TIFF VS DNG
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Tagged Image File Format and Digital Negative.
TIFF
tiffHigh-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
DNG
dngOpen RAW photography format that preserves sensor data for non-destructive editing.
Pros
- Lossless archiving
- Rich metadata
- Broad camera compatibility
Cons
- Large files
- Requires post-processing
- Previewing can be slow
When TIFF wins
Stay with TIFF when you need professional printing or scanning. Its strengths center on lossless compression and a feature set native to Adobe.
When DNG wins
Choose DNG when your workflow prioritizes photography archives or lightroom workflows. It delivers lossless archiving plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | TIFF | DNG |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/tiff | image/x-adobe-dng |
| Developer | Adobe | Adobe |
| Release Year | 1986 | 2004 |
| Best For | Professional printing, Scanning, Archiving | Photography archives, Lightroom workflows, Long-term storage |
Need to switch?
Where TIFF still wins
Keep TIFF when you need lossless compression and workflows depend on professional printing / scanning. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship DNG deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .tiff glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use DNG for photography archives while archiving originals as TIFF.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.