TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is a flexible, industry-standard raster format from 1986, widely used in professional photography, scanning, publishing, medical imaging, and archiving because it supports lossless compression, multiple layers, high bit depths (up to 32-bit), CMYK color, and metadata tags. TIFF preserves every detail without degradation, making it ideal for master archives, print production, OCR documents, and satellite imagery. In 2026, TIFF remains the gold standard for photographers exporting from RAW, publishers needing press-ready files, and institutions requiring long-term preservation. Variants like GeoTIFF add geospatial data. Drawbacks: large file sizes compared to JPEG/WebP and slower web loading (rarely used online). Software like Photoshop, GIMP, and IrfanView handle TIFF flawlessly. For anyone in creative professions or needing archival-grade images, TIFF ensures maximum fidelity and future-proofing.
As part of the image category, this format is highly optimized for its specific use case. Whether you are using it for professional or personal tasks, understanding how to handle .tiff files is essential for efficient digital workflows.
TIFF files open in most image viewers: Windows Photos, macOS Preview, or IrfanView (free and fast). Photoshop and GIMP offer full editing. For multi-page TIFFs (scans), use dedicated viewers like Windows Fax Viewer or online tools. Convert to PDF for sharing if needed.