Convert TIF to PNG
About TIF
The Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) is a high-quality, flexible image format that is a standard in the printing and professional photography industries. It can be saved with lossless compression (like LZW or ZIP) or uncompressed, preserving all image detail. TIFF also supports layers, multiple pages, and extensive metadata, making it ideal for archival and complex editing workflows.
About PNG
Portable Network Graphics (PNG) is a raster graphics format that supports lossless data compression, meaning no quality is lost when the file is compressed. Its most notable feature is its support for transparency (the alpha channel), which allows images to have transparent backgrounds. This makes PNG a favorite for web graphics, logos, and icons.
TIF vs PNG
| Feature | TIF | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | uncompressed, LZW, ZIP, JPEG | lossless |
| Transparency | true | true |
| Animation | false | false |
| Quality Rating | 5 | 5 |
| Patent Status | royalty-free | patent-free |
| Year Introduced | 1986 | 1996 |
| Developed By | Aldus Corporation | PNG Development Group |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use TIFF for the web?
No, TIFF files are not suitable for the web. They have very large file sizes and are not supported by most web browsers. TIFF is designed for print and professional editing, not for online viewing. For the web, use JPEG, PNG, or WebP.
What's the difference between TIF and TIFF?
Similar to JPG/JPEG, there is no difference. 'TIF' is simply the three-letter file extension used by older systems. The format itself is officially named TIFF.
Is PNG better than JPEG?
It depends on the use case. For photographs, JPEG provides smaller file sizes with minimal perceptible quality loss. For graphics with sharp lines, text, or transparency needs, PNG is superior as it is lossless and supports an alpha channel.
Why are PNG files larger than JPEGs?
PNG files are larger because they use lossless compression. They retain all the original image data, whereas JPEG uses lossy compression to discard data and reduce file size. This makes PNGs higher quality but also larger.
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