TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
TIFF is a flexible, high-quality image format used for scanning, printing and archiving. Learn what makes TIFF files large and when to convert them.
- Type
- Image
- File extensions
- .tif, .tiff
- MIME type
- image/tiff
What is TIFF?
TIFF dates from 1986 and is widely used in publishing, scanning and photography. A TIFF file can hold several pages, high bit depths and different compression methods, most often lossless.
That flexibility makes TIFF a reliable archival and print format, but files are large and web browsers do not display them.
When to use TIFF
- Scans and archival copies
- Print production
- Multi-page faxes and documents
Limitations
- Very large files
- Not displayed by web browsers
- Different TIFF variants are not always compatible
Compatibility
Supported by professional image editors and operating-system viewers; not by browsers.
Compared with other formats
- PNG: PNG is also lossless and is displayed by every browser.
Tools for TIFF files
Image Metadata Viewer
Inspect all embedded metadata in an image, including EXIF, XMP, IPTC and ICC color profile data.
TIFF to JPG
Convert TIFF scans and print files to JPG for easy sharing.
TIFF to PNG
Convert TIFF images to lossless PNG files.
EXIF Viewer
See camera settings and GPS location stored in a photo, and download a copy with EXIF removed.