Print shops, document management systems, faxing software — TIFF still rules in places where JPG and PNG don't. If you've been asked for TIFFs, you need TIFFs.
What TIFF is good for
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is a lossless, archival image format from the late 80s. It supports multiple pages in one file, multiple compression schemes, and any colour depth. Widely used in scanning, faxing, professional print, medical imaging.
If you're outside those worlds, you may never have touched a TIFF in your life. If you're inside them, it's the default.
Multi-page TIFF
Unlike JPG and PNG, TIFF can hold all pages of a document in a single file. A 50-page PDF becomes one 50-page TIFF. Some workflows (especially legal and medical) require this — a folder of individual JPGs won't be accepted.
Flint's convert hub lets you pick TIFF as the output format. Single-file multi-page output is the default for TIFF.
File size considerations
Uncompressed TIFF is huge — easily 10x the size of an equivalent JPG. TIFF with LZW or ZIP compression is closer to PNG in size. If the recipient hasn't specified, ask which TIFF flavour they need; "TIFF" alone is ambiguous about compression.
Why not PDF directly?
Many archival and government workflows require TIFF because it's been stable longer than PDF and is unambiguously raster. PDFs can contain vector content, embedded fonts, scripts, and various oddities; TIFFs are just pixels. For long-term archival of scanned originals, TIFF is often preferred.
FAQ
Is TIFF still used?
Yes, heavily in print, medical, legal and archival workflows. Less common in everyday use where JPG and PNG dominate.
What about multi-page vs single-page TIFF?
Both are supported. Multi-page is one file for all pages; single-page is one TIFF per PDF page. Pick based on what the recipient needs.
Compression options?
LZW and ZIP are lossless and reduce size meaningfully. JPEG compression inside TIFF is lossy but smaller. Pick lossless unless the recipient specifies otherwise.
DPI for archival?
300dpi is the archival standard. Some specs require 600dpi for fine detail; check first.
TIFF when the workflow demands it. Convert your PDF to TIFF in one upload.