TIFFs vs JPEGs
Slide Scanning Pros provides both TIFF and JPEG images to our customers for no extra charge (we can also do other formats on request for no charge). That being said, many of our customers still wonder at the difference between the two file formats. We have provided you with this comparison page to help you understand the differences a bit better.
TIFF Format
We scan each slide and negative into an uncompressed TIFF format. This means that no data from you image is lost in the scanning process. Since TIFF images are uncompressed, they are very large files are great for maintaining and preserving high-quality, detailed images.
If you plan on editing your images further in the future or are using our 18 cent option, you will want to use TIFF files. This will help prevent posterization, banding and compression artifacts. TIFF is also the standard format that most professionals and commercial companies use for printing.
If you plan on editing your images further in the future or are using our 18 cent option, you will want to use TIFF files. This will help prevent posterization, banding and compression artifacts. TIFF is also the standard format that most professionals and commercial companies use for printing.
Pros and Cons of TIFF Images
| PROS | CONS |
| Difficult or impossible to email, upload or present because of size | |
| Can be used with most computer software and applications | |
| Can not be used with most online photo sharing sites | |
| 16 bit capability | |
| Images take up a lot of space on your hard drive (most scanned by SSP are approximately 110MB each) | |
| Helps prevent posterization, banding and compression artifacts | |
| Uncompressed image is not "lossy", but maintains high quality detail | |
| Standard for most printing companies | |
| Better for personal editing | |
| Best quality available |
JPEG Format
The JPEG (also known as JPG) format is the most commonly used image format available. It is supported by all the major image-editing software and can be used for uploading to image-sharing websites. Most pictures taken by modern digital cameras default into the JPEG format. Since JPEGs are a smaller file format, they can easily be uploaded, emailed or shared online.
When JPEGs are formed the images are compressed, meaning that some of the data from the image is lost. The amount of data lost due to compression varies from image to image. We create the JPEGs we send you from the TIFF scans to preserve as much quality as we can. The JPEGs are still High Quality images, but do not hold as much detail as the TIFF images.
JPEGs are also vulnerable to posterization, banding and compression artifacts.
When JPEGs are formed the images are compressed, meaning that some of the data from the image is lost. The amount of data lost due to compression varies from image to image. We create the JPEGs we send you from the TIFF scans to preserve as much quality as we can. The JPEGs are still High Quality images, but do not hold as much detail as the TIFF images.
JPEGs are also vulnerable to posterization, banding and compression artifacts.
Pros and Cons of JPEG Images
| PROS | CONS |
| Easy to email, upload or present because of size | |
| Can be used with most computer software and applications | |
| Can be used with most online photo sharing sites | |
| only 8 bit capability, not 16 | |
| Smaller images are easier to store on your hard-drive (approximately 5-7 MB each) | |
| Vulnerable to posterization, banding and compression artifacts | |
| "Lossy" image, not as much detail as a TIFF image | |
| Can be used in most printing companies, but may be subjected to smaller sized prints | |
| Personal editing is possible but not recommended for many images | |
| High quality - but not the best |
The Physical Difference
We understand that though we can give you the configuration details and information, you may want the option to see an example for yourself, so we have provided the following image (a slide image, scanned and edited by Slide Scanning Pros, used with permission, all rights reserved):
The TIFF version of this image is 109.1 MB. In fact, the image was so large that it could not be uploaded to our website. We had to crop it, creating the following image:
The TIFF version of this image is 94.9 MB. You can download both the original TIFF and JPEG (4.2 MB) files using the links below. Then, you will be able to zoom in and make as many comparisons as you want. (Please note that downloading the TIFF image could take several minutes - or even hours - depending on the speed of your computer).
PC users may need to right-click on the images in order to download them.
PC users may need to right-click on the images in order to download them.
| slide_scanning_pros_-_ducks.tiff |
| slide_scanning_pros_-_ducks.jpg |
We have also provided a TIFF and JPEG download of a smaller portion of the above picture. You will still be able to see the differences between the TIFF and JPEG files and it be a lot faster to download.
| slide_scanning_pros_-_duck_head.tiff |
| slide_scanning_pros_-_duck_head.jpg |
