Image Format Comparison

JPG vs TIFF — Compressed Photo vs Lossless Master

JPG and TIFF represent the two extremes of photographic storage. JPG sacrifices quality for tiny file sizes; TIFF preserves every pixel for archival and professional print. Both formats have legitimate uses — choosing depends on whether you're sharing photos online or preparing a fine art print.

JPGvsTIFF

Quick Verdict

Use JPG when…

Use JPG for web, social media, email, and any context where file size matters more than ultimate quality. JPG at 85% quality is indistinguishable from TIFF on most displays.

Use TIFF when…

Use TIFF for archival masters, professional print preparation, scientific imaging, and any workflow that needs lossless fidelity for further editing without compounding compression artifacts.

JPG vs TIFF: Feature Comparison

Feature	JPG	TIFF
Compression	Lossy DCT	Lossless or uncompressed
File size (24MP photo)	~5–10 MB	~70–145 MB
Bit depth	8-bit	8/16/32-bit
Layers and alpha	No	Yes (multi-page TIFF)
Web compatibility	Universal	None — needs preview
Print quality	Excellent at 90%+	Reference standard

When JPG wins

✓Compression: Lossy DCT
✓File size (24MP photo): ~5–10 MB
✓Bit depth: 8-bit

When TIFF wins

✓Compression: Lossless or uncompressed
✓File size (24MP photo): ~70–145 MB
✓Bit depth: 8/16/32-bit

Frequently asked questions

Should photographers shoot in JPG or RAW (which converts to TIFF)?

Shoot RAW for maximum editing latitude — RAW converts to TIFF for archival or further editing. JPG is the in-camera processed delivery file. RAW + JPG (most cameras can save both) gives you flexibility plus an instant share-ready file.

Can I convert JPG to TIFF without quality loss?

You can, but the TIFF will only contain the JPG's already-degraded pixel data. Converting JPG to TIFF is sometimes done before editing to prevent further generation loss in subsequent saves — but you can't recover information the JPG already discarded.