Format Showdown

SVG VS TIFF

The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Scalable Vector Graphics and Tagged Image File Format.

SVG

svg

Vector format for infinite scaling without quality loss.

Pros

  • Infinite scalability
  • Small text-based files
  • Programmable with CSS/JS

Cons

  • Not for photos
  • Complex rendering for detailed art

TIFF

tiff

High-quality format used in professional photography and publishing.

Pros

  • Lossless compression
  • Layers support
  • CMYK support for print

Cons

  • Very large files
  • Not supported by web browsers

When SVG wins

Stay with SVG when you need logos or icons. Its strengths center on infinite scalability and a feature set native to W3C.

When TIFF wins

Choose TIFF when your workflow prioritizes professional printing or scanning. It delivers lossless compression plus modern compression perks.

Technical Specifications

FeatureSVGTIFF
MIME Typeimage/svg+xmlimage/tiff
DeveloperW3CAdobe
Release Year20011986
Best ForLogos, Icons, IllustrationsProfessional printing, Scanning, Archiving

Need to switch?

Opportunity map

Where SVG still wins

Keep SVG when you need infinite scalability and workflows depend on logos / icons. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship TIFF deliverables without leaving their browser.

  • • Reference the .svg glossary from this page.
  • • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
  • • Use TIFF for professional printing while archiving originals as SVG.
Internal linking plan

Keep crawlers in the conversion hub

Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.