What is the TIFF file format?
Files with the .tiff (or .tif) extension are a graphics file format for storing raster image data. .tiff files are used for saving raster graphics data including: bit depth from 1-bit bilevel up to 32 bits per channel, color profiles, and embedded metadata. Data in a TIFF can be saved in lossy or lossless format depending on the compression codec chosen - options include LZW, ZIP/Deflate, and PackBits for lossless, or JPEG for lossy. The standard also supports layers and multi-page documents through multiple Image File Directories (IFDs) within a single file. This advanced format is widely used for storing high-definition image data where fidelity is critical.
The TIFF standard was developed in the 1980s to introduce a standardized format for storing images captured with digital scanners. Because it had to be compatible with many devices available on the market, the format was designed around a flexible tag system - each tag describes one property of the image, making TIFF extensible without breaking older readers. Today, files with the .tiff extension can be edited on many hardware and software platforms.
TIFF is commonly used for saving prepress and DTP (desktop publishing) images. TIFF files are also used in scanning, fax transmission (CCITT Group 3/4 compression), optical character recognition, and other document-processing workflows. As TIFF offers lossless compression, this format remains popular among photographers and graphic artists as an archival master format. Geospatial professionals use the GeoTIFF profile - standard TIFF with geographic tags - for satellite and aerial imagery.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWTIFF is image data and normally safe to open; it cannot contain executable macros. Two caveats: (1) the format is so flexible that malformed TIFFs have historically triggered parser bugs in image libraries (libtiff) - keep viewers updated; (2) "free TIFF converter/viewer" download sites and exotic conversion portals add no value and sometimes bundle adware - use the built-in OS viewers or reputable tools (IrfanView, XnView, GIMP, ImageMagick) instead.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open TIFF files
Windows5 apps
Microsoft Windows Photos
Built-in Double-click the .tiff - the built-in Photos app opens it; use arrows to page through multi-page TIFFs. 
Adobe Photoshop
Paid Open for full editing including 16/32-bit and layered TIFFs; the prepress/photography standard. 
GIMP
Open-source File -> Open to edit; File -> Export As to save to PNG/JPG/PDF. Free Photoshop alternative. 
IrfanView
Free Open the .tiff; for multi-page use Image -> Extract all frames, or Save As PDF to combine pages. 
XnView MP
Free Open or batch-view TIFFs; Tools -> Batch Convert exports many .tiff to JPG/PDF at once. 
macOS3 apps
Apple Preview
Built-in Double-click the .tiff; Preview shows multi-page TIFFs and exports to PDF/JPEG via File -> Export. 
Linux4 apps
darktable
Open-source Imports TIFF for non-destructive photo editing/export; a raw/photo workflow tool, not a quick viewer. 
ImageMagick
Open-source Command line: 'magick scan.tiff scan.pdf' combines pages; 'magick in.tiff out.jpg' converts. 
gThumb / Eye of GNOME
Open-source Default GNOME image viewers display TIFFs, including multi-page in gThumb. 
Android1 app
Google Files / Photos
Built-in Most gallery apps preview TIFF; for multi-page use a dedicated viewer or convert via Drive.
Files / Photos (built-in)
Built-in Tap the .tiff in Files to preview; share-sheet -> Print -> pinch-out to save as PDF. Technical details
deep spec| File type | Tag-based raster image container |
| Encoding | Binary - byte order declared in header: little-endian (II, 49 49 2A 00) or big-endian (MM, 4D 4D 00 2A) |
| Magic bytes | 49 49 2A 00 (little-endian) or 4D 4D 00 2A (big-endian) at offset 0; BigTIFF uses version byte 0x2B instead of 0x2A |
| Container structure | 8-byte header pointing to a chain of Image File Directories (IFDs); each IFD lists tags and pointers to strip/tile pixel data |
| Compression codecs | None, LZW, PackBits, ZIP/Deflate, CCITT Group 3/4 (fax), JPEG, JPEG2000 (per-image selection) |
| Color depth | 1 bpp (bilevel) to 8/16/32 bits per channel; grayscale, RGB, CMYK, YCbCr, CIE Lab, palette; optional alpha |
| Multi-page support | Multiple images via chained IFDs in a single file; no fixed maximum |
| Typical file size | 500 KB to 100+ MB (uncompressed high-resolution scans at the high end) |
| Max file size | 4 GB in classic TIFF (32-bit IFD offsets); BigTIFF (version byte 43) removes this with 64-bit offsets |
| MIME type | image/tiff (primary); image/tiff-fx (fax profile) |
| Metadata support | EXIF, IPTC, XMP, ICC color profiles, GeoTIFF geographic tags |
| Profiles and extensions | TIFF/EP (ISO 12234-2, camera raw), TIFF/IT (ISO 12639, prepress), GeoTIFF (geospatial), BigTIFF (large file) |
| Color space support | Grayscale, RGB, CMYK, YCbCr, CIE L*a*b*, indexed palette - identified by the PhotometricInterpretation tag |
| Released | 1986 (Aldus); TIFF 6.0 spec 1992, owned by Adobe since 1994 |
| Latest version | TIFF 6.0 (1992); TIFF/EP (ISO 12234-2), TIFF/IT (ISO 12639), GeoTIFF and BigTIFF as extensions |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | www.adobe.io |
TIFF conversions
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