What is TIFF?
TIFF stands for “Tag Image File Format”. It is a complex file format for storing one or more bitmapped images in multiple colour spaces using several different forms of compression. The file name extension for TIFF files is: .tif, .tiff
What are its features?
TIFF files maintain high quality as they employ lossless compression, ensuring that every pixel and detail is preserved. They are also an adaptable file format as they support multiple layers and can be tailored so are popular amongst graphic designers and photographers.
Similarly, they not just black and white. The image format supports a spectrum of colour depths, including monochrome, grayscale and 24-bit colour. TIFF files are compatible with a range of software applications including Adobe Photoshop and GIMP.
What is the format used for?
TIFF has various different uses, one of the most common is for CAD (Computer-Aided Design). Designers and engineers can export CAD drawings to TIFF format and still maintain high image and quality.
TIFF vs PNG: The pros and cons
TIFF files have distinct advantages and disadvantages. The format excels in preserving high-resolution images and is suitable for professional photography and graphic design but has larger file sizes.
PNG, on the other hand, is more efficient for web use, supports transparency, and is widely compatible but may have limited colour depth and does not support multiple layers.
When comparing TIFF to formats like PNG, the reasoning often comes down to quality versus convenience. PNG is lossless like TIFF and supports transparency, but is designed more for web graphics and screen use than high–resolution print.
Is it possible to convert TIFF to PNG?
Yes, you can convert TIFF to PNG programmatically with a few lines of Java code.
Is it possible to convert TIFF to PDF?
Yes. You will need to print the TIFF (most printers offer a print as PDF), export as PDF in a graphics package such as Mac Preview or use a third party tool such as our JDeli library. JDeli is the best enterprise-level Java image library for performance and efficiency.
How to open TIFF files in Java?
ImageIO (the built-in Java Image library) includes support for TIFF images.
JDeli is a pure Java library with TIFF support. You can convert, read and write TIFF files in Java with JDeli. Have a look at our documentation for JDeli to find out more.
FAQs
Q: Why do some programs fail to open certain TIFF files?
A: TIFF’s flexibility is a double-edged sword: different programs may interpret or support various features, tags, or compressions differently. Some software only supports “baseline” TIFF features, while others may not handle multi-page files, uncommon compressions, or private tags, making certain TIFFs difficult to open or edit without conversion or specialized tools.
Q: What causes compatibility issues between different TIFF files and software?
A: Because TIFF is extensible, developers can add “private tags” or create specialized file variants. While this allows customization, it can lead to compatibility problems, with some viewers unable to interpret all extensions or metadata. Additionally, byte order differences and support for multiple compressions can make TIFF files unreadable across platforms if not handled properly.
Q: Why are TIFF files often so large and less suited for the web?
A: TIFF prioritizes image quality, storing data with little or no compression for maximum fidelity. This results in large file sizes, making TIFF inefficient for fast downloads, web use, or devices with limited storage. Most websites and browsers favor formats like JPEG or PNG, which are smaller and load more quickly.
Are you a Java Developer working with Image files?
// Read an image
BufferedImage bufferedImage = JDeli.read(avifImageFile);
// Read an image
BufferedImage bufferedImage = JDeli.read(dicomImageFile);// Read an image
BufferedImage bufferedImage = JDeli.read(heicImageFile);
// Write an image
JDeli.write(bufferedImage, "heic", outputStreamOrFile);// Read an image
BufferedImage bufferedImage = JDeli.read(jpegImageFile);
// Write an image
JDeli.write(bufferedImage, "jpeg", outputStreamOrFile);
// Read an image
BufferedImage bufferedImage = JDeli.read(jpeg2000ImageFile);
// Write an image
JDeli.write(bufferedImage, "jpx", outputStreamOrFile);
// Write an image
JDeli.write(bufferedImage, "pdf", outputStreamOrFile);
// Read an image
BufferedImage bufferedImage = JDeli.read(pngImageFile);
// Write an image
JDeli.write(bufferedImage, "png", outputStreamOrFile);
// Read an image
BufferedImage bufferedImage = JDeli.read(tiffImageFile);
// Write an image
JDeli.write(bufferedImage, "tiff", outputStreamOrFile);
// Read an image
BufferedImage bufferedImage = JDeli.read(webpImageFile);
// Write an image
JDeli.write(bufferedImage, "webp", outputStreamOrFile);
What is JDeli?
JDeli is a commercial Java Image library that is used to read, write, convert, manipulate and process many different image formats.
Why use JDeli?
To handle many well known formats such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF as well as newer formats like AVIF, HEIC and JPEG XL in java with no calls to any external system or third party library.
What licenses are available?
We have 3 licenses available:
Server for on premises and cloud servers, Distribution for use in a named end user applications, and Custom for more demanding requirements.
How does JDeli compare?
We work hard to make sure JDeli performance is better than or similar to other java image libraries. Check out our benchmarks to see just how well JDeli performs.
