While DXF established a foundation for other image formats, HEIC aims to spearhead that journey by introducing new and advanced file format features to increase its support and adoption in the digital world. Thus, users must comprehend such features to make the best decision when choosing a file format.
The article compares DXF vs. HEIC features to help users choose the ideal project file type. These features include file format structure, web performance, file size, compression method, transparency, animation, image quality, browser support, and storage demands.
When is HEIC better than DXF?
HEIC images are smaller and high-quality, optimizing search engines but minimizing storage space demands, while DXF images are larger and slightly lower quality than HEIC, attributes that increase storage space demands and limit search engine optimization.
HEIC files can create live photos, memes, logos, and illustrations that capture high-quality object motions with a click.
When is DXF better than HEIC?
DXF images are open-source and scalable up or down to meet all screen size demands without losing resolution levels, while HEIC images are costly and become pixelated or blurry when scaled upward or downward.
The DXF file format is ideal for 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC machining, and data interchange between various programs, apps, and AutoCAD software. The advantages of the DXF file type include detailed image data, wide compatibility, open-source, and easy parsing.
DXF versus HEIC Comparison Table
| Aspect/Factor | DXF | HEIC |
| Transparency | Does not integrally support transparency. | Supports transparency. |
| File Size | Larger files than HEIC files. | Smaller files than DXF files. |
| Image Quality | High-quality images. | Excellent image quality compared to DXF images. |
| Performance | Larger and loads slower than HEIC. | Smaller and loads faster online than DXF. |
| Structure | Vector-based with a group code 0 and ends with the string ENDSEC. | Raster graphic with comments and tags, image series, EXIF/TIF files and indicators. |
| Animation | Does not support animations. | Supports image series and animations. |
| Storage | Needs more storage space than HEIC. | Needs less storage space than DXF. |
| Compression | Uncompressed files. | Uses lossless and lossy compressions. |
| Browser Support | Wider web browser support than HEIC. | Limited browser support compared to DXF. |
Differences and similarities between HEIC and DXF images
The HEIC versus DXF comparison table above reveals that both formats differ in structure, online performance, file size, image quality, transparency, animations, storage needs, compression technique, and web browser support.
Transparency
HEIC files support transparency, while DXF files do not. DXF images are plain texts that can only be viewed and opened through basic text editing tools. The format specifies its data using numerical codes instead of human-readable tags. Its drawing content uses symbols that are not easily understandable.
In contrast, HEIC supports alpha channel transparency like the PNG format, allowing artworks and graphics to merge properly with the dominant website background. Distinct from DXF format, HEIC images support plane transparency data or elective alpha mask.
File Size
DXF files are uncompressed whereas HEIC files support lossless and lossy compression technique. Although DXF files have no specific size limit, its files are very detailed and larger than the multilayered HEIC format. However, a single HEIC file stores complex file data and metadata similar to DXF file.
When uncompressed, HEIC's multiple files can be larger when pooled together than the individual DXF files. Nonetheless, HEIC supports the inventive and advanced HEVC compression algorithms that significantly minimizes its files than the uncompressed DXF files.
Image Quality
HEIC and DXF images are high-quality and high-resolution. HEIC supports more color profiles than DXF, making its image quality slightly higher. DXF file has 8 bits per color channel, while a vector-based file supports a 24-bit RGB True Color and a 32-bit RGBA per color channel.
Its bit depth makes DXF a high-quality file type. Conversely, HEIC supports 10-bit and 16-bit color profiles rendered as 48-bit per color channel by default. The image format also supports advanced image features, including High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Wide Color Range (WCR) color profiles.
Performance
HEIC stores multiple files but supports the Highly Efficient Video Codec compression method, which significantly reduces its file sizes. As such, HEIC files are smaller than uncompressed DXF files. DXF files need more bytes to download or load on websites and are less web-responsive than HEIC files.
On the other hand, DXF files enjoy wider web browser support than HEIC, increasing their online usage and adoption, although the smaller and higher-quality HEIC files boost online user experience and optimize search engines compared to DXF files.
Structure
HEIC is raster graphic, while DXF is vector-based. To compare both files, it is important to look at their structural designs. DXF files start with a header, classes, tables, blocks, graphical objects, non-graphical objects, and thumbnail images. The format has a header code that identifies the format's version.
The DXF arranges its contents into sections using group codes and paired values. Each section has records with data items and group codes that are independent within the DXF file. However, all sections start with a group code 0, closely followed by a sequence, SECTION.
The string section is followed by group code 2 and a string denoting the section's name. All sections are made up of group codes and values defining their elements. The DXF file extension ends with a '0' followed by the string ENDSEC. In contrast, HEIC has images, image series, and metadata in a container file.
HEIC has Exif metadata with tags and comments supported by EXIF and TIFF. The embedded TIFF files lack image data, but store specific image files and mark them as items, but allows image series (tracks) to be stored in EXIF/TIF files. It has an indicator displaying files as colonnades or animations later.
Animation
HEIC files support animations and image series, while DXF files do not inherently support animations or live photos. Nevertheless, DXF files have the 'animate' support feature in AutoCAD 10 that maps font correctly to support animations. Note that the resulting text arrangements in its animations are random.
Unlike DXF, HEIC stores multiple images in a single file and allows short animations to be created. Graphic designers and web developers can create looped animated images or image sequences using HEIC extensions. Thus, choose the HEIC format over DXF for animations or animated content.
Storage
DXF stores uncompressed binary drawing files or ASCII data, while HEIC stores lossless and lossy compressed files. HEIC uses HEVC compression, which is very efficient and results into smaller files with less storage space demands than the uncompressed DXF files.
DXF stores uncompressed data on Folders, AutoCAD, and Notepad, while HEIC stores files on EXIF/TIFF files and ISO Base Media Files, Cloud, Hard Drives, Content Delivery Networks, and Base64 Encoding. Both formats store files forever, depending on the handling process, storage mediums, and conditions.
Compression
HEIC supports lossy and lossless compression with Highly Efficient Video Codec (HEVC) algorithms, while DXF files are uncompressed or hardly support lossy, lossless, or PackBits compression. Lossless HEIC files are smaller than the DXF files, but both retain all image details or info.
Conversely, lossy HEIC scraps off duplicate data, marginally degrading image quality. However, the HEVC compression method ensures vital image details are reserved, resulting in smaller and higher-quality HEIC images than DXF images. Hence, HEIC for its efficient compression technique.
Browser Support
DXF is a legacy file type, whereas HEIC is the next-generation format. DXF files enjoy broader web browser support than HEIC. They are supported by specific browsers, such as Internet Explorer 11, 64-bit Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, 64-bit new Microsoft Edge, and 64-bit Google Chrome.
While DXF files are incompatible with most web browsers, namely Opera, Internet 10 and below, Brave, Discord, Vivaldi, and Samsung Internet, HEIC also has limited browser support. The format is only compatible with Safari Google Marketplace/Workplace, but the web browsers are unsupported.
Convert HEIC to DXF or DXF to HEIC
Convertjack helps users swiftly convert HEIC to DXF. DXF files are high-quality, open-source, easily deconstructed, and scalable up and down while maintaining high-resolution levels, making the format an ideal interchange platform between different platforms and CAD software.
Convertjack is a simple but effective online DXF to HEIC converter. The HEIC format uses HEVC compression, resulting in smaller, high-quality images with enough storage space, comprehensive image metadata, and enhanced web performance than the DXF format.