What is TIFF?
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is a versatile raster image format that supports lossless compression and high color depth. Developed by Aldus Corporation in 1986 and now maintained by Adobe, TIFF is the industry standard for professional photography, scanning, and archival imaging.
TIFF files can store multiple images and layers, making them ideal for complex projects requiring high-quality image preservation.
Key Features
- Lossless Compression: Preserves original image quality
- High Color Depth: Supports up to 32-bit color
- Multi-Page Support: Multiple images in one file
- Alpha Channel: Transparency support
- Metadata Rich: Extensive EXIF and IPTC data
- Flexible Compression: LZW, ZIP, or uncompressed
- Layer Support: Can store layers (limited)
- Wide Compatibility: Supported by most imaging software
Common Uses
- Professional photography and RAW processing
- Document scanning and archiving
- Medical imaging (X-rays, MRI scans)
- Print publishing and prepress
- Scientific and technical imaging
- Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Advantages
- No quality loss with compression
- Excellent for archival and long-term storage
- Supports extremely high resolutions
- Industry standard for professional work
- Extensive metadata capabilities
- Platform independent
Limitations
- Large file sizes compared to lossy formats
- Not ideal for web use due to size
- Limited browser support
- Complex format with many variations
- Slower to load than compressed formats
Technical Information
- File Extensions: .tiff, .tif
- MIME Type: image/tiff
- Developed by: Aldus Corporation (1986), now Adobe
- Color Depth: 1-bit to 32-bit per channel
- Compression: Uncompressed, LZW, ZIP, JPEG
- Max Dimensions: 4GB file size limit