TIF files: what are they and how do I open them?
Are you facing difficulties opening unknown files on your computer, or wondering exactly what this file is?
We've got the information and best software solutions for opening these files effortlessly.
.tif file type #1: Aldus Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) bitmap image
Files with tif file extension are generally bitmap images in Tagged Image File Format (TIFF). TIFF/IT is a standard for the exchange of digital adverts and complete pages. TIFF files typically only contain bitmap and no vector data.
Further details:
The tif file extension is traditionally used for Tagged Image File Format - one of the most widely supported lossless (does not lose information during compression) file formats for storing bit-mapped images (both PCs and Macintosh computers).
TIFF/IT is a standard for the exchange of digital adverts and complete pages. The .tif files only contain bitmap data, no vector data. They are not rasterized (although they could be) but may also contain 256 gray-levels per channel.
Typically, TIFF images larger than 4GB are called BigTIFF and use the same tif file extension.
The tif file extension is also used for Digital Raster Graphic image file - A digital raster graphic (DRG) is a scanned image of a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) standard series topographic map, including all map collar information.
TIFF format is also used by GeoTiff format for GDAL - A geographic format, basically 2D with height optionally. Focuses on system transformations and projections
The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Universal Transverse Mercator projection. The horizontal positional accuracy and datum of the DRG matches the accuracy and datum of the source map. The map is scanned at a minimum resolution of 250 dots per inch.
MIME types used:
- image/tif
- image/x-tif
- image/tiff
- image/x-tiff
- application/tif
- application/x-tif
- application/tiff
- application/x-tiff
Open file with:
XnView MP
A popular utility for viewing and converting graphic files
ACDSee Photo Manager
Photo Manager is digital photo editor and manager for Windows
Multi-Page TIFF Editor
A complete TIFF program
Adobe Illustrator for Mac
Mac version of Adobe's vector graphics editor
.tif file type #2: Andor Bio-Imaging Division (ABD) TIFF image
Files with tif extension can also be special TIFF images in the Andor Bio-Imaging Division (ABD) format used by Oxford Instruments.
Further details:
File extension tif is also associated with the Andor Bio-Imaging Division (ABD) TIFF file format that is used by research imaging and spectroscopy software developed by Oxford Instruments.
Similar format to Aldus Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) bitmap image, with additional metadata.
Open file with:
OMERO
A biological data and images management tool