TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
.tiff .tif · image/tiff · 1986 · Aldus / Adobe
TIFF has been the professional standard for print, publishing and archival scanning since 1986. It supports 16-bit channels, CMYK, layers, and lossless (or no) compression, which makes files large and browsers uninterested — no mainstream browser displays TIFF. Convert to PNG for lossless web use or JPEG for sharing; keep the TIFF as your archival master.
Compression
Lossless
Transparency
Yes
Animation
No
Browser display
None
Strengths & limitations
Strengths
- Archival quality, 16-bit and CMYK support
- Industry standard in print and scanning
- Flexible: layers, multi-page, profiles
Limitations
- Browsers cannot display it
- Very large files
- Overkill for everyday sharing
Best used for
- Print production
- Archival scans
- Professional photo editing masters