fractal transform - technical definition

A technique for video compression. Fractal compression reduces an image into extremely small independent blocks which it translates into mathematical equations that are used to form a codebook that creates a mathematical model of the image. So, the image, itself, becomes the basis for the ad hoc codebook. Vector quantization is similar, but uses a standard codebook. Fractal compression is extremely efficient, but highly processor-intensive. Fractal compression can be either lossless or lossy in nature. See also compression, fractal, lossless compression, lossy compression, transforms, vector quantization, and video.