.tiff
File extension
Lossless image
Type
8/16/32-bit
Bit depth
1986
Introduced
What is a .tiff file?#
Flexible lossless container used for archiving, printing and exchanging edited 16-bit files.
Advantages#
- Lossless, 16-bit
- Layers and metadata
- Print industry standard
Drawbacks#
- Very large files
How to open and convert it#
Open: any modern image viewer or editor. Convert: Photoshop, GIMP, Affinity Photo, ImageMagick (magick input.tiff output.jpg) or online converters.
Read metadata: exiftool file.tiff — see the EXIF tag reference.
Best for: Print masters and archiving edited images.
Other formats#
Frequently asked questions#
What opens .tiff files?
Open: any modern image viewer or editor. Convert: Photoshop, GIMP, Affinity Photo, ImageMagick (magick input.tiff output.jpg) or online converters.
Is .tiff a RAW file?
No — it is a lossless image format.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources