您可能已经听说过并使用过很多次的最常见的图像格式是GIF、JPEG和PNG。每一个都有一个非常特殊的目的，我们已经通过模因、反应图像和所有其他形式的在线图片表达方式来了解和欣赏这些目的。
但是，您应该了解更多图像文件格式。(image file)其中，TIFF是最复杂的一种。
如果您对平面设计或摄影(design or photography)感兴趣，TIFF 文件(TIFF file)可以改变游戏规则——但什么是TIFF 文件(TIFF file)？在本文中，我们将向您介绍这种重要但未被充分认识的图像文件格式(image file format)。
什么是 TIFF 文件？(What Is a TIFF File?)
TIFF代表Tagged Image File Format ，是(Tagged Image File Format)Aldus于 1986年开发的一种图像格式(image format)。TIFF 文件使用无损压缩，这会以牺牲图像质量(image quality)为代价导致更大的整体文件大小(file size)。这使得TIFF 非常(TIFF ideal)适合从事需要最高质量图像的工作或项目(job or project)的任何人。
TIFF文件保留标签、图层和透明度，与PNG类似，并且与许多流行的照片编辑应用程序（例如Photoshop ）完全兼容。
TIFF文件还支持通过(TIFF)GeoTIFF进行高级元数据存储。GeoTIFF是用于存储TIFF 文件(TIFF file)元数据(s metadata)的技术，其中包含重要信息，例如拍摄照片的GPS 坐标（如果使用了相机）。(GPS coordinates)
尽管有许多优点，但TIFF也有缺点。尽管可以使用 Windows 的照片查看器和照片打开和查看TIFF文件，但您需要第三方软件来编辑它们。您选择的图像编辑器(image editor)可能不支持或无法完美处理TIFF文件，在这种情况下，您可能需要在使用它们之前将文件转换为另一种格式。根据转换方法(conversion method)，这可能会更改或删除图像的元数据(image’s metadata)。
另一个主要警告是TIFF文件不是网络友好的。要在浏览器中显示TIFF文件，需要安装第三方插件。然而，对于网页设计师来说，使用TIFF而不是(TIFF)JPEG 或 PNG(JPEG or PNG)等替代品是完全不切实际的，因为这些文件的大小很大——这对服务器带宽(server bandwidth)来说很糟糕。
如何打开和编辑 TIFF 文件(How To Open & Edit a TIFF File)
尽管您可以使用 Windows 附带的图像查看器打开和查看(image viewer)TIFF文件，但许多第三方应用程序使查看和编辑TIFF文件变得更加容易，并且界面更简洁、功能更丰富。
以下Windows应用程序可用于打开和/或编辑TIFF文件：
如果您要操作GeoTIFF 图像(GeoTIFF image)文件，我们建议您查看GDAL。
此外，您可以安装TIF、TIFF 查看器和(TIF, TIFF Viewer with Drive)Google Chrome的驱动器扩展，这将允许您通过浏览器查看存储在Google 驱动器中的(Google Drive)TIFF文件。
如何转换 TIFF 文件(How to Convert a TIFF File)
在某些情况下，在操作之前将TIFF 文件(TIFF file)转换为另一种更常见的图像格式是您的最佳解决方案。(image format)但是，请记住，转换为某些格式（例如JPEG）可能会导致质量下降——这是TIFF的最大优势之一。
尽管您可以下载许多不同的应用程序来转换TIFF文件，但此过程可以完全通过 Web 完成，无需下载任何第三方软件。
Zamzar是 Web 上最好的整体文件转换工具之一，在将(file conversion)TIFF文件转换为许多其他常见图像文件(image file)格式时效果很好。
Zamzar支持将TIFF文件转换为BMP、GIF、ICO、JPG、PCX、PNG、TGA、WBMP和WEBP格式。所有这些转换的倒数也是可能的。
正如网站所说，您可以拖放文件，通过单击“添加文件...”(Add Files…)按钮上传文件，甚至可以通过 URL 上传(upload them by URL)文件。之后，选择要将文件转换为的格式，然后单击立即转换(Convert Now)按钮。
如果您要上传大量文件，您可能需要勾选此按钮下的框，以便在转换完成时向您发送电子邮件。
然后该页面将动态更新以显示您的上传状态。完成后，页面将变为一个页面，每个转换后的文件旁边都有一个下载按钮。(Download)
Zamzar上的文件仅存储 24 小时，因此您需要在它们过期之前下载它们，否则您将不得不重新上传并再次转换它们。
在哪里可以找到示例 TIFF 文件(Where to Find Sample TIFF Files)
如果您对使用TIFF文件感兴趣，但没有资源自己创建和保存文件，那么有几个网站提供不同的TIFF示例图像供您使用。
我们发现的两个最好的是file-examples.com，它提供了 1 MB、5 MB 和 10 MB 大小的三个图像，以及FileFormat.info，它提供了更大的选择和不同的下载大小。
下载其中一个示例文件是测试您的一个TIFF编辑器的功能或查看在线转换过程(conversion process)是什么样子的好方法。
我们希望本文能帮助您更好地了解TIFF文件是什么，如何使用它们，以及如何根据自己的喜好编辑和转换它们。
如果您想分享有关处理TIFF文件的任何技巧或了解本文未提及的编辑器或转换器(editor or convertor)，请在下方给我们留言！
OTT Explains: What Is a TIFF File?
Some of the most common image formats that you’ve рrobably heard оf and used mаny times before are GIF, JРEG, and PNG. Each serves a νery particular purpose that we’ve come to know and appreciate across an internеt of memes, reaction images, and all other forms оf online exрression through picturеs.
However, there are many more image file formats that you should know about. Of these, TIFF is one of the most complex.
If you’re someone interested in graphic design or photography, TIFF files can be a gamechanger—but what is a TIFF file? In this article, we’ll introduce you to this important but underappreciated image file format.
What Is a TIFF File?
TIFF stands for Tagged Image File Format and is an image format that was developed by Aldus in 1986. TIFF files use lossless compression, which results in a larger overall file size at the expense of preserving image quality. This makes TIFF ideal for anyone working a job or project that requires images of the highest quality.
TIFF files preserve tags, layers, and transparency, similar to PNG, and are fully compatible with many popular photo editing applications, such as Photoshop.
TIFF files also support advanced metadata storage through GeoTIFF. GeoTIFF is the technology used to store a TIFF file’s metadata, which contains important information such as the GPS coordinates at which the picture was taken (if a camera was used).
Despite its many positives, TIFF also has downsides. Although TIFF files can be opened and viewed using Windows’ Photo Viewer and Photos, you’ll need third-party software to edit them. Your image editor of choice may not support or work perfectly with TIFF files, and in this case, you may need to convert the files to another format before working with them. Depending on the conversion method, this may alter or erase the image’s metadata.
Another major caveat is that TIFF files are not web-friendly. For TIFF files to display within a browser, a third-party plugin will need to be installed. However, it’s completely impractical for web designers to use TIFF, over alternatives like JPEG or PNG, due to the large size of these files—it’s terrible for server bandwidth.
How To Open & Edit a TIFF File
Although you’re able to open and view TIFF files with Windows’ included image viewer, many third-party applications make viewing and editing TIFF files much easier and under a cleaner and more feature-rich interface.
The following Windows applications can be used to open and/or edit TIFF files:
If you’re looking to manipulate a GeoTIFF image file, we recommend checking out GDAL.
Additionally, you can install the TIF, TIFF Viewer with Drive extension for Google Chrome which will allow you to view TIFF files stored in Google Drive via the browser.
How to Convert a TIFF File
In some situations, converting a TIFF file to another more common image format before manipulating it is your best solution. However, keep in mind that conversion to some formats, such as JPEG, can result in a loss of quality—one of the biggest perks of TIFF.
Although there are many different applications you can download to convert TIFF files, this process can be completed entirely through the web, without the need to download any third-party software.
Zamzar is one of the best overall file conversion tools on the web and works perfectly when it comes to converting TIFF files into many other common image file formats.
Zamzar supports converting TIFF files to BMP, GIF, ICO, JPG, PCX, PNG, TGA, WBMP, and WEBP formats. The inverses of all of these conversions are also possible.
As the website says, you can either drag and drop your files, upload them by clicking the Add Files… button, or even upload them by URL. After, select the format you want to convert your files to and then click the Convert Now button.
You may want to tick the box under this button to email you when the conversion is complete if you’re uploading a large number of files.
The page will then dynamically update to show the status of your uploads. Once completed, the page will change to one with a Download button beside each of your converted files.
Files on Zamzar are only stored for 24 hours, so you’ll need to download them before they expire or you’ll have to reupload and convert them again.
Where to Find Sample TIFF Files
If you’re interested in working with TIFF files but don’t have the resources to create and save one yourself, there are a few websites that offer different sample TIFF images for you to work with.
The two best that we’ve found are file-examples.com, which offers three images in 1 MB, 5 MB, and 10 MB sizes, and FileFormat.info, which offers a much larger selection and varying download sizes.
Downloading one of these sample files is a great way to test out the functionality of one of your TIFF editors or seeing what the online conversion process is like.
We hope that this article has helped you better understand what TIFF files are, how you can make use of them, and how you can edit and convert them to your liking.
If you’d like to share any tips on handling TIFF files or know of an editor or convertor that isn’t mentioned in this article, please leave us a comment below!
