Now With Support for MrSID Generation 4 (MG4)
Seattle, Wash. — November 1, 2010 — LizardTech®, a division of Celartem Inc. and a leading provider of software solutions for managing and distributing geospatial content, announced the release of version 8 of GeoExpress® image compression software at the GEOINT 2010 Symposium in New Orleans this week. GeoExpress 8, which enables geospatial professionals to compress and manipulate satellite and aerial imagery, introduces the MrSID® Generation 4 (MG4™) format for compression of raster data, adding support for multispectral data, alpha channels and improved mosaicking.
With MG4’s support for compressing hyperspectral data users can use GeoExpress to compress up to 255 bands of geospatial data to the MrSID format. Whether users need to compress 4-band color images containing an infrared channel, take advantage of the latest 8-band satellite imagery, or compress high-resolution RGB datasets, GeoExpress is the right solution.
With the MrSID format’s support for alpha channels, users can add true transparency to their geospatial imagery. Now portions of imagery can be made transparent or opaque so there is greater control over how imagery looks even at high compression ratios. Images with alpha channels will seamlessly combine into artifact-free mosaics for accurate analysis and visualization in various GIS applications.
GeoExpress 8 also introduces improved mosaicking options. Previously, mosaics were either quick to create but slower for end users to open, or opened rapidly in viewing applications but took a long time to create. Now thousands of MrSID files can be combined without spending valuable time reprocessing them. MG4 mosaics open as quickly as a single image, saving time both creating images and viewing them.
“The launch of GeoExpress 8 is particularly exciting because of the many benefits MrSID Generation 4 brings to our customers,” said Jon Skiffington, director of product management. “Support for multispectral data and alpha channels have been features commonly requested by our customers. The launch of MG4 meets the demands of current raster image collection needs, and also future proofs the MrSID format for further advances in geospatial raster imagery. As with previous versions of the MrSID format, geospatial professionals can use MG4 to losslessly compress their geospatial data, mosaic datasets together, color balance raster imagery, and manipulate data in many other ways.”
To celebrate the launch of GeoExpress 8, LizardTech is having a contest at their booth at GEOINT. Attendees are encouraged to stop by LizardTech booth number 326 on the first day the exhibits open to learn the details.
To learn more about GeoExpress 8 please visit http://www.lizardtech.com/products/geo/
About GeoExpress
With powerful tools for reprojecting, color balancing, mosaicking, cropping and more, LizardTech® GeoExpress® software is your first choice for manipulating and encoding your geospatial imagery to the industry standard MrSID® and ISO standard JPEG 2000 compression formats. GeoExpress supports alpha bands for true transparency control and multi- and hyperspectral imagery for more flexible band utilization. The interoperability within LizardTech’s Express Suite® software means that you can configure Express Server® and Spatial Express® software directly from GeoExpress, making it the ideal command center for your storage and distribution workflows.
About MrSID Generation 4
MrSID® Generation 4 (MG4™) is the new version of the LizardTech® MrSID file format the geospatial industry has relied on for years. MG4 accommodates new technologies for analyzing the earth by supporting hyperspectral imagery, LiDAR point cloud data, multiterabyte datasets, and other innovations. Use MG4 to losslessly compress your geospatial data, mosaic datasets together, color balance raster imagery, and manipulate data in many other ways. LiDAR data compressed to MG4 can be viewed in Merrick MARS, Overwatch LiDAR Analyst, ESRI 3D Analyst, and LizardTech’s free GeoViewer. Raster imagery compressed to MG4 can be viewed with either of LizardTech’s free viewers.
About LizardTech
Since 1992, LizardTech® has delivered state-of-the-art software products for managing and distributing massive, high-resolution geospatial data such as aerial and satellite imagery and LiDAR data. LizardTech pioneered the MrSID® technology, a powerful wavelet-based image encoder, viewer, and file format. LizardTech has offices in Seattle, Denver, London and Tokyo and is a division of Celartem Technology Inc., (JASDAQ: 4330). For more information about LizardTech, visit www.lizardtech.com.
About Celartem
Celartem Technology Inc. http://www.celartem.com/ develops and sells innovative technologies for storage, access and distribution of rich media content. Celartem has developed technology in the areas of digital image compression, scalable image viewing and secure content distribution and management. Celartem is listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange, JASDAQ: 4330. Established in 1996, Celartem is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and has a wholly owned subsidiary, Celartem Inc. with headquarters in Portland, OR.