How to open tiff. TIFF format - how to open it and why not JPEG

Senior Technology Writer

Someone sent you a e-mail TIFF file and you don't know how to open it? Maybe you found a TIFF file on your computer and wondered what it was? Windows may tell you that you cannot open it, or in the worst case, you may encounter a corresponding error message associated with the TIFF file.

Before you can open a TIFF file, you need to find out what kind of file the TIFF file extension is.

Advice: Incorrect TIFF file associations may be a sign of other basic problems on your Windows operating system. These incorrect entries can also cause other related problems such as slow Windows startup, computer freezes and other PC performance problems. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you scan your Windows registry for incorrect file associations and other problems related to registry fragmentation.

Answer:

TIFF files have Files raster images, which is primarily associated with Tagged Image Format File.

TIFF files are also associated with BigTIFF Image and FileViewPro.

Additional file types may also use the TIFF file extension. If you are aware of any other file formats that use the TIFF file extension, please contact us so we can update our information accordingly.

How to open your TIFF file:

The fastest and easy way Opening your TIFF file is a matter of double-clicking on it. IN in this case Windows system she will choose the necessary program to open your TIFF file.

In case your TIFF file does not open, it is very likely that the necessary software is not installed on your PC. application program to view or edit files with TIFF extensions.

If your PC opens a TIFF file but wrong program, you will need to change the file association settings in your Windows registry. In other words, Windows associates TIFF file extensions with the wrong program.

Software downloads associated with the TIFF file extension:

• FileViewPro*()
• Tagged Image Format File

*Some TIFF file extension formats can only be opened in binary format.

TIFF Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME):

TIFF File Analysis Tool™

Not sure what type a TIFF file is? Do you want to get precise information about a file, its creator and how it can be opened?

Now you can instantly get all necessary information O TIFF file!

Revolutionary TIFF File Analysis Tool™ scans, analyzes and reports detailed information about the TIFF file. Our patent-pending algorithm will quickly analyze the file and provide detailed information within seconds in a clear, easy-to-read format.†

In just a few seconds, you'll know exactly what type of TIFF file you have, the application associated with the file, the name of the user who created the file, the file's security status, and other useful information.

To get started free analysis file, simply drag and drop your TIFF file inside the dotted line below or click "Browse My Computer" and select the file. The TIFF file analysis report will be shown below, right in the browser window.

Drag the TIFF file here to start analysis

View my computer »

Please also check my file for viruses

TIFF format Tagged Image File Format is one of the most widely used formats used in preparing graphics. This format is actually the standard for preparing images in printing. Files in this format usually have a .tif or .tiff extension.

TIFF is one of the most complex formats in its internal structure. TIFF files begin with an 8-byte image file header (IFH). The file header contains a block called the Image File Directory (IFD). This block allows graphics programs determine the internal structure of the file.

NOTE. A TIFF file usually begins with the characters "II*". This can be used for simple definition file format with a non-standard extension.

Using IFD, you can extract tags from a file - blocks of data containing information about the size of the image, its color model, palette size (number of colors used), data compression, etc. The image itself is also contained in a separate tag. In total, several dozen such blocks have been defined. Because the entire TIFF file is made up of tags, the format is easy to modernize and expand. In fact, for the introduction additional features it is enough to determine new tag. However, this is the source possible errors– if the program cannot determine the value of a tag entered by any of the manufacturers of a similar software, the file may not be opened correctly or not read at all.

NOTE. In web design, the native language is most often used. computer monitors RGB model

or indexed color mode (up to 256 arbitrary colors or standard palette). The resolution specified in the file is most often 72 dpi. Most monitors are capable of displaying graphics at 72 or 96 dpi. For high-quality (including photo) printing, images with a resolution of 300 dpi and higher are suitable.

In addition to the image, the TIFF file can store transparency channels (alpha channels), which allow you to save transparent areas of the image or highlighting objects between working sessions. If you work in Photoshop, you can save a TIFF file containing layers, but other programs will only be able to read such a file as single image. To indicate the need to save layers, check the Layers checkbox in the window for selecting the name of the saved file.

NOTE. Adobe Photoshop can save in TIFF format additional elements images, such as guide lines.

However, data compression cannot always be used. Many programs are not designed to work with TIFF files, which also use image compression. If you are sending TIFF files to someone, it is better to use an archiver program (for example, WinRAR or WinZip). This will reduce the chance that the recipient will not be able to open your files.

Rice. 4.2. Window for saving a TIFF file in Adobe Photoshop CS 2. You can set the byte order (for IBM PC or Macintosh), and also enable image compression.

In the Compression area, you can select one of four available algorithms. For the JPEG algorithm, you can also specify the image quality. By checking the Save Transparency checkbox, you tell the program to save transparent areas of the image. Otherwise they will be filled with white.

New in Adobe Photoshop CS 2 is the ability to choose the order in which pixel color information is recorded. The Pixel Order switch allows you to select the recording mode. IN this moment this parameter is practically not used.

The TIFF format is widely used not only on the IBM PC platform, but also on Apple Macintosh(Actually, Macintosh is the birthplace of TIFF). Many graphic editors (of course, Adobe Photoshop) support saving and reading files in IBM PC and Apple modes. These modes differ in the order in which the files are written. You can select one mode or another using the Byte Order switch.

NOTE. Processors on which they are based Apple computers, read the bytes of two-byte numbers from left to right (first the high byte, and then the low byte). Intel processors(and others compatible with them) write and read the low byte first, and then the high byte.

If the image contains layers, after setting the described options, you will be warned that saving the image with layers will increase the file size. If you do not want this warning to appear again, select the Don"t show again checkbox.

ATTENTION. TIFF files compressed using JPEG and ZIP algorithms cannot be read by most older programs. If you are not confident that the recipient of your files will be able to handle them, avoid using these methods.

Since TIFF has taken root on both the IBM PC and Apple, it can be used to transfer images from one hardware platform to another without losing their properties, attributes and, of course, content. This format can also be used to transfer data between various applications, who do not understand each other's formats, but know TIFF. With such a transfer, many image attributes will be preserved, which are lost, for example, when transferring data through the Windows clipboard.

To preserve the colors of an image when transferring from one computer to another (due to differences in the composition hardware and its color settings may be displayed differently) the file may include color profile ICC.

ADVICE. If you saved a TIFF file in one program and can't open it in another, it may be because the tag sets used in those applications are incompatible. Try opening the file in another program (such as the ACDSee viewer) and saving it as TIFF or another format.

Some digital cameras can save files in TIFF format. This format is used to obtain high-quality images, containing no traces of compression by the JPEG algorithm. Such images take up much more space than images saved in a compressed format, so you should use TIFF in a digital camera only in two cases - if you know for sure that using a compressed format will not allow you to get an image of the desired quality, or if you have it at hand There is a computer or a sufficient number of spare memory cards.

In conclusion, we note that the TIFF format can be used to save intermediate results work that does not require the introduction of specific information (vector objects, guide lines, layers and other objects). The prevalence of this format makes it easy to transfer images between programs and hardware platforms. Using color correction (ICC profiles) makes it possible to preserve colors unchanged (as far as possible) when viewed on different monitors and when printed.

A TIFF file is one of the files in the Raster Image Files category. Its full name is Tagged Image File Format. The TIFF file format is created by Adobe Systems. If you came to us, you are probably looking for programs that will help you work with this specific extension. On following pages you will find lists of programs that support TIFF file sorted by operating systems. If our database contains information about converting a TIFF file, you will definitely find it here.

Description of the TIFF file

The TIFF's roots come from the acclaimed manufacturer Adobe. Adobe software was the first to develop the TIFF so that people could work with images on any Adobe program. It became so popular that the likes of Microsoft and Hewitt-Packard also came in to help develop the file. Now the likes of TIFF is used in a number of programs, but to this day this file type is still known for being an Adobe file.

Like a TIF, the TIFF can be used in a number of files. Some of the more prominent file types are JPEG. However, the TIFF can go further by being able to manipulate LZW files. This file type also aids in the likes of RGB full colors for image programs. The point is that image manipulation would not be the same without the TIFF.

Understanding which image format to use will enable you to get the most out of your digital photos. Some formats the best way are suitable for getting the optimal balance of quality and file size when storing your photos, while other types will allow you to more easily restore a damaged photo. There are countless image formats, and new ones emerge from time to time; in this chapter we will focus on the capabilities of two of the three most suitable for digital photography formats: JPEG and TIFF. The RAW format is discussed in a separate chapter.

Introduction: Image Compression

An important concept that distinguishes many image formats is whether they contain compression or not. Compressed files are significantly smaller than their uncompressed counterparts and are divided into two main categories: “lossy” and “lossless”. Lossless compression ensures that all image information is preserved, even if the final image size is slightly larger. Lossy compression, by contrast, can produce significantly smaller files, but achieves this by selectively throwing away image information. The resulting compressed file is no longer identical to the original. Visible differences between compressed files and their sources are called "compression defects".

JPEG format

JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Expert Group and, as the name suggests, it was specifically designed for storing photographic images. He also became standard format for storing images in digital cameras and displaying photos on Internet sites. JPEG files are significantly smaller than those saved in TIFF, but the cost of this savings is the use of lossy compression. The great power of JPEG files is their flexibility. The JPEG format is essentially a set of parameters that can be customized to suit the needs of a single image.

The JPEG format achieves small file size by compressing an image using a method that preserves the most significant details and loses details rated as less visually impactful. JPEG does this by taking advantage of the fact that the human eye notices variations in brightness more than variations in color. The degree of compression achieved is therefore highly dependent on the content of the image; Highly noisy or finely detailed images are not easily compressed, while images with soft skies and little texture will be compressed very well.

It's also useful to get visual representation about how different compression ratios affect the quality of your image. At 100%, you are unlikely to notice any differences, if any, between the compressed and uncompressed image below. Notice how the JPEG algorithm prioritizes bright, high-contrast edges at the expense of finer textures. As quality decreases, the JPEG algorithm is forced to sacrifice more and more prominent textures in order to continue to reduce file size.

TIFF format

TIFF stands for Tagged Image File Format and is a standard for the printing and printing industry. TIFF files are significantly larger than their JPEG counterparts and can be written with either uncompressed or lossless compression. Unlike JPEGs, TIFF files can be either 16 or 8 bits per channel. In addition, several layers (pages) of an image can be stored in one TIFF file.

TIFF files are an excellent choice for storing intermediate files that you may need to edit later because they do not introduce compression artifacts. Many cameras can record images directly to TIFF, but they can take up significantly more space than an equivalent JPEG. If your camera supports RAW format, this is an excellent alternative as it is significantly smaller and can still save even more information about the original image.

• Record an image using lossy compression only after finishing editing, since many image manipulations can increase compression defects.
• Avoid compressing a file multiple times, as compression defects can accumulate and cause progressive degradation in image quality. In such cases, the JPEG algorithm may end up creating increasingly larger and larger files. bigger size at a constant compression ratio.
• Make sure there is minimal noise in the image as this will significantly reduce the size of JPEG files.

I present to your attention a fragment of one of the chapters of my future book about landscape photography under the working title “Photographing the Landscape”

The basic rule of digital camera photography is: first we try to get nice pictures, and we deal with processing and bringing the resulting image “to mind” only later, at work or at home. That's why it's important to get your best photo in the world to your computer safely. Knowledge of the features will help us with this various formats records.
If you are a frugal person in life, you are faced with a dilemma - which format from those available in your beloved camera to use for recording images. Digital cameras today they can offer you TIFF, RAW and several gradations of the JPEG format. Let's start discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each of them with JPEG, which is available in any camera today and is the most popular among amateur photographers.

JPEG format

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), as its name suggests, was created on the initiative of photographers themselves, it seems, back in the days of King Pea, for transmitting scanned or computer-generated images. At that time the volumes disk memory computers were small. For example, at that time the size of my memory personal computer was only 20 MB, that is, one photo from today could fit into it.
Information in those days was transmitted mainly via a five-inch floppy disk, so it was important to “compact” the image so that it did not greatly burden the computer’s memory with its presence and the quality of the “picture” did not suffer too much. To do this, we used an existing algorithm, which was used for archiving machine files, based on the principle of combining similar sequences of zeros and ones machine code. But, unlike machine code, which requires the exact restoration of all the instructions embedded in it, they decided that in order to reduce the size of the image file, its quality can be slightly sacrificed, since it is intended to be viewed by the human eye, which forgives some inaccuracies. As a result, the developers received the JPEG format, which allows storing color images with a depth of up to 24 bits, as well as images in grayscale.
As follows from the biography of this format, its main task is to minimize the disk space occupied by images. This compression is far from free of charge - the quality suffers: detail is lost and color is disrupted. This happens to varying degrees and depends on the degree of compression and the number of heterogeneous small image elements. If, for example, a landscape with grass and flowers greatly loses quality when compressed, then the image of one blue sky you can safely compress it to the minimum, with almost complete preservation of quality.
View enlarged portions of three JPEG illustrations from different quality(Basic, Norm and Fine) on a Nikon D70 camera. Although appearance the difference in quality between them is not very noticeable, but high magnifications it manifests itself much more significantly, primarily in the details.

Advantages
Minimum time recording images to a memory card and saving space.

Flaws
Not suitable for shooting high quality photos big size with many small details.

For whom

Suitable for beginner amateur photographers and anyone who does not intend to print pictures larger than 10x15 cm. And if there is not enough memory on the JPEG card, it will also “save” a professional who does not want to miss a great shot. If your camera does not have another format, then in the name of quality I recommend using the mode with the lowest compression, usually designated “fine”.

Two frames of the same view, shot in JPEG (left) and TIFF (right) on a LEICA DIGILUX 1. Again, the difference will be noticeable mainly in the details and only when high magnification in the form of easy “blurring” of small details. The TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) format was created as a universal format for color images. It must be said that this format is generally a very curious invention by Macintosh engineers, since its internal structure can take on any bizarre shape. Any other tags can be added to the tags that contain the image itself and describe data on its color, compression, resolution, and the like. Thus, this format has a stackable structure. For example, a file may contain more than one image (called layers) or some additional data. To graphics editor, reading this powerful format, was able to figure out where everything is in it, the structure of the image is described in the so-called image file directory (IFD), located in the header of the same file. Similar to the JPEG discussed earlier, the TIFF format allows us to record both color images with a color depth of up to 24 bits and monochrome images. Moreover, in files of this format you can store images in other color models, for example in CMYK (mainly used in printing). I hope I didn't bore you too much technical details, but let’s still return to our sheep, that is, to the needs of an amateur photographer. If your camera has JPEG and TIFF formats, then I recommend that you use only TIFF, only then can you be sure that you are using the capabilities of your camera’s matrix and its lens one hundred percent. The image from the matrix, processed by the camera processor, is recorded on the card in uncompressed form, that is, in its entirety, and therefore does not lose its living properties. It is worth noting the disadvantages inherent in the TIFF format. Firstly, carrying a large amount of information, such files take up a lot of space on the memory card. As an example, I’ll say that in my camera, a 256 MB card can hold 20 pictures in TIFF format or 128 pieces (that is, six times more) in JPEG format. Secondly, due to the large size of the files, they take longer to write to the memory card - the recording time for TIFF can be several tens of seconds, while recording in the JPEG format usually takes about two to three seconds.

Advantages
The image from the matrix, processed by the camera processor, is recorded on the card in uncompressed or almost uncompressed form, that is, almost completely, and therefore does not lose its live properties.

Flaws
Takes up a lot of space on the memory card, for a long time records.

For whom
For amateur and professional photographers who want to print photographs larger than 10x15 cm, sparing no space on the memory card for high-quality images, which you can later work with in a graphic editor.

These illustrations show the advantage of the RAW format. The blue photo was taken offhand, with the white balance set incorrectly (based on incandescent lamps). Such a photo, taken in JPEG or TIFF format, could only be thrown away or would have to be converted to grayscale mode. However, the RAW format made it possible to get rid of the bluishness and save this photo by applying a different white balance (in this case, “sunny”).
But the most interesting opportunities for the photographer it provides the RAW format (from the English “raw” - raw, unprocessed). Please note that this format is supported only by expensive professional and semi-professional digital cameras. What is so remarkable about this format?
As we already know, after the image is received from the matrix, it is processed in the camera processor, where the settings chosen by the photographer for white balance, sharpness, contrast, color saturation and others are “overlaid” on it. The result is written to the memory card. This is the case with JPEG and TIFF formats. In RAW format, the situation is different: the image itself, not yet processed, is written separately to the memory card, and all settings chosen by the photographer are stored separately in the file header in order to be applied later. These RAW files are then processed on the computer in special programs, called RAW converters, and the user can decide whether to apply the settings selected during shooting to the image, or replace them with others that are more suitable.
So, if when shooting a mountain landscape you were sure that solar balance white as possible would be better suited for this scene, and at home you suddenly find that the picture has cold tones and is repulsive, then you can “cancel” the selected white balance, replacing it, for example, with “cloudy”. The same applies to all filters, such as black and white, sepia and solarization, color balance, digital sharpening and some other parameters. You can even apply the appropriate settings from other images to the picture, for example, having determined once and for all the exact white balance for one of the frames taken in a clearing, you can use it for all other pictures of this photo shoot. Once harmony is finally achieved, we save the image on the computer in any format, but the original RAW file with the raw image is not affected.
It's hard to believe, but using the RAW format allows you to even slightly (up to /3EV) correct incorrect exposure! This became possible thanks to the information redundancy provided by the twelve (in some cases sixteen) bit grid for each color channel in RAW format, against the eight-bit grid of JPEG and TIFF formats. Since the entire process of working with RAW is very similar to the adjustments made during optical printing from an overexposed or underexposed negative using toning turns, filters, and so on, the RAW format is often called a digital negative.
To be fair, I note that different manufacturers of photographic equipment interpret the concept of “raw information” differently. For example, some of them still apply noise reduction to the image before recording in RAW format, others apply digital sharpening, others apply compression, and in older models you can even find white balance. In addition, all companies strive to bring something of their own to this format, and as a result, such formats as ORF (Olympus), NEF (Nikon), CRW (Canon) and others appeared. All of these are varieties of the RAW format, and to work with each of them you need your own unique RAW converter. I note that Adobe has released a plugin for Adobe Photoshop CS 8.0 that reads all RAW formats, which any photographer can download for free from the company’s website if desired.
It is noteworthy that a file in RAW format takes up significantly smaller size memory than a similar TIFF. This is explained by the fact that the RAW file does not store the entire image itself, but only the information received from the three matrix sensors responsible for the red, green and blue channels, and interpolation to construct the final image is carried out later, in a RAW converter on the computer. For the TIFF format, interpolation is performed immediately after shooting, in the camera itself, and its results are written to the memory card, taking up much more space. I also note that the interpolation process itself is very energy-intensive, which affects the life expectancy of the batteries.
With all the advantages of the RAW format, it also has some minor disadvantages. The main one, in my opinion, is the need to process images on a computer before using them. Each picture must be processed individually, and not everyone is capable of such perseverance. The second drawback, but not so significant, which I have already mentioned, is the incompatibility RAW formats various manufacturers, leading to the need to use proprietary RAW converters or plug-ins for graphic editors.

Advantages
Huge opportunities for “finishing” photographs.

Flaws
It takes up less space on the memory card than TIFF, but more than JPEG; almost every manufacturer tries to have its own RAW “in stock”, for which a separate plug-in is required.

For whom
For professionals and very (even too!) advanced amateur photographers.

Summary
So, everyone decides for themselves which of the formats available in the camera to use. Someone who wants to take hundreds of brilliant photographs on one small memory card will be quite satisfied with the JPEG format available in any camera, someone will like the logical completeness of the TIFF format, and someone, on the contrary, who loves to change and reinterpret everything until the very last moment, will prefer RAW. However, the choice between TIFF and RAW is not yet relevant for most users: today, rare cameras have both formats.