TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
The archival image format that stores every pixel detail without throwing anything away.
| Full name | Tagged Image File Format |
| Extension | .tiff, .tif |
| MIME type | image/tiff |
| Developer | Aldus Corporation (now owned by Adobe Systems) |
| Released | 1986 |
| Type | Raster image |
| Compression | None, LZW, JPEG, PackBits, ZIP (per file) |
| Color depth | Up to 32 bits per channel |
What is a TIFF file?
TIFF is a flexible raster image format designed for storing high-quality bitmap images. It supports lossless compression and can hold multiple images in a single file. Photographers, printers, and archivists rely on it when image quality cannot be sacrificed.
TIFF stores image data as a grid of pixels, along with descriptive metadata called tags. Those tags record things like image dimensions, color space, resolution, and compression method. A single TIFF file can contain several pages or layers, making it useful for multi-page documents and scanned books. The format supports bit depths up to 32 bits per channel, which is far beyond what most display formats handle.
History
Aldus Corporation created TIFF in 1986 to give desktop scanner vendors a shared file format. Revision 5.0, released in October 1988, added LZW compression and palette color support. Adobe Systems acquired Aldus in 1994 and published TIFF 6.0, the current specification, in 1992 before the acquisition. The format has remained largely unchanged since then, a sign of how complete the design was from the start.
How it works
Every TIFF file starts with an 8-byte Image File Header that declares the byte order (little-endian or big-endian) and points to the first Image File Directory. Each IFD is a list of 12-byte tag entries that describe one image stored in the file. Tags cover everything from pixel width and height to compression type and color profile. The actual pixel data sits elsewhere in the file, with the IFD pointing to its location.
What it is used for
- Professional photography and print production where lossless quality is required
- Document scanning and archiving for libraries, hospitals, and legal records
- Medical imaging such as X-rays and pathology slides
- Pre-press workflows where files pass through multiple editing and color-correction steps
How to open it
TIFF files open in most image editors including Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, and Apple Preview, as well as standard photo viewers on Windows and macOS. Professional applications like Lightroom and CorelDRAW also read and write TIFF without issue.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Lossless quality: no pixel data is discarded during saves
- Flexible compression: choose no compression, LZW, or ZIP depending on need
- Multi-page support: one file can hold an entire scanned document
- Wide color depth: supports 16-bit and 32-bit per channel for high dynamic range work
Trade-offs
- Large file sizes: uncompressed TIFFs can be many times bigger than a JPEG of the same image
- Not web-friendly: browsers do not display TIFF files natively
- Slow to load: large files take longer to open and process than compressed formats
- Overkill for casual use: the extra quality rarely matters for social media or everyday sharing
Convert TIFF files
Free, in your browser, no signup. Start at the TIFF converter, or jump straight to a popular conversion below.
From TIFF
Curious how fast and how small? See our measured conversion benchmarks.
TIFF FAQ
Is TIFF the same as TIF?
Yes. Both .tiff and .tif are valid extensions for the same format. The shorter .tif extension dates from older systems that limited file extensions to three characters.
Does TIFF support transparency?
Yes. TIFF supports an alpha channel, so it can store transparent or semi-transparent areas alongside the main image data.
Is TIFF lossless?
It can be. When saved without compression or with lossless compression like LZW, no image data is lost. TIFF also allows JPEG compression internally, which is lossy, so always check the compression setting when quality matters.
Can a TIFF file contain multiple pages?
Yes. TIFF supports multi-image files through multiple Image File Directories in one file. This is commonly used for multi-page scanned documents and fax transmissions.