QLIC 1.0.1

QLIC 1.0.1

Fixes an encoder error affecting some large images with a small, noisy palette.
QLIC could report success while writing an invalid 32-byte file with no image
payload. The encoder now keeps a valid fallback and rejects empty candidates
before writing a file.

Regression tests cover the large-image cutoff, palette sizes, grayscale,
transparency, hidden RGB, and WebAssembly encoding.

The file format and decoder are unchanged. Valid 1.0.0 files remain compatible.
Affected empty files must be re-encoded from the original image.

Windows binaries are unsigned. Check downloads against RELEASE-SHA256SUMS.txt.

QLIC 1.0

QLIC 1.0.0

QLIC 1.0.0 is the first stable file-format and C API release.

Highlights

• One automatic lossless encode policy with no effort or quality setting.
• Exact still-image and RGBA animation storage.
• Exact unsigned 8--24-bit Gray, RGB, and RGBA samples.
• Straight and premultiplied alpha without changing hidden RGB.
• ICC, CICP, EXIF, XMP, IPTC, JUMBF/C2PA, DPI, and orientation retention on
  the documented paths.
• Rec. 2100 PQ and HLG preservation with exact code values and CICP metadata.
• Windows GUI, CLI, Explorer/WIC integration, C SDK, safe Rust decoder, and a
  browser-native WebAssembly package.
• Native Windows and self-contained mobile web viewers with pixel zoom,
  animation, and PNG export.

Choose a download

Need	Archive
Windows app	qlic-1.0.0-gui-windows-x64.zip
Command line	qlic-1.0.0-cli-windows-x64.zip
Explorer and WIC applications	qlic-1.0.0-wic-windows-x64.zip
C or C++ development	qlic-1.0.0-sdk-windows-x64.zip
Browser or JavaScript	qlic-1.0.0-web.zip
Safe Rust decode	qlic-1.0.0-rust-decoder.zip
Complete source	qlic-1.0.0-source.zip

For most Windows users, start with the GUI archive. The WIC archive installs
machine-wide and requests administrator permission.

Verify before running

Download RELEASE-SHA256SUMS.txt with the archives. In PowerShell:

Get-FileHash .\qlic-1.0.0-gui-windows-x64.zip -Algorithm SHA256

Compare the result with the matching line in the checksum file. The release
metadata archive also contains package checksums, SPDX SBOMs, and SLSA/in-toto
provenance tied to the exact source tree.

This release is unsigned. Windows may show Unknown publisher or a SmartScreen
warning. Do not continue when the downloaded file's checksum does not match the
release checksum.

HDR and Windows display behavior

QLIC preserves PQ and HLG samples and metadata without tone mapping. Compatible
full-range BT.2020/PQ 10-bit RGB is exposed through WIC's native HDR10 format.
Windows has no equivalent WIC HLG pixel format, so 10-bit HLG is not mislabeled
as HDR10. The QLIC GUI labels PQ/HLG rendering as an SDR preview; exact samples
remain available through the C, Rust, and Web APIs.

Known limits

• Windows binaries target x64.
• HDR is unsigned integer 8--24-bit data, not float/half EXR, RAW development,
  gain-map interpretation, or a display color-management pipeline.
• Whole-file APIs are used; there is no incremental input decoder or general
  random-access decode.
• Microsoft Photos does not natively register .qlic; the optional compatibility
  command uses an exact-byte temporary alias. The built-in viewer is the default.
• QLIC is new and not standardized. Keep a common interchange copy for archival
  or cross-application workflows.

See README.md, SUPPORT.md, and the package-specific README before deploying.