(a) The agency must encode, retain, and transfer digitized records in one of the following file formats, either uncompressed or using one of the specified compression codecs in tables 1 and 2 to this section.

1. (1) Agencies that combine multiple uncompressed TIFF images into PDF/A files using JPEG2000 compression must perform the quality inspection step specified in 1236.46(d) against the resulting PDF/A files.
2. (2) When using JPEG 2000 visually lossless compression, agencies must determine the amount of compression to apply, not to exceed 20:1, by performing tests and visually evaluating for compression artifacts that obscure or alter the information content.

(b) The agency must encode, retain, and transfer digitized permanent paper records in one of the following file formats, either uncompressed or with one of the compression codecs specified in table 1 to this paragraph (b).

(c) The agency must encode, retain, and transfer digitized photographic print records in one of the following file formats, either uncompressed or with one of the compression codecs specified in the table 2 to this paragraph (c).

1. (1) For a series of predominantly textual records with interspersed photographic prints, use the formats in table 1 to paragraph (b) of this section for paper records. All photographic prints must be digitized according to the standards in § 1236.50.
2. (2) For a series of predominantly printed photographs, including those with paper records interspersed, use the file formats in table 2 to this paragraph (c) for photographic print records.

3. (3) However, the agency must not transcode, or interpolate (upsample) files anywhere in the workflow.

   Table 2 to Paragraph (c)—File Format Requirements for Digitized Permanent Photographic Print Records Table

   Format name and version	Acceptable compression codecs
   TIFF 6.0	Uncompressed, Deflate (ZIP).
   JPEG2000 part 1 (ISO/IEC 15444-1:2019)	JPEG 2000 part 1 core coding system lossless compression. Agencies may use up to 20:1 visually lossless compression.
   Portable network graphics 1.2 (PNG)	Deflate (ZIP).