CONVERT
RAW → TIFF
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Fast, secure RAW to TIFF conversion. No registration required.
Setup: RAW captures sensor data directly from a digital camera with no in-camera processing. Goal: an interchangeable TIFF. Turn a RAW image into a TIFF in seconds. The two formats share the same raster DNA so the visible quality is very close; what changes is how the file is packaged, which matters for browsers, editors and CMS uploaders. KaijuConverter runs the conversion server-side and deletes both files within two hours. In practice RAW captures sensor data directly from a digital camera with no in-camera processing. On the other end, TIFF is the archival multi-page master format used in scanning, print and document pipelines.
Generic RAW Image
Source formatRAW is a generic term for files containing minimally processed data from a camera image sensor. Various camera manufacturers use proprietary RAW variants, but the term broadly refers to any unprocessed sensor capture that retains maximum editing flexibility.
TIFF Image
Target formatTIFF is a flexible, high-quality image format widely used in publishing, printing, and professional photography. It supports multiple compression methods and color spaces including CMYK.
Why convert RAW to TIFF
The real reason to move from RAW to TIFF is almost never picture quality — both raster formats store essentially the same pixels. It is about the tools downstream: which editors open the file natively, which CMSes upload it without transcoding, which social platforms accept it. Picking TIFF solves those edge cases at the cost of a short conversion step.
HOW TO CONVERT
RAW → TIFF
Provide the RAW
Click or drag to upload. We accept a single RAW file per job, with an optional queue of additional images for batch mode.
Encode to TIFF
The conversion decodes the RAW, resolves the colour space to sRGB and writes the TIFF container around the pixel data.
Save the TIFF
The download is streamed back over HTTPS. If you uploaded multiple files, a ZIP with all TIFF outputs is produced instead.
Common Use Cases
Share across platforms
Send TIFF files to anyone without worrying about whether they have the right software for RAW.
Embed in documents
Drop TIFF output into Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, Notion or a website without conversion warnings.
Optimize size
TIFF often produces smaller files than RAW for web, email and storage.
Archive & future-proof
Store in a widely-supported format that will still open on future operating systems without legacy plugins.
RAW vs TIFF — Strengths and limitations
What each format does best, and where it falls short.
RAW Strengths
- Every bit of sensor data preserved for post-processing latitude.
- Higher bit depth (12-16 bits) than JPEG (8-bit) — smoother gradients.
- Non-destructive editing in raw processors.
- Rich metadata (EXIF, makernotes, camera settings).
Limitations
- Proprietary per brand — Canon CR2 will not open in a pure-Canon-free processor.
- Huge files compared to JPEG.
- Requires dedicated software (Lightroom, Capture One, Darktable, etc.).
TIFF Strengths
- Lossless by default — no generation loss on successive edits and saves.
- Supports any bit depth (1 to 32 bits per channel), any color model, any number of channels.
- Extensible tag system means vendor-specific data survives alongside standard tags.
- Multi-page containers are perfect for scanned documents, faxes, and DICOM-like stacks.
- Industry-standard for archival, museums, scientific imaging, and high-end print prepress.
Limitations
- File sizes are huge compared to JPEG/WebP/AVIF — often 10-30× larger.
- Not a web format — no browser displays TIFF natively.
- Ambiguous spec areas mean some TIFFs only open correctly in the tool that created them.
RAW vs TIFF — Technical specifications
Side-by-side comparison of the technical details.
RAW
- MIME types
- image/x-* (varies by vendor)
- Common extensions
- .cr2, .cr3, .nef, .nrw, .arw, .raf, .orf, .rw2, .dng, .pef, .x3f, .raw
- Bit depth
- 12-16 bits per pixel
- Typical containers
- TIFF/EP variants with vendor makernotes
- Universal exchange format
- DNG (Adobe)
TIFF
- MIME type
- image/tiff
- Extensions
- .tif, .tiff
- Standard
- TIFF 6.0 (1992); BigTIFF extension for 64-bit offsets
- Max file size
- 4 GB (TIFF); 2^64 bytes (BigTIFF)
- Compression options
- None, LZW, Deflate, JPEG, CCITT G3/G4, PackBits, JBIG
| Specification | RAW | TIFF |
|---|---|---|
| MIME types | image/x-* (varies by vendor) | — |
| Common extensions | .cr2, .cr3, .nef, .nrw, .arw, .raf, .orf, .rw2, .dng, .pef, .x3f, .raw | — |
| Bit depth | 12-16 bits per pixel | — |
| Typical containers | TIFF/EP variants with vendor makernotes | — |
| Universal exchange format | DNG (Adobe) | — |
| MIME type | — | image/tiff |
| Extensions | — | .tif, .tiff |
| Standard | — | TIFF 6.0 (1992); BigTIFF extension for 64-bit offsets |
| Max file size | — | 4 GB (TIFF); 2^64 bytes (BigTIFF) |
| Compression options | — | None, LZW, Deflate, JPEG, CCITT G3/G4, PackBits, JBIG |
RAW vs TIFF — Typical file sizes
Approximate file sizes for common scenarios.
RAW
- 24 MP raw (APS-C/FF, 14-bit) 25-50 MB
- 45 MP raw (high-end FF) 50-90 MB
- 100 MP medium-format raw 120-200 MB
TIFF
- Scanned A4 page (300 dpi, B&W) 100-300 KB
- Scanned A4 page (600 dpi, color) 15-40 MB
- Print-quality magazine photo 30-150 MB
- Satellite GeoTIFF tile 50 MB - 5 GB
Quality & Compatibility
RAW-to-TIFF conversion does not change the visible content. Quality is capped by the RAW decode; re-encoding a lossy source at high quality cannot recover detail that was already discarded. For archival masters, keep the original RAW alongside the TIFF copy.
Tips for Best Results
- Large RAW files may look identical to small TIFF files for photographic content; pick quality based on end use, not headline megapixels.
- For print, export TIFF at 300 DPI minimum and check that the colour profile embedded matches the print shop specification.
- Batch-convert related RAW images in one pass so they share identical encoder settings and look consistent side-by-side.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the codecs involved. If both RAW and TIFF are lossy, the pixels are re-encoded and a small amount of detail is discarded — invisible at default quality settings on photographs. If TIFF is lossless (PNG, TIFF, BMP) the output keeps every pixel of the decoded RAW exactly, but cannot recover detail that RAW had already compressed away.
Often yes, especially when TIFF is lossless. RAW tuned for efficient web delivery will usually produce smaller files than TIFF's default settings. If file size matters, drop the quality in Advanced or pick a more compressed target format instead.
KaijuConverter uploads over HTTPS, processes the image in an isolated container and deletes both the source and the output within two hours. No account is required, file contents are never logged, and we do not use uploads to train any model. For confidential material, the paid plan includes a data-processing agreement.
Related comparisons
See these formats side by side to understand which fits your use case best.
Related Guides
TIFF/TIF Format: The Professional Imaging Standard
Complete guide to TIFF format: tag-based IFD architecture, 8/16/32-bit depth, CMYK print support, LZW compression, multi-page TIFF, BigTIFF, and professional workflow commands.
Read guideTIFF Format: The Complete Guide to Tagged Image File Format
Everything about TIFF: IFD tag structure, compression types (LZW, ZIP, JPEG), colour spaces, multi-page TIFF, BigTIFF, TIFF vs PNG vs PSD vs RAW, and when to use TIFF.
Read guideDXF Format: The Complete Guide to CAD Drawing Exchange Format
Everything about DXF: section structure, entities, layers, blocks, DXF vs DWG vs SVG, compatibility across AutoCAD and other CAD software, and how to convert DXF files.
Read guideSecure & Private Conversion
Your files are encrypted during transfer, processed in isolated containers, and automatically deleted within 60 minutes. We never read, share, or store your data.