How to use it
- Drop in raw files.
- Each is developed using the camera’s white balance and saved as TIFF.
- Download the TIFFs.
Raw to TIFF is a classic pairing
For decades, the professional handover has been: shoot raw, develop, deliver TIFF. TIFF is lossless and accepted by every print and publishing system, and unlike a raw file, it looks the same in every application because it is already developed.
About these TIFFs
Files are 8-bit RGB, uncompressed, and do not carry a resolution tag. Printers work from pixel dimensions, and a modern camera has more than enough for large prints. If a publisher specifically needs 16-bit TIFF or an embedded colour profile, export from dedicated raw software instead.
Checking before you send
The development here is neutral, with no sharpening or noise reduction. For print, look at the TIFF at 100 percent before sending: a little sharpening in an editor often helps prints look crisp.
RAW and TIFF compared
| RAW | TIFF | |
|---|---|---|
| First released | Late 1990s, varies by maker | 1986 |
| Compression | Sensor data, uncompressed or lightly compressed | None, lossless, or JPEG inside |
| Transparency | No | Yes |
| Animation or pages | No (holds a JPEG preview) | Multiple pages |
| Best for | Editing photos with the most latitude | Scanning, print and archives |
| Support | Raw editors and camera software; not browsers | Professional software; Safari is the only major browser |
Questions people ask
Why TIFF rather than JPG for print?
TIFF is lossless, so no compression artefacts reach the printer. Many print workflows require it.
Are the TIFFs 16-bit?
No, 8-bit per channel.
Can I convert several raw files at once?
Yes, and download them together as a zip.