What is the TIFF format?
a high-quality format used for scans, print and photo archives
- MIME type
- image/tiff
- Extensions
- .tiff, .tif
- Introduced
- 1986
- Compression
- Lossy or lossless
- Transparency
- Yes
- Animation
- No
- Shown directly in browsers
- No
- On this site
- Read (input)
Overview
TIFF has long been used for scanners, publishing and print, and for archiving original photos. It is a flexible container that supports lossless compression as well as several other compression methods and high bit depths.
Browsers can't display it directly, so it needs converting before going on the web. This site reads TIFF as input and converts it to PNG, JPG, WebP and more. Exporting to TIFF isn't supported.
History
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) was created by Aldus in 1986 for exchanging desktop-publishing and scanner images. Adobe has maintained the specification since acquiring Aldus.
Its tag-based structure holds many color modes and compression methods, so it has long been used in professional fields such as scanning, print, and medical and map imagery.
Pros
- High-quality originals
- Many color modes and bit depths
- Common for scanned documents
Cons
- Large files
- Browsers can't display it
- Many variants, so compatibility differs between programs
Best used for
- Scanned documents
- Print-ready originals
- Photo archives
Compatibility
Most browsers other than Safari can't display TIFF. Professional editors and OS default viewers can open it.
Convert TIFF
Convert from TIFF
TIFF: frequently asked questions
+Which programs can open TIFF files?
Most browsers other than Safari can't display TIFF. Professional editors and OS default viewers can open it.
+Does TIFF support transparent backgrounds?
Yes, TIFF supports transparent backgrounds.
+How do I convert TIFF to another format?
Upload your TIFF file to AnyPicToAnyPic and pick one of PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF, BMP, ICO, SVG. It is converted right in your browser and the file is never uploaded.
+Can I save images as TIFF here?
This site only reads TIFF files and converts them to other formats. Saving as TIFF isn't supported.