What Is the File Extension TIFF?

In the world of digital imaging, there are many types of file formats or extensions you can choose when saving, displaying and manipulating your images. The TIFF file extension has many advantages and disadvantages you may want to consider.

Definition

A Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) is a format primarily used for saving raster-based digital images like line art and photographs.

History

The TIFF file format was created by program developer Aldus in the late nineties to import raster based images into the usually vector based desktop publishing programs. Aldus was later acquired by Adobe Systems, Inc. who now holds the rights to the format's specifications.

Use

Although most photographs and scanned images are automatically saves in the JPEG file format, and most images used on the web are saved as GIF files, TIFF files are commonly used when mixing different types of imaging software to create a final product. When images and text are used together, it is common for images to be manipulated and saved with a raster based program and saved as an TIFF file, and then imported into a vector based program to add text.

Advantages

TIFF files can be read by many different types of imaging programs regardless of type or manufacturer. TIFF files are automatically compressed, meaning that even large files can be saved and sent electronically without much storage space. You can also choose how much "loss," or lack of detail quality, you will experience when saving TIFF files.

Disadvantages

TIFF files must be compressed because they're quite large. Also, sometimes TIFF files' versatility becomes a problem. Since they're made to work with so many types of applications, there are different kinds of TIFF files. Many types of TIFF files can't be read by versions of some software titles.