Convert TIFF to PS — Free Online Converter

TIFF and PostScript are both deeply rooted in professional print production, but they serve different stages of the workflow. TIFF stores raster image data for editing and exchange, while PostScript is a page description language for driving printers and RIP (Raster Image Processor) systems. Converting TIFF to PostScript encodes the image data as a PS program that print hardware can interpret directly.

This conversion is relevant in legacy prepress workflows where all placed graphics must be delivered as PostScript. While modern print workflows use PDF natively, some older RIP systems, industrial printers, and academic typesetting pipelines still require PostScript input.

Commercial printing equipment using legacy PostScript RIP systems requires PS input. Older Harlequin, CPSI, and Agfa RIP hardware expects PostScript programs rather than raw image files. When TIFF images need to be processed by these systems, PS conversion provides the expected format.

LaTeX/TeX typesetting with the traditional dvips compilation path requires PostScript graphics. TIFF images from scientific instruments, medical scanners, and professional photography that need to appear in academic publications must be converted to PS or EPS for dvips inclusion.

Ghostscript encodes the decoded TIFF pixel data as a PostScript Level 2 program. 16-bit TIFF data is quantized to 8-bit. The image is encoded using ASCII85 and wrapped in PostScript's image operator. DSC comments provide %%BoundingBox, %%Pages, and structural metadata. TIFF transparency is flattened against a white background. Multi-page TIFFs yield only the first page. The output is text-based and compatible with all PostScript interpreters.