Is it better to convert your RAW photos JPEG or TIFF format and what are the advantages of either ?

Question

Is it better to convert your RAW photos JPEG or TIFF format and what are the advantages of either ?

Answer 1

My workflow is RAW to PSD to jpg.

I shoot in RAW (sometimes), edit in PSD (because I always use Adjustment Layers), then save that PSD file as my master, and jpg copies for printing or distribution.

On the other hand, when I shoot in JPG (which is most of the time), I still follow the same PP and archiving process.

Answer 2

TIFF is larger but better because it is an uncompressed file and WILL NOT lose info when you open, close, and edit.

JPEG is smaller and is compressed so it WILL lose info when you open, close, and edite.

Answer 3

I no expert... but I think Jpeg reduce the colours in the pics to a set number of colours ie the 200 of grass green in your garden shot may end up as 3 shades of green in a jpeg ...it matches it to the nearest jpeg colour....

I was told at uni that jpegs loose picture quality everytime you re-save the same file...

I always save my pics as Tiffs after I open them if i am using them to show as artworks or for graphic work...more dpi, more realistic colours...however tiffs take up a lot of memory on your computer and depending on what type of computer for photo edit software your using may not be compatible...

Also it depends how you choose to print your pics you could have a tiff then loose all the quality by using the wrong print setting with a low dpi

For uploading pics onto say facebook, photobucket, myspace,  etc they all can't take Tiff files as far as I know so best stick with Jpegs for your holiday snaps

I'm you'll get some more technical answers LOL

Answer 4

The advantage of the TIFF is that, unlike JPEG, it's a lossless format. For normal viewing and printing purposes, I don't think you would notice any loss of quality in using a high-quality JPEG, though, and the files are a lot smaller. I'd convert to TIFF for pictures that are going to be published or re-edited by someone else. Otherwise JPEGs are fine. Unlike what some posters have said, JPEGs don't degrade every time you open or close the file, only when you save them. Just keep the RAW file in case you want to re-edit the picture at a later date. The problem with JPEGs is that there are compression artifacts (that subtle basket-weave pattern you can see if you zoom way in on one) that can grow more prominent with editing.

Answer 5

Hi Actung

You can covert to TIF which stands for International Tag Format. ON the other hand, Jpeg is more wide used and if  you save in Jpeg with no compression, their is hardly any loss and the print quality will be almost the same as a Tif format. Plus, jpeg creates a smaller file. Even if you use 10% compression, it will not affect the quality that much and unimportant.

It's the printer that decides the quality of the print.When you output at 600, 1200 , 2400 dpi, your jpeg will be beautiful.