NIST Special Publication 500-300

JPEG 2000 CODEC CertificationGuidance for 

1000 ppi Fingerprint Friction Ridge Imagery

Shahram Orandi

John Libert

John Grantham

Mike Garris

Fred Byers

This publication is available for free at:

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.500-300
NIST Special Publication 500-300

JPEG 2000 CODEC CertificationGuidance for 

1000 ppi Fingerprint Friction Ridge Imagery

Shahram Orandi

John Libert

Michael Garris

Fred Byers

Information Access Division

Information Technology Laboratory

John Grantham

Systems Plus, Inc.

Rockville, MD

This publication is available for free at:

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.500-300

April 2016

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Penny Pritzker, Secretary

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Willie E. May, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director 
Certain commercial entities, equipment, or materials may be identified in this

document in order to describe an experimental procedure or concept adequately.

Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the

National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor is it intended to imply that the

entities, materials, or equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose. 

National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 500-300

Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 500-300, 39 pages (April 2016) 

CODEN: NSPUE2

This publication is available free of charge from: http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.500-300
ii

VERSION HISTORY

Date Activity

05/2015 Original document published

03/2016 Several changes made to improve accuracy of tabled values and clarity of the conformance test 

procedures.

Disclaimer

Specific hardware and software products identified in this report were used in order to perform the evaluations described 

in this document. In no case does such identification of any commercial product, trade name, or vender, imply 

recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the products 

and equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose
iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Background............................................................................................................................................................................................1

2. Scope and Applicability.......................................................................................................................................................................2

3. Key Resources.......................................................................................................................................................................................2

3.1. Reference Fingerprint Image Set............................................................................................................................................2

3.2. Reference and Supplier’s JPEG 2000 CODECs ......................................................................................................................3

4. CODEC Pathways..................................................................................................................................................................................4

5. Testing Metrics.....................................................................................................................................................................................5

5.1. Encoder Metrics.........................................................................................................................................................................6

5.2. Decoder Metrics..................................................................................................................................................................... 10

6. Conformance Reports ...................................................................................................................................................................... 20

7. Procedures for Conformance Testing............................................................................................................................................ 22

7.1. Obtaining a NIST Assigned Encoder Identifier................................................................................................................... 22

7.2. Downloading NIST Reference Fingerprint Image Set ....................................................................................................... 23

7.3. Running the Testing Protocol............................................................................................................................................... 25

7.4. Submitting Processed Images to NIST for Evaluation...................................................................................................... 28

8. References.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 29

8.1. Publications and Reports ...................................................................................................................................................... 29

Appendix A. PGM Profile.................................................................................................................................................................... 31
iv

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 – Abbreviations................................................................................................................................................................................v

Table 2 – Reference Fingerprint Image Set ..............................................................................................................................................3

Table 3 – Combinations of Encoders and Decoders................................................................................................................................4

Table 4 – CODEC Pathway Tests.................................................................................................................................................................5

Table 5 – Metrics Grading Scale .................................................................................................................................................................5

Table 6 – Compressed File Size: Measures and Grades.........................................................................................................................6

Table 7 – Lossy Compressed File Size: Reference Image Set Values and Thresholds .......................................................................7

Table 8 – Lossless Compressed File Size: Reference Image Set Values and Thresholds...................................................................8

Table 9 – Compressed File Structure and Metadata – Criteria.............................................................................................................9

Table 10 – Compressed File Structure and Metadata – Grades........................................................................................................ 10

Table 11 – Identification and Metadata Structure............................................................................................................................... 10

Table 12 – Image Pixel Dimension – Grades.......................................................................................................................................... 10

Table 13 – Altered Pixel Count (Lossy): Measures and Grades.......................................................................................................... 11

Table 14 – Altered Pixel Count (Lossy): Reference Image Set Values and Thresholds.................................................................. 12

Table 15 – Altered Pixel Count (Lossless) – Grades.............................................................................................................................. 12

Table 16 – Peak Pixel Difference: Measures and Grades.................................................................................................................... 13

Table 17 – Peak Pixel Difference: Referenc e Image Set Values and Threshold.............................................................................. 14

Table 18 – Image Mean Squared Difference: Measures and Grades............................................................................................... 15

Table 19 – Image Mean Squared Difference: Reference Image Set Values and Thresholds........................................................ 16

Table 20 – Spectral Image Root Mean Squared Difference: Measures and Grades ...................................................................... 18

Table 21 – Spectral Image Root Mean Squared Difference: Referenc e Image Set Values and Thresholds............................... 19

Table 22 – CODEC Pathway Test Details................................................................................................................................................ 20

Table 23 – Conformance Report Template............................................................................................................................................ 21

Table 24 – NIST Referenc e Image Files................................................................................................................................................... 24

Table 25 – Supplier Prepared Files for Encoder Test 1 (ES)................................................................................................................. 25

Table 26 – Supplier Prepared Files for Decoder Test 2 (ESDS) ............................................................................................................ 26

Table 27 – Supplier Prepared Files for Decoder Test 4 (ERDS) ............................................................................................................ 27

Table 28 – PGM File Structure and Metadata....................................................................................................................................... 31

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 – CODEC Pathways and Input / Output Images .......................................................................................................................4

Figure 2 – SIVV signal of a fingerprint image before and after JPEG 2000 lossy compression .................................................... 17

Figure 3 – Download / Submission File Package................................................................................................................................... 23
v

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

Table 1 – Abbreviations

CJIS Criminal Justice Information Services Division

CODEC Encoder and Decoder

FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation

IAI International Association for Identification

ITL Information Technology Laboratory

JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Group – ISO/IEC committee developing standards for image compression

NBIS NIST Biometric Image Software

NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology

PGM Portable Graymap (image) Format

ppi Pixels per inch

ppmm Pixels per millimeter

SIVV Spectral Image Validation/Verification Metric

WSQ Wavelet Scalar Quantization – algorithm for compression of fingerprint imagery
vi

ABSTRACT

The document describes the procedure by which applications of JPEG 2000 CODECs will be evaluated with respect to 

conformance to the NIST guidance for compression of 1000 ppi 1friction ridge images as detailed in NIST Special Publication 

500-289 [NIST5]. The document describes the attributes of a set of fingerprint images selected for conformance testing and 

the rationale for selection of these images based on both examiner assessment of image quality over increasing degrees of 

JPEG 2000 compression and relative fidelity based on computational metrics described SP 500-289 and supporting studies. 

The document provides background behind the conformance testing, describes the CODEC pathways to be tested and the 

metrics used to measure conformance, and provides instructions on how to run the protocol and submit results to NIST for 

evaluation.

KEYWORDS

Fingerprint lossy compression; lossless compression; 1000 ppi fingerprint imagery; JPEG 2000; latent fingerprints

 

1 ppi = pixels per inch; 1000 ppi equals 39.4 pixels per millimeter (ppmm). Resolution values for fingerprint imagery are specified in ppi 

throughout this document. This is based on widely used specification guidelines for such imagery and is accepted as common 

nomenclature within the industry.
1

1. Background

The criminal justice communities throughout the world exchange fingerprint imagery data primarily in 8 -bit gray-scale and 

at 500 ppi. The Wavelet Scalar Quantization (WSQ) Gray-Scale Fingerprint Image Compression Specification [WSQ] is the 

de facto standard for the compression of 500 ppi fingerprint imagery. WSQ is a “lossy” compression scheme. Lossy 

compression algorithms employ data encoding methods which discard (lose) some of the data in the encoding process in 

order to achieve an aggressive reduction in the size of the data package. Decompressing the resulting compressed data 

yields content that, while degraded, is similar enough to the original that it remains useful for the intended purpose. WSQ 

allows users to specify how much compression is to be applied to the fingerprint image at the cost of increasingly greater 

loss in fingerprint image fidelity.

The WSQ Specification provides lossy compression guidance based on an International Association for Identification (IAI) 

study [FITZPATRICK] conducted in the early 90’s. This study assessed the negative impact of increased data loss (due to 

higher levels of lossy compression) on forensic fingerprint comparisons, and from the study’s findings a policy of WSQ 15:12

lossy fingerprint compression was adopted. As a result, conformance testing [WSQ1, WSQ2] has been designed to check

adherence to the WSQ Specification and thereby ensure fidelity and admissibility in courts of law for fingerprint images that 

have been processed by a specific implementation of a WSQ encoder and decoder (CODEC).

Lossless compression is an alternative to lossy compression where compression is applied in such a way as to fully preserve 

the data content of the source image, thus avoiding any data loss. Lossless compression is typically applied,for example,

to latent fingerprint images where image fidelity is critical to maximizing human examiner comparison3 and submission of 

evidence. While lossy compression can achieve rates higher than 10:1, lossless compression algorithms are able to achieve

compression rates only on the order of 2:1.

Fingerprint technology has continued to evolve and advance since the establishment of the WSQ Specification for 500 ppi 

images. A new generation of fingerprint capture devices now exist that scan fingerprints at 1000 ppi and greater. The 

increased image resolution is particularly helpful with forensic comparison of fingerprints; however, this comes at the price 

of 4X the number of pixels for 1000 ppi. Over this same period of time, JPEG 2000 [JPEG2K] was developed as a standard 

CODEC to improve on the original JPEG image compression standard’s discrete cosine transform-based methodology [JPEG] 

yielding increases in both data compression and subjective image quality. JPEG 2000 provides additional flexibility in the 

creation and manipulation of the code-stream and is based on the same family of wavelets as WSQ which is used for 

fingerprint image compression at 500 ppi. Given the improved performance, greater flexibility, and commodity-level 

availability of JPEG 2000, it was desirable to migrate from WSQ to the JPEG 2000 standard for use with 1000 ppi fingerprint 

imagery. This raises the question, “What should be the guidance for applying JPEG 2000 compression to 1000 ppi 

fingerprints?”

In 2013, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation 

(FBI) concluded an investigation to develop this guidance. NIST conducted a series of methodical studies based on the 

framework established by the IAI’s approach to WSQ. The NIST investigation resulted in a set of specifications to be used 

as a normative specification for the compression of 1000 ppi friction ridge imagery. These specifications were published in 

NIST Special Publication 500-289 [NIST5], and this specification was adopted by the FBI’s Advisory Policy Board (APB) in June 

2014.

While SP 500-289 provides guidance on the parameters used with JPEG 2000 to compress 1000 ppi fingerprints, it does not 

address testing for conformance. This document describes a conformance testing methodology to validate JPEG 2000 

CODECs to ensure they meet the operational characteristics resulting from the application of parameters defined in NIST 

 

2 15:1 was found to be the average compression ratio using a target bit rate of 0.75 bits per pixel. With WSQ the actual compression ratio 

may vary with a given target bit rate according to the spatial frequency content of the image.

3 FBI-sponsored Scientific Working Group for Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology (SWGFAST) standards since August 2001 

(http://www.swgfast.org/Documents.html) have mandated lossless image compression for latent print examination casework, but 

exempted AFIS-related fingerprint and palm-print images from lossless compression requirements. As of March 2015, the Friction Ridge 

Subcommittee of NIST’s Organization of Scientific Area Committees is embracing SWGFAST’s existing digital imaging standards and 

guidelines, but may modify them at a future date.
2

SP 500-289 as applied to 1000 ppi friction ridge imagery. This includes compression in both lossy 10:1 and lossless modes.

While SP 500-289 also specifies the preferred method for downsampling 1000 ppi friction ridge imagery to 500 ppi, the 

conformance testing of downsampling is to be described in NIST Special Publication 500 -306.

Section 3 describes the key resources supporting this effort; Section 4 presents a framework of the CODEC pathways that

are to be tested; Section 5 defines the testing metrics used to evaluate image fidelity and conformance; Section 6 describes 

testing reports and the criteria to receive certification (from the FBI); and Section 7 documents procedures for participating 

in this testing.

2. Scope and Applicability

This document covers conformance of JPEG 2000 CODECs to the specification for compression of 1000 ppi friction ridge 

images as described in NIST Special Publication 500-289 [NIST5]. It excludes elements of the specification relating to the 

downsampling of 1000 ppi fingerprint images to 500 ppi with subsequent compression according to the WSQ specification 

[WSQ] for interoperability with legacy fingerprint databases. Conformance to downsampling recommendations will be 

covered in a separate document to be designated NIST Special Publication 500-306.

3. Key Resources

3.1. Reference Fingerprint Image Set

A carefully selected set of 1000 ppi friction ridge imagery is needed to test implementations of SP 500-289 – specifically to 

test the proper application of SP 500-289 to a JPEG 2000 CODEC as indicative by measuring the fidelity of resulting images

to the original images. To this end, a subset of 30 fingerprint images (listed in Table 2) were selected from NIST special 

Database 27A (SD27A) [SD27] based on their sensitivity to compression changes as measured by human examiner subjective 

assessment of image fidelity. Complete details of this procedure are reported in NISTIR-7778 [NIST2]. For each fingerprint

image of the selected subset a group of 3 examiners observed each image and found progressive degradation as 

compression ratios increased from7:1 to 10:1 to 12:1. Examiner ratings of degradation could take values from one (1), little 

or no degradation, to four (4), high degree of degradation. The three examiner ratings for each image were combined into 

a triplet. This monotonic increasing progression of human detectable degradation can be seen across the examiner decision 

triplets listed in Table 2 below as compression ratio is increased from 7:1 to 12:1.

As will be seen in Section 5, a number of the image fidelity metrics employed in this testing use thresholds based on 

statistical margins computed between measurements observed at 10:1 and 12:1. This serves to set bounds on a range 

known to impact relevant image fidelity. Certain tests also identify behavior computed between measurement observations 

at 7:1 and 10:1, especially in cases where performance of the CODEC exceeds expectations of the test.
3

Table 2 – Reference Fingerprint Image Set

Image

#

Impression

Type

Image

W

Image

H

Image File Name (from SD27A) Examiner Decision Triplet4

7:1 10:1 12:1

1 Flat 685 811 109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P 111 112 122

2 Flat 663 900 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P 111 112 122

3 Flat 769 1985 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P 111 112 123

4 Flat 784 702 005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P 111 112 122

5 Flat 570 845 001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P 111 112 122

6 Flat 525 849 253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P 123 222 223

7 Flat 779 2021 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P 111 112 113

8 Flat 881 806 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P 111 114 123

9 Flat 780 2030 199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P 122 123 222

10 Flat 511 600 106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P 111 113 122

11 Rolled 1068 1412 086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09 111 112 122

12 Rolled 1017 1211 212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01 111 112 122

13 Rolled 980 1394 004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03 111 112 222

14 Rolled 952 1256 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09 111 122 223

15 Rolled 737 1285 112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10 111 112 122

16 Rolled 1269 1167 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01 111 112 222

17 Rolled 958 936 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06 111 122 222

18 Rolled 786 1201 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09 111 112 123

19 Rolled 1482 1273 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03 111 123 223

20 Rolled 715 795 084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10 112 122 222

21 Slap 3237 2037 250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13 111 112 122

22 Slap 3262 1993 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13 111 112 113

23 Slap 3133 2010 019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14 112 113 122

24 Slap 3147 2026 021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14 111 112 113

25 Slap 3121 1980 027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14 111 112 122

26 Slap 3243 2005 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13 111 112 133

27 Slap 3147 1998 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14 111 112 123

28 Slap 3121 2026 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14 113 123 223

29 Slap 3160 1990 092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14 113 123 223

30 Slap 3090 2001 107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14 111 112 123

3.2. Reference and Supplier’sJPEG 2000 CODECs

The goal of this testing is to determine whether the specification in SP 500-289 has been successfully applied to a specific 

JPEG 2000 CODEC. This not only requires a reference set of fingerprint images, but also a “reference” CODEC to which 

results from a CODEC under evaluation can be compared. In this document, the organization requesting conformance

testing is referred to as the “supplier” and the algorithm they desire to be evaluated is referred to as the “supplier’s CODEC.” 

(Note that it is not the supplier’s software implementation of a JPEG 2000 CODEC that is shared with NIST, but rather it is 

the images or compressed files processed by the supplier’s CODEC that are submitted.)

NIST used the Open JPEG’s [OPENJPEG] implementation version 2.1 to test the guidance in SP 500-289, and the same 

implementation is used as the reference CODEC in this testsuite. The Open JPEG CODEC, with minor modification, has been 

incorporated into the NIST Biometric Image Software (NBIS) public domain software distribution [NIST1] and is freely 

available to CODEC suppliers. The reference fingerprint image set has been processed by the NIST reference CODEC and 

the results are used to compare outputs from the supplier’s CODEC under evaluation.

 

4 These examiner decisions are from the experimental data collected for NISTIR-7778[NIST4].
4

4. CODEC Pathways

By definition a CODEC is comprised of two primary functions: encode, ‘E’, followed by decode, ‘D’. In this evaluation we 

are comparing performance between two CODECs: the reference CODEC, ‘R’, and the supplier’s CODEC, ‘S’. Encoders are 

to be independent of Decoders, and in this testing the interoperability of the two CODECs is evaluated. Table 3 lists the 

possible native and interoperable combinations of encoders and decoders. All combinations except for the first column 

(the native reference) is of interest and will be evaluated.

Table 3 – Combinations of Encoders and Decoders

NATIVE INTEROPERABLE

ERDR ESDS ERDS ESDR

Reference Encoder

↓

Reference Decoder

Supplier’s Encoder

↓

Supplier’s Decoder

Reference Encoder

↓

Supplier’s Decoder

Supplier’s Encoder

↓

Reference Decoder

Regrouping these combinations for processing efficiencies creates the pathways shown in Figure 1. Here the inputs and 

outputs are annotated along with the encoders and decoders. The input to the encoders are the reference fingerprint 

images, which have never been lossy-compressed and are stored in the Portable Graymap Format (PGM) [PGM] format 

noted as ‘P’, with file extension “.pgm”. The reference fingerprint images are referred to as “source” images and are noted 

as ‘PSRC’. The output from the encoders (and input to the decoders) are JPEG 2000 files with extension “.jp2” and are 

noted as ‘J’ with a subscript corresponding to its parent encoder. For example, a JPEG 2000 file generated by the supplier’s 

encoder is noted, ‘JES’. The decoders also output PGM files that reflect the changes (and any degradation) to the source 

image introduced by the specific CODEC pathway. For example, a PGM file containing results from a fingerprint image 

which has been lossy-compressed using the supplier’s encoder and then processed by the reference decoder is noted, 

‘PESDR’. While the reference input fingerprint images are referred to as “source” images, the output images from the 

encoders and decoders are referred to as “processed” images.

Figure 1 – CODEC Pathways and Input / Output Images

Within these pathways, tests are conducted at four strategic points noted by the circled numbers in the figure above. Table 

4 lists the pathway tests along with the images that are compared to assess conformance. The metrics used within each of 

these tests are documented in Section 5. Note that Test 1 is an encoder-output test, while the other three are decoderoutput tests. Also note that Test 3 will be completed by NIST while Tests 1, 2, and 4 will be completed by Suppliers, with 

the results being sent to NIST for evaluation. 

ES ER

PSRC PSRC

JESJER

PERDSPES DSPES DR

DS DR DS

1

2 3

4
5

Table 4 – CODEC Pathway Tests

Test Pathway Compared

1 ES JES

, JER

2 ESDS PESDS

, PSRC

3 ESDR PESDR

, PSRC

4 ERDS PERDS

, PSRC

SP 500-289 provides compression specification of 1000 ppi friction ridge imagery for both lossy 10:1 and lossless modes. It 

also sets specification on downsampling from 1000 ppi to 500 ppi. The conformance testing for downsampling is addressed 

in NIST Special Publication 500-306 Certification Guidance for the downsampling of 1000 ppi Fingerprint Friction Ridge 

Imagery to 500 ppi. The testing of both lossy and lossless compression modes follow the same pathways and tests described 

in Figure 1 and Table 4. The metrics applied to lossy and lossless compression do however differ slightly as described in 

Section 5.

5. Testing Metrics

Unlike WSQ CODECs, the behavior of JPEG 2000 CODECs varies considerably within a band of "acceptable performance." 

Whereas WSQ compliance could be assessed very tightly using narrowly defined criteria, such performance precision is not 

possible with JPEG 2000. For example, for the image-based metrics described below, three different JPEG 2000 CODECs5

yielded different values when applied to the same test images. As the JPEG 2000 standard itself allows considerable latitude 

in implementing a CODEC, it would be unfair to define performance criteria tightly to the metric outputs of the NIST (Open 

JPEG) reference CODEC. Accordingly, for the majority of the image-based metrics used in this testing, performance is 

assessed by applying a tolerance margin to the measurements made using the reference CODEC. Each image-based metric 

quantifies a different factor representing change (degradation). Better performing CODECs will generate metrics within a 

tighter tolerance (or perhaps even exceed the performance of the reference CODEC).

For most of the metrics, conformance is graded at two tolerance thresholds. Those CODECs performing within a primary 

(tighter) tolerance are granted a grade of “Pass”; those that do not meet this level but are within a secondary (more relaxed) 

tolerance are granted a grade of “Nominal Pass”; and those that fall outside the secondary tolerance receive a grade of 

“Fail” for that particular metric. A special designation of “Gold” applies to a Passing supplier’s CODEC that demonstrates

improved performance over the reference CODEC. Table 5 lists the possible grade categories.

Table 5 – Metrics Grading Scale

Special 

Designation Grade

Gold (Pass) Desirable performance exceeding that of reference design

Pass Acceptable performance meeting reference design

Nominal Pass Acceptable performance within tolerance of reference design

Fail Unacceptable performance below reference design tolerances

The metrics used in this testing apply either to encoders or to decoders. The encoder metrics are file-based while the 

decoder metrics are image-based. Metrics are applied and grades are assigned for performance on each image or file in the 

suite of test materials. The final grade for each metric is the lowest single grade achieved among the suite of individual 

measurements regardless of performance on other images or compressed data files in the test dataset. The philosophy 

here is that for purposes of assessing conformance, the minimum performance is the best indicator and preferred over 

average or maximum performance.

 

5 In addition to Open JPEG, NIST also explored the use of Jasper [JASPER] and KakaduTM [KAKADU].
6

5.1. Encoder Metrics

The encoder metrics described below apply to testing both lossy and lossless compression modes.

5.1.1. Compressed File Size

This metric (Msize) evaluates the size of the resulting compressed JPEG 2000 image produced by the supplier’s encoder (JES),

determining if the file size (in bytes) is within an acceptable tolerance of that produced by the NIST reference encoder (JER). 

Grades are assessed based on measures set according to Table 6. The thresholds defined in Table 6 are computed across 

the reference fingerprint image set and listed in Table 7.

6

Table 6 – Compressed File Size: Measures and Grades

Value Being Graded Msize(JES

)

Reference Measurement Msize(JER

)

Primary Tolerance 5 % Msize(JER

)

Secondary Tolerance 10 % Msize(JER

)

Primary Threshold Msize(JER

)+ Primary Tolerance

Secondary Threshold Msize(JER

)+ Secondary Tolerance

Gold (Pass) <= 99 % Msize(JER

)

Pass <= Primary Threshold

Nominal Pass <= Secondary Threshold

Fail > Secondary Threshold

 

6 With the notation used in this document, testing metrics (M) are qualified with a subscripted tag (e.g., Msize). An italicized metric denotes 

the metric’s value (e.g., Msize), while a non-italicized metric denotes the metric’s function (e.g., Msize(JER)).
7

Table 7 – Lossy Compressed File Size: Reference Image Set Values and Thresholds

Image

#

Impression

Type

Reference

Image File

Reference

Measurement

<= Primary

Threshold

<= Secondary

Threshold

Msize(JER) Pass Nominal Pass

1 Flat 109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P 55 549 58 326 61 104

2 Flat 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P 59 666 62 649 65 633

3 Flat 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P 152 472 160 096 167 719

4 Flat 005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P 54 690 57 425 60 159

5 Flat 001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P 48 077 50 481 52 885

6 Flat 253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P 44 534 46 761 48 987

7 Flat 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P 157 176 165 035 172 894

8 Flat 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P 70 994 74 544 78 093

9 Flat 199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P 158 246 166 158 174 071

10 Flat 106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P 30 652 32 185 33 717

11 Rolled 086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09 150 757 158 295 165 833

12 Rolled 212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01 123 152 129 310 135 467

13 Rolled 004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03 136 491 143 316 150 140

14 Rolled 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09 119 490 125 465 131 439

15 Rolled 112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10 94 719 99 455 104 191

16 Rolled 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01 147 806 155 196 162 587

17 Rolled 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06 89 311 93 777 98 242

18 Rolled 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09 94 200 98 910 103 620

19 Rolled 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03 188 610 198 041 207 471

20 Rolled 084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10 56 843 59 685 62 527

21 Slap 250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13 659 362 692 330 725 298

22 Slap 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13 649 973 682 472 714 970

23 Slap 019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14 629 569 661 047 692 526

24 Slap 021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14 637 312 669 178 701 043

25 Slap 027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14 617 921 648 817 679 713

26 Slap 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13 650 149 682 656 715 164

27 Slap 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14 628 638 660 070 691 502

28 Slap 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14 632 302 663 917 695 532

29 Slap 092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14 628 783 660 222 691 661

30 Slap 107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14 618 222 649 133 680 044
8

Table 8 – Lossless Compressed File Size: Reference Image Set Values and Thresholds

Image

#

Impression

Type

Reference

Image File

Reference

Measurement

<= Primary

Threshold

<= Secondary

Threshold

Msize(JER) Pass Nominal Pass

1 Flat 109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P 348 620 366 051 383 482

2 Flat 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P 327 584 343 963 360 342

3 Flat 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P 941 407 988 477 1 035 548

4 Flat 005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P 240 406 252 426 264 447

5 Flat 001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P 284 707 298 942 313 178

6 Flat 253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P 270 099 283 604 297 109

7 Flat 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P 987 530 1 036 907 1 086 283

8 Flat 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P 394 332 414 049 433 765

9 Flat 199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P 1 000 344 1 050 361 1 100 378

10 Flat 106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P 170 093 178 598 187 102

11 Rolled 086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09 1 038 988 1 090 937 1 142 887

12 Rolled 212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01 859 394 902 364 945 333

13 Rolled 004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03 943 847 991 039 1 038 232

14 Rolled 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09 812 364 852 982 893 600

15 Rolled 112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10 614 407 645 127 675 848

16 Rolled 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01 926 199 972 509 1 018 819

17 Rolled 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06 601 693 631 778 661 862

18 Rolled 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09 675 887 709 681 743 476

19 Rolled 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03 1 208 246 1 268 658 1 329 071

20 Rolled 084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10 366 996 385 346 403 696

21 Slap 250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13 3 595 842 3 775 634 3 955 426

22 Slap 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13 3 489 680 3 664 164 3 838 648

23 Slap 019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14 3 666 932 3 850 279 4 033 625

24 Slap 021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14 3 798 171 3 988 080 4 177 988

25 Slap 027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14 3 609 566 3 790 044 3 970 523

26 Slap 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13 3 485 079 3 659 333 3 833 587

27 Slap 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14 3 537 082 3 713 936 3 890 790

28 Slap 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14 3 776 849 3 965 691 4 154 534

29 Slap 092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14 3 528 289 3 704 703 3 881 118

30 Slap 107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14 3 599 640 3 779 622 3959 604
9

5.1.2. Compressed File Structure and Metadata

Table 9 – Compressed File Structure and Metadata – Criteria

JPEG 2000 Box / Data Field Value Size (Bytes) Hexadecimal

JPEG2000 Signature Box

Length 12 4 0000 000C

Type ‘jP<SP><SP>‘ 4 6A50 2020

Signature ‘<CR><LF><0x87><LF>’ 4 0D0A 870A

File Type Box

Length 20 4 0000 0014

Type ‘ftyp’ 4 6674 7970

Brand (BR) ‘jp2<SP>’ 4 6A70 3220

Minor Version (MinV) 0 4 0000 0000

Compatibility List (CL) ‘jp2<SP>‘ 4 6A70 3220

JP2 Header Box (Superbox)

Length 71 4 0000 0047

Type ‘jp2h’ 4 6A70 3268

Image Header Box

Length 22 4 0000 0016

Type ‘ihdr’ 4 6968 6472

Height Image Area Height (pixels) 4

Width Image Area Width (pixels) 4

Number of Components (NC) 1 2 0001

Bit Depth minus 1 (BPC) 7 (Corresponds to 8bpp) 1 07

Compression Type (C) 7 (JPEG2000) 1 07

Colorspace Unknown (UnkC) 0 1 00

Intellectual Property (IPR) 0 1 00

Color Specification Box

Length 15 4 0000 000F

Type ‘colr’ 4 636F 6C72

Method (METH) 1 (Enumerated Colorspace) 1 01

Precedence (PREC) 0 (reserved) 1 00

Approximation (APPROX) 0 (reserved) 1 00

Enumerated Colorspace (EnumCS) 17 (grayscale) 4 0000 0011

Resolution Box (Superbox)

Length 26 4 0000 001A

Type ‘res ‘ 4 7265 7320

Capture Resolution Box

Length 18 4 0000 0012

Type ‘resc’ 4 7265 7363

Vertical Capture Resolution Numerator (VRcN) 39 3707 2 99CA

Vertical Capture Resolution Denominator (VRcD) 1 2 0001

Horizontal Capture Resolution Numerator (HRcN) 39 3707 2 99CA

Horizontal Capture Resolution Denominator (HRcD) 1 2 0001

Vertical Capture Resolution Exponent (VRdE) 0 1 00

Horizontal Capture Resolution Exponent (HRdE) 0 1 00

Contiguous Codestream Box See section 4.1 of [NIST3]

Identification and MetaData Box (Comment)

Marker Code COM 2 FF64

Comment Length (Lcom) 104 2 0068

Registration Value (Rcom) 1 (ISO/IEC 8859-15 data) 2 0001

Comment Contents (see section 5.1.3) 100

 

7 Values for VRcN and HrcN are specified here in pixels per meter according to [JPEG2K]. A value of 39 370 corresponds to 1000 pixels 

per inch.
10

This metric (Mstruct) evaluates the content of the JPEG 2000 file (JES) produced by the supplier’s encoder. The compressed 

JPEG 2000 files must be strictly structured and populated with metadata as specified by Table 9. Grades (in this case only 

a grade of Pass or Fail) are assessed based on the criteria in Table 10. 

Table 10 – Compressed File Structure and Metadata – Grades

Pass Mstruct(JES

), Criteria in Table 9 strictly met

Fail Mstruct(JES

), Criteria in Table 9 is not strictly met

5.1.3. Encoder Identification

The Identification and Metadata Box is a special purpose comment box that can accommodate up to 100 bytes of structured 

ISO/IEC 8859-15 [ISO/IEC99] data. This data, also referred to as “comment contents,” is used for certification and 

identification. The structure of the data is described in Table 11 along with sample identification data. The actual 

identification data must be obtained from NIST on a per-implementation basis. See Section 7 for information on how to 

obtain supplier identification data needed for this field.

Table 11 – Identification and Metadata Structure

Data Segment Description Start 

Position

Length Example Contents

Encoder Identification 

Tag

0 7 ‘EncID: ’ 

Encoder Identification 

Data 

7 20 ‘CERT-SUBMISSION-0000’

Reserved Block Tag 27 8 ‘ Resvd: ‘

Reserved Block Data 35 65 ‘41ab87823014dcb19113dfcd0902c569265270861a7f2cbdff148a38cc260675 ’

5.2. Decoder Metrics

The decoder metrics used in this testing are all image-based analyses. All the decoder metrics in this section apply to lossy 

compression, while only the first two (Image Pixel Dimension, and Altered Pixel Count) are applicable to evaluate the 

lossless compression mode.

5.2.1. Image Pixel Dimensions

This metric (Mdim) evaluates the pixel dimensions of a processed image fingerprint image after it has gone through an 

encoder plus decoder pathway (e.g., PESDR). The number of pixel columns and rows must be the same as that of the source 

reference fingerprint image, PSRC. Grades (in this case only a grade of Pass) are assessed based on the criteria in Table 12. 

The values of the pixel dimensions associated with the reference fingerprint image set are listed in Table 2.

Table 12 – Image Pixel Dimension – Grades

Pass Pixel dimensions are the same, e.g., Mdim(PESDR

, PSRC)

Fail Pixel dimension are different
11

5.2.2. Altered Pixel Count

This metric (Maltered) evaluates how many pixels have been altered in a processed fingerprint image after it has gone through 

an encoder plus decoder pathway (e.g., PESDS). The processed image pixels are compared with those in the source reference 

fingerprint image (PSRC) and each pixel changed is tallied.

5.2.2.1. Altered Pixel Count (for Lossy Compression)

Given a source image, I

Ø (i.e., PSRC), and the corresponding processed image, I

δ (e.g., PESDS

), the pixel values of the difference 

image, D, can be computed as

Di,j = |I

i,j

Ø − Ii,j

δ

| , (1)

where i = 1..R, and j = 1..C, R = number of pixel rows and C = number of pixel columns.

Given the difference image, D, we construct a bi-level image, B, to which we assign binary values as

Bi,j = {

0 Di,j = 0

1 Di,j ≠ 0

 . (2)

We then count the total number of changed pixels as

Maltered= ∑ ∑ Bi,j

C

j=1

R

i=1 . (3)

The tolerances used for this metric are based on a margin computed between measurements made at both 10:1 and 12:1 

using the NIST reference CODEC. (Recall the earlier discussion in Section 3.1 that human examiners observed forensicallyrelevant degradation between these two compression levels when the reference fingerprint image set was used.) In this 

case the total altered pixels from a processed image (e.g., PESDS) are compared to a margin computed as the difference 

between the total altered pixels from its source image (PSRC) processed through the pathway of the reference encoder and 

reference decoder (PERDR) using the two compression levels 12:1 and 10:1. In the example used here, we are evaluating a 

processed image having gone through the pathway of the supplier’s encoder and supplier’s decoder (EsDs). Grades are 

assessed based on measures set according to Table 13. The thresholds defined in Table 13 are computed across the 

reference fingerprint image set and listed in Table 14.

Table 13 – Altered Pixel Count (Lossy): Measures and Grades

Value Being Graded (e.g.) Maltered(10:1, PESDS

, PSRC)

Reference Measurement @ 10:1 Maltered(10:1, PER DR

, PSRC)

Reference Measurement @ 12:1 Maltered(12:1, PER DR

, PSRC)

Margin Maltered(12:1, PER DR

, PSRC) - Maltered(10:1, PER DR, PSRC)

Primary Tolerance 25 % Margin

Secondary Tolerance 50 % Margin

Primary Threshold Maltered(10:1, PER DR

, PSRC) + Primary Tolerance

Secondary Threshold Maltered(10:1, PER DR

, PSRC) + Secondary Tolerance

Gold (Pass) < Maltered(10:1, PERDR

, PSRC)

Pass <= Primary Threshold

Nominal Pass <= Secondary Threshold

Fail > Secondary Threshold
12

Table 14 – Altered Pixel Count (Lossy): Reference Image Set Values and Thresholds

Image

#

Impression

Type

Reference

Image File

Reference

Measurements

<= Primary

Threshold

<= Secondary

Threshold

10:1 12:1 Pass Nominal Pass

1 Flat 109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P 492 891 496 090 493 691 494 491

2 Flat 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P 527 685 536 196 529 813 531 941

3 Flat 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P 1 389 091 1 401 674 1 392 237 1 395 383

4 Flat 005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P 425 967 437 705 428 902 431 836

5 Flat 001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P 438 293 443 489 439 592 440 891

6 Flat 253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P 404 080 408 136 405 094 406 108

7 Flat 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P 1 448 913 1 460 429 1 451 792 1 454 671

8 Flat 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P 632 253 642 061 634 705 637 157

9 Flat 199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P 1 452 006 1 463 816 1 454 959 1 457 911

10 Flat 106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P 272 540 276 615 273 559 274 578

11 Rolled 086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09 1 415 594 1 422 931 1 417 428 1 419 263

12 Rolled 212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01 1 162 434 1 168 981 1 164 071 1 165 708

13 Rolled 004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03 1 284 401 1 290 543 1 285 937 1 287 472

14 Rolled 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09 1 121 648 1 126 976 1 122 980 1 124 312

15 Rolled 112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10 877 573 882 286 878 751 879 930

16 Rolled 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01 1 362 492 1 374 763 1 365 560 1 368 628

17 Rolled 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06 839 273 844 185 840 501 841 729

18 Rolled 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09 894 666 899 365 895 841 897 016

19 Rolled 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03 1 748 298 1 759 771 1 751 166 1 754 035

20 Rolled 084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10 528 401 531 239 529 111 529 820

21 Slap 250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13 5 644 636 5 716 121 5 662 507 5 680 379

22 Slap 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13 5 511 548 5 586 839 5 530 371 5 549 194

23 Slap 019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14 5 610 869 5 679 027 5 627 909 5 644 948

24 Slap 021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14 5 706 003 5 767 504 5 721 378 5 736 754

25 Slap 027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14 5 477 436 5 544 750 5 494 265 5 511 093

26 Slap 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13 5 529 207 5 599 526 5 546 787 5 564 367

27 Slap 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14 5 508 070 5 566 641 5 522 713 5 537 356

28 Slap 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14 5 692 127 5 748 801 5 706 296 5 720 464

29 Slap 092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14 5 509 432 5 565 287 5 523 396 5 537 360

30 Slap 107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14 5 484 471 5 550 742 5 501 039 5 517 607

5.2.2.2. Altered Pixel Count (for Lossless Compression)

The criteria for evaluating lossless compression in regards to altered image pixels are straight forward. For the lossless 

mode of a supplier’s CODEC to Pass there must be zero altered pixels between the source image (PSRC) and the processed 

image (e.g., PESDS).

Table 15 – Altered Pixel Count (Lossless) – Grades

Pass e.g., Maltered(PSRC, PESDS

) must equal 0

Fail Maltered(PSRC, PESDS

) does not equal 0
13

5.2.3. Peak Pixel Difference

This metric (Mpeak) evaluates the pixel incurring the maximum gray level change comparing a processed image (e.g., PESDS) 

to its source image (PSRC). Given the absolute image difference, D, from equation (1), the peak difference is then

Mpeak= max(Di,j) (4)

The tolerance used for this metric is based on a margin computed between measurements made at both 10:1 and 12:1 

using the NIST reference CODEC. In this case the peak pixel difference from a processed image (e.g., PESDS) is compared to 

the peak pixel difference from its source image (PSRC) processed through the pathway of the reference encoder and 

reference decoder (PERDR) using 12:1 compression. For a supplier’s CODEC to Pass the peak pixel difference of its processed 

image must be less than or equal to the reference measurement at 12:1. Grades are assessed based on measures set 

according to Table 16. The threshold defined in Table 16 is computed across the reference fingerprint image set and listed 

in Table 17.

Table 16 – Peak Pixel Difference: Measures and Grades

Value Being Graded (e.g.) Mpeak(10:1, PESDS

, PSRC)

Reference Measurement @ 10:1 Mpeak(10:1, PERDR

, PSRC)

Reference Measurement @ 12:1 Mpeak(12:1, PERDR

, PSRC)

Primary Threshold Mpeak(12:1, PERDR

, PSRC)

Pass <= Primary Threshold

Fail > Primary Threshold
14

Table 17 – Peak Pixel Difference: Reference Image Set Values and Threshold

Image

#

Impression

Type

Reference

Image File

Reference

Measurements

<= Primary

Threshold

10:1 12:1 Pass

1 Flat 109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P 49 55 55

2 Flat 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P 25 36 36

3 Flat 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P 43 43 43

4 Flat 005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P 21 21 21

5 Flat 001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P 30 30 30

6 Flat 253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P 32 36 36

7 Flat 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P 44 53 53

8 Flat 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P 24 41 41

9 Flat 199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P 57 58 58

10 Flat 106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P 29 30 30

11 Rolled 086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09 54 54 54

12 Rolled 212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01 51 57 57

13 Rolled 004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03 47 58 58

14 Rolled 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09 46 51 51

15 Rolled 112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10 34 49 49

16 Rolled 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01 40 40 40

17 Rolled 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06 46 51 51

18 Rolled 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09 50 62 62

19 Rolled 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03 35 43 43

20 Rolled 084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10 32 42 42

21 Slap 250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13 51 51 51

22 Slap 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13 30 33 33

23 Slap 019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14 35 45 45

24 Slap 021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14 35 48 48

25 Slap 027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14 39 40 40

26 Slap 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13 24 30 30

27 Slap 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14 29 40 40

28 Slap 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14 47 47 47

29 Slap 092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14 31 41 41

30 Slap 107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14 29 38 38
15

5.2.4. Image Mean Squared Difference

This metric (MMSD) uses the Image Mean Squared Difference (MSD) - a commonly used image fidelity attribute - to evaluate 

the amount of gray level pixel change across the entire processed fingerprint image after it has gone through an encoder 

plus decoder pathway (e.g., PESDS). Given a source image, I

Ø (i.e., PSRC), and a processed image, I

δ (e.g., PESDS

), the image 

mean squared difference is defined as

MMSD =

∑ ∑ (I

i,j

Ø

−I

i,j

δ )

2

C

j=1

R

i=1

RC

 ,

(5)

where i and j are indices to image pixels, and R and C are numbers of image rows and columns, respectively. Note that the 

source image and processed image must be equal in dimensions in order to apply this metric.

The tolerances used for this metric are based on a margin computed between measurements made at both 10:1 and 12:1 

using the NIST reference CODEC. In this case the MSD from a processed image (e.g., PESDS) are compared to a margin 

computed as the difference between the MSD from its source image (PSRC) processed through the pathway of the reference 

encoder and reference decoder (PERDR) using the two compression levels 12:1 and 10:1. In the example used here, we are 

evaluating a processed image having gone through the pathway of the supplier’s encoder and supplier’s decoder (EsDs). 

Grades are assessed based on measures set according to Table 18. The thresholds defined in Table 18 are computed across 

the reference fingerprint image set and listed in Table 19.

Table 18 – Image Mean Squared Difference: Measures and Grades

Value Being Graded (e.g.) MMSD(10:1, PESDS

, PSRC)

Reference Measurement @ 10:1 MMSD(10:1, PERDR

, PSRC)

Reference Measurement @ 12:1 MMSD(12:1, PERDR

, PSRC)

Margin MMSD(12:1, PERDR

, PSRC) – MMSD(10:1, PERDR, PSRC)

Primary Tolerance 25 % Margin

Secondary Tolerance 50 % Margin

Primary Threshold MMSD(10:1, PERDR

, PSRC) + Primary Tolerance

Secondary Threshold MMSD(10:1, PERDR

, PSRC) + Secondary Tolerance

Gold (Pass) < MMSD(10:1, PERDR

, PSRC)

Pass <= Primary Threshold

Nominal Pass <= Secondary Threshold

Fail > Secondary Threshold
16

Table 19 – Image Mean Squared Difference: Reference Image Set Values and Thresholds

Image

#

Impression

Type

Reference

Image File

Reference

Measurements

<= Primary

Threshold

<= Secondary

Threshold

10:1 12:1 Pass Nominal Pass

1 Flat 109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P 36.006 46.140 38.539 41.073

2 Flat 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P 13.672 18.085 14.775 15.879

3 Flat 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P 23.716 28.761 24.977 26.239

4 Flat 005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P 5.498 6.999 5.873 6.248

5 Flat 001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P 22.684 28.170 24.055 25.427

6 Flat 253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P 20.317 25.461 21.603 22.889

7 Flat 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P 30.370 37.285 32.099 33.828

8 Flat 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P 14.601 19.149 15.738 16.875

9 Flat 199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P 30.775 36.927 32.313 33.851

10 Flat 106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P 16.377 21.502 17.658 18.940

11 Rolled 086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09 48.109 58.848 50.794 53.478

12 Rolled 212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01 60.055 74.564 63.682 67.309

13 Rolled 004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03 52.049 63.318 54.867 57.684

14 Rolled 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09 46.694 57.191 49.319 51.943

15 Rolled 112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10 32.683 40.854 34.725 36.768

16 Rolled 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01 27.394 33.178 28.840 30.286

17 Rolled 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06 44.610 55.378 47.302 49.994

18 Rolled 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09 68.898 85.748 73.110 77.323

19 Rolled 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03 32.070 38.683 33.723 35.376

20 Rolled 084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10 34.788 44.083 37.112 39.436

21 Slap 250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13 15.632 20.604 16.875 18.118

22 Slap 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13 10.838 13.516 11.507 12.177

23 Slap 019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14 18.017 22.547 19.150 20.282

24 Slap 021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14 19.723 24.674 20.961 22.199

25 Slap 027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14 16.410 20.615 17.461 18.512

26 Slap 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13 10.134 12.570 10.743 11.352

27 Slap 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14 13.028 16.065 13.787 14.547

28 Slap 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14 21.694 26.949 23.007 24.321

29 Slap 092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14 13.206 16.348 13.991 14.777

30 Slap 107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14 16.685 21.075 17.783 18.880
17

5.2.5. Spectral Image Root Mean Squared Difference

Developed initially as a method to screen fingerprint databases for non-fingerprint images, segmentation errors, or 

mislabeled sample rates, the Spectral Image Validation Verification (SIVV) metric [LIBERT] provides a comparatively 

straightforward method by which to assess the frequency structure of an image. Pairwise display of the SIVV signals of 

source and lossy compressed images enables summary visualization of the effects of compression across the composition 

frequency spectrum of the image as shown in Figure 2. As a 1-dimensional representation of a 2-dimensional Fourier 

spectrum, the SIVV metric applied to a fingerprint image exhibits a peak corresponding to the frequency of the ridge spacing

(as shown within the circled region of the figure). In this example, the figure compares the SIVV signals of a source image 

and a JPEG 2000 processed image. Note the loss or gain of power over various frequencies.

Figure 2 – SIVV signal of a fingerprint image before and after JPEG 2000 lossy compression

The metric (MSIVV) evaluates the amount of image frequency change in a processed fingerprint image after it has gone 

through an encoder plus decoder pathway (e.g., PESDS). The processed image frequency profile is compared with that of 

the source reference fingerprint image (PSRC).

Given a source image, I

Ø (i.e., PSRC), and the subsequently processed image, I

δ (e.g., PESDS

), corresponding SIVV signal vectors 

are denoted s

Ø and s

δ. The Root Mean Squared Difference (RMSD) is used to quantify the total amount of image frequency 

change between the two signals:

MSIVV = √

∑ (s

i

Ø −siδ)

2 n

i=1

n

 ,

(6)

where n = |s

Ø| = |s

δ| (i.e., the lengths of the signal vectors).

The tolerances used for this metric are based on a margin computed between measurements made at both 10:1 and 12:1 

using the NIST reference CODEC. In this case the total change in power at all image frequencies from a processed image 

(e.g., PESDS) are compared to a margin computed as the difference between the total change in power at corresponding 

frequencies from its source image (PSRC) processed through the pathway of the reference encoder and reference decoder 

(PERDR) using the two compression levels 12:1 and 10:1. In the example used here, we are evaluating a processed image 

having gone through the pathway of the supplier’s encoder and supplier’s decoder (EsDs). Grades are assessed based on 

measures set according to Table 20. The thresholds defined in Table 20 are computed across the reference fingerprint 

image set and listed in Table 21.

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1 Normalized Log Power (db)

 Frequency (cycles/pixel)

Source Image

Compressed Image
18

Table 20 – Spectral Image Root Mean Squared Difference: Measures and Grades

Value Being Graded (e.g.) MSIVV(10:1, PESDS

, PSRC)

Reference Measurement @ 10:1 MSIVV(10:1, PERDR

, PSRC)

Reference Measurement @ 12:1 MSIVV(12:1, PERDR

, PSRC)

Margin MSIVV(12:1, PERDR

, PSRC) – MSIVV(10:1, PERDR, PSRC)

Primary Tolerance 25 % Margin

Secondary Tolerance 50 % Margin

Primary Threshold MSIVV(10:1, PERDR

, PSRC) + Primary Tolerance

Secondary Threshold MSIVV(10:1, PERDR

, PSRC) + Secondary Tolerance

Gold (Pass) < MSIVV(10:1, PERDR

, PSRC)

Pass <= Primary Threshold

Nominal Pass <= Secondary Threshold

Fail > Secondary Threshold
19

Table 21 – Spectral Image Root Mean Squared Difference: Reference Image Set Values and Thresholds

Image

#

Impression

Type

Reference

Image File

Reference

Measurements

<= Primary

Threshold

<= Secondary

Threshold

10:1 12:1 Pass Nominal Pass

1 Flat 109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P 0.0086 0.0136 0.0098 0.0111

2 Flat 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P 0.0066 0.0088 0.0072 0.0077

3 Flat 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P 0.0035 0.0063 0.0042 0.0049

4 Flat 005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P 0.0062 0.0086 0.0068 0.0074

5 Flat 001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P 0.0092 0.0144 0.0105 0.0118

6 Flat 253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P 0.0088 0.0123 0.0097 0.0106

7 Flat 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P 0.0047 0.0059 0.0050 0.0053

8 Flat 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P 0.0063 0.0086 0.0069 0.0074

9 Flat 199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P 0.0071 0.0096 0.0077 0.0083

10 Flat 106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P 0.0085 0.0112 0.0092 0.0098

11 Rolled 086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09 0.0206 0.0289 0.0226 0.0247

12 Rolled 212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01 0.0255 0.0376 0.0286 0.0316

13 Rolled 004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03 0.0204 0.0251 0.0216 0.0228

14 Rolled 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09 0.0164 0.0276 0.0192 0.0220

15 Rolled 112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10 0.0111 0.0268 0.0150 0.0189

16 Rolled 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01 0.0161 0.0210 0.0173 0.0185

17 Rolled 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06 0.0248 0.0344 0.0272 0.0296

18 Rolled 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09 0.0240 0.0346 0.0266 0.0293

19 Rolled 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03 0.0156 0.0249 0.0179 0.0202

20 Rolled 084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10 0.0137 0.0291 0.0176 0.0214

21 Slap 250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13 0.0016 0.0040 0.0022 0.0028

22 Slap 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13 0.0044 0.0088 0.0055 0.0066

23 Slap 019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14 0.0108 0.0139 0.0116 0.0124

24 Slap 021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14 0.0067 0.0085 0.0071 0.0076

25 Slap 027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14 0.0075 0.0083 0.0077 0.0079

26 Slap 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13 0.0076 0.0121 0.0087 0.0098

27 Slap 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14 0.0070 0.0142 0.0088 0.0106

28 Slap 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14 0.0040 0.0070 0.0048 0.0055

29 Slap 092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14 0.0067 0.0146 0.0087 0.0107

30 Slap 107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14 0.0067 0.0082 0.0071 0.0075
20

6. Conformance Reports

Those suppliers who submit SP500-289 implementations of JPEG 2000 CODECs for conformance testing to NIST will receive 

back a conformance report that lists the outcome of applying the metrics in Section 5 to the pathway tests described in 

Section 4. In general there are 4 CODEC pathway tests (Table 4), which are conducted twice; the first time in 10:1 lossy 

compression mode, and the second time in lossless compression mode. Table 22 lists the metrics used to assess each 

pathway test. Note that decoder tests use the full suite of metrics for lossy compression, but only the firsttwo metrics for 

lossless compression.

Table 22 – CODEC Pathway Test Details

Lossy (10:1) Lossless

ENCODER Test Metrics Metrics

1. ES Msize Msize

Mstruct Mstruct

DECODER Tests Metrics Metrics

2. ESDS

3. ESDR

4. ERDS

Mdim Mdim

Maltered Maltered

Mpeak

MMSD

MSIVV

Table 23 shows a conformance report template. The table includes fields to record/report ratings for each metric applied; 

the summary rating for each test; as well as the Overall Rating. In general each metric ratingmay report: Gold Pass, Pass, 

Nominal Pass, or Fail (while not all metrics have the categories of Gold Pass and Nominal Pass). Test ratings are either Pass 

or Fail. For a conformance test to Pass, all its metrics must have a rating of Nominal Pass or better. The Overall Rating is 

also either Pass or Fail. For an Overall Result of Pass, each Test must have a rating of Pass.
21

Table 23 – Conformance Report Template

OVERALL RESULT = ___________ Lossy (10:1) Lossless

ENCODER Test Grade Metrics Grades Metrics Grades

1. ES Msize Msize

Mstruct Mstruct

DECODER Test Metrics Metrics

2. ESDS Mdim Mdim

Maltered Maltered

Mpeak

MMSD

MSIVV

DECODER Test Metrics Metrics

3. ESDR Mdim Mdim

Maltered Maltered

Mpeak

MMSD

MSIVV

DECODER Test Metrics Metrics

4. ERDS Mdim Mdim

Maltered Maltered

Mpeak

MMSD

MSIVV
22

7. Procedures for Conformance Testing

Those suppliers wishing to submit SP500-289 implementations of JPEG 2000 CODECs for conformance testing to NIST must 

follow the procedures outlined in this section. This includes obtaining a NIST assigned encoder identifier, downloading the 

NIST reference fingerprint image set (Section 7.1); running the NIST images through the supplier’s CODEC and storing the 

resulting images (Section 7.3); submitting the supplier’s CODEC images to NIST for evaluation (Section 7.4).

7.1. Obtaining a NIST Assigned Encoder Identifier

Prior to processing certification images, the supplier must obtain a NIST assigned encoder identifier. This identifier must 

be present in all images encoded by the supplier’s CODEC, and must be present in conformance test images submitted to 

NIST for evaluation.

Requests for an encoder identifier must be sent to fingerprintcompression@nist.gov and the request must contain the 

following information in the subject and body of the message:

Message Subject should be:

JPEG2000 encoder identification request

In the message body please include:

Company point of contact name(s)

Company name

Company physical address

Company general phone number

Company point of contact phone number(s), if different than above

Company web site address

Email address to send assigned encoder identifier to.

Request urgency (either normal, or urgent)

CODEC target platform operating system (i.e., VendorX Linux)

Target platform operating system version and service-pack/build level

Target platform architecture (x86, x64, etc.)

Compiler used, including version and operating system at time of compilation

In 7 to 10 days typically, you will electronically receive the 100 byte NIST assigned encoder identifier.

This identifier must be present in all images processed by the supplier’s CODEC.

Additionally, the electronic response you will receive from NIST will incl ude a download link for the reference fingerprint 

image set needed by the supplier for testing.
23

7.2. Downloading NIST Reference Fingerprint Image Set

The supplier must download the NIST Reference Fingerprint Image Set from NIST. A link to download the NIST Reference 

Fingerprint Image Set will be provided by NIST in response to the request for NIST assigned vendor identifier (see 7.1). 

The reference fingerprint data set will be archived within a portable ZIP format8 container and organized as shown in Figure 

3. The NIST-provided reference images are stored under the NIST subdirectory. Inside are the thirty source image files 

(PSRC) stored in PGM format. The basenames of these files are what is listed in the fifth column of Table 2, which are 

appended with a tag and file extension, “-SRC.pgm”. There are two additional processed files included with each source 

file. The first is the corresponding 10:1 lossy compressed file (JER) processed using the NIST reference JPEG 2000 CODEC. 

This file is appended with tag and file extension, “-ER.jp2”. The second processed file is the corresponding lossless 

compressed file using the reference CODEC appended with tag and file extension “-LER.jp2”. In all there are 90 

reference images included in the download package and listed in Table 24. Initially, the Supplier subdirectory is empty. 

The processed images generated by the supplier’s CODEC will be stored in this folder and the entire package zipped back 

up and then submitted back to NIST for evaluation.

Figure 3 – Download / Submission File Package

 

8 Per http://www.pkware.com/documents/casestudies/APPNOTE.TXT

(NIST Provided Reference Images) (Supplier Returned Processed Images)

Download / Submission File Package

NIST Supplier
24

Table 24 – NIST Reference Image Files

SOURCE FILE 10:1 PROCESSED FILE (ER) LOSSLESS PROCESSED FILE (ER)

109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P-SRC.pgm 109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P-ER.jp2 109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P-LER.jp2

007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09PSRC.pgm007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P-ER.jp2 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P-LER.jp2

012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P-SRC.pgm 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P-ER.jp2 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P-LER.jp2

005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P-SRC.pgm 005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P-ER.jp2 005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P-LER.jp2

001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P-SRC.pgm 001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P-ER.jp2 001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P-LER.jp2

253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P-SRC.pgm 253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P-ER.jp2 253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P-LER.jp2

080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P-SRC.pgm 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P-ER.jp2 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P-LER.jp2

146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P-SRC.pgm 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P-ER.jp2 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P-LER.jp2

199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P-SRC.pgm 199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P-ER.jp2 199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P-LER.jp2

106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P-SRC.pgm 106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P-ER.jp2 106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P-LER.jp2

086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09-SRC.pgm 086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09-ER.jp2 086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09-LER.jp2

212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01-SRC.pgm 212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01-ER.jp2 212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01-LER.jp2

004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03-SRC.pgm 004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03-ER.jp2 004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03-LER.jp2

007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09-SRC.pgm 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09-ER.jp2 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09-LER.jp2

112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10-SRC.pgm 112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10-ER.jp2 112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10-LER.jp2

077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01-SRC.pgm 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01-ER.jp2 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01-LER.jp2

033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06-SRC.pgm 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06-ER.jp2 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06-LER.jp2

033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09-SRC.pgm 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09-ER.jp2 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09-LER.jp2

146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03-SRC.pgm 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03-ER.jp2 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03-LER.jp2

084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10-SRC.pgm 084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10-ER.jp2 084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10-LER.jp2

250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13-SRC.pgm 250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13-ER.jp2 250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13-LER.jp2

012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13-SRC.pgm 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13-ER.jp2 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13-LER.jp2

019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14-SRC.pgm 019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14-ER.jp2 019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14-LER.jp2

021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14-SRC.pgm 021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14-ER.jp2 021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14-LER.jp2

027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14-SRC.pgm 027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14-ER.jp2 027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14-LER.jp2

077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13-SRC.pgm 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13-ER.jp2 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13-LER.jp2

077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14-SRC.pgm 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14-ER.jp2 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14-LER.jp2

080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14-SRC.pgm 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14-ER.jp2 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14-LER.jp2

092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14-SRC.pgm 092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14-ER.jp2 092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14-LER.jp2

107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14-SRC.pgm 107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14-ER.jp2 107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14-LER.jp2
25

7.3. Running the Testing Protocol

Upon downloading and unpacking the reference image set, the supplier then executes the testing protocol by running the 

images systematically through their implementation of the JPEG 2000 CODEC.

7.3.1. Preparing Files for Encoder Test 1 (ES)

Referencing the tests in the order listed in the conformance report template (Table 23), the supplier prepares results for 

the Encoder Test 1 (ES) by taking each of the source reference files and compressing it using their JPEG 2000 encoder, on 

one pass using 10:1 lossy compression, and another using lossless compression. The 10:1 lossy compressed image is stored 

using the source file’s basename appended with the tag and extension, “-ES.jp2”, while the lossless compressed image 

is stored using the same basename appended with the tag and extension, “-LES.jp2”. Table 25 lists the processed files 

that are to be generated by this stage and stored under the Supplier subdirectory.

Table 25 – Supplier Prepared Files for Encoder Test 1 (ES)

10:1 PROCESSED FILE (ES) LOSSLESS PROCESSED FILE (ES)

109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P-ES.jp2 109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P-LES.jp2

007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P-ES.jp2 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P-LES.jp2

012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P-ES.jp2 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P-LES.jp2

005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P-ES.jp2 005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P-LES.jp2

001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P-ES.jp2 001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P-LES.jp2

253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P-ES.jp2 253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P-LES.jp2

080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P-ES.jp2 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P-LES.jp2

146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P-ES.jp2 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P-LES.jp2

199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P-ES.jp2 199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P-LES.jp2

106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P-ES.jp2 106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P-LES.jp2

086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09-ES.jp2 086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09-LES.jp2

212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01-ES.jp2 212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01-LES.jp2

004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03-ES.jp2 004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03-LES.jp2

007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09-ES.jp2 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09-LES.jp2

112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10-ES.jp2 112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10-LES.jp2

077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01-ES.jp2 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01-LES.jp2

033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06-ES.jp2 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06-LES.jp2

033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09-ES.jp2 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09-LES.jp2

146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03-ES.jp2 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03-LES.jp2

084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10-ES.jp2 084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10-LES.jp2

250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13-ES.jp2 250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13-LES.jp2

012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13-ES.jp2 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13-LES.jp2

019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14-ES.jp2 019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14-LES.jp2

021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14-ES.jp2 021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14-LES.jp2

027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14-ES.jp2 027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14-LES.jp2

077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13-ES.jp2 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13-LES.jp2

077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14-ES.jp2 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14-LES.jp2

080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14-ES.jp2 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14-LES.jp2

092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14-ES.jp2 092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14-LES.jp2

107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14-ES.jp2 107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14-LES.jp2
26

7.3.2. Preparing Files for Decoder Test 2 (ESDS)

The supplier prepares results for the Decoder Test 2 (ESDS) by taking each of the compressed files from Encoder Test 1 (Table 

25) and running them through the supplier’s JPEG 2000 decoder. Both the 10:1 lossy compressed and lossless compressed 

image are decoded and stored as PGM processed files. The decoded 10:1 lossy compressed image is stored using the tag 

and extension, “-ESDS.pgm”, and the decoded lossless compressed image is stored using the tag and extension, “-

LESDS.pgm”. Table 26 lists the processed files that are to be generated by this stage and stored under the Supplier

subdirectory.

Table 26 – Supplier Prepared Files for Decoder Test 2 (ESDS)

10:1 PROCESSED FILE (ESDS) LOSSLESS PROCESSED FILE (ESDS)

109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P-ESDS.pgm 109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P-LESDS.pgm

007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P-ESDS.pgm 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P-LESDS.pgm

012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P-ESDS.pgm 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P-LESDS.pgm

005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P-ESDS.pgm 005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P-LESDS.pgm

001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P-ESDS.pgm 001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P-LESDS.pgm

253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P-ESDS.pgm 253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P-LESDS.pgm

080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P-ESDS.pgm 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P-LESDS.pgm

146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P-ESDS.pgm 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P-LESDS.pgm

199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P-ESDS.pgm 199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P-LESDS.pgm

106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P-ESDS.pgm 106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P-LESDS.pgm

086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09-ESDS.pgm 086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09-LESDS.pgm

212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01-ESDS.pgm 212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01-LESDS.pgm

004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03-ESDS.pgm 004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03-LESDS.pgm

007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09-ESDS.pgm 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09-LESDS.pgm

112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10-ESDS.pgm 112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10-LESDS.pgm

077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01-ESDS.pgm 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01-LESDS.pgm

033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06-ESDS.pgm 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06-LESDS.pgm

033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09-ESDS.pgm 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09-LESDS.pgm

146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03-ESDS.pgm 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03-LESDS.pgm

084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10-ESDS.pgm 084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10-LESDS.pgm

250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13-ESDS.pgm 250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13-LESDS.pgm

012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13-ESDS.pgm 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13-LESDS.pgm

019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14-ESDS.pgm 019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14-LESDS.pgm

021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14-ESDS.pgm 021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14-LESDS.pgm

027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14-ESDS.pgm 027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14-LESDS.pgm

077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13-ESDS.pgm 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13-LESDS.pgm

077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14-ESDS.pgm 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14-LESDS.pgm

080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14-ESDS.pgm 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14-LESDS.pgm

092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14-ESDS.pgm 092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14-LESDS.pgm

107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14-ESDS.pgm 107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14-LESDS.pgm

7.3.3. Preparing Files for Decoder Test 3 (ESDR)

Decoder Test 3 (ESDR) will be completed by NIST, using the reference decoder to process each of the files compressed using 

the Supplier’s encoder. As with Decoder Test 2, both the 10:1 lossy compressed and lossless compressed images resulting 

from Encoder Test 1 will be decoded and evaluated. As the supplier will have already included the files listed in Table 25

under the Supplier subdirectory, no further action is required by the supplier in order to prepare for Decoder Test 3 

(ESDR). 
27

7.3.4. Preparing Files for Decoder Test 4 (ERDS)

The supplier prepares results for the decoder test 4 (ERDS) by taking each of the compressed files generated by the NIST 

reference encoder and provided within the reference image set (Table 24, columns 2 and 3) and running them through the 

supplier’s decoder. Both the 10:1 lossy compressed and lossless compressed image are decoded and stored as PGM 

processed files. The decoded 10:1 lossy compressed image is stored using the tag and extension, “-ERDS.pgm”, and the 

decoded lossless compressed image is stored using the tag and extension, “-LERDS.pgm”. Table 27 lists the processed 

files that are to be generated by this stage and stored under the Supplier subdirectory.

Table 27 – Supplier Prepared Files for Decoder Test 4 (ERDS)

10:1 PROCESSED FILE (ERDS) LOSSLESS PROCESSED FILE (ERDS)

109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P-ERDS.pgm 109-B109_R04_F13-B114_R03_F13_1000_02P-LERDS.pgm

007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P-ERDS.pgm 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09P-LERDS.pgm

012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P-ERDS.pgm 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_06P-LERDS.pgm

005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P-ERDS.pgm 005-G005_R08_F14_1000_07P-LERDS.pgm

001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P-ERDS.pgm 001-G001_R02_F13_1000_02P-LERDS.pgm

253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P-ERDS.pgm 253-U253_R09_F14_1000_10P-LERDS.pgm

080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P-ERDS.pgm 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_01P-LERDS.pgm

146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P-ERDS.pgm 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03P-LERDS.pgm

199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P-ERDS.pgm 199-B199_R01_F11_1000_06P-LERDS.pgm

106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P-ERDS.pgm 106-B106_R08_F14_1000_05P-LERDS.pgm

086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09-ERDS.pgm 086-G086_R09_F14_1000_09-LERDS.pgm

212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01-ERDS.pgm 212-U212_R02_F13_1000_01-LERDS.pgm

004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03-ERDS.pgm 004-G004_R08_F14-B121_R07_F14_1000_03-LERDS.pgm

007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09-ERDS.pgm 007-G007_R01_F11-B115_R08_F14_1000_09-LERDS.pgm

112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10-ERDS.pgm 112-B112_R02_F13_1000_10-LERDS.pgm

077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01-ERDS.pgm 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_01-LERDS.pgm

033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06-ERDS.pgm 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_06-LERDS.pgm

033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09-ERDS.pgm 033-G033_R07_F14_1000_09-LERDS.pgm

146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03-ERDS.pgm 146-B146_R06_F12_1000_03-LERDS.pgm

084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10-ERDS.pgm 084-G084_R06_F12_1000_10-LERDS.pgm

250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13-ERDS.pgm 250-U250_R01_F11_1000_13-LERDS.pgm

012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13-ERDS.pgm 012-G012_R08_F14_1000_13-LERDS.pgm

019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14-ERDS.pgm 019-G019_R01_F11_1000_14-LERDS.pgm

021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14-ERDS.pgm 021-G021_R07_F14_1000_14-LERDS.pgm

027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14-ERDS.pgm 027-G027_R06_F12_1000_14-LERDS.pgm

077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13-ERDS.pgm 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_13-LERDS.pgm

077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14-ERDS.pgm 077-G077_R01_F11_1000_14-LERDS.pgm

080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14-ERDS.pgm 080-G080_R08_F14_1000_14-LERDS.pgm

092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14-ERDS.pgm 092-G092_R03_F13_1000_14-LERDS.pgm

107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14-ERDS.pgm 107-B107_R09_F14-B108_R06_F12_1000_14-LERDS.pgm
28

7.4. Submitting Processed Images to NIST for Evaluation

Upon supplier’s successful completion of the testing protocol, the Supplier subdirectory of the prepared file submission 

package (Figure 3) must contain all 180 processed files listed in Table 25 through Table 27. The submission package 

(including the NIST subdirectory) must be zipped and submitted to NIST either electronically or by parcel delivery. The 

submission package must not contain any executable code, or macro enabled content. The submission package must not 

contain any proprietary or sensitive information. 

7.4.1. Submitting Electronically

The supplier’s zipped file package may be submitted to NIST by contacting the official JPEG2000 CODEC Test Custodian 

fingerprintcompression@nist.gov in order to request an account for the NIST Secure File Transfer Service (or receive 

alternative instructions). The email’s subject line must be: “JPEG2000 encoder conformance submittal”

See http://www.nist.gov/itl/iad/ig/compression.cfm for the most up-to-date information on the submission of processed 

image packages for evaluation. 

7.4.2. Submitting Parcel Post

The supplier’s zipped file package may be submitted to NIST on a data -DVD (DVD-R or DVD+R), and mailed back to NIST 

using the following address:

JPEG2000 CODEC Test Custodian

ITL-IAD-Image Group

100 Bureau Drive MS 8940

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8940

The supplier’s zipped file must not contain any binary executable code, and must not include any information deemed 

proprietary by the supplier. All data submitted to NIST for testing will become the property of NIST.

7.4.3. FBI Certification

If the testing protocol is complete and the supplier’s results satisfactorily meet the requirements set forth in this document, 

then NIST notifies the FBI CJIS Division that the supplier received an Overall Result of Pass. Subsequently, the FBI CJIS 

Division issues a letter certifying that the supplier’s implementation of a JPEG 2000 CODEC is conformant with the 

specification set forth in SP 500-289. An implementation ID and a description of the supplier’s submission will then be 

added to the current list of approved implementations maintained by the FBI. 

This implementation ID will remain hard coded into the supplier solution and included in all JPEG2000 encoded output from 

the supplier CODEC according to this specification (see section 5.1.3 and section 4.3 of [NIST3] for additional details). 

Note: The FBI certification for an implementation will apply only to a specific configuration. A configuration 

encompasses the software version of the encoder/decoder, hardware platform, operating system, and compiler used. If 

any of these components change resulting in a binary level change in any of the files the supplier sent to NIST for the 

purposes of the initial certification, then a recertification including a new implementation ID will be required.

Also note that the certification process is not intended to endorse one implementation over another, but merely to certify 

that the implementation meets FBI standards. The FBI does not recommend one certified implementation over another.
29

8. References

8.1. Publications and Reports

CHAMBERS Chambers, John; William Cleveland, Beat Kleiner, and Paul Tukey (1983). Graphical Methods for Data 

Analysis. Wadsworth

FITZPATRICK Fitzpatrick, M. et al. 1994, “WSQ Compression / Decompression Algorithm Test Report”, IAI Annual 

Conference.

GALTON Galton, F. (2005). Finger prints. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications. (Original work published 1892)

JAIN Jain, A., “Pores and Ridges: High-Resolution Fingerprint Matching Using Level 3 Features”, IEEE 

Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Vol. 29, No. 1, January 2007.

JASPER JasPer Project JPEG 2000 library. http://www.ece.uvic.ca/~frodo/jasper/

JPEG "T-REC-T.81 : Information technology – Digital compression and coding of continuous-tone still images –

Requirements and guidelines". http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-T.81. Retrieved 2011-01-12.

JPEG2K "ISO/IEC 15444-1:2004 - Information technology -- JPEG 2000 image coding system: Core coding system". 

http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_ics/catalogue_detail_ics.htm?csnumber=27687. 

Retrieved 2009-11-01.

KAKADU Kakadu JPEG 2000 SDK, Kakadu Software, NewSouth Innovations, UNSW Australia, Sydney. 

http://kakadusoftware.com/

LIBERT “A 1D Spectral Image Validation/Verification Metric for Fingerprints”. Libert, J.M.; Grantham, J.; Orandi, S. 

August 19, 2009. http://www.nist.gov/customcf/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=903078. Retrieved 2011-01-12.

LIKERT Likert, R. (1932). A Technique for the Measurement of Attitudes, Archives of Psychology 140, 55.

MTR1 "Profile for 1000 ppi Fingerprint Compression". Lepley, M.A. 

http://www.mitre.org/work/tech_papers/tech_papers_04/lepley_fingerprint/lepley_fingerprint.pdf. 

Retrieved 2011-01-11.

NIST1 "NIST Biometric Image Software". http://Fingerprint.nist.gov/NFIS/. Retrieved 2011-01-12.

NIST2 Orandi, S., Libert, J. M., Grantham, J. D., Ko, K., Wood, S.S., Wu, J. Effects of JPEG 2000 Image Compression 

on 1000 ppi Fingerprint Imagery, NIST Interagency Report 7778, National Institutes of Standards and 

Technology, Gaithersburg, MD. http://www.nist.gov/customcf/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=911122. Retrieved 

on 09/01/2012.

NIST3 Orandi, S., Libert, J., Grantham, J., Ko, K., Wood, S., Byers, F., Bandini, B., Harvey, S., Garris, M. 

Compression Guidance for 1000 ppi Friction Ridge Imagery, NIST Special Publication 500 -289, National 

Institutes of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD. 

http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/specialpublications/NIST.SP.500-289.pdf . Retrieved on 09/15/2014

NIST4 Orandi, S., Libert, J. M., Grantham, J. D., Ko, K., Wood, S.S., Wu, J., “Effects of JPEG2000 Image 

Compression on 1000 ppi Fingerprint Imagery”, NIST Interagency Report 7778, National Institutes of 

Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD. 

http://www.nist.gov/customcf/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=908204. Retrieved 09/01/2012.

NIST5 Orandi, S., Libert, J., Grantham, J., Ko, K., Wood, S., Byers, F., Bandini, B., Harvey, S., Garris, M. 

“Compression Guidance for 1000 ppi Friction Ridge Imagery”, NIST Special Publication 500 –289, National 

Institutes of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD. February, 2014. 

http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/specialpublications/NIST.SP.500-289.pdf .

OPENJPEG "OpenJPEG library : an open source JPEG 2000 codec". http://www.openjpeg.org/index.php?menu=news. 

Retrieved 2011-01-12.

PGM “PGM Format Specification”. http://netpbm.sourceforge.net/doc/pgm.html. Retrieved 2015-01-23

SD27 M.D. Garris & R.M. McCabe, "NIST Special Database 27: Fingerprint Minutiae from Latent and Matching 

Tenprint Images," NIST Technical Report NISTIR 6534 & CD-ROM, June 2000.
30

SHAPIRO Shapiro, S. S.; Wilk, M. B. (1965). "An analysis of variance test for normality (complete samples)". 

Biometrika52 (3-4): 591–611. doi:10.1093/biomet/52.3-4.591. JSTOR 2333709MR205384.

WSQ1 "WSQ Gray-Scale Fingerprint Image Compression Specification" Version 3.1. 

https://www.fbibiospecs.org/docs/WSQ_Gray-scale_Specification_Version_3_1.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-

11. [TODO: Need reference to 289]

WSQ2 WSQ Fingerprint Image Compression Encoder/Decoder Compliance Guidelines, NIST Web Site Reference 

for WSQ Compliance Testing; http://www.nist.gov/itl/iad/ig/wsq.cfm . Retrieved 2015-04-06.
31

Appendix A. PGM Profile

Portable Graymap Format (PGM) is one of several image forma ts defined by Netpbm [PGM], an open-source programming 

library. PGM is a widely-supported and very straight-forward image format consisting of a small, simplified header followed 

by uncompressed 8- or 16-bit raw image data in ASCII or binary encodings.

A valid PGM file header always begins with a two-byte string which indicates that the file is a PGM image containing 

grayscale image data encoded in either ASCII (“P2”) or binary (“P5”). Binary-encoded files are generally smaller in size and 

are preferred in most cases, including the storage of fingerprint images. The two-byte format identification string is followed 

by decimal values defining the width, height, and maximum gray value; each separated by whitespace characters such as 

spaces, tabs, carriage-returns (CRs) or line-feeds (LFs). The header is always encoded as ASCII and is terminated by a 

whitespace character, which also marks the beginning of the image data (which may be either ASCII - or binary-encoded). 

The header may also contain comments as strings beginning with the ‘#’ character and terminated by a CR or LF character.

Table 28 – PGM File Structure and Metadata

PGM Data Field Value Size (Bytes) Hexadecimal

PGM Signature ‘P5 ’ 3 50 35 0A

Comment Comment String variable

Width Image Width (pixels) variable

Height Image Height (pixels) variable

Max Value ’255 ‘ 4 32 35 35 0A