280 votes
TIF File - What is a .tif file and how do I open it?
Learn about .TIF files and view a list of programs that open them.
Languages
Overview
What is a TIF file? A TIF file is an image saved in the Tagged Image File Format ( TIFF ), a high-quality graphics format. It is often used for storing images with many colors, typically digital photos, and includes support for layers and multiple pages.
More Information TIF file open in Microsoft Photos 2020 The TIFF format was developed in the mid-1980s by Aldus Corporation (merged with Adobe Systems in 1994) to be a universal image format for different computer platforms and document scanners. The format became popular among professionals in the publishing industry, including photographers and graphic artists. The format's popularity was partially due to its ability to be edited and re-saved without losing image quality. TIF files can be saved in an uncompressed ( lossless ) format or may incorporate .JPEG ( lossy ) compression. They may also use LZW lossless compression, which reduces the TIF file size but does not reduce the quality of the image. NOTE: TIF files may also use the .TIFF extension.
Microsoft Windows Photos 10 Icon
Breadcrumbs
DeveloperAdobe Systems
Popularity3.2 | 50 Votes
Previous / Next
In-Depth
.TIF File Extension
2 file types use the .tif file extension.
Tagged Image File
| Developer | Adobe Systems |
| Popularity |
3.5 | 280 Votes |
NEW: Open your .TIF file online with File Helper . View Online
What is a TIF file?
A TIF file is an image saved in the Tagged Image File Format ( TIFF ), a high-quality graphics format. It is often used for storing images with many colors, typically digital photos, and includes support for layers and multiple pages.
More Information
TIF file open in Microsoft Photos 2020
The TIFF format was developed in the mid-1980s by Aldus Corporation (merged with Adobe Systems in 1994) to be a universal image format for different computer platforms and document scanners. The format became popular among professionals in the publishing industry, including photographers and graphic artists. The format's popularity was partially due to its ability to be edited and re-saved without losing image quality.
TIF files can be saved in an uncompressed ( lossless ) format or may incorporate .JPEG ( lossy ) compression. They may also use LZW lossless compression, which reduces the TIF file size but does not reduce the quality of the image.
NOTE: TIF files may also use the .TIFF extension.
How to open a TIF file
You can open a TIF file with various image editors since the TIFF format is common among graphics professionals. Some applications that support the format include Microsoft Photos (Windows), CorelDRAW Graphics Suite (Windows and macOS), ACD Systems ACDSee Photo Studio (Windows), Adobe Photoshop (Windows and macOS), and Apple Preview (bundled with macOS).
NOTE: You can also open TIF files with Google Photos in a web browser, Chrome OS, and on Android and iOS devices.
How to convert a TIF file
Several image viewers and editors, including Microsoft Photos, Apple Preview, and Adobe Photoshop, can convert TIF files to other image formats.
For example, Microsoft Photos can convert TIF files to the following formats:
Programs that open TIF files
Sort
Pricing
Program Name
Platform
Reset
X
Windows
File Viewer Plus
—
Get it from Microsoft
Free +
Microsoft Photos
Included with OS
Microsoft Windows Photo Viewer
Included with OS
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2024
Free Trial
Corel PaintShop Pro 2023
Free Trial
Adobe Photoshop 2025
Free Trial
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Free Trial
Adobe Lightroom
Free Trial
Adobe Illustrator 2025
Free Trial
ACD Systems ACDSee Photo Studio
Free Trial
Canvas GFX Canvas X Pro
Free Trial
Mac
Apple Preview
Included with OS
Apple Photos
Included with OS
Adobe Photoshop 2025
Free Trial
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Free Trial
Adobe Lightroom
Free Trial
Adobe Illustrator 2025
Free Trial
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2024
Free Trial
ACD Systems ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac
Free Trial
MacPhun ColorStrokes
—
Discontinued
Paid
Linux
GIMP
Free
Web
FileHelper.com
Free
Apple Photos
Included with OS
Google Photos
Free
Google Drive
Free +
iOS
Apple Photos
Included with OS
Google Photos
Free
Google Drive
Free +
Android
File Viewer for Android
Free +
Google Photos
Free
Google Drive
Free +
Chrome OS
Google Photos
Free
Category: Raster Image Files
Updated: April 6, 2022
GeoTIFF Image
| Developer | Adobe Systems |
| Popularity |
3.2 | 50 Votes |
A TIF file may also be a TIFF-compliant geospatial image created in the GeoTIFF format. It contains geographic or cartographic data embedded as tags within the file. TIF files allow users to embed GIS data without deviating from the TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) format.
More Information
TIF file open in QGIS 3
Since GeoTIFF files contain coordinates, GIS applications can map specific regions of the raster image to latitude and longitude coordinates.
NOTE: The GeoTIFF format uses the extensible features of the TIFF specification to add tagged metadata to the image.
How to open a TIF file
You can open a TIF file in ESRI ArcGIS Pro (Windows), OriginLab Origin (Windows), QGIS (multiplatform), and several other GIS applications.
You can also open a TIF file in any image viewer that can open normal TIF files (such as Microsoft Photos or Apple Preview ). However, image viewers will not show the geographic data your TIF file contains.
Programs that open TIF files
Sort
Pricing
Program Name
Platform
Reset
X
Windows
Geosoft Oasis montaj
Paid
ESRI ArcGIS for Desktop
Free Trial
The MathWorks MATLAB
Free Trial
ERDAS IMAGINE
Paid
QGIS
Free
GDAL
Free
OriginLab Origin
Free Trial
Mac
QGIS
Free
ClueTrust Cartographica
Free Trial
GDAL
Free
ERDAS ER Viewer
—
Discontinued
Free
Linux
QGIS
Free
GDAL
Free
Category: Raster Image Files
Updated: June 15, 2022