TIFF vs PNG: Choosing the Right Image Format

Both TIFF and PNG offer lossless compression, but they're designed for very different workflows. TIFF dominates in professional print and photography, while PNG rules the web. Here's how to choose between them.

TIFF: The Professional Standard

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is the gold standard for print, publishing, and archival. It supports multiple color spaces (CMYK for print), layers, and multiple pages in a single file. Professional photographers and print shops rely heavily on TIFF.

PNG: The Web Standard

PNG was specifically designed as a web-friendly format. It offers excellent compression for the web, alpha transparency, and universal browser support. Unlike TIFF, every web browser natively displays PNG images.

Key Differences

• File size: PNG typically produces smaller files due to better compression algorithms
• Color spaces: TIFF supports CMYK (for print); PNG is RGB only
• Layers: TIFF can contain layers; PNG is flat
• Web support: PNG works everywhere; TIFF is not supported in browsers
• Multi-page: TIFF supports multiple pages; PNG does not

Use TIFF For

Professional photography archives, print production workflows, medical and scientific imaging, and any scenario requiring CMYK color space or multi-page documents.

Use PNG For

Web graphics, app icons, screenshots, digital art, and any image that will primarily be viewed on screens.

Convert Between Formats

Need to share a TIFF file on the web? Convert TIFF to PNG for universal browser support. Working with a PNG that needs to go to print? Convert PNG to TIFF for your print workflow.