Please could you explain to me what TIFF, JPEG files are?

Question

and when would you use each one?

Thanks! =]

Answer 1

Hi,

TIFF and JPG files are image files.

JPG is a very common image format, and used in digital cameras as well as on the web, etc. The major benefit is that file sizes of JPGs are small.

JPG is a lossy compressed format, which means that file sizes are much smaller, but you lose some information in process. Generally, the lost information is not noticable to the human eye if done correctly.

But, you shouldn't edit a jpg file and save it as a jpg, because each time you save a jpg file, you lose more information. So, generally, use JPG as a final image (to be posted on the web, or printed).

TIFF files are much larger files but store all the information. You can edit and save a TIFF file over and over and not worry about degrading the quality of the image. Often, professional stock agencies/ ad agencies want their images in TIFF format for the best possible quality. If you were editting a photo in photoshop you could save in TIFF format, but most likely you'd end up saving in PSD format.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

Good answers so far, I'll elaborate...

Lets start with JPEG...(Joint Photographic Expert Group )

This is an image file format most commonly used for web publication, e-mail, and other electronic media. The reason JPEG's are so commonly used is due to the possibility of "compressing" the file size to make the files more manageable / quicker to DL or load on a web page. A JPEG file takes an image and essentially lays a giant grid over it. Then maps or saves the pixels at the points where the grid line intersect. Depending on the level of compression, it may only save data for these pixel sites ( high compression=low quality but small file), or it may also save pixel data of surrounding pixel sites in a radius around the grid intersections ( low compression = higher quality but larger file size ).

Regardless of the compression or quality level you save a JPEG, some of the original data is discarded, hence the term loss or lossy file format. When you open a JPEG, complex algorithms or set of instructions are applied to the remaining data, and the pixels that were discarded are reintroduced to the image based on the softwares "best guess" as to what was originally there.

This is the very reason for serious loss of image quality should you open then re-save a JPEG file over and over. Simply opening the same file time and again will in theory produce the same image over and over, however once the image is re saved, there is no guarantee the software will save the same pixels from the original file, or save the pixels it "guessed at". The more native image data that is lost, the worse quality gets. You can actually try this on your computer to see the results... Make a COPY of a Jpeg image file, then save it. Now open the saved copy and save it again. For whoots and giggles do it a third time. Now open the original JPEG and the last one you saved side by side and compare.

TIFF (Tag Image File Format)

A tiff file is generally used for output to hard copy (printing). They can be compressed, without loss, though file size can usually only be reduced by about half. TIFF is a "lossless" file format, where all of the original data is retained. TIFF image files are stored as bit mapped or raster image file, with the ability to store 24 bit color per pixel, and pixel size info. All this data is stored in the form of instructions specific to each file, so upon opening the image the data is not subjected to a generic structure, but one tailored specifically for it. All the values for pixels are saved, with nothing discarded, the data is simply stored in a different way.

Uses of TIFF files can range from files for printing, to stock images, or archival purposes on your own hard drive. Most digital photographers will process RAW image files into TIFF files for storage and ease of use. Obviously they will save the RAW file as well, however RAW images need to be opened in special software, and are rarely ready for use straight from the camera.  

Answer 3

They are both file formats.

JPEG

JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group (the name of the committee that created the standard)

It is a commonly used method of compression for photographic images. The degree of compression can be adjusted.

It is the most common image format used by digital cameras and other photographic image capture devices and also the most common format for storing and transmitting photographic images on the internet.

You would use JPEG's most of the time, they produce high quality photos and are more likely to be a recognised file format for anyone you may be sending images to, or whatever computer you are working on.

TIFF

TIFF stands for Tagged Image File Format.

It is used for storing images, including photographs. It is now owned by Adobe Systems.

The TIFF format is widely supported by image-manipulation applications, by publishing and page layout applications, by scanning, faxing, word processing, optical character recognition and other applications.

TIFF produces HUGE file sizes and are arguably better quality.

I personally use JPEG's more often for convenience and time.

You can see what other people think...

see link below!

With regards to photography, I agree with his comment that you may as well use jpegs and be able to take and store three or more times the number of photographs!

Answer 4

JPEG stands for, Joint Photographic Experts Group

TIFF stands for Tagged Image File Format

Jpeg is the standard that is used for uploading image files to the web.  However it is what is called a "lossy" file, each time the file is opened some of the information is lost and can effect the quality of the file.

TIFF is a non lossy file and is used to maintain all the information contained in an image file until ready to post to the web.

So save as a jpeg file to save space on your hard drive or upload to to the web

Save as a tiff file if you want all the info in the file to remain uncompressed( this can take up a lot of room on the hard drive if you have a lot of photo) or save it to a disck or DVD.  

Answer 5

they are both formats of pictures. Jpeg is what i know as the most common.

hope that helps   x

Answer 6

jpeg  (jpg)   is the general industry standard for photos from digital cameras

The data is compressed which may result in very slight loss of information.

TIFF (tif)  is a picture file format that is un-compressed. It stores all of the information of a picture but can take up a lot of room.