About TIFF
Aldus created the Tagged Image File Format in 1986 for desktop scanners, and Adobe took it over when it acquired Aldus. The name describes the design: a file is a collection of tagged fields, so TIFF can hold almost anything, from 1-bit fax pages to 32-bit floating point scientific data, CMYK print files, multiple pages and layers.
That flexibility keeps it at the centre of professional work. Scanners default to it. Publishers and print shops accept it. Archives use it because it can store images without loss. GeoTIFF adds map coordinates for mapping software, and the DNG raw photo format is built on TIFF too.
Why TIFFs are awkward to share
They are large, and outside Safari no major browser displays them. Many email systems and forms reject them. Converting to JPG or PNG fixes both problems.
About the TIFFs made here
The converter above writes uncompressed 8-bit RGBA TIFF, which any TIFF reader will open. It is large, deliberately so: this is a format for handing to software or a printer that asks for TIFF, not for saving space. No resolution tag is written; print shops work from pixel dimensions.
TIFF at a glance
| First released | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Compression | None, lossless, or JPEG inside |
| Transparency | Yes |
| Animation or pages | Multiple pages |
| Best for | Scanning, print and archives |
| Support | Professional software; Safari is the only major browser |
Questions people ask
Can I convert a multi-page TIFF?
Yes. Converting from TIFF gives one image per page.
Is TIFF better than PNG?
For print and archive workflows that need CMYK, high bit depth or multiple pages, yes. For everything else, PNG is simpler and more widely supported.
Why does my browser not show TIFF files?
Only Safari displays TIFF among the major browsers. The files are fine; they just need converting to view elsewhere.