Images

What is a TIFF file?

Updated Jul 2026

Definition

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is an image format built for quality over convenience. It stores pictures without throwing away any data, which is why scanners, printers, and archives rely on it, and it can carry deep metadata alongside the image. The tradeoff is size: a TIFF file is often many times larger than a JPG of the same picture.

TIFFTagged Image File Format

Extension: .tiff
Type: Images
Typically: Scans, print, archival
Transparency: None
Metadata: Carries EXIF

Why TIFF exists

TIFF dates back to the mid-1980s, when it was designed as a flexible way to store scanned documents and images across different devices. That flexibility is baked into its name: it's "tagged" because the format stores a list of tags describing exactly how the pixel data inside is organized, which is part of why it never really went away.

In plain terms, a TIFF file usually keeps every bit of the original image data instead of compressing it down the way a JPG does. That makes it a favorite for scanning documents, printing photos, and archiving anything where quality loss isn't acceptable. Some TIFF files do use lossless compression to shrink the file a bit, but even then nothing is thrown away.

People usually run into TIFF files coming out of a scanner, a professional camera, or a print shop's workflow. The file is large and not something you'd want to email or post online, so it tends to need converting to JPG or PNG before it goes anywhere outside that print or archive pipeline.

The trade-offs

Strengths

No quality loss, so scans and prints stay sharp
Can hold layered images and rich metadata
Well established in printing and archival workflows

Watch-outs

File sizes are much larger than JPG or PNG
Not practical for email, messaging, or the web
Many phones, browsers, and apps won't open it directly

A note on privacy

A TIFF file can carry EXIF and other embedded metadata, including camera details and sometimes location data, the same as a photo from a phone or camera. Run it through an online converter and that file, metadata included, gets uploaded to someone else's server. Converting it on your own computer keeps the image and everything attached to it on your machine.

Convert a TIFF file

Questions

How do I open a TIFF file?

Most computers, both Mac and Windows, can open a TIFF in their built-in photo viewer without any extra software. Many phones and web browsers can't, though, so you may need to convert it to JPG or PNG to view or share it there.

Is TIFF better than JPG?

For quality, yes: TIFF keeps every bit of the original image, while JPG throws some away to save space. For everyday use, no: TIFF files are far larger and less widely supported, so JPG is usually the better fit for sharing.

Why does my scanner save files as TIFF?

Scanners and print shops default to TIFF because it preserves full image quality with no compression loss, which matters for documents and prints that need to stay accurate.

Can I convert a TIFF file without uploading it?

Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts TIFF files on your own computer, so the image and its metadata never leave your machine.

Morphjet opens and converts TIFF and 1,800+ other formats, all on your own computer. Launching this July.