DICOM images of all SOP classes. It processes all Pixel Data (7fe0,0010) elements in the dataset, i.e. compression is also performed on an icon image. Special handling has been implemented for CT images (where the modality transformation is required to create Hounsfield units) and the XA/RF/Biplane SOP classes (where the modality transformation has "inversed" semantics). However, dcmcjpeg does not attempt to ensure that the compressed image still complies with all restrictions of the object's IOD.

A few examples:

- MR images are required to have BitsAllocated=16.
- NM Images can only be encoded with MONOCHROME2 or PALETTE COLOR photometric interpretation but not with RGB or YBR_FULL (which effectively prevents compression).
- Hardcopy Color images must have RGB color model which is a problem if lossy compression is to be performed.

The user is responsible for making sure that the compressed images he creates are compliant with the DICOM standard. If in question, the dcmcjpeg utility allows one to convert an image to secondary capture - this SOP class does not pose restrictions as the ones mentioned above.

With version DCMTK 3.5.4 a new encoder for truly lossless JPEG compression was added (–true-lossless). Compared to the old (–pseudo-lossless) encoder, that creates slightly lossy images caused from internal color space conversions, windowing etc., there are a some issues to consider:

- Only source images with Bits Allocated 8 or 16 are supported
- Options for color space conversions, windowing or pixel scaling are ignored or overridden
- Photometric Interpretations YBR_FULL_422, YBR_PARTIAL_422, YBR_PARTIAL_420, YBR_ICT, YBR_RCT are not supported
- The encoder changes automatically Planar Configuration from 1 to 0 if necessary
- The compression ratio can be lower than in –pseudo-lossless mode

However, when using the new encoder (default), you can be sure, that compression does not affect image quality.

In order to be on the safe side, the Lossy Compression Flag is always set to "01" and a new SOP instance UID is assigned (by default) for the old pseudo-lossless encoder. The output of the old and new lossless encoder can also be distinguished by the Derivation Description in the resulting DICOM image, which contains the term "Lossless JPEG compression" for the new and "Pseudo-Lossless JPEG compression" for the old encoder.

# TRANSFER SYNTAXES

dcmcjpeg supports the following transfer syntaxes for input (dcmfile-in):

    LittleEndianImplicitTransferSyntax             1.2.840.10008.1.2
    LittleEndianExplicitTransferSyntax             1.2.840.10008.1.2.1
    DeflatedExplicitVRLittleEndianTransferSyntax   1.2.840.10008.1.2.1.99 (*)
    BigEndianExplicitTransferSyntax                1.2.840.10008.1.2.2
    JPEGProcess1TransferSyntax                     1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.50
    JPEGProcess2_4TransferSyntax                   1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.51
    JPEGProcess6_8TransferSyntax                   1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.53
    JPEGProcess10_12TransferSyntax                 1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.55
    JPEGProcess14TransferSyntax                    1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.57
    JPEGProcess14SV1TransferSyntax                 1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.70

(*) if compiled with zlib support enabled

dcmcjpeg supports the following transfer syntaxes for output (dcmfile-out):

    JPEGProcess1TransferSyntax                     1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.50
    JPEGProcess2_4TransferSyntax                   1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.51
    JPEGProcess6_8TransferSyntax                   1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.53
    JPEGProcess10_12TransferSyntax                 1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.55
    JPEGProcess14TransferSyntax                    1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.57
    JPEGProcess14SV1TransferSyntax                 1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.70

# LOGGING

The level of logging output of the various command line tools and underlying libraries can be specified by the user. By default, only errors and warnings are written to the standard error stream. Using option –verbose also informational messages like processing details are reported. Option –debug can be used to get more details on the internal activity, e.g. for debugging purposes. Other logging levels can be selected using option –log-level. In –quiet mode only fatal errors are reported. In such very severe error events, the application will usually terminate. For more details on the different logging levels, see documentation of module "oflog".

In case the logging output should be written to file (optionally with logfile rotation), to syslog (Unix) or the event log (Windows) option –log-config can be used. This configuration file also allows for directing only certain messages to a particular output stream and for filtering certain messages based on the module or application where they are generated. An example configuration file is provided in <etcdir>/logger.cfg.

# COMMAND LINE

All command line tools use the following notation for parameters: square brackets enclose optional values (0-1), three trailing dots indicate that multiple values are allowed (1-n), a combination of both means 0 to n values.

Command line options are distinguished from parameters by a leading '+' or '-' sign, respectively. Usually, order and position of command line options are arbitrary (i.e. they can appear anywhere). However, if options are mutually exclusive the rightmost appearance is used. This behavior conforms to the standard evaluation rules of common Unix shells.

In addition, one or more command files can be specified using an '@' sign as a prefix to the filename (e.g. @command.txt). Such a command argument is replaced by the content of the corresponding text file (multiple whitespaces are treated as a single separator unless they appear between two quotation marks) prior to any further evaluation. Please note that a command file cannot contain another command file. This simple but effective approach allows one to summarize common combinations of options/parameters and avoids longish and confusing command lines (an example is provided in file <datadir>/dumppat.txt).

# ENVIRONMENT

The dcmcjpeg utility will attempt to load DICOM data dictionaries specified in the DCMDICTPATH environment variable. By default, i.e. if the DCMDICTPATH environment variable is not set, the file <datadir>/dicom.dic will be loaded unless the dictionary is built into the application (default for Windows).

The default behavior should be preferred and the DCMDICTPATH environment variable only used when alternative data dictionaries are required. The DCMDICTPATH environment variable has the same format as the Unix shell PATH variable in that a colon (":") separates entries. On Windows systems, a semicolon (";") is used as a separator. The data dictionary code will attempt to load each file specified in the DCMDICTPATH environment variable. It is an error if no data dictionary can be loaded.

# SEE ALSO

dcmdjpeg(1)

# COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 2001-2025 by OFFIS e.V., Escherweg 2, 26121 Oldenburg, Germany.

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