- Extension
- .cal
- .fax
- Format
- Binary
- Binary
- Category
- Raster Image
- Fax
- Developer
- U.S. Department of Defense
- ITU-T
- Description
- The CALS raster file format, commonly known by the extension ".cal" or ".cals," is a bitmap file format designed primarily for the storage and interchange of digital images, especially in the field of computer-aided design (CAD) and engineering. Developed by the United States Department of Defense, it was intended to standardize the exchange of graphics data for electronic publishing of technical manuals. This format supports monochrome (1-bit) images and is distinguished by its efficient compression methods for reducing file sizes, facilitating easier storage and transmission. Despite its specific initial use case, the CALS raster format has found application in various industries for the archiving and sharing of high-resolution, scanned documents.
- This format is used to compress TIFF images when sending them via fax machines. This format helps reduce the data transmission time. Group 3 eliminates redundant data during compression in order to reduce file size. The standard 10:1 compression ratio may be increased to the user's preferences, but it can lead to a significant loss of image quality.
- MIME Type
- image/cals
- application/vnd.fax
