9. MIME content-type image/tiff
[TIFF-REG] describes the registration of the MIME content-type
image/tiff to refer to TIFF encoded image data. When transported by
MIME, the TIFF content defined by this document must be encoded
within an image/tiff content type. In addition, an optional
"application" parameter is defined for image/tiff to identify a
particular application's subset of TIFF and TIFF extensions for the
encoded image data, if it is known. Typically, this would be used to
assist the recipient in dispatching a suitable rendering package to
handle the display or processing of the image file.
9.1. Refinement of MIME content-type image/tiff for Facsimile
Applications
Since this document defines facsimile specific profiles of TIFF, it
is useful to note an appropriate application parameter for the
image/tiff MIME content-type.
The two values of the image/tiff application parameter as defined for
facsimile are shown below, separated by a comma:
faxbw, faxcolor
The "faxbw" application parameter is suitable for use by applications
that can process one or more TIFF for facsimile profiles or subsets
used for the encoding of black and white facsimile data.
The "faxcolor" application parameter is suitable for use by
applications that can process one or more TIFF for facsimile profiles
or subsets that can be used for the encoding of black and white, AND
color facsimile data.
Since this document defines several profiles of TIFF for facsimile,
the following rules should be followed when setting the application
parameter value. For TIFF image data which is encoded for the
profiles of TIFF for Facsimile that support black-and-white image
data (Profiles S, F or J), applications which use one of these
profiles or a subset should set the value of the application
parameter to "faxbw". For TIFF image data which is encoded for the
defined profiles of TIFF for Facsimile that support color image data
(Profiles C, L or M), as well as black-and-white image data,
applications which use one of these profiles or a subset should set
the value of the application parameter to "faxcolor".
An example of the use of the image/tiff MIME Content-type with the
application parameter set with the value 'faxbw' follows:
Content-type: image/tiff; application=faxbw
In this example, use of this parameter value will enable applications
to identify the content as being within a profile or subset of TIFF
for Facsimile that is suitable for encoding black and white image
data, Before attempting to process the image data.
In a similar respect, an example of the image/tiff MIME Content-type
with the application parameter setting suitable for handling a color
subset or profile of TIFF for facsimile is shown below:
Content-type: image/tiff; application=faxcolor