TIFF VS JPEG
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Tagged Image File Format and Joint Photographic Experts Group.
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
JPEG
jpegAlternative extension for JPG images, widely supported across all browsers.
Pros
- Small file size
- Universal compatibility
- Adjustable compression levels
Cons
- Lossy compression
- No transparency
- Artifacts at high compression
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 JPEG wins
Choose JPEG when your workflow prioritizes web images or digital photography. It delivers small file size plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | TIFF | JPEG |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/tiff | image/jpeg |
| Developer | Adobe | Joint Photographic Experts Group |
| Release Year | 1986 | 1992 |
| Best For | Professional printing, Scanning, Archiving | Web images, Digital photography |
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 JPEG deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .tiff glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use JPEG for web images 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.