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TIFF vs PNG

Comparing Tagged Image File Format and Portable Network Graphics - which format should you use?

	TIFF	PNG
Full Name	Tagged Image File Format	Portable Network Graphics
Extension	.tiff	.png
MIME Type	image/tiff	image/png
Category	image	image

TIFF Pros

+Lossless - preserves all image data
+Supports CMYK for print
+Multiple layers and pages
+Industry standard for print/publishing

TIFF Cons

-Very large file sizes
-Not supported by web browsers
-Slow to load and process
-Overkill for web use

PNG Pros

+Lossless compression - no quality loss
+Full alpha transparency support
+Wide browser and software support
+Good for graphics, logos, screenshots

PNG Cons

-Larger file sizes than JPEG for photographs
-No animation support (use APNG or GIF)
-Not ideal for print (use TIFF or PDF)
-No EXIF metadata support

Use TIFF when...

-Professional print production
-Archival photography
-Medical imaging
-GIS/satellite imagery

Use PNG when...

-Website graphics and logos
-Screenshots and UI mockups
-Images requiring transparency
-Digital art and illustrations

Learn more about TIFF Learn more about PNG