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PNG to TIFF Converter

Hand a PNG to a print shop or an archive as a lossless TIFF.

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Up to 50 MB per file. Sign up free to convert files up to 100 MB.

PNG to TIFF: web format to print-ready

Both PNG and TIFF support lossless compression, so this is a quality-preserving format migration. TIFF supports features PNG lacks: CMYK color space for print, multiple pages in a single file, and embedded clipping paths. The conversion decompresses the PNG data and re-encodes with TIFF's LZW or no compression, optionally converting from RGB to CMYK color space for print workflows. The TIFF file is typically slightly larger than the PNG equivalent.

Convert PNG to TIFF for print production workflows, professional publishing, and archival storage systems that standardize on TIFF. TIFF is the standard format for prepress work, high-quality scanning, and GIS imaging.

PNG vs TIFF: Side-by-side

Technical comparison of the two formats, useful for deciding which to use, or for confirming what changes during conversion.

Property PNG TIFF
Full name Portable Network Graphics Tagged Image File Format
Year introduced 1996 1986
Developer / standard body PNG Development Group / W3C Aldus (now Adobe)
MIME type image/png image/tiff
File extension .png .tiff / .tif
Compression Lossless (DEFLATE) Lossless (LZW, ZIP) or uncompressed
Color / data depth 24-bit truecolor + 8-bit alpha 1 to 64-bit per channel
Max dimensions / size 2,147,483,647 × 2,147,483,647 px 4 GB file size limit
Transparency Yes Yes
Animation APNG extension only No
Standard / specification W3C / ISO/IEC 15948 TIFF 6.0 (Adobe)
Best for Logos, screenshots, graphics with transparency or sharp edges Professional photography, scanning, print prepress

Use PNG when

  • The image is for the web, an app, or a screen
  • You need to embed it in HTML, Markdown, or a webpage
  • You want smaller files than TIFF at the same lossless quality
  • The recipient will open it in a browser or CMS

Use TIFF when

  • You're preparing images for print or a colour-managed workflow
  • You need CMYK colour or 16-bit-per-channel precision
  • You want a single file containing multiple pages of scans
  • You're archiving high-resolution scans of documents

TIFF is the working format of print, scanning, and archival. PNG is the working format of the web. If your final destination is a piece of paper or a professional archive, use TIFF. If it's a screen, a website, a slide, a chat message, use PNG.

Frequently asked questions

PNG vs TIFF - which format should I use?

PNG is a lossless format with transparency support best for logos, screenshots, and graphics with sharp edges. TIFF is a lossless high-quality format best for printing, archiving, and professional photography. Use TIFF when a website, form, or app requires it, or when you need lossless quality, multi-page support and print workflows.

What is PNG?

PNG is a lossless format with transparency support, typically used for logos, screenshots, and graphics with sharp edges. Converting it to TIFF produces a file that opens on systems without PNG support.

How do I open PNG files?

On Windows: Photos, or any browser. On a Mac: Preview, or any browser. Universally supported. PNG also carries transparency, which is why screenshots and logos use it.

PNG vs TIFF - which format should I use?

PNG is a lossless format with transparency support best for logos, screenshots, and graphics with sharp edges. TIFF is a lossless high-quality format best for printing, archiving, and professional photography. Use TIFF when a website, form, or app requires it, or when you need lossless quality, multi-page support and print workflows.

Why convert PNG to TIFF?

For professional print workflows and archival systems that require TIFF input. The conversion is lossless, every pixel transfers exactly. The TIFF may be larger because some TIFF configurations use less efficient compression than PNG.

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Image guides and fixes

Exporting RAW for Print vs Web: TIFF, JPG, or PNG? Your RAW file is edited. Now you need to export it, but TIFF for print, JPG for web, PNG for graphics? Here's how to choose the right format and settings. How to Make a Photo Black and White Online (Free, No App) Converting a colour photo to black and white can transform an ordinary image into something striking. Here's how to do it for free in your browser. How to Compress PNG to 50KB for Web Without Losing Clarity PNG files are notoriously large. Here is how to get them under 50KB for web use without making them look terrible, plus when to ditch PNG entirely. Best Image Format for Email Attachments: JPG, PNG, or Something Else? Not every image format works in every email client. JPG is the safest bet for photos, PNG for screenshots. Here is when to use each and what to avoid.
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