TIFF Format Guide

Everything you need to know about TIFF format for professional photography and printing

What is TIFF?

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is a flexible, adaptable file format for storing images. Developed by Aldus (now Adobe) in 1986, TIFF has become the standard format for professional photography, printing, and archival purposes. TIFF supports both lossless and lossy compression, can store multiple images in a single file, and supports extensive metadata, making it ideal for professional workflows.

TIFF Compression Options

TIFF offers multiple compression options:

Uncompressed

No compression applied - maximum quality but largest file sizes. Used for intermediate editing stages.

LZW Compression

Lossless compression that reduces file size without quality loss. Most common TIFF compression method.

ZIP Compression

Lossless compression using ZIP algorithm. Better compression than LZW for some image types.

JPEG Compression

Lossy compression option for smaller file sizes. Not recommended for archival purposes.

When to Use TIFF

TIFF is ideal for:

  • Professional Photography: Archival storage of high-quality photographs
  • Print Publishing: High-resolution images for magazines, books, and professional printing
  • Graphic Design: Source files for design projects requiring maximum quality
  • Medical Imaging: Storing medical images with full metadata and quality preservation
  • Scientific Imaging: Research applications requiring lossless quality and metadata
  • Archival Storage: Long-term storage of important images
  • Multi-page Documents: Storing multiple pages or layers in a single file

When NOT to Use TIFF

TIFF is not suitable for:

  • Web Use: File sizes are too large for web pages, causing slow loading
  • Email Attachments: Large file sizes exceed email size limits
  • Social Media: Most platforms don't support TIFF or convert it automatically
  • Mobile Devices: Large files consume too much storage space
  • Quick Sharing: When file size and compatibility are priorities

TIFF Advantages

Lossless Quality

Supports lossless compression preserving every pixel exactly

Extensive Metadata

Can store extensive metadata including EXIF, IPTC, and custom tags

Multiple Pages

Can store multiple images or pages in a single file

Color Space Support

Supports RGB, CMYK, LAB, and other color spaces for professional workflows

High Bit Depth

Supports 8, 16, and 32 bits per channel for maximum color accuracy

Industry Standard

Widely supported in professional photography and printing industries

TIFF Disadvantages

Large File Sizes

Even with compression, TIFF files are typically much larger than JPEG

Limited Web Support

Not natively supported by web browsers without conversion

Complex Format

Multiple variants and options can make TIFF complex to work with

Storage Intensive

Requires significant storage space compared to compressed formats

TIFF Variants

  • TIFF (Classic): Original TIFF format with wide compatibility
  • BigTIFF: Extended version supporting files larger than 4GB
  • GeoTIFF: TIFF with geographic metadata for GIS applications
  • TIFF/EP: Electronic Photography variant with enhanced metadata

TIFF vs Other Formats

TIFF vs JPEG: TIFF is lossless and preserves quality perfectly, while JPEG uses lossy compression for smaller files. Use TIFF for archival and professional work, JPEG for web and sharing.

TIFF vs PNG: Both are lossless, but TIFF supports more advanced features like CMYK color space, multiple pages, and extensive metadata. PNG is better for web use.

TIFF vs BMP: Both preserve quality, but TIFF supports compression and advanced features. TIFF is preferred for professional workflows.

Technical Specifications

  • File Extension: .tiff, .tif
  • MIME Type: image/tiff
  • Color Depth: 1, 4, 8, 16, or 32 bits per channel
  • Compression: None, LZW, ZIP, JPEG, or other algorithms
  • Maximum Dimensions: Limited by file size (4GB for standard TIFF, unlimited for BigTIFF)
  • Color Spaces: RGB, CMYK, LAB, Grayscale, and others
  • Metadata: EXIF, IPTC, XMP, and custom tags

Converting Images to TIFF

Converting images to TIFF is useful for archival storage, professional printing, or when working with software that requires TIFF format. QuickFormat makes it easy to convert images to TIFF while maintaining the highest possible quality and preserving important metadata when possible.

Convert to TIFF Now