TIFF vs. JPG
- Started
- Last post
- 13 Responses
- Roberthannink
There is a discussion going on here and i want to know your opinion.
Is there a significant quality loss if you use JPG instead of TIFF for print documents? Data space isn't a problem here, so i'd prefere TIFF over JPG.
And if TIFF is the best for print documents, is it worth the time and effort to convert all JPG files into TIFF when designing a print document?
What is the fileformat you guy's prefere?
Tanks!
I've searched if there's a similar post, but i couldn't find it. I'm sorry if there is one.
- Ancillary0
if you convert from jpg to TIFF you aren't going to get a better looking image. Garbage in garbage out. you'll jjust have a Tiff that looks like the jpeg
- WeLoveNoise0
if you converted everything to JPG then it wouldn't make a difference if you then converted that to a tiff - it will still be the same.
You need to save everything as a TIFF direct from the source (ie: the PSD)
- jpg has a certain compression and you cant revive it once its been doneWeLoveNoise
- ukit0
Converting to a TIFF from a JPEG is largely pointless.
- unless you want a smaller file sizelukus_W
- How would that be smaller?duckofrubber
- rizm0
This is really basic.
JPG is compressed, TIFF is "lossless". It's similar to comparing mp3 and e.g. wav.Although barely visible, no matter how high you set the "quality", with JPG there will always be some loss.
General rule of thumb:
When file size is not an issue, use a lossless format to store your files in.
- Roberthannink0
That's true, nothing will improve if the source file i get from a client is already a JPG.
And if i receive a TIFF from my qlient, are you saving it with LZW compression or another one?
On the internet it says that LZW compression is a non-lossy format. All it does is say, "10 pixels in a row are white" instead of "white pixel white pixel white pixel white pixel white pixel white pixel white pixel white pixel white pixel white pixel." using LZW won't degrade your image at all.
Do you agree?
- rizm0
Using LZW will reduce the file size using simple compression.
The deal with LZW is that until 2004 this technology was patented (filed somewhere in the 80's). This caused some (legal) issues for it's implementation in the software we use.
Nowadays it's these patents have expired so no worries anymore.
- Roberthannink0
And how come that when i safe a JPG in PhotoShop as a TIFF the filesize has increased so much. Is it because the JPG file still has the original data inside?
- detritus0
No, it's because TIFF isn't, by default, a compressed format.
If you inflate a balloon and stick it in a box, the box doesn't care how small the ballon was when it was deflated.
- Well who made you an expert on what boxes care and don't care about?TheBlueOne
- I too am an inanimate object.detritus
- formed0
We used to keep everything as tiff - psd > tiff (no jpegs), but the files just got too cumbersome. We now deliver high res jpegs to clients, saved at 12.
As noted a ton of times, it is pointless to go from jpeg to tiff. Only reason we kept the tiff at all was to have a 100% reliable, uncompressed version that a client couldn't accidentally screw up (easy to do with a jpeg if you resize, if it gets resaved, etc.)
As for the size, tiffs are simply larger. The compression is lossless, so it doesn't really "save" much space. jpegs delete data when saved, even at the highest quality (although you'd be hard pressed to tell).
LZW is lossless, therefore there is no degradation of quality (it just compresses the file, like a zip or rar, but does not alter the image - jpeg compression is lossy and DOES alter the image)
If I was sending perfect, super high res photographs I'd keep it as tiffs, but we send mostly renderings, which has a billion photos, pieces, etc.
- "a billion"?
come on, ive told you a billion million times ' dont exaggerate!!!'23kon
- "a billion"?
- mydo0
can't we all just use jpgs and agree that everything can be not quite as good as it could. i'm over having 2GB design documents.
- BaskerviIle0
jpg is a compressed file therefore don't use for print. Use PSDs for print. TIFF is a bit pointless now
- monospaced0
Yeah, if size isn't an issue, go for PSD or a totally lossless, uncompressed, TIFF. I find that even at the highest settings, JPEGS show visual compression at a certain level.
- inhaler970
Tiff all the way. Unless it becomes a space issue, (like web, email)
but I've had people want JPG's to print (They have specified size and 10 quality)