TIFF vs. JPEG: What Is the Difference?

You will find that there is a difference between TIFF and JPEG in a variety of different areas. When you're working with a photo—either to edit it or post it online—you will want to know how the file formats vary. This way, you can decide what format to work with so that you get as many benefits as possible.

The TIFF vs. JPEG war can be difficult to determine on your own, which is why we want to help you explore some of the differences. Our Movavi Photo Editor software can help you work with your photos effectively regardless of which file type you want to use. However, there are going to be benefits to each one based on what it is that you're doing with the photos.

In the end, both the TIFF and the JPEG (sometimes shortened to JPG) can be effective photo files. Once you know the details of your project, you can decide which format you want the photo in.

When it comes to JPEG vs. TIFF, the biggest difference that you will see is the file size. Particularly when you are looking at high definition photography, you have to pay attention to the format. A JPEG is going to lose compression as a way to reduce the file size. It allows you to send it quickly via email and upload fast online.

With TIFF, it doesn't compress, providing you with the HD benefits that you need for high-resolution photos. The problem, however, is that the file size is considerably larger than a JPEG. This means that it's going to be harder for you to email or upload them.

The size can be substantial, too. With a JPEG, an image may be around 12 MB. That same image is going to be somewhere around 100 MB if it is a TIFF. This can lead to problems not only for sharing and uploading but even for storage. If you keep most of your digital photos and scans as a TIFF, you will quickly need cloud or external storage because there won't be anything left on your computer's storage drive.

If you want the perfect lighting or want to make other adjustments to a photo, you have to look at both JPEG and TIFF. There's no compression with a TIFF, so all of the data captured when you take the photo is retained. Whether this happens during scanning or shooting, you get all of the data so that you can make the edits that you need.

While you can still edit a JPG considerably, the loss of compression is going to mean that you lose some of the image data, too. This may make it hard for you to make significant edits while maintaining a high resolution at the same time.

It's important to look at what file types are supported based on what you're going to do with a photo. The last thing you want to do is work on a photo and find out that it cannot be uploaded to a particular site. This may be for you to upload to a site for printing the photo onto a t-shirt, for creating a giant poster, or even for your website.

With Movavi Photo Editor Photo Editor, a number of file types can be used, allowing you to maintain a lot of the compression and data. You can use the app with confidence that the file type is supported.

Generally speaking, a JPEG is supported by more software products and photo sharing websites. A TIFF is not supported by a number of websites due to its large size.

By using Movavi Photo Editor that you know will be supported, you can get the most out of your file types. Just remember a few details as to what file types are best for what.

JPEG

• Great for online photos

• Supports a full spectrum of colors

• Considered the universal file format

• Small file sizes

TIFF

• Great for editing photos

• Layers, transparency, and tags are supported

• Quality is preserved

You'll see the differences for yourself as you begin editing photos, saving them, and viewing them once they've been edited.

When you're exploring JPG vs. TIFF, there's no need to decide between one or the other. You can have both. Because the TIFF is capable of storing so much more data, this is the file you will want to start with. Once you have made your edits and done what you want to do to the photo, you can save it. Then, you can choose to save it again, only this time as a JPEG.

There are a few benefits to having two files of the same photo. The first is that you have a raw image with no data loss or compression. This will allow you to make all of the edits you want without losing anything in the process. Then, you can have a smaller version so that you get the edited photo without all of the extra file size behind it. The JPG is going to be a small percentage of the megabyte count of the TIFF, allowing you to share it in social media, email it, upload it to your website, and more.

You'll be able to keep track of what photos are in what format because of the file extension listed. You can even choose to separate the files even further by using folders. This way, you know which ones have been compressed and which ones haven't.

Additionally, there may be a few other file formats that you will want to create once you have a photo that you like. This includes PNG and GIF. Just like JPEG and TIFF, there are pros and cons for you to discover about them all. Just remember that the TIFF is going to be the largest photo file type, best for using photo editing software. Once you've made your edits, you can save in any file type you desire.