How to Compress TIFF Files on MacSave 70-90% storage space without losing quality
What Is TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)?
TIFF is a flexible, high-quality image format commonly used in professional photography, printing, and document scanning. It supports multiple layers, 16-bit color depth, CMYK color spaces, and various compression methods. TIFF is the preferred format for archival quality images and professional print workflows.
Why Are TIFF Files So Large?
TIFF files are extremely large because they typically store uncompressed or losslessly compressed image data at full bit depth. A single 24MP photo in uncompressed TIFF format is approximately 72MB (vs 5-8MB as JPG). Scanned documents at 600 DPI can produce TIFF files of 50-200MB per page.
Typical TIFF Compression Results
Before
20-200MB per image
After
2-30MB per image
70-90%
Smaller
Compression Ratio
3:1 to 10:1
Codecs
Uncompressed, LZW, ZIP/Deflate, JPEG-in-TIFF
How to Compress TIFF Files on Mac (Step by Step)
Follow these steps to compress your TIFF files using MediaOptim on macOS:
Open MediaOptim
Launch MediaOptim. It handles all TIFF compression variants and multi-page TIFF files.
Add TIFF files
Drag your TIFF images or scanned documents into the app.
Select approach
For photos: convert to JPG for maximum savings. For documents: apply LZW compression. For archival: use lossless optimization.
Process
MediaOptim processes TIFF files, applying the selected compression strategy.
Verify and save
Review compressed files. Uncompressed TIFFs typically show 70-90% reduction when converted to JPG.
TIFF Technical Details & Compression Tips
Best Quality Settings
For photographs, converting to JPG quality 92-95 provides 85-95% savings with minimal quality loss. For documents, use LZW compression within TIFF for lossless 30-50% reduction. For archival needs, use lossless WebP or HEIF.
When to Convert vs Compress
Convert TIFF to JPG for photographs (massive space savings). Convert scanned TIFFs to PDF for documents. Keep TIFF only for professional print workflows requiring CMYK or 16-bit depth.
Technical Specifications
- Supports uncompressed, LZW, ZIP, and JPEG internal compression
- Up to 16-bit per channel color depth (48-bit total)
- CMYK color space support for print workflows
- Multi-page support (common in scanned documents)
- Uncompressed TIFF: ~72MB for a 24MP image vs ~6MB as JPG
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I compress TIFF files on Mac?
Use MediaOptim to either apply lossless TIFF compression (LZW, 30-50% savings) or convert to JPG (70-90% savings). The best approach depends on whether you need lossless quality.
Why are TIFF files so much larger than JPG?
TIFF is typically uncompressed or losslessly compressed, preserving every pixel exactly. A 24MP photo is ~72MB as uncompressed TIFF vs ~6MB as JPG. This 12x difference adds up quickly.
Should I convert TIFF to JPG?
For everyday photos, yes. JPG at quality 92-95 is visually identical to TIFF at 85-95% smaller file size. Keep TIFF only for professional print work requiring CMYK or 16-bit depth.
Can I compress TIFF without losing quality?
Yes. LZW or ZIP compression within the TIFF format is completely lossless and typically reduces file size by 30-50%. MediaOptim can apply this without any quality change.
What is the best format to convert TIFF to?
JPG for photos (maximum savings), PDF for scanned documents (better organization), or HEIF for Apple ecosystem use (better compression than JPG while maintaining high quality).
Compress Your TIFF Files Now
Save 70-90% on your TIFF files. No quality loss. Everything stays on your Mac.
Try MediaOptim Free10 files free. No credit card. No signup.