Introducing Handsum: A New Fixed-Size LQIP Image Format for Fast Web Loading

Handsum: An LQIP Image File Format

I present Handsum, a new custom file format for Low Quality Image Placeholders designed to load instantly. Unlike variable-sized formats, Handsum guarantees fixed file sizes ranging from 48 to 147 bytes, making it ideal for database storage and embedded apps. Based on the Discrete Cosine Transform, it offers better visual clarity than Thumbhash at similar sizes while simplifying the complexity of JPEG encoding.

"If you told me to guess the famous image based on the thumbnail, then for Mona Lisa or Girl with a Pearl Earring, I'd say that's plausible for Handsum but implausible for Thumbhash."