What Is a TIF Document?
Photos are typically saved as BMP, JPEG, or GIF, but other photo formats are used to expand functionality or for a specific program. One of these formats is the TIF format. TIF stands for Tagged Image File and is often labeled as TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) as well. The format is compatible with a lot of software programs, and while it will probably never be as popular as JPEG or GIF, TIF is commonly used in the graphics world.
Other People Are Reading
-
History
-
The TIF file format was originally created by the Aldus company in the 1980s. Back then it was the standard photo format for images, but it was quickly replaced by others. The TIF format worked well with the PageMaker application, and once Adobe acquired that application and Aldus, it controlled the TIF format and still does today.
Function
-
Orignally, when scanners were used to process photos, the imaging was done in the TIF image format. As scanners moved on to color images, the TIF format stayed and made room for other formats to be used as well. Today, TIF is rarely used for scanners but is still an option for graphics files within the Adobe Photoshop program.
-
Benefits
-
Unlike JPEG and GIF files, TIF files remember layers. This means that within Adobe Photoshop, different layers of a TIF file could be manipulated and multiple pictures could actually be saved as a single TIF file. TIF files are also able to hold transparency information, so a transparent picture could be read throughout multiple programs.
Considerations
-
While TIF files have their advantages, Adobe Photoshop users are often better off saving their files using the PSD Photoshop format. The PSD format provides the same options, and you do not need to risk losing data because of TIF's incompatibility with many programs.
Errors
-
The TIF file-saving format works with open-ended data. Other than with Adobe programs, this can cause unexpected results. Your photo can appear distorted, not load at all, or the program can freeze up. Check the program you are using to make sure it is compatible with TIF files.
-
